Motor City Area Guide: Restaurants, Rent, Studios and Schools
Motor City is a community of low-rise flats, villas and townhouses in Dubailand, built around the Dubai Autodrome. A one-bedroom flat rents for about AED 78,600 a year ($21,400 or £16,100) and a ready one sells for around AED 982,000 ($270,000 or £200,000). A studio rents for about AED 50,400. There is no Metro.
The first part of Motor City that anyone could use was its race track. The Dubai Autodrome opened on 6 October 2004, and its longest layout runs for 5.39 km. Today Motor City is a quiet neighbourhood of low-rise flats and green streets, with the track still at its heart.
About Motor City
Motor City is a master-planned community in Dubailand, built by Union Properties around the Dubai Autodrome. It sits just off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), between Dubai Sports City, Dubai Studio City, Arjan and Arabian Ranches, about 23 km by road from Downtown Dubai. In the Dubai Land Department's records it is part of Al Hebiah First.
Whether you want to rent in Motor City, buy there or simply understand what it is like, this Motor City area guide covers its restaurants, real rents and prices, schools, the race track and getting around.
*This guide was last updated on 16 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 15 October 2026. Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.8733 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate); your bank's rate will differ.
Motor City Location and Map
Motor City lies on the inland side of Dubai, beside Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), with Hessa Street and Umm Suqeim Street leading from it towards Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai Sports City is next door, and Arjan, Dubai Studio City and Arabian Ranches are close by. By road, Motor City is about 12 km from Mall of the Emirates, 16 km from Dubai Marina, 23 km from Downtown Dubai and 35 km from Dubai International Airport.
The first map shows where Motor City is in Dubai.
The second shows Motor City itself.
Motor City Highlights
Here is what you will want to know first, from homes and schools to food and the drive out.
Popular Buildings in Motor City
Motor City has three parts. Uptown Motor City is the area of low-rise flats where most people live. Green Community Motor City is the villa and townhouse area, and Casa Flores and Casa Familia are its two townhouse clusters. The Business Park around the Autodrome is mostly offices, with new apartment towers going up nearby.
The rents on the cards are what new tenants paid in the last 12 months*.
Three of the most searched names in Motor City are office buildings. You cannot rent a flat in them. People look them up for work, for clinics or for the restaurants inside:
| Building | What it is | Where | Offices advertised now* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control Tower | A 38-floor office tower by Union Properties, finished in 2009 | Next to the Dubai Autodrome | 12 on Property Finder |
| Apex Atrium | A low-rise office building with shops and restaurants on the ground floor | Turin Boulevard, looking onto the race track | 7 on Property Finder |
| Detroit House | An office building with shops and places to eat close by | Detroit Road | 14 on Property Finder |
If you are choosing a flat, compare two or three blocks with the same number of bedrooms.
*This guide was last updated on 16 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 15 October 2026.
Rent in Motor City
The table shows what new tenants paid for every kind of home in the last three months, or the last 12 months where fewer than about 20 were rented. These are real contracts from Dubai Land Department records, as shown on Property Finder, not adverts.
| Home | Rent a year (a month) | In dollars and pounds, a year | Contracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 50,400 (AED 4,200) | $13,700 · £10,300 | 69 (last three months*) |
| One-bedroom flat | AED 78,600 (AED 6,550) | $21,400 · £16,100 | 292 (last three months*) |
| Two-bedroom flat | AED 113,100 (AED 9,420) | $30,800 · £23,200 | 186 (last three months*) |
| Three-bedroom flat | AED 189,600 (AED 15,800) | $51,600 · £38,900 | 49 (last three months*) |
| Three-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 258,900 (AED 21,600) | $70,500 · £53,100 | 21 (last three months*) |
| Four-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 314,500 (AED 26,200) | $85,600 · £64,500 | 38 (last 12 months*) |
| Five-bedroom villa | AED 466,700 (AED 38,900) | $127,100 · £95,800 | 11 (last 12 months*, few) |
These are averages, and a few large or furnished homes pull them up. Most one-bedroom flats let for between AED 58,000 and AED 88,000 a year, and most two-bedroom flats for between AED 87,000 and AED 138,000.
Apartments for rent in Motor City
Most flats are in Uptown's blocks of four to six floors, most with a shared pool and gym. About 313 flats were advertised on Property Finder when this guide was last updated*.
Of these, 41 were furnished, but all the ones we saw were let by the year, not by the month. For a short stay, look at the Park Inn by Radisson hotel at First Avenue Mall.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: apartments for rent in Motor City, furnished apartments
- Dubizzle: all homes for rent in Motor City
Studios for rent in Motor City
A studio costs about the same in every block. Only 26 were advertised on Property Finder when this guide was last updated*, asking between AED 48,000 and AED 75,000 a year. Before you sign, ask whether the studio has its own parking space and whether the cooling is in the DEWA bill.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: studios for rent in Motor City
One- and two-bedroom flats for rent in Motor City
A one-bedroom flat in Rabdan Building costs about AED 10,000 a year less than one in most Uptown blocks, and one in OIA Residence about AED 10,000 more. Ask how many cheques the landlord accepts, because paying in one or two cheques can get you a lower rent.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: one-bedroom flats, two-bedroom flats
Villas and townhouses for rent in Motor City
All the houses are in Green Community, and Casa Flores is the cheapest place for one (see the cards above). Only 11 villas and 10 townhouses were advertised on Property Finder when this guide was last updated*, so be ready to wait.
See homes for rent:
- Property Finder: villas for rent in Motor City, townhouses for rent, Green Community Motor City
Rooms, partitions and bed spaces in Motor City
Rooms and bed spaces in Motor City are rare. When this guide was last updated*, Dubizzle had only three adverts, all bed spaces in one building called The Community Motor City, at AED 1,000 to AED 1,500 a month. We found no partitions advertised.
Sharing a home is also regulated. Dubai's shared housing law, Law No. 4 of 2026, came into force on 8 September 2026. These are its four main rules:
Motor City is not among the areas the Municipality names as examples, so speak to the landlord and check the rules before you share a flat here. Do not pay a deposit for a bed space until you have seen it.
See rooms for rent:
- Dubizzle: rooms for rent in Motor City
*This guide was last updated on 16 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 15 October 2026.
*Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.8733 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate, 15 October 2026); your bank's rate will differ.
Property for Sale in Motor City
Most homes sold in Motor City are not built yet: in the last three months*, 695 of the 803 sales were off-plan flats in new towers around the Dubai Autodrome. Every row in the table except the last is for ready homes only, the ones you can move into or rent out now, because off-plan prices do not tell you what an existing flat is worth. The last row shows the off-plan sales together. Price per sq ft is the price divided by the size of the home.
| Home | Average price (per sq ft) | In dollars and pounds | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 645,000 (AED 1,005) | $180,000 · £130,000 | 77 (last 12 months*) |
| One-bedroom flat | AED 982,000 (AED 980) | $270,000 · £200,000 | 46 (last three months*) |
| Two-bedroom flat | AED 1.63 million (AED 1,059) | $440,000 · £330,000 | 32 (last three months*) |
| Three-bedroom flat | AED 2.43 million (AED 1,000) | $660,000 · £500,000 | 64 (last 12 months*) |
| Three-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 5.74 million (AED 1,615) | $1.56 million · £1.18 million | 13 (last 12 months*, few) |
| Four-bedroom villa or townhouse | AED 9.11 million (AED 1,301) | $2.48 million · £1.87 million | 17 (last 12 months*, few) |
| Five-bedroom villa | Too thin to rely on | Too thin to rely on | 1 (last 12 months*) |
| Off-plan flats (all sizes) | AED 1.16 million (AED 1,750) | $320,000 · £240,000 | 695 (last three months*) |
Motor City flats pay their owners well. A flat here earns about 7.8% of its price in rent each year, before costs, against 6.2% for flats across Dubai. If you want a home you can see, remember that only 108 of the 803 recent sales were ready homes, so your real choice is much smaller than the sales figures suggest.
Here is how a one-bedroom flat in Motor City compares with the same flat in the areas next door:
Apartments for sale in Motor City
Off-plan flats in the new towers, in projects such as Sobha Solis, Takaya and Sierra by Iman, cost about 70% more per sq ft than ready flats in Uptown. About 1,223 flats were advertised for sale on Property Finder when this guide was last updated*, most of them off-plan.
An off-plan flat earns no rent until it is handed over
You pay instalments until the tower is finished and get no rent until then. Ask for the handover date in writing, and check the project on the Dubai Land Department's app before you pay anything.
See homes for sale:
- Property Finder: apartments for sale in Motor City
Villas and townhouses for sale in Motor City
Only about 30 houses sell in Motor City in a year, all in Green Community, so these averages move a lot. Ask the agent for the last sales in the same cluster before you make an offer.
See homes for sale:
- Property Finder: townhouses for sale in Motor City, villas for sale, Green Community Motor City
*This guide was last updated on 16 October 2026, using Dubai Land Department records up to 15 October 2026.
*Dollar ($) and pound (£) amounts use AED 3.6725 to the US dollar and AED 4.8733 to the British pound (XE mid-market rate, 15 October 2026); your bank's rate will differ.
Restaurants in Motor City
Motor City has five main places to eat out, and the biggest is First Avenue Mall, next to the race track.
First Avenue Mall, the mall people call "Motor City mall"
When people search for the Motor City mall, the results point to First Avenue Mall on Turin Boulevard, beside the Dubai Autodrome. Property Finder's guide to the mall lists about 25 places to eat, from Shake Shack and Sushi Art to Kababji's Lebanese grills, plus Gloria Jean's and Krispy Kreme for coffee and sweets. The mall opens from 10 am to 10 pm on weekdays and until midnight on Saturdays and Sundays, and parking is free.
Indian restaurants in Motor City
Property Finder's August 2026 guide names The Meating Room, a charcoal grill in Green Community's Neighbourhood Food Hall, and Gazebo, a North Indian chain inside the Union Coop. It also lists Bikanervala for vegetarian food and sweets, Malgudi for South Indian food and Thalluvandi. Bayut adds Bhoujan and Curry Box.
Arabic and Lebanese restaurants in Motor City
For Lebanese food, try Al Safadi in The Ribbon, Manaret Beirut on Joud Boulevard West, which has its own bakery, or Malak Al Tawouk and Cedar Tree, both named by Bayut. Madina Mandi in Uptown serves traditional Arabian dishes.
Asian, Italian and other restaurants in Motor City
For Chinese food there are Wokyo Noodle Bar and Hengchen, and Bayut lists Little Bangkok for Thai food. Oregano is the Italian choice, and Sensation on Detroit Road serves Mediterranean food. Bayut also names Mis Amigos, The Cycle Bistro and Krave.
Check before you go
Some guides we used are a year or more old, and restaurants change often. Check opening hours on a map app, and phone ahead if you want shisha, alcohol or a group table, because we could not confirm which places offer them.
Supermarkets, Clinics, Mosques and Gyms in Motor City
Most daily shopping is in First Avenue Mall and on Joud Boulevard.
Supermarkets in Motor City
For a big weekly shop, the choice is Carrefour in First Avenue Mall, Lulu Hypermarket on Joud Boulevard, or Spinneys and Waitrose. Spinneys and VIVA are near First Avenue Mall, and Waitrose, Lulu and a Géant are around Joud Boulevard. Bayut also lists Blue Mart and a ZOOM shop, and there is a Union Coop. For pets, there is Pet Corner, and Pet's Delight inside Waitrose.
Clinics in Motor City
Bayut names Medcare Medical Centre Motor City, Coopers Health Clinic, Medicentres and Prime Medical Center, which Property Finder places in First Avenue Mall. OpenStreetMap also shows Health Bay Clinic. For dental care there is Park Avenue Dental Clinic on Detroit Road, and Emirates Hospital Day Surgery and Medical Center, a day-surgery centre, is in Uptown Motor City.
For medicines, Life Pharmacy and MediPrime Pharmacy are in First Avenue Mall, and OpenStreetMap shows a Boots and other pharmacies near the mall.
Mosques in Motor City
Bayut names three mosques in Motor City: Al Eman Mosque, Al Adel Mosque and Masjid Hasan Abas Sharbatly. For other faiths, Bayut says the Redeemed Christian Church of God is about 16 minutes away by car and the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Jebel Ali Village about 23 minutes.
Gyms in Motor City
Fitness First Motor City is the best-known gym, with group classes, Bayut says. Snap Fitness is in First Avenue Mall, and GymNation has a Motor City branch. Many blocks, such as Foxhill and OIA Residence, have their own gym and pool for residents, and parks such as Gatton Park and Eastlands Park have paths for walking and running.
Dubai Autodrome and Kartdrome in Motor City
The Dubai Autodrome is the motor racing circuit in the middle of Motor City, and the Dubai Kartdrome is its go-kart centre across the road. Both are open to the public.
The Kartdrome has an outdoor track of 1.2 km for ages 13 and up, and an indoor track of 620 m for children from 7 years old who are at least 1.25 m tall. Sessions last 15 minutes. The Autodrome's page lists walk-in prices of AED 150 to AED 199, or AED 99 for early sessions booked online. The outdoor track opens every day from 9 am to midnight. Arrive an hour before your slot and bring an ID. For the 4 Hours of Dubai, read our Asian Le Mans Series guide.
Race days can be loud
A dubizzle guide to living in Motor City says it can be noisy when there is an event at the Autodrome, though not all year. The karting track also stays open until midnight. If you are renting a flat that faces the track, visit in the evening and ask the landlord how often events are held.
Schools in Motor City
For a British school close to home, Motor City is well placed. GEMS Metropole School is the big school inside Motor City, and three schools in Dubai Sports City are less than 4 km away. For an Indian or American school, you will drive 7 km or more.
KHDA, the Dubai government office that inspects private schools, rates each one. Its top ratings are Outstanding, Very good and Good. A new school has no rating until it has been inspected.
| Where | School | Curriculum | KHDA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Motor City | GEMS Metropole School (FS1 to Year 13) | British | Good |
| Dubai Sports City (about 3.5 km) | Victory Heights Primary School (to Year 6) | British | Outstanding |
| Dubai Sports City (next door) | Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai (FS1 to Year 10) | British | Very good |
| Dubai Sports City (about 4 km) | Dwight School Dubai | IB | Good |
| Al Barsha South (about 5 km) | Safa Community School | British and IB | Outstanding |
| Al Barsha South (about 7 km) | Repton Al Barsha | British | Very good |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (about 8 km) | JSS International School | Indian | Very good |
| Al Barsha South (about 12 km) | GEMS Dubai American Academy | American and IB | Outstanding |
There are two GEMS Metropole schools. The one in Motor City is rated Good. GEMS Metropole School Al Waha is a separate school on Emirates Road, rated Acceptable, so check the campus name on any form.
Fees differ by school and year group. Every school's fee sheet is on the KHDA school directory. To compare family areas on schools, safety, space and cost, read our guide to the best areas to live in Dubai for families.
Nurseries in Motor City
Bayut lists four nurseries in or near Motor City: Emirates British Nursery and Building Blocks Nursery, both inside Motor City on OpenStreetMap, plus Jebel Ali Nursery and Child Enrichment Centre. Ask each nursery which ages it takes this year and whether it has places.
Getting Around Motor City
Most people in Motor City drive, and most trips start on one of three roads:
- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) runs along Motor City's edge. It takes you north towards Dubai International Airport, which Bayut puts about 24 minutes away, and south towards Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.
- Hessa Street (D61) leads towards Al Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Road, about 16 minutes away by car, Bayut says.
- Umm Suqeim Street (D63) is the other way to Sheikh Zayed Road. Bayut puts Downtown Dubai about 21 minutes away this way.
These are distances along the roads, not times. At school and office hours, allow more time.
Metro stations near Motor City
There is no Metro in Motor City. The nearest station by road is Mall of the Emirates on the Red Line, about 12 km away. Bayut says bus F37 stops at the Autodrome, and Property Finder says bus F30 links First Avenue Mall with Mall of the Emirates. Routes change, so check them in the RTA's S'hail app. Taxis are easiest to book ahead.
Parking in Motor City
Most flats and villas in Motor City come with their own parking, Bayut says. Regent House 2, for example, gives every flat at least one reserved space. Uptown's narrow streets get busy at rush hour. If you rent a flat, ask how many spaces come with it and whether a second car costs extra.
Is Motor City a Good Place to Live?
Motor City is a good place to live for people who drive and want a quieter, greener area with shops and schools close by. Here is the good and the not so good:
The good
- The blocks are low-rise, with parks and paths between them.
- Supermarkets, restaurants and clinics are inside Motor City.
- GEMS Metropole is inside, and good British schools are in Dubai Sports City next door.
- Motor City is pet-friendly, with its own dog park.
- Flats earn their owners more rent for their price than the Dubai average.
The not so good
- There is no Metro, so you will need a car or taxis.
- Rents are higher than in Dubai Sports City, Arjan or JVC.
- Race days at the Autodrome can be loud.
- Few villas and townhouses come up for rent or sale.
- Many new towers are being built near the Autodrome, which means building work and more flats to compete with.
Three bills to ask about before you sign:
- Chiller: we could not confirm which Motor City blocks have a separate cooling bill. Ask the agent: "Is the air conditioning included in the DEWA bill, or is there a separate chiller bill?"
- DEWA: you pay DEWA, the water and electricity bill, yourself. Ask to see last summer's bills for the flat.
- Service charges: owners pay a yearly charge to run the building and the community. If you are buying, ask the seller for the latest service charge bill for that home.
If you are thinking of buying, the yield is good but the main risk is new supply: about 3,000 flats were sold off-plan in the last 12 months, and when they are handed over they will compete for tenants. To compare Motor City with other areas, read our guide to rental yield by area in Dubai, and before you make an offer, use our guide on how to check property value in Dubai.
FAQs
How much is rent in Motor City?
A studio rents for about AED 50,400 a year and a one-bedroom flat for about AED 78,600, which is about AED 6,550 a month. A two-bedroom flat is about AED 113,100 a year, and a three-bedroom villa about AED 258,900. These are what new tenants paid in the last three months, from Dubai Land Department records.
Which is the mall in Motor City?
The main mall is First Avenue Mall on Turin Boulevard, next to the Dubai Autodrome. It has a Carrefour, about 25 places to eat, a gym and free parking. The Ribbon is a smaller mall nearby with restaurants such as Al Safadi.
Is Motor City freehold?
Yes. Motor City is on the freehold lists published by property portals, so people of any nationality can buy there. Check that the title deed of the home you want says "freehold".
Is there a Metro station in Motor City?
No. The nearest Metro station is Mall of the Emirates on the Red Line, about 12 km away by road. Buses F37 and F30 serve Motor City, but most people who live here drive.
Is Motor City noisy because of the Autodrome?
It can be on race days. A dubizzle guide to the area says events at the Autodrome can be noisy, though not all year, and the karting track is open until midnight. If you rent a flat facing the track, visit in the evening first.
Sources and method41 sources from 13 publishers · last checked 16 October 2026
Official
- Dubai Media Office Mohammed bin Rashid issues Law regulating the management and occupancy of shared housing in DubaiDubai Municipality issues Planning and Building Requirements Guide for shared housing
- Knowledge and Human Development Authority Schools directory
Reporting and other sources
- About this guide: rents, prices, yields, listings, buildings, restaurants, schools and distances were checked on 16 October 2026. It is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.
- apartments rental transactions in Motor Citysale transactions in Motor CityArjanJumeirah Village CircleDubai Studio CityDubai Sports Cityall of DubaiMotor City area insightsapartmentsstudiosvillasoffices in Detroit HouseControl TowerApex AtriumFirst Avenue Mall, Motor CityMotor City restaurantsIndian restaurants in Motor City
- Dubizzle rooms for rent in Motor CityPopular buildings to buy apartments in Motor CityPros and cons of living in Motor City
- Bayut Control TowerApex AtriumOIA ResidenceRegent House 2Eden ApartmentsRabdan BuildingMotor City area guideFreehold areas in Dubai
- Khaleej Times National Bonds launches Phase 3 of Casa Flores
- Khaleej Times National Properties hands over Casa Familia
- XE GBP to AED mid-market rate
- Fact Magazine Manaret Beirut promises a taste of Lebanon with a retail twist
- Wikipedia Dubai Autodrome
- Dubai Autodrome home pageDubai KartdromeArrive and Drive karting
- OpenStreetMap road routing
