Dubai rent: How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Karama?
Dubai: Karama is one of the old parts of Dubai and you will see people still living in the area today who have lived here for a decade.
The reasons are many but, to quote one resident, who has been in Karama 37 years, they are mostly sentimental.
"I am born in Karama, educated in Karama, married and settled in Karama, and now my kids are in a school in Karama. We moved in the Sheikh Rashid Colony – or, ‘the 7,000 building’, because it was fixed for Dh7,000 per year – as a young family," 37-year-old Savio Nazareth told me.
In years, Nazareth has witnessed the development of Karama and Dubai – and felt very much at home with his own neighbourhood. "The block we are now in is 50 years old and Dh72,000 for a three-bedroom apartment is really a cheap price given the average rents", he said.
And he’s not wrong. Dubai’s rental index (decided by the Dubai Land Department, DLD) determines the range for a three-bedroom flat in the district at Dh90,000 to Dh110,000.
Its old history means that the neighbourhood gives a lot of options for the people looking to rent an apartment. As the years have passed, some of the older buildings have been renovated, and the neighbourhood history kept, while new ones have opened up. Old meets new in this neighbourhood.
The Karama Shopping Complex, one of the oldest building complexes in town is a good one. It was built in 1975 and the exterior architecture hasn’t changed a bit over the years, as it’s been renovated and kept in good shape, including a facelift with graffitis splattered on the walls.
That mixture of old and new housing complexes is the main reason why this is also a great bonus for apartment seekers – there’s something for everyone, from the low-budget to the high-tech.
Another good thing about Karama, it is the location. The area is served by a Metro station (ADCB Metro station), a main bus station, and streets which are directly linked to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11). Within the district, too, movement is easy with several bike and e-scooter paths built by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
"You can go walking around all day if you’re hungry at night and get some really good food in the restaurants," Christine Graziel F Cruz, 44, a resident, said.
A few minutes’ walk from her home is also the Metro station, where she pays Dh2,500 a month for a bedroom.
A bustling community
Wander through the neighbourhood late at night and you will be filled with commuters returning from work having taken the Metro home. Many of the restaurants and cafes in the area are open late into the night and a couple even offer 24x7.
So even at night, if you live in Karama, you will never run out of somewhere to have a shawarma or a cup of karak.
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