DAMAC Hills — the original community, sometimes called DAMAC Hills 1 to distinguish it from DAMAC Hills 2 further out — is a golf-course suburb built around an international golf club course off Al Qudra Road and Hessa Street. For renters it promises space, greenery and community facilities at rents that have typically sat below comparable villas in closer-in estates. The compromise is distance: this is a driving community, and understanding the commute honestly is the key to being happy here.
Villas, Townhouses and Apartments Around the Golf Course
Housing is arranged in themed clusters of villas and townhouses, many overlooking fairways, lakes or internal parks, plus apartment buildings in areas such as Artesia and the Golf Town side of the community. Villas typically range from three-bedroom townhouses to large detached homes, often with maids’ rooms, private gardens and, in some properties, private pools. Golf-fronting homes command a premium, and condition varies — some houses have been upgraded beautifully, others are in original finish — so view in person and check kitchens, bathrooms and air-conditioning carefully.
Apartment renters get a lower-cost entry point with shared pools and gyms, but should check exactly which community facilities their building’s residents can use, and on what terms. Confirm what is included in the rent: appliances, garden upkeep, pool maintenance and minor repairs are handled differently by different landlords, and getting it in writing saves arguments later.
Community Centres, Shops and the Clubhouse
Everyday life revolves around the community’s retail and leisure hubs. The community centre and retail at the entrance areas provide the supermarket, pharmacy, cafés, salons and takeaways residents use daily, and there are nurseries and clinics within or close to the community. The golf clubhouse is the social flagship, with dining overlooking the course, but golf membership and some club facilities are separate, paid arrangements — they do not automatically come with a tenancy, so check current terms directly with the club.
Outdoors is the real amenity: lakes, parks, playgrounds, sports courts and a skate park give children and dog owners room to roam, and the community runs markets in the cooler season. Residents also trip out to Studio City, Motor City or Dubai Hills Mall for bigger shops and cinemas, so factor those journeys in.
Schools and Drive Times Into Town
There is a school presence in and around the community, and many families also use schools in neighbouring areas such as Jebel Ali, Motor City, Al Barsha South and Dubai Hills. School choice will shape your morning more than any other factor, so shortlist places first, then time the run from a specific cluster at drop-off hour — internal roads and the exits onto Hessa Street and Al Qudra Road can queue at peak times.
For work commutes, typical off-peak drives are approximately:
- Around 25 to 35 minutes to Dubai Marina and JLT via Hessa Street.
- Around 25 to 35 minutes to Business Bay and Downtown via Al Khail Road, depending on your cluster.
- Around 15 to 20 minutes to Dubai Hills Mall, Studio City and Motor City.
Those are fair-weather estimates, not promises. At peak times, or after an incident on Hessa Street or Al Khail Road, journeys can stretch considerably. There is no Metro station in the community, and while buses and taxis are available, they are not a substitute for a car for most households. If one partner will commute daily to DIFC or Deira, test that drive at 7.30am before you sign — twice, on different days.
Running Costs and Renting Realities
Villas here are generally cooled through your own electricity account rather than district cooling, so DEWA bills for a large villa in summer can be significant. Apartments may have different arrangements, including district cooling in some buildings, so ask which system applies and request an example bill for a similar property. Also ask about water use for gardens, and who pays for pool and garden maintenance.
Rents have typically offered more bedrooms and plot for the money than Dubai Hills Estate or Arabian Ranches closer in, which is precisely the draw — but compare current listings cluster by cluster, because golf view, condition and furnishing move prices a lot within the same community.
DAMAC Hills suits families who will genuinely use the space, parks and community life and who can organise life around driving. Choose your cluster by school run and exit route, pin down bills and maintenance in writing, and you will likely find it an easy, green place to settle.
Related Guides
- Dubai Hills Estate Renting Guide: Villas, Club Houses and Park-Side Living
- The Springs and The Meadows: Lake Villas, Gates and Community Fees Explained
- Service Charges for Villa Owners: Community Fees in Arabian Ranches and Emirates Hills
- Pest Control in Villas: Garden Pests, Drain Flies and Treatment Schedules