Al Satwa is neighbourhood in Dubai, mainly consisting of high-density residential and commercial properties. The area is popular with the city’s Southeast Asian workers, particularly Filipinos.
Satwa Road runs from north to south and is lined with local restaurants and shops.

2nd December Street another busy street. It is found at the northern end of Satwa and until 2011 was called Al Difayah Street. It was renamed to mark the 40th UAE National Day.
There’s a limited choice of accommodation in the area. Visitors looking for 4 and 5-star hotels can find options on Sheikh Zayed Road. Airbnb is a good choice for those looking for budget rooms to rent (discount code available here).
Neighbouring districts are Jumeirah to the west, Bur Dubai to the north, Sheikh Zayed Road to the east, and Al Wasl to the south.
Hotels
Hotels and places to stay in and around Al Satwa include:
- Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai
- Rove Trade Centre
- voco Dubai an IHG hotel
- Conrad Dubai
- Towers Rotana - Dubai
- Ibis Styles Dubai Jumeira
- Address Sky View
- Al Khoory Executive Hotel, Al Wasl
- Fairmont Dubai
- Dusit Thani Dubai
Restaurants
Most restaurants in the area are simple establishments catering to local residents.
More upscale dining options and those licensed to serve alcohol can be found in the hotels on Sheikh Zayed Road/Trade Centre.
The list was last updated on Sunday 4th of October 2020.
Name | Address | Cuisine | Price | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
24th St. World Street Food | Dusit Thani Trade Centre | Indian, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Chinese | $$ | Licensed restaurant on the 24th floor of the Dusit Thani. Street food concept offering dishes from around the world (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Arabic etc.). Vibrant and colourful interior. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Babaji | City Walk Al Wasl | Turkish | $$ | Contemporary Turkish restaurant at City Walk. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Chamas | Crowne Plaza Dubai Trade Centre | Brazilian, Steakhouse | $$$ | Brazilian churrascaria at the Crowne Plaza Dubai. Offers all-you-can-eat meat feasts served at your table. Salad and dessert bars. Live music. Friday brunch. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Level 43 Sky Lounge | Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road Trade Centre | Bar, International | $$ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Ravi | Al Dhiyafa Road Satwa | Pakistani, Indian | $ | Legendary local restaurant. Founded by a Pakistani labourer in the 1970s. Known for its authentic Pakistani food. Located near the Satwa Roundabout (junction of 2nd December Street and Al Satwa Road). [Trip Advisor] |
Tresind | Nassima Royal Hotel Trade Centre | Indian | $$$ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Shopping
Satwa Road is home to a variety of local shops and businesses. Supermarkets, tailors, clothes stores, fabric shops, electronics stores, money exchanges, salons, and many more are here.
There are no large malls in the area. Modern malls nearby include City Walk, Boxpark, and the Dubai Mall.
Attractions
There are no major tourist attractions in Satwa itself.
City Walk is immediately south of the area. Places to visit here include Roxy Cinemas City Walk and the Green Planet (an indoor tropical rainforest).
Major attractions in neighbouring Jumeirah are the Jumeirah Mosque, La Mer (Laguna Waterpark, Roxy Cinemas La Mer, La Mer Beach), and the Etihad Museum.
Downtown Dubai also nearby. There’s a wealth of attractions here including the Dubai Fountain, KidZania, Dubai Aquarium, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Opera.
There are a handful of small public parks in Satwa. Satwa Park is on Al Satwa Road, next to the bus station. Al Khazan Park lies at the southern end of the district, opposite City Walk. Large parks in nearby areas include Safa Park in Al Wasl and Zabeel Park in Zabeel. Zabeel Park offers a number of attractions such as the Dubai Frame and Dubai Garden Glow.
Transport
The Red Line of the Dubai Metro runs along Sheikh Zayed Road, east of the area. Stations near Satwa are World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, and Financial Centre.
Al Satwa Bus Station is the main bus station in the area. Services from here include the E304 service to Sharjah, and Metro feeder buses F11 and F28.
Map
Places of interest in Satwa and the immediate vicinity are shown on the map below.