Business Bay: Where Residential Meets Commercial
Business Bay is Dubai's largest mixed-use district, stretching along the Dubai Water Canal between Downtown Dubai and Al Khail Road. With over 240 towers — a blend of commercial offices, serviced apartments, and residential buildings — the area presents unique moving challenges that do not exist in purely residential communities.
Our team at SAMA Movers manages Business Bay relocations daily, and the key to a smooth move here is understanding the interplay between commercial and residential operations within the same buildings. Loading bays are shared, elevators serve office and residential floors, and weekday traffic patterns are shaped by business hours rather than school runs.
For tailored support, visit our Business Bay movers page.
Key Residential Towers and Their Logistics
Executive Towers (A through L)
This cluster of 12 towers by Dubai Properties is one of the oldest and largest residential developments in Business Bay. Each tower has its own loading bay, but they share an internal service road that can become congested when multiple moves or deliveries occur simultaneously. Towers A through F face the canal, while G through L are set back towards Al Khail Road.
The building management requires a 48-hour advance booking for the service elevator and charges a refundable deposit of AED 1,500. Moving hours are 8 AM to 6 PM, Saturday to Thursday. The main advantage is that the Executive Towers have relatively generous basement loading areas compared to newer, more tightly designed buildings.
Bay Square
Bay Square is a low-rise mixed-use development with apartments above retail and office spaces. The buildings surround a central courtyard with restaurants and cafes. Moving logistics here are complicated by the pedestrian-oriented layout — our trucks access the loading areas from the rear service road, which is not visible from the main courtyard. Coordinate with Bay Square management to confirm the specific rear access route for your building number.
Ubora Towers (1 and 2)
These twin towers sit along Al Khail Road with direct canal views. The loading bay is in the basement, accessible via a ramp from the side road. The main challenge is the ramp's turning radius — our 7-tonne trucks fit, but larger vehicles cannot make the turn. Moving hours follow standard Business Bay practice: 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays.
Claren Towers (1 and 2)
Newer additions to Business Bay by Emaar, the Claren Towers have modern loading facilities with CCTV-monitored freight elevators. The EMAAR management system applies here — NOC from the landlord, 72-hour advance booking, and a refundable deposit of AED 2,000 to AED 3,000. Access is from the Marasi Drive side, close to the canal promenade.
Damac Maison Canal Views and Damac Towers by Paramount
Damac's serviced apartment towers in Business Bay have hotel-style management. Moving slots are limited to weekdays, and the loading bays are shared with hotel supply deliveries. Our apartment moving team coordinates directly with the Damac concierge to secure the earliest available morning slot, minimising conflict with regular hotel operations.
The Loading Bay Challenge
The defining challenge of moving in Business Bay is loading bay competition. In purely residential buildings, loading bays serve only residents and their deliveries. In Business Bay's mixed-use towers, the same loading bays serve office supply deliveries, commercial fit-outs, restaurant stock, cleaning contractors, and residential moves — all during the same working hours.
Our strategy is straightforward: we arrive early. A 7:30 AM loading bay arrival, 30 minutes before official moving hours, allows us to position our truck and begin carrying items to the service elevator lobby before the commercial delivery rush begins around 9 AM. This head start is critical for moves in towers like Executive Towers, Ubora, and Bay Square where bay space is limited.
Traffic and Route Planning
Al Khail Road runs along Business Bay's eastern edge and is one of Dubai's most congested arterials during peak hours. Morning traffic from 7 AM to 9:30 AM flows heavily towards DIFC and Downtown. Evening traffic from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM reverses. Marasi Drive and the internal Business Bay roads experience moderate traffic throughout the day.
For moves coming from the south (Dubai Hills, Motor City, or Arabian Ranches), we route via Al Khail Road and exit at the Business Bay bridges. From the west (Marina, JBR, JLT), we use Sheikh Zayed Road to the Financial Centre Road exit. Timing the route to avoid the Al Khail Road morning rush can save 30 to 45 minutes on move day.
Living in Business Bay
Business Bay offers excellent connectivity. It borders Downtown Dubai to the west, with a pedestrian bridge over Dubai Canal connecting to the Burj Khalifa area. The Dubai Canal walkway provides a 6-kilometre promenade for jogging and cycling. Business Bay Metro Station is centrally located, and multiple bus routes serve the area.
Daily amenities include the Bay Avenue retail area, multiple supermarkets (Carrefour Market, Spinneys), and a growing number of restaurants along the canal. Dubai Mall is within a 10-minute drive or a 25-minute walk via the canal bridge.
Rents in Business Bay are competitive for such a central location. In 2025, studios average AED 45,000 to AED 65,000, one-bedrooms range from AED 65,000 to AED 100,000, and two-bedrooms from AED 100,000 to AED 150,000 per year, with canal-view units commanding a 15 to 20 percent premium.
Moving Costs for Business Bay
A studio move to Business Bay typically costs AED 700 to AED 1,200. One-bedroom moves range from AED 1,000 to AED 1,800, and two-bedroom moves with professional packing cost AED 1,800 to AED 3,000. Costs at the higher end apply to towers with limited loading bay access or higher-floor units that require extended elevator time.
Practical Tips for Your Business Bay Move
- Book the service elevator and loading bay as early as your building allows — Business Bay slots fill faster than residential-only communities
- Confirm whether your building's loading bay is shared with commercial tenants and plan arrival time accordingly
- For Executive Towers, specify which tower letter when coordinating — each has separate access
- Avoid moves on the last day of the month when commercial tenancies often turn over simultaneously
- If your building faces the canal, confirm whether the loading access is from the canal side or the road side — they are often different
Ready to move to Business Bay? Get your free moving estimate from SAMA Movers — we understand the mixed-use logistics that make Business Bay different.
What are the moving hours for Business Bay buildings?
Most Business Bay buildings permit moves between 8 AM and 6 PM, Saturday to Thursday. Friday and public holiday moves are generally not allowed. Specific towers may have narrower windows — serviced apartment buildings like Damac Maison properties often restrict moves to 9 AM to 4 PM to avoid conflict with hotel operations. Always confirm your building's exact hours when booking.
Is Business Bay traffic a problem on move day?
Al Khail Road, which borders Business Bay, is heavily congested during peak hours from 7 to 9:30 AM and 4:30 to 7:30 PM. We recommend scheduling your move to arrive at the loading bay by 7:30 AM before commercial deliveries begin. Weekday midmorning arrivals between 9:30 AM and 11 AM also work well once the initial rush has subsided.
Do Business Bay buildings charge a moving deposit?
Yes. Business Bay building deposits range from AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 depending on the developer and building. EMAAR-managed towers like Claren charge AED 2,000 to AED 3,000. Executive Towers charge approximately AED 1,500. Damac properties may charge AED 1,000 to AED 2,000. Deposits are refundable after a post-move inspection, typically within 14 working days.
