Located in the Dubailand district that stretches across the center of Dubai, Al Barari is a residential community quite unlike any other in the city. While Dubai is best known for its jaw-dropping architectural feats and its upscale urban districts, there are little pockets of suburbia scattered throughout the city. One of these suburban neighbourhoods is Al Barari, an 18 million square foot development with a heart as green as its surroundings. Over sixty percent of the land area at Al Barari is devoted to greenery, including themed gardens, gorgeously landscaped parks, and naturally built waterways.

However, Al Barari isn't just green in a literal sense. The community is also at the forefront of sustainable initiatives in Dubai, using solar panels in much of the outdoor lighting, composting organic waste, and recycling water to irrigate its plant life. It is also a sanctuary for several varieties of indigenous fauna, including a nearly extinct species of carp that has found new life there.

Al Barari complements its beautiful verdant surroundings with a selection of the finest homes available in Dubai, ranging from gorgeous family villas to wonderful contemporary apartments.

1. The Nest

Comprising just 55 villas set in a tranquil suburban neighborhood, The Nest is ideally designed for family living in the city. Featuring four well-designed bedrooms, a choice of two interior layouts and of course, gorgeous landscaping, these homes offer a nice respite from the urban sprawl that defines the majority of Dubai. The villas have a striking contemporary aesthetic, with a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor spaces that creates a strong sense of community while still offering the utmost privacy.

2. The Reserve

The Reserve is a distinctive residential enclave with a very limited collection of bespoke villas. Offering very large plot sizes, The Reserve presents a rare opportunity to fully design a home as you see fit, from the exterior architecture to the minutest details of the interior design and even the landscaping of the outdoor living spaces. Each homeowner can put their own individual mark on the villa of their choice, nestled in lush surroundings with plenty of space for added features such as an infinity pool or lawn terrace.

3. Seventh Heaven

In a departure from the villa communities that Al Barari built its reputation on, Seventh Heaven is the first apartment development in the area. Standing seven floors high, Seventh Heaven features a stepped, almost pyramidal design that results in each individual apartment having a layout unlike any of its neighbours. Each apartment has a beautifully designed contemporary interior complemented by full-height glass paneling and expansive wraparound balconies that make for ideal outdoor entertaining spaces. Because of the community's central location in the city, the apartments at Seventh Heaven also look out over the most stunning views.

4. Ashjar

Named after the Arabic word for 'tree', Ashjar is a complex of low-rise apartment blocks topping out at five storeys and divided into clusters. The buildings feature three architectural styles - Introvert, Extrovert and Cube - resulting in three sets of individualized apartment layouts. Much like Seventh Heaven, these beautiful contemporary homes come with large terraces to create a seamless flow between the indoors and the outdoors. One of the most unique aspects of this neighbourhood is the fact that it is designed to be car-free. On entry to Ashjar, you will be led to a vast underground parking lot. All of the pathways and streets of the neighbourhood itself are strictly for pedestrians, reducing both noise and air pollution, and providing residents with a cleaner and more peaceful living experience.