The Greens and Views community: A place of peace in Dubai

Dubai - The community also enjoys amenities like a retail centre and numerous cafés and restaurants here and there.

The Greens and Views community offers its residents the kind of place that its name evokes - a peaceful residential area surrounded with trees and dotted with lakes. And on top of that, it is also not too far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Most residents opt to stay in this community not only for the balance it offers in terms of its convenient location and serene setting - but also for the fact that almost everyone in the area knows each other and enjoys the community feel of the place.
When you have an attractive scenery dominated by green streetscapes and punctuated with lakes - plus friendly neighbours - it would be hard to think of anything else to ask for.  But above all that, the community also enjoys amenities like a retail centre and numerous cafés and restaurants here and there.
Located between the greenery of Emirates Golf Club and Barsha Heights, the locality lies just off the emirate's Sheikh Zayed Road and can be easily accessed from Internet City, Knowledge Village, Media City, Al Barsha and beyond.
It is said to be quite a hit among families and young professionals, as it comprises about 10 mid-rise communities, each with four buildings set around a private courtyard.
All the communities overlook either tree-lined streets or the open swimming pool, and they are named after trees and plants. There's an Al Alka community (Alka is an Arabic word that means blackberry bush); an Al Ghaf community (named after the UAE's national tree); Al Jaz (desert shrub); Al Nakheel (palm tree); and more.
Mahesh Bhatia is one of the oldest residents of the area, among the first to buy an apartment in one of the communities at The Greens and Views.
"I started my booking process in 2001 and, finally, the apartment was handed over in 2005. I am so impressed by the way Emaar has transformed this community from a wilderness into one of the best communities in Dubai," Bhatia said.
"Even if I get an option to move to a villa, I will refuse it, precisely because of the happy community living I've experienced here. The prompt service, well-maintained buildings and manicured gardens around us make us feel like we are living in a hotel. I have been in the UAE since 1968 and I vouch for this place as one offering the best community life."  
At the heart of the community is the Greens and Views Village, a retail centre with a variety of stores, including a supermarket, restaurants and coffee shops.
Shehla Ahmed, who has been living in the community since 2004, said the neighbourhood is a tangible example of the UAE's values and principles. For one, it hosts a number of nationalities that are not only living together but are meeting each other regularly at  festival celebrations organised by the Emaar community management (ECM).
"Although we have over 6,000 residential units, most of us know each other, thanks to the ECM that ensures that we residents meet and greet each other through the various events. We see a beautiful mix of cultures here, as we celebrate different festivals, such as Holi, Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Valentine's Day and many other occasions.
"Our community has become more like a family. This is how a community should be, where all nationalities learn about each other's cultures," Ahmed said.
Many of the low to mid-rise apartment buildings, with one to four bedrooms, are constructed around a large central courtyard that houses a common swimming pool, health club, BBQ pits, play parks and gardens.
On another side of the communities are the mid to high-rise Views apartment buildings that offer a lofty perspective of the area.
The Greens and Views community also organises market day, where residents put up their own stalls. There are also other initiatives like the Golden Age Group,  Women of Worth.
Must know
1-Live amid greenery
For residents who are after a peaceful residential area that is surrounded by trees and dotted with lakes, The Greens and Views is the place to be. It comprises  10 mid-rise communities, each with four buildings set around a private courtyard. All the communities overlook either tree-lined streets or an open swimming pool.
2-Have a healthy social life
Almost all residents of the community know each other, and some of them have even formed groups that allow them to meet regularly. There's the Golden Age Group, created for senior citizens who are given an area where they can sit and socialise every day. Women of all ages, on the other hand, can be part of the Women of Worth group, whose members get together for social causes.
3-Enjoy cultural festivals
Greens and Views residents feel that their neighbourhood is the perfect example of the UAE's values and principles of tolerance. Besides living together, people of different nationalities also celebrate all sorts of cultural festivals together - from Eid to Diwali and Christmas - thanks to events organised by the community's management.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai