Everything around The Greens is loud — Dubai Marina’s towers, Internet City’s office blocks, Sheikh Zayed Road’s traffic — and then you turn into The Greens and it goes quiet. Forty low-rise buildings spread across ten clusters, each named after a different shade of green and wrapped around lakes and landscaped walkways, are what’s left of one of Dubai’s first real attempts at low-density living — and one of the city’s first freehold developments, full stop.
Compact and walkable, it is one of the city’s most liveable little enclaves, as part of our main Dubai guide.
Updated: July 2026 — by Monica Bonalto
A 2003 original
Emaar launched The Greens in 2001 and completed the first phase in 2003, making it one of Dubai’s earliest low-rise, low-density communities — a deliberate contrast to the tower-block model going up elsewhere at the time. The layout still shows it: a central souk, a cluster of cafes and shops, and quick links out to Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road.
Eating and drinking lakeside
Community cafes and restaurants set a relaxed tone, from all-day brunch spots to easy sit-down dinners — enough to earn regular mentions in our best brunch in Dubai and best ramen in Dubai guides. Plan a bigger night with the best restaurants in Dubai or a weekend session from the most fun brunches, and keep drinks low-key with Dubai happy hours at the lakeside terraces, minus the crowds of the Marina next door.
Slow days by the lake
Lakeside walks, the local souk and pocket parks make The Greens a pleasant place to slow down, with the Marina and its beach a short hop away when you want more energy. More ideas across things to do in Dubai.
An apartment kind of neighbourhood
Mostly residential, The Greens suits longer stays in apartments, walkable and central with the Marina nearby.
Two Metro stops and a short walk in
The Metro’s Dubai Internet City station and the tram are both close by, and the community itself is easily walkable once you arrive. The cooler months from October to April suit the lakeside terraces and walks best, and weekends are liveliest for brunch. Green, walkable and unhurried, The Greens is one of Dubai’s most liveable little enclaves for a slow weekend.
The Marina, a short hop away
Nearby: Dubai Marina. Or head back to the main Dubai guide.
Top things to do in The Greens
- Lakeside walks — the community’s main draw, with pocket parks and a local souk for slower, low-key days.
- Community cafes and restaurants — enough of a food scene to earn regular mentions in our best brunch and best ramen in Dubai roundups.
- Dubai Marina, a short hop away — two Metro stops (via the Dubai Internet City station) or a short walk connects you to the Marina’s beach and bigger nightlife scene when you want more energy.
Is The Greens worth visiting if you don’t live there?
It’s a genuinely quiet, residential neighbourhood rather than a destination in its own right — worth a stop for a lakeside coffee, but most visitors will get more out of continuing two Metro stops to Dubai Marina.