Al Barsha

Al Barsha is the residential district behind Mall of the Emirates, about fifteen minutes inland from the Jumeirah coast. Most visitors end up here for one of three reasons: the mall itself, Ski Dubai inside it, or a hotel room that costs noticeably less than the same standard in Downtown or the Marina. Mall of the Emirates has its own Metro station on the Red Line, which is what makes the area work as a base — you can reach Burj Khalifa in about twenty minutes without a taxi. Al Barsha Pond Park is the local green space, and Al Barsha 1 has a dense strip of mid-priced restaurants along Al Barsha South Street. It is not a sightseeing district and there is no beach; it is a practical place to sleep and eat between the places you actually came for.