Looking for a home in Dubai that feels more like a five-star hotel than a standard apartment block? Berkeley at Dubai Hills Estate might just be the answer — and here’s everything you need to know before making your move.
What Is Berkeley at Dubai Hills Estate?
Berkeley is a premium residential development by Soho Development, nestled within one of Dubai’s most celebrated master-planned communities — Dubai Hills Estate. The project offers studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, each designed around the idea that your home should feel like a seamless extension of a luxury resort.
This isn’t a generic off-plan project dressed up in marketing language. Berkeley has a distinct character: hotel-inspired living woven into a genuinely green, community-driven neighborhood. If you’re an expat relocating to Dubai or an international investor exploring the UAE’s property market, this development ticks a surprising number of boxes at once.
Location: Why Dubai Hills Estate Matters
Location in Dubai real estate is everything — and Dubai Hills Estate sits in a sweet spot that many buyers don’t fully appreciate until they live there.
The community occupies a prime stretch between Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, two of the city’s key arterial highways. That means you’re 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, 12 minutes from Mall of the Emirates, and just 5 minutes from Dubai Hills Mall — a sprawling retail and entertainment destination with over 650 shops and restaurants.
For professionals, Business Bay and DIFC are equally accessible. And for frequent flyers, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is roughly a 20-minute drive. In a city where commute times can genuinely shape your quality of life, Berkeley’s location is a tangible advantage.
Apartment Options: Compact Doesn’t Mean Compromised
Berkeley offers three apartment configurations — studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units — each finished to a high standard with contemporary interiors and state-of-the-art appliances built in.
What sets these residences apart from similarly priced options in the market is the attention to layout. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light and frame views of the Dubai skyline or the community’s lush green spaces. Private balconies extend each living area outward, turning an evening at home into something that feels decidedly less urban. Open-plan kitchens and smart home integrations — controlling lighting, climate, and security from your phone — round out a living experience designed for people who want convenience without clutter.
Amenities: More Than Just a Gym and a Pool
Every new Dubai development promises amenities. Berkeley’s offering is worth looking at in more detail, because several of them stand out from the usual checklist.
The azure swimming pool is the community’s social centrepiece — large enough to actually swim laps in, surrounded by landscaped greenery, and connected to a sun deck where residents can unwind properly. Adjacent to it, the reflection garden offers something rarer in dense urban developments: quiet. Walking paths, seating areas, and considered planting create a genuine sanctuary within the complex.
For families, The Playhouse is a dedicated children’s play area designed with safety and creative development in mind — a detail that matters enormously for parents navigating Dubai’s expat lifestyle. The wellness studio caters to residents focused on physical and mental health, with yoga and meditation spaces sitting alongside conventional fitness equipment.
Other facilities include:
- 24/7 security with modern surveillance systems
- A fully equipped fitness centre and gym
- Garden pathways for evening walks
- A basketball court and entertainment park
- On-site dining and café options
- Concierge services in the grand lobby entrance
The concierge element is particularly noteworthy. Berkeley positions itself as hotel-inspired living, and the staffed lobby — available to assist with day-to-day needs — makes good on that promise. It’s the kind of touch that turns a nice apartment into a genuinely comfortable home.
The Dubai Hills Estate Community
Itself Berkeley doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s part of the larger Dubai Hills Estate master plan, and that context matters significantly when evaluating the purchase.
The estate is a joint venture development between Emaar and Meraas — two of Dubai’s most established and trusted developers — and it spans a vast area combining residential zones, commercial spaces, and substantial green infrastructure. At its heart is an 18-hole championship golf course, a genuine draw for golfers and a factor that contributes to the neighborhood’s upscale character even for residents who’ve never picked up a club.
Dubai Hills Park functions as the community’s outdoor hub — with splash pads, skate parks, jogging tracks, cycling paths, and open lawns hosting weekend markets and events. It’s the kind of green space that transforms a residential address into a liveable neighborhood.
Dubai Hills Mall, just five minutes away, was designed to serve this community specifically. Its mix of retail, dining, and a VOX cinema complex means most daily and leisure needs are handled without heading into central Dubai.
Investment Case: What the Numbers Suggest
Dubai’s property market has matured considerably over the past decade, and Dubai Hills Estate has emerged as one of its more resilient and in-demand sub-markets.
For investors, the key metrics are strong. The community benefits from high rental demand — driven by its quality of infrastructure, green environment, and connectivity — which translates into solid occupancy rates for landlords. Rental yields in Dubai Hills Estate have been consistently competitive compared to older established areas, partly because the tenant profile tends toward stable, longer-term expat residents and professionals.
Property values within the estate have shown consistent upward movement as the community has matured and filled in. Berkeley, as a new-build by a quality developer in this location, enters the market with genuine appreciation potential as the wider Dubai Hills Estate development continues to evolve.
Soho Development’s track record is also worth noting. The developer is known for delivering residences that match their specifications — a factor that matters for off-plan buyers who are committing capital before a project is complete.
Berkeley also offers flexible payment plans, which lowers the barrier to entry for international buyers managing capital across currencies and jurisdictions.
Who Is Berkeley Best Suited For?
There’s no single “typical” Berkeley buyer, but a few profiles emerge naturally from the project’s design and positioning:
Expats relocating to Dubai — particularly those joining financial, tech, or professional services firms — will find the location and lifestyle calibration well-suited to a demanding work life that still values quality of home and community.
Young families who want green space, safety infrastructure, and proximity to good schools (Dubai Hills is surrounded by several reputable options) without sacrificing urban connectivity.
International investors seeking stable, well-managed Dubai property with strong rental prospects and a reputable developer behind the project.
Downsizers or second-home buyers from Europe or Asia who want a Dubai base with hotel-level convenience and minimal management overhead.
Final Thoughts
Berkeley at Dubai Hills Estate is not trying to be everything to everyone. It has a clear identity — thoughtfully designed apartments, genuine hotel-inspired amenities, and a location that delivers on both lifestyle and connectivity — and it executes on that identity well.
For buyers or investors who’ve been looking at Dubai and wondering where quality of life actually meets investment logic, this development is a serious candidate worth exploring in depth.
The next step is simple: request a consultation with the sales team at berkeleydubai.com to get current pricing, floor plan options, and payment plan details tailored to your situation.