Al Rawda 2

TL;DR: Al Rawda 2 is a deeply established, fully completed residential sub-community in Al Rawda, Ajman, bordering Sharjah. Offering a diverse mix of low-rise apartments and spacious standalone villas (3-bedroom to 5-bedroom), it delivers an exceptionally affordable suburban lifestyle with villas starting from approximately AED 1.3 million. The area provides 4.6% to 5.8% gross rental yields, immediate access to Galleria Mall and Ajman City Centre, proximity to Saudi German Hospital and British International School, and rapid E11 highway connectivity to Dubai and Sharjah.

Introduction

Al Rawda 2 is a comprehensively developed, deeply mature residential sub-community situated within the expansive Al Rawda district on the strategic outskirts of Ajman, directly bordering the emirate of Sharjah. As the central component of the wider Al Rawda neighbourhood — flanked by Al Rawda 1 to the south and Al Rawda 3 to the north — this established community completed its major construction phase around 2013 and has since evolved into one of the Northern Emirates' most popular family-oriented residential destinations.

The community's enduring appeal lies in its exceptional value proposition: spacious, well-maintained villas and apartments situated within a calm, suburban environment, offered at price points that are a fraction of comparable properties in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. For established families, relocating professionals, and value-conscious investors seeking strong rental yields in an affordable market, Al Rawda 2 delivers a compelling combination of space, convenience, and cross-emirate connectivity that few Northern Emirates communities can match.

With its strategic position on the Ajman-Sharjah border, the community effectively functions as a gateway between the two emirates, granting residents seamless access to Sharjah's educational and commercial infrastructure while maintaining the more relaxed pace and significantly lower cost base that characterize Ajman's residential market.

Location & Connectivity

Al Rawda 2 occupies a strategically advantageous position on Ajman's eastern border, directly adjacent to the emirate of Sharjah. This cross-border positioning is among the community's most significant practical advantages, enabling residents to access the amenities, employment opportunities, and institutional infrastructure of both emirates with equal convenience.

The Emirates Road (E311) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E11) — two of the UAE's primary north-south arterial highways — are accessible within approximately 5 to 10 minutes from the community. This highway proximity places Dubai's major commercial districts within a 35 to 45-minute commute during off-peak hours, Sharjah's city centre within approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and Ajman's corniche and downtown within 10 to 15 minutes. Ajman International Airport is approximately 20 minutes away.

The surrounding area is exceptionally well-served by retail infrastructure. Galleria Mall, a major regional shopping destination, is situated within approximately 5 minutes' drive. Ajman City Centre, another anchor retail facility, is similarly accessible. Large-format hypermarkets — including Nesto Hypermarket and Safeer Mall — provide comprehensive grocery and household shopping within the immediate vicinity. The community's daily convenience needs are further served by a network of local supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and service establishments lining the main access roads.

Public transport connectivity continues to improve, with local bus routes connecting Al Rawda to Ajman's central bus terminal and onward to Sharjah and Dubai. While the community remains primarily car-dependent, the expanding bus network provides a viable alternative for daily commuters.

Architecture & Design

Al Rawda 2's residential fabric is defined by a characteristically suburban, villa-dominated layout that distinguishes it from the high-rise urban environments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The community's master plan centres on wide, tree-lined internal streets connecting clusters of standalone family villas, interspersed with pockets of low-rise apartment buildings that typically range from 4 to 8 storeys.

The villa stock, which constitutes the community's primary residential offering, spans a generous scale range. Properties are predominantly configured as 3-bedroom, 4-bedroom, and 5-bedroom standalone villas, each typically featuring private gardens, enclosed boundary walls, dedicated maid's quarters, and covered parking for two or more vehicles. Architectural styles across the community reflect a blend of contemporary Arabian and Mediterranean influences, with rendered facades, arched entryways, and terracotta or neutral-tone exterior finishes being prevalent. Many villas incorporate double-height entrance foyers, separate majlis or guest reception rooms, and upper-floor family living areas — design elements that cater specifically to regional family living preferences.

The apartment segment offers a complementary housing option, with buildings typically containing studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. These apartments feature standard finishes with tiled flooring, fitted kitchens, and individual split-unit air conditioning. Apartment buildings generally include shared amenities such as small swimming pools, basic gymnasium facilities, and covered parking.

The community's overall urban design prioritizes spaciousness and privacy. Plot sizes for villas are generous by UAE standards, with landscaped setbacks between properties creating a distinctly suburban character that appeals strongly to families seeking an alternative to the dense, high-rise living environments that dominate Dubai and Sharjah.

Amenities & Lifestyle

While Al Rawda 2 functions as a traditional, organically developed suburban community rather than a gated master-planned development, its amenity provision is robust and continually expanding. Individual villa compounds and apartment buildings provide private amenities including swimming pools, gymnasium facilities, children's play areas, and 24-hour security with CCTV coverage.

At the community level, Al Rawda 2 benefits from a comprehensive network of mosques, public parks, and landscaped open spaces that serve as informal gathering points for residents. Several dedicated children's parks with play equipment are distributed throughout the neighbourhood, providing safe outdoor recreation spaces for younger residents.

The community's family-centric character is reinforced by its proximity to high-quality educational institutions. The British International School Ajman, one of the Northern Emirates' most respected private schools following the British curriculum, is located in the immediate vicinity. Additional schools in the surrounding area include the Ajman Academy, the City School International, and multiple nurseries and early learning centres. This educational density makes Al Rawda 2 a particularly attractive proposition for families with school-age children.

Healthcare access is equally strong. The Saudi German Hospital Ajman, a 200-bed multispecialty medical facility offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, is situated within approximately 10 minutes' drive. Thumbay University Hospital and multiple polyclinics in the surrounding area ensure that residents have access to a broad spectrum of medical services ranging from primary care to specialist treatment.

For recreation and leisure, residents benefit from proximity to the Ajman Corniche (approximately 15 minutes), which offers a landscaped waterfront promenade, public beaches, and a growing selection of restaurants and cafes. The Al Zorah Nature Reserve, a protected mangrove ecosystem offering kayaking and birdwatching, is accessible within approximately 20 minutes.

Unit Types & Payment Plans

Al Rawda 2 is a completed, secondary-market community. All transactions occur through resale and rental channels, with no off-plan payment plans currently applicable. The following reflects current market pricing based on secondary market data:

Villas:

• 3-Bedroom Villas: Starting from approximately AED 1,300,000, these represent the community's most accessible family-sized option. Typical configurations include a ground-floor majlis, living and dining area, fitted kitchen, and upper-floor bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Plot sizes average 3,000 to 4,500 square feet.
• 4-Bedroom Villas: Ranging from approximately AED 1,800,000 to AED 2,500,000, these properties offer additional bedroom capacity alongside larger plot sizes, often featuring private swimming pools and expanded garden areas.
• 5-Bedroom Villas: Priced from approximately AED 2,000,000 to AED 4,200,000, these represent the community's premium tier. Properties at the upper end of this range typically feature plots exceeding 8,000 square feet, private pools, extensive landscaping, separate driver's quarters, and premium interior finishes.

Apartments:

• 1-Bedroom Apartments: Annual rents range from approximately AED 26,000 to AED 34,000, reflecting the community's exceptional affordability.
• 2-Bedroom Apartments: Annual rents range from approximately AED 32,000 to AED 45,000.
• Studio Apartments: Available from approximately AED 18,000 to AED 24,000 annually.

The community operates on a freehold title system, with villa and apartment ownership available to UAE nationals, GCC citizens, and foreign investors. This freehold status within Ajman — where property prices are significantly lower than Dubai's freehold zones — creates a highly attractive ownership opportunity for budget-conscious investors.

Developer Profile

Al Rawda 2 is not the product of a single master developer but rather an organically developed suburban community comprising properties built by numerous private developers and individual landowners over a period spanning approximately 2005 to 2013. The Ajman Municipality oversees community planning, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory compliance for the area.

This decentralized development history means that property quality, design standards, and interior specifications can vary meaningfully between individual villas and apartment buildings. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct thorough due diligence on individual properties, including structural inspections and verification of title deeds through the Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ARRA).

The Ajman government has demonstrated sustained commitment to improving infrastructure across Al Rawda, with ongoing investments in road upgrades, utility capacity expansion, street lighting, and public amenity development. These infrastructure improvements are progressively enhancing the community's liveability and supporting property value appreciation.

Investment Potential

Al Rawda 2 presents one of the UAE's most compelling value investment cases, driven by the substantial price differential between Ajman and the more established emirates. Gross rental yields for villas in the area range from approximately 4.6% to 5.8%, which compares favourably with prime Dubai villa communities where yields have compressed to 3.0% to 4.5% (Bayut Market Report, 2024). Apartment yields are even more attractive, with well-maintained units in the area generating gross returns of 7% to 9% owing to the combination of low acquisition costs and steady rental demand.

The investment thesis for Al Rawda 2 rests on several structural pillars. First, the community's affordability acts as a powerful demand anchor — as property prices in Dubai and Sharjah continue to escalate, an increasing number of families and professionals are relocating to Ajman's established suburban communities where they can access significantly more space at a fraction of the cost. This demand migration pattern has been accelerating since 2022, with Ajman recording year-on-year transaction volume increases of 35% to 40% in some reporting periods (Ajman Real Estate Department, 2024).

Second, infrastructure development is progressively closing the amenity gap between Ajman and its more developed neighbours. The ongoing expansion of road networks, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and retail infrastructure within and around Al Rawda 2 directly enhances the community's attractiveness to both tenants and buyers.

Third, the cross-border positioning offers genuine practical advantages. Residents can access Sharjah's extensive commercial, educational, and healthcare ecosystem — including the University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, and Sharjah's multiple free zones — while benefiting from Ajman's lower cost of living and more affordable property prices. For investors, this dual-emirate accessibility broadens the potential tenant pool significantly beyond Ajman's own population base.

With freehold ownership, no annual property taxes, and entry prices starting from just AED 1.3 million for family-sized villas, Al Rawda 2 offers investors an exceptionally low barrier to entry into the UAE's residential property market, backed by the structural demand drivers that continue to fuel population growth and rental absorption across the Northern Emirates.