Al Rawdah, located in Abu Dhabi between Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, is a residential community. This neighbourhood sits towards the south of the emirate's inland areas with Khor Al Maqta waterway passing through its eastern end. Notably, Al Rawdah boasts some famous landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed Sports City and Capital Gate - known for its leaning tower design. For those who prefer an urban lifestyle with easy access to educational facilities, retail centres and entertainment spots, this area is highly desirable.
The neighborhood, located just a brief distance away, offers an assortment of dwellings that appeal to both foreigners and natives. These include tall apartment complexes and modern homes known as villas.
Abu Dhabi's sought-after residential area, Al Rawdah, boasts upscale homes that offer essential amenities for a tranquil lifestyle. This family-friendly neighborhood is complete with schools, medical facilities, supermarkets and leisure spots in close proximity. Additionally, it houses the iconic Zayed Sports City and the UAE's largest mosque - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Well-connected roads, communal parks and embassies from different states are other notable features of this prestigious location.
The local society and inhabitants.
Al Rawdah is a diverse community comprising of both apartment complexes and villas. The area provides an array of housing options, including studio apartments as well as 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units in mid to high-rise buildings. Additionally, Al Rawdah features detached living quarters, with the option for 4 to 6 bedrooms within a villa setting.
The Al Rawdah apartments offer contemporary conveniences, including a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and built-in closet. The kitchen features exquisite wooden cabinets and high-quality furnishings. The apartment's marble flooring contributes to its sophistication. Additional amenities include a spacious living room, shared recreational facilities, and allotted parking space.
The district offers modern villas with ample space for big families, which cover a range of 2,100 to 5,100 square feet. The villas are equipped with unique amenities such as living rooms, maid's quarters, en-suite bathrooms, covered parking spots and gardens.
Al Rawdah offers a variety of apartment configurations for rent, including studios and apartments with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms. On average, the annual rent for studios is AED 33k. For those interested in renting a 1-bedroom apartment in Al Rawdah, prices typically range from AED 50k to AED 65k per year. If you're looking for a larger space, a 2-bedroom apartment can be rented for an annual price between AED 72k to AED 95k. The most spacious option available are the attractive and roomy three bedroomed apartments that can be leased out for around AED115K annually on average.
Families with a large number of members have the option to rent villas in Al Rawdah. These residences offer various designs and top-notch amenities. Typically, a 6-bedroom villa's yearly rental fee in Al Rawdah averages at AED 230k.
Al Rawdah is segregated into three sub-communities, namely:
Zayed Sports City, a highly popular tourist destination, boasts one of the UAE's largest stadiums. It's also a great place to find residential properties, including 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. One excellent option is Rihan Heights Towers - a collection of five towers with various apartment layouts. You can expect to pay AED 85k-95k annually for their 1-bedroom flats or AED 147k-155k per year for their 2-bedroom offerings.
Al Rawdah, specifically the Diplomatic Area, boasts a multitude of embassies and consulates within its mixed-use community commonly referred to as the Embassies District. Additionally, Capital Centre is a sub-community of Al Rawdah that houses commercial spaces such as hotels and resorts alongside notable landmarks like Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and Capital Gate.
Some of the well-liked accommodations in Al Rawdah include:
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is a top-rated establishment situated near the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The accommodation comprises of 10 Venetian-inspired buildings that house 447 rooms and 85 private villas, arranged around a spacious outdoor pool in the shape of a crescent. This luxurious hotel is well-known for its personal swimming pools in Abu Dhabi and boasts eight restaurants as well as event space and a holistic spa.
the luxurious Millennium Capital Gate hotel in Al Rawdah, which boasts stylish accommodation and a range of facilities, including five restaurants, meeting rooms, an executive lounge, a spa and sauna, and an outdoor pool suitable for both adults and children. Alternatively, visitors who require long-term accommodation close to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre may wish to consider the Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana hotel with its 259 fully furnished rooms. This hotel also offers modern fitness amenities alongside dining options and meeting space. For those on a budget, there are many affordable hotels available in Abu Dhabi.
The Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre offers a starting price of AED 210k per night for accommodations.
Locating a parking spot in Al Rawdah is not problematic. In apartment buildings, residents are provided with at least one car park space, and houses have room for one or two automobiles. The street parking options cater to those who possess multiple vehicles, including both visitors and locals.
Residents of Al Rawdah who rely on public transportation have easy access to multiple bus stations in the area. The closest one, which is just a 10-minute walk away, is called Al Khaleej Al Arabi bus station. Additionally, Bus 11 and Bus 40 also have nearby stations that serve the community.
With a well-connected transportation system, Al Rawdah offers easy commuting for those with vehicles. The emirate boasts two major highways, E20 and E22, starting from opposite ends of the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. E20 intersects with internal areas such as E11, E16 and E65 while E22 runs through Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba and Al Mafraq regions. Known as the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road, this highway (E22) terminates close to the Al Ain International Airport.
Al Rawdah offers a variety of grocery shopping options, ranging from small local stores to large hypermarkets. The community hosts several well-known supermarkets such as Carrefour Hypermarket, SPAR Supermarket, ZOOM, Spinneys and Granite Supermarket that cater to residents' daily needs.
SPAR Supermarket in Al Rawdah, a part of Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society, is renowned for its affordable prices. Carrefour offers a diverse selection of imported and local items, while Spinneys is the go-to destination for residents seeking fresh imported bakery goods. Other nearby grocery shops include Lulu Hypermarket at Mushrif Mall and the Muroor branch of Abu Dhabi Co-Op Society. Those who prefer to order groceries online can browse various online stores to purchase their desired food products in Abu Dhabi.
Members of the Muslim community in Al Rawdah have a variety of mosques to choose from for their daily and congregational prayers. One such option is the renowned Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which can hold up to 40,000 worshippers and stands as an iconic landmark in Abu Dhabi's eastern region. Additionally, there are several other mosques available including Ibn Taymiyyah Mosque, Hasan Bin Thabit Mosque, Abu Hanifa Mosque and Jibril Mosque.
To visit temples near Al Rawdah, one must drive towards the west for 12 to 15 minutes. The majority of churches in Abu Dhabi are situated in the Al Mushrif area of the emirate, such as St. Andrew’s Church, St. George’s Orthodox Cathedral and Evangelical Community Church. In 2020, the first phase of BAPS Hindu Mandir - an upcoming Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi - will open to the public. However, until then residents can visit temples near Al Rawdah after a 15-minute drive or check out New Gurdwara Abu Dhabi located in Mussafah instead.
The nearest Sikh temple available to the renters is the Gurdwara.
In Al Rawdah, two well-liked nurseries for young children are Falcon British Nursery and Kids Academy Nursery. Falcon British Nursery is an Abu Dhabi-based nursery school that holds UK accreditation and provides affordable high-quality British childcare services. Meanwhile, Kids Academy Nursery also follows the British EYFS curriculum and caters to children aged between 45 days and 4 years old.
Families with children attending school have the opportunity to choose from a selection of top-rated educational institutions in Abu Dhabi that are situated nearby the community. Among these options are The British School Al Khubairat, Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Raha International School Abu Dhabi. Conveniently, each of these schools can be reached within a short 10 to 15-minute car ride.
In Abu Dhabi's Khalifa City A and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, there are some of the top universities in the area. Among them are Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIT), Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi University, and Zayed University. These institutions provide various graduate and postgraduate programs for students.
In Al Rawdah, there are multiple hospitals available for locals requiring medical assistance. Some of the healthcare and wellness options in the district include Zayed Military Hospital, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre Abu Dhabi (ICLDC), and Healthpoint.
There are several specialty clinics in the vicinity of Al Rawdah including Dr Muna Al Murrawi Medical Centre, Al Taie Center for Laparoscopic & Obesity Surgery, and Marigold Dental and Orthodontic Clinic L.L.C.
Al Rawdah is positioned on the eastern side of the emirate, providing convenient accessibility to major districts with a brief drive. Towards the west, you can find Al Mushrif and towards the east lies Al Maqtaa community. A fifteen minute drive via Abu Dhabi Al Ain Road will take you to Khalifa City if you continue heading in an easterly direction.
The Al Saggar Mall, situated in the Al Rawdah area and conveniently located within Zayed Sports City, serves as a community mall. Other shopping centers that can be found nearby include Abu Dhabi Mall, Al Mushrif Mall, The Galleria Mall and Al Raha Mall.
Abu Dhabi Mall offers an array of F&B options and entertainment amenities, rendering it a perfect weekend destination for families. It has been acclaimed as one of the finest malls in Abu Dhabi. Al Mushrif Mall, situated nearby, covers 56,000 sq.m and houses 200 retail stores along with Lulu Hypermarket and other recreational spots. The mall boasts a vast food court that is also among the largest in the Middle East, as well as The Market- the city's biggest indoor fresh market.
Al Rawdah and neighboring communities offer a wide selection of cuisine options for residents to sample. Among the casual dining establishments are FoodShed Restaurant, Mosaic, Pepper Restaurant, and Sportsman's Arms.
Capital Centre's 18 Degrees restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine originating from the coasts of Spain, France, and Italy. The dining experience is unique due to its three open kitchens with interactive counters.
Living in Al Rawdah comes with the advantage of having access to some of Abu Dhabi's finest and unspoiled beaches. One such example is Corniche Beach, which can be reached within 15 minutes by car from the area. This particular beach caters to both families with young ones and solo visitors alike, boasting three separate entrances for each group. A variety of sports amenities are also available on-site, including an outdoor sports area that caters to adults and children alike. Other nearby beaches include Al Bateen Beach and Al Qurm Beach.
and many other countries. This magnificent mosque was planned by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the 1980s and took over a decade to build with the help of roughly 3,000 workers. With room for approximately 50,000 worshippers, it is an impressive feat of Islamic architecture that brings together laborers and materials from multiple nations including Turkey, Greece, New Zealand, Germany and more. As such, this grand mosque has become known as one of the largest places of worship in the region.
Morocco, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Zayed Sports City is a vast sports hub that features multiple amenities including a stadium, tennis center, bowling alley, ice rink, volleyball court and various other offerings. Moreover, it comprises five extra open-air spaces of different sizes distributed among natural grass fields, indoor event areas and tarmac zones for festivals.
Al Rawdah Abu Dhabi has numerous public parks that cater to outdoor activities. One of the most notable ones is Zayed Sports City Park, formerly known as Old Airport Garden, which boasts of lush greenery and shaded sitting areas. It also features an ice rink and bowling alley for both adults and children to enjoy. Additionally, sports enthusiasts can engage in basketball, volleyball, tennis and football within the park premises. Al Khaleej Al Arabi Park and Khalifa Park are other nearby options for visitors seeking recreational facilities.
Individuals looking to maintain an active lifestyle and improve their physical condition can choose from various gym options available in Al Rawdah, such as The Room Abu Dhabi, Rihan Heights Gym, and Bootcamp Gym. Haddins Fitness Centre is among the affordable fitness centers in Abu Dhabi, offering an annual membership fee of AED 3,360.
In the vicinity, there are two salons - Estetica Beauty Salon and Emirates Prestige Salon. Andaz Capital Gate's Rayana Spa is also a well-liked option for those seeking relaxation services such as facials, massage and various body treatments incorporating natural ingredients.
The ADNEC, situated in Al Rawdah, is a widely recognized venue that has garnered numerous awards for its hosting of diverse corporate events, exhibitions, conferences and other functions on an international as well as national scale. Additionally, it offers several amenities such as shops, hotels and eateries to cater to varying needs.
Individuals considering relocating to Al Rawdah must bear in mind that freehold properties are not available. Additionally, utilizing public transportation for commuting may prove problematic. Possessing a vehicle is one of the most effective methods for traveling to and from Al Rawdah.