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Who lives in Emirates Hills
Emirates Hills is the flagship gated community of the wider Emirates Living master development on the west side of Dubai, set between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road and bordering Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. It is built around the Montgomerie golf course and a series of landscaped lakes, and is made up of large custom built villas on generous plots, which is why it has long been a byword for high end family living in the city. The residents are typically senior executives, business owners and established expatriate families who want privacy, security and room to spread out, rather than the apartment living found closer to the coast. The wider Emirates Living district, which includes The Meadows, The Springs, The Lakes, The Greens and The Views, wraps around Emirates Hills and offers more moderate townhouses and villas within reach of the same schools, so many families treat the whole area as one choice. To see how it fits into the wider city, start with our international schools in Dubai directory.
Schools in and near Emirates Hills
Education is one of the biggest reasons families choose Emirates Hills and the surrounding Emirates Living communities, because the area holds a genuine cluster of well regarded schools. Within Emirates Hills itself is Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, one of Dubai's longest established IB World Schools, running the full IB continuum from KG1 to Year 13. A short drive away in The Meadows is Emirates International School Meadows, another IB school that takes students from the early years through to Year 13, while Regent International School in the Emirates Living area follows the British National Curriculum. Families also draw on nearby Dubai British School and GEMS Wellington International School within a short drive. Because several of these schools are popular and well known, places in the most sought after year groups can be competitive, so apply early.
For the full list with curricula, stages and admissions detail, use the Dubai schools directory, and to plan the senior school budget see our guide to secondary international school fees in Dubai. If you are not sure which curriculum or school suits your child, the school finder quiz will shortlist options based on your priorities.
Commute and catchment
Dubai does not operate strict residential catchments for international schools. Admission is by application rather than by postcode, so living in Emirates Hills does not guarantee a place at a particular school, and families routinely cross the city for the right fit. That said, basing yourself here cuts the daily school run sharply for the schools clustered in and around Emirates Living. The community sits between two of Dubai's main arterial roads, Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, which give quick access to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and the wider city. The Dubai Metro does not run through Emirates Hills itself, so the area is effectively car dependent and most families drive, use school buses where offered, or rely on taxis and ride-hailing, although the metro stations at Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers sit at the edge of the district. Plan journey times around the morning and afternoon peaks, when the approaches to the schools and the main roads back up.
Housing and cost of living
Housing in Emirates Hills is dominated by large, individually designed villas on landscaped plots, many overlooking the golf course or the lakes, and it sits at the very top of Dubai's residential market for both rent and purchase. This is a premium choice, and when you add school fees and a car or two to the villa rent it is one of the most expensive ways to raise a family in the city. The surrounding Emirates Living communities, particularly The Springs, The Meadows and The Lakes, offer more moderate townhouses and smaller villas while keeping the same schools within reach, so families who want the area without the flagship price often look there first. Before committing, model the full picture, rent, schooling, transport and the day to day, with our relocation cost calculator, and read the wider Dubai relocation guide for visas, healthcare and setting up logistics. Treat any specific rent figure you see as indicative, because the market moves, so verify current asking rents before you budget.
Family life
Daily life in Emirates Hills is built around space and the outdoors. The community is laid out around the Montgomerie golf course and a network of landscaped lakes, with green verges, lakeside walks and quiet residential streets that suit younger children and cycling. The neighbouring Emirates Living communities add parks, community pools, supermarkets and family clubs within a short drive, and Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the Mall of the Emirates are all close by for dining, retail and entertainment. Healthcare access is strong, with private clinics and hospitals serving the western corridor of the city. The community is established and security is a defining feature of the gated layout, which many families value. The main caveat is the summer: like all of Dubai, outdoor life pauses through the hottest months, when family routines move indoors to malls, clubs and air conditioned venues.
Budget your move to Emirates Hills
Model villa rent, school fees and transport together before you commit to the area.
Open the relocation cost calculatorLiving in Emirates Hills: FAQ
Emirates Hills sits inside the wider Emirates Living district, which holds several well regarded schools. Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, an IB World School from KG1 to Year 13, is within the community, Emirates International School Meadows is a short drive in The Meadows, and Regent International School follows the British curriculum nearby. Dubai British School and GEMS Wellington International are also within easy reach. See the Dubai schools directory for curricula, stages and admissions detail.
Emirates Hills is one of Dubai's most exclusive family neighbourhoods, a gated, low density villa community built around a golf course and lakes and often called the Beverly Hills of Dubai. It appeals to families who want space, security and proximity to strong schools, and who can meet the premium villa rents. The wider Emirates Living district offers more moderate options around the same schools.
In practice, yes. Emirates Hills is a gated, low density villa community set between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, and the Dubai Metro does not run through it. Most families drive or use school buses, taxis and ride-hailing for the school run and daily errands, although nearby Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers add metro access at the edge of the district.
Emirates Hills sits at the very top of Dubai's residential market, with large custom villas commanding some of the highest rents and sale prices in the city. The surrounding Emirates Living communities such as The Meadows, The Springs and The Lakes are more moderate while keeping the same schools within reach. Model housing, schooling and transport together with the relocation cost calculator before you commit.
Family life in Emirates Hills centres on space, greenery and community living. The neighbourhood is built around the Montgomerie golf course and landscaped lakes, with parks, lakeside walks and family clubs nearby, and Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the Mall of the Emirates a short drive away. As across Dubai, outdoor life pauses through the hottest summer months.