LIV Marina, Dubai Marina
Liv Marina rises 44 storeys in Dubai Marina, and its homes run from studios and one-bedrooms to two- and three-bedroom flats and penthouses. That spread decides who the building suits. It runs from a solo traveller on a work trip to a family, or to a group that wants a penthouse as a single address.
Floors
44
Area
Dubai Marina
Who it suits
The tram links the Marina with JBR, so you can reach the beachfront and its restaurants without a car. With a tram, two metro stations, a beach walk and a canal promenade in one district, a studio lets you do most days on foot, and a three-bedroom lets a family do the same with room to spread out. The reception desk, security and CCTV also suit someone who lands alone after dark.
A day inside the tower
The day can start in the gym inside the building and carry on at the swimming pool, with a steam room for the end of it. Nothing there needs a taxi, so a week of mornings and evenings costs you no travel time. Squash and badminton courts are at Marina Promenade if you want a change of scene. Regime trains at Dubai Marina Yacht Club.
Children have a play area, and a games room covers the hour when the sun is too hot for it. A barbecue area is there for an evening with friends or family.
Cafes or restaurants share the site with the apartments, so a first coffee needs no walk at all. Further out, cafes line the promenade, and The Marina Mall and The Walk at JBR add further dining.
Where the tower sits
Liv Marina stands on a waterfront strip between Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Media City. A tower of 44 storeys leaves a wide choice of floors, and the floor is worth settling early.
Studio to penthouse
A studio fits one person on a work trip, or a couple who want little more than a bed and a view. A one-bedroom gives a couple on a longer break a door to close. A two-bedroom suits two friends, or parents with a child, and the three-bedroom suits a family that wants a room for each generation. The penthouses are the step up from the three-bedroom, and the ones to look at if a group wants one address for everyone.
On a month-long stay the small things count. Maintenance services are provided at the building, so a dripping tap gets handled without a hunt for a stranger. Parking comes with the building, which suits a hire car, although visitor parking is available but tight at peak hours, and there is a reception desk for the day you land.
Landing and the ride in
Land at Dubai International (DXB) and take one taxi to the Marina. Security and CCTV cover the building, and the reception desk takes you the last stretch.
Trams, metro and the water
The Dubai Tram threads through the community and links up with the metro, which cuts down on short car trips. Dubai Marina is served by two Dubai Metro Red Line stations: Sobha Realty and DMCC. The rest of the city is a ride away.
Uber and Careem are widely available. So are taxis, and several bus routes run through the area. A marine water taxi route links Marina Mall with Marina Walk, and a one-day hop-on, hop-off pass covers the Marina water taxi routes. Another route runs from Dubai Marina Mall to Bluewaters Island, where Ain Dubai stands.
Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) is the road link for JBR. Marina roads fill up on weekends and public holidays, and again during school hours. Those are the hours when the tram beats a car, even with parking in the building.
The first errand
Dubai Marina has grocery stores of every size, from large supermarkets to small neighbourhood shops. Waitrose is inside Dubai Marina Mall. Spinneys and Al Maya are other grocery options in the area, and West Zone is a third.
Medcare Medical Centre and Emirates Hospitals Clinic are in the Marina, as is King's Marina Medical Centre, with Al Zahra Hospital and Saudi German Hospital in Al Barsha nearby.
Sand and water
You can walk across The Walk, a promenade lined with restaurants and shops, to reach the shoreline. Beach access is free. JBR Beach is the livelier beach with water sports, Marina Beach is quieter, and Kite Beach is known for kitesurfing.
The Marina Walk suits a long stroll, with cafes and retail along it. The XLine zip line and yacht rental are among the things to do. AquaFun Dubai Water Park and Adventure Island are in JBR. Madame Tussauds Dubai and Ain Dubai are within reach by car.
Dinner and a wet afternoon
Pier 7 stacks seven restaurants across seven floors at the water's edge on the marina. The Scene and The Coffee Club are for breakfast. Seven Hot Pot Marina and Doner Market serve casual meals around Dubai Marina Mall and Marina Walk. Buddha-Bar and the Address hotel offer dining with marina views. Dubai Marina is a dining destination, from casual cafes to fine dining with waterfront views.
When the heat wins, Dubai Marina Mall has high-street brands and restaurants under one roof, with a supermarket and a pharmacy alongside. It covers 150,000 sqm.
Parks and the school run
Dubai Marina has few parks, so the Marina Walk and promenade take the place of green space for jogging and cycling. Small parks and playgrounds also sit alongside the promenade, where families use them.
No schools sit inside Dubai Marina, so the school run is a 10 to 20 minute drive each way. Willow Children's Nursery on Marina Al Seba Street follows British EYFS with a Reggio Emilia approach, which covers the youngest. Raffles Nursery takes children from 45 days old.
What to weigh before you book
It suits you less if you want a calm street. Peak-hour traffic, limited public parking and noise near The Walk and The Beach come with the Marina, and there are few entry and exit points. In a tower of 44 storeys the floor is part of the booking, since noise in the busy parts of the Marina varies between buildings, depending on floor level and orientation. That makes it a better fit for a stay built around the tram, the water and the pool downstairs than for one that depends on a hire car at peak hours.
If you own here
A tenant applying for a Dubai holiday home permit needs a no objection certificate from the landlord, while owners can apply directly. Royale Stays manages homes for owners from a management fee of 15%, covering furnishing, photography, pricing, check-in, guest communication and maintenance. Our guide to Marina homes for owners covers the area side.
Sources
Sources: Bayut, Gulf News, Knight Frank area guide, betterhomes, Bayut area guide, Engel and Voelkers area guide, Khaleej Times, ServiceMarket blog, Property Finder, Emaar, Bhomes school guide, Gulf Business.
Questions