Al Barsha البرشاء | |
|---|---|
Community | |
     Clockwise, from top:Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates,Dubai Butterfly Garden,Dubai Miracle Garden,Ski Dubai, Barsha Heights (Tecom) | |
 Interactive map of Al Barsha | |
| Coordinates:25°06′40″N55°11′43″E / 25.11102°N 55.19514°E /25.11102; 55.19514 | |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Emirate | Dubai |
| City | Dubai |
| Established | 2000 |
| Boroughs | List
|
| Area | |
• Total | 38.1 km2 (14.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[1] | |
• Total | 181,310 |
| • Density | 4,760/km2 (12,300/sq mi) |
| Community number | 373-376 |
Al Barsha (Arabic:البرشاء) is a district ofDubai,United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al Barsha is located in western Dubai. It is bordered byAl Sufouh to the west,Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Village Circle to the south,Dubai Motor City to the east, andAl Quoz andDubai Hills to the north.[2] It is bounded byE 11 (Sheikh Zayed Road) andE 311 (Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road). Al Barsha is divided into five sectors: Al Barsha 1, Al Barsha 2, Al Barsha 3, Al Barsha South, and Barsha Heights. As of 2023, it has a population of 181,310.
The nameAl Barsha (Arabic: البرشاء) translates to "plentiful" or "small grass" in Arabic. The area is believed to have been named for its once abundant tree cover, which gave the surroundings a lush and complete appearance.[3][4]
Al Barsha was established as a residential area in the early 2000s. Prior to its development, the area was largely undeveloped desert land with limited infrastructure and sparse residential settlements. Significant transformation began around 2005, following the announcement and subsequent opening of theMall of the Emirates, one of Dubai's largest shopping centres and the first in the region to feature an indoor ski slope,Ski Dubai. The development of this retail complex played a central role in accelerating residential and commercial growth in the area.
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From a scarcely populated locality with minimal roads, Al Barsha rapidly developed into a mixed-use community. By 2023, the district's population had grown to approximately 181,310 residents, a dramatic increase from the 1,248 residents recorded in the year 2000, according to the Dubai Statistics Center.[5]
Al Barsha is divided into five sections:[6]
| Borough | Population[7] |
|---|---|
| Al Barsha 1 | 43,201 |
| Al Barsha 2 | 17,208 |
| Al Barsha 3 | 16,103 |
| Al Barsha South | 74,937 |
| Barsha Heights | 29,861 |
| Al Barsha | 181,310 |
A major commercial and leisure anchor in Al Barsha is theMall of the Emirates, which opened in 2005. It is a multi-purpose retail complex developed byMajid Al Futtaim Group and includes over 700 retail outlets. The mall housesSki Dubai, an indoor ski resort, as well asVOX Cinemas, a multiplex that includesIMAX and other specialized viewing formats. The mall also contains family entertainment facilities such as Magic Planet and is connected to theKempinski Hotel andSheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel.[8]
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South of the residential areas lies theDubai Miracle Garden, established in 2013. It is recognized as one of the largest natural flower gardens in the world by total number of plants. Adjacent to it is theDubai Butterfly Garden, a climate-controlled facility that contains thousands of butterflies across multiple interconnected domes.[9]
Other retail establishments in the district include Al Barsha Mall, operated bythe Union Coop, My City Centre Al Barsha, Espelande Walk and Galleria Mall Al Barsha. These cater primarily to local residents and include grocery stores, service outlets, and community retail.[8] Another mall is theArt of Living Mall, located in Al Barsha 2 and opened in 2023. The mall includes the Emirates Government Services Hub (EGSH),[10][11] Bykepi,[12] Garda Décor,[13] and other retailers.
Al Barsha also includes public recreational infrastructure such as Al Barsha Pond Park, which features a running track, open spaces, and sports facilities built around an artificial pond.[14]
The district is home to several educational institutions, including American, Indian, and British curriculum schools, and is home to the Dubai Science Park. Healthcare facilities, business centers, and a range of low- to mid-range hospitality options are also distributed throughout the area.[15]
Cultural infrastructure includes the Dubai Community Theater and Arts Centre and theHistory of Cinema Museum, which contains a private collection documenting the development of visual media from shadow play and early optical devices to 20th-century film technologies. It is located near the E11 highway in Al Barsha and serves as a specialist institution focusing on pre-cinematic and early cinematic history.
Al Barsha is served by a network of major roadways and public transportation infrastructure that facilitates intra-city connectivity. The district is bounded bySheikh Zayed Road (E11) to the west, one of Dubai’s primary north–south arterial routes, andAl Khail Road (E44) to the east. These thoroughfares provide direct vehicular access to neighboring areas such asAl Quoz,Jebel Ali,Dubai Marina,Downtown Dubai, andJumeirah.[16]
The area is also integrated into Dubai’s public transport system. TheDubai Metro’sRed Line runs along the western edge of Al Barsha, withMall of the Emirates Metro Station serving as the primary access point for the district. This station is located adjacent to the Mall of the Emirates and facilitates access to key business and residential zones along the Red Line corridor.[17]
Public bus services operated by theRoads and Transport Authority (RTA) provide internal and external connectivity. Several bus routes link Al Barsha to other districts such asBusiness Bay, Al Quoz, Jumeirah, andDubai Internet City. Feeder buses also operate between the Mall of the Emirates station and the interior residential zones of Al Barsha.[17]
Pedestrian infrastructure varies in quality, with more developed walkways and crossings concentrated around Al Barsha 1 and major commercial centers. Al Barsha Pond Park and surrounding roads include recreational pathways and are among the more walkable segments of the area. However, car ownership remains the predominant mode of transport for residents, particularly in villa subcommunities such as Al Barsha 2 and 3.[18]
