Elite 5 Sports Residence, Dubai Sports City
A 21-storey tower of 250 homes, Elite Sports Residence 5 was developed by Triplanet International Ltd. It sits inside Dubai Sports City, a freehold community that mixes apartments with villas and townhouses, and it has five major sports venues, among them the Els Club and Rugby Park. So this is a stay for people who want a sporting district rather than a skyline.
Floors
21
Developer
Triplanet International
Units
Studio-2BR apartments
Area
Dubai Sports City
Studios to two-bedrooms in one tower
The homes run from studios through one-bedroom apartments to two-bedrooms. That mix points the building at couples, solo travellers and small families, and it sets the tower apart from the villa streets of Victory Heights, which have no apartments at all.
A building of this size runs on its services, and this one has them. Security with CCTV cover is in place, maintenance is provided on site and parking comes with the building. Dubai Sports City has no metro station of its own, so most trips here start with a car or a taxi, and a space in the building saves the search.
Landing and the first evening
From Dubai International Airport (DXB) you take a taxi or a ride-hailing car, in one leg with no change, and the road in is Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), which runs beside the district and gives the community its direct link to the rest of the city.
The reception desk is where the stay starts. Once you are in, the retail units and the cafes or restaurants on site cover a first coffee or a forgotten phone charger without leaving the tower. That is a kindness after a long flight.
The first proper shop is a short car ride. Big Value and Almaya are the local supermarkets. Carrefour and Spinneys branches sit close by, and Life Pharmacy and Boots cover the pharmacy run.
On the second morning, breakfast can be Copper Kettle or one of the cafes in the tower. Khansoor Park and Harmel are two of the parks listed in the district, so a first walk does not need a plan.
The retail units in the tower are handy for basics, but they are not a mall, and Dubai Sports City has no mall inside it. The closest are City Centre Me'aisem in Dubai Production City and First Avenue Mall in Motor City. A shopping afternoon here is a planned car trip, with the tower as the base you come back to.
Who uses what inside
The wet side of the building suits a couple. Start with the swimming pool, then move on to the spa, where a sauna and a steam room share the floor. After a day out in the heat, that is an evening that needs no booking anywhere else.
A family with young children has a play area and a barbecue area on site. A two-bedroom apartment gives the adults a door to close, and the pool sits in the building rather than a car trip away. Victory Heights, the villa community next door, has its own children's outdoor play area, which makes a second option for a slow afternoon.
If you are working remotely for a month, the gym in the building gives the day a routine. The Dubailand setting is quieter than central Dubai, and the cafes or restaurants on site save a daily trip out. When the building gym is not enough, Fit Republik is a large indoor gym in the district. The Sports Village has an Olympic running track.
The building has a prayer room. If you prefer a mosque, Sports City Mosque and Al Abrar Mosque serve the Victory Heights end of the district.
It suits you less if you want a beach or a metro station at the door, or a street that stays awake late. Dubai Sports City is built for sport and space, not for nightlife. New projects can also bring temporary construction noise to parts of the district, and the more established sections are the quieter ones. That is the trade.
Evenings are for walking. Streets in the district are quiet, with landscaped walkways and walking trails, and cycling paths run alongside. The Canal Promenade is good for evening walks and cycling. With the play area in the tower and a promenade nearby, a family can fill the hour before dinner without a car.
Getting around with two exits
Bus stops line Golf Course Drive and other main roads, and routes F34 and F38 serve the community, plus J02. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are available too, so you can get around without owning a car.
Al Khail Road (E44) and Hessa Street (D61) are the two main roads for trips across Dubai, and because the district has only two entry and exit points, the morning is when traffic backs up on both. If you have a flight or a meeting, leave earlier than the map suggests.
If you own here
Royale Stays manages homes for owners from a management fee of 15%, covering furnishing, photography, pricing, check-in, guest communication and maintenance. Our Dubai Sports City area guide sets the district out from the ownership side. Elite 4 Sports Residence and V2 Residence have their own guides.
Cricket, rugby and golf next door
With parking in the building, day trips are easy to plan. Miracle Garden and Global Village sit within reach of the district, and the International Cricket Council has its headquarters here. Academies for several sports run in the community, among them the ICC Academy and the Claude Harmon Performance Golf Academy, so a sport week is a real option.
Dubai International Stadium has hosted international cricket and franchise league matches, and it doubles as a setting for concerts and festivals. The ICC Academy has two full-sized grounds and training facilities.
The Els Club Country Club has two swimming pools, one with a children's pool and play area, plus a fitness centre. The CH3 Performance Golf Academy coaches golfers of all skill levels on the driving range, and padel courts opposite it are booked through the Playtomic app.
Dinner out and the school run
The Big Easy Bar and Grill at the Els Club serves grilled meats and wines in a setting inspired by South Africa's Western Cape. 261 Bar and Restaurant overlooks the course, with a terrace where pets are welcome. Choice is narrower than in Motor City, where more places cluster together, and some of the eateries here sit along the canal. For a night out beyond the tower's own cafes, plan on a short car trip.
Families staying longer have schools close to hand. Victory Heights Primary School follows the UK curriculum to Year 6. The Wonder Years Nursery takes children from 6 months to 4 years, and Dwight School Dubai teaches the IB curriculum.
Aster Clinic and Saudi German Clinic are the two medical facilities named inside the district. NMC Specialty Hospital is the nearest hospital. Healthcare in the community is limited, so Medcare Medical Centre in nearby Motor City is the practical backup.
How the district grew
Dubai Sports City covers roughly 50 million square feet and was planned around sports venues and academies as well as homes, with building starting in 2004. The Els Club golf course was the first facility completed. It opened in January 2008. Three entrepreneurs backed the project: Abdul Rahim Al Zarouni, Abdul Rahman Bukhatir and Abdul Rahman Falaknaz.
Sources
Sources: Bayut, Property Finder, Bayut area guide, betterhomes, Bhomes area guide, Wikipedia, Dubai Sports City, The Els Club Dubai, Khaleej Times, Gulf News.
Questions