The Official Name Is Barsha Heights. Nobody Calls It That. It's Tecom.
The government renamed it in 2019. The street signs changed. The maps updated. And every single resident, taxi driver, and delivery app still calls it Tecom. So we will too, with "Barsha Heights" in parentheses for the algorithms.
Tecom is the residential tower cluster sandwiched between Sheikh Zayed Road and Hessa Street, directly adjacent to Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Knowledge Village. If you work in tech, media, digital marketing, or education in this corridor, Tecom is where your commute drops to walking distance. That single fact explains why it's one of the most rented areas in Dubai.
What Tecom Actually Looks Like
Tecom is not a planned community in the way JVC or Dubai Hills are. It grew organically around the business parks, and the result is a dense cluster of residential towers mixed with commercial buildings, a busy restaurant strip, and more salons per square kilometre than anywhere outside of Jumeirah.
The main residential zones:
Tecom C (First Al Khail Street area): The original residential cluster. Towers here are from the 2005–2010 era — functional but not fancy. Think basic lobbies, decent-sized apartments, and lower rents because the buildings show their age.
Hessa Street towers: Newer developments (2016–2020) with modern fittings, gym and pool facilities, and higher rents to match. If building quality matters to you, focus on this strip.
34th Street / restaurant strip: The towers along this corridor are mid-range but benefit from being walkable to dozens of restaurants and cafes. Evening noise can be a factor for lower floors.
Rent: 20–30% Less Than Marina for Similar Quality
That's Tecom's value proposition in one sentence. Here are the numbers:
- Studio: AED 35,000–50,000/year
- 1-bedroom: AED 55,000–80,000/year
- 2-bedroom: AED 80,000–120,000/year
Compare that to Dubai Marina where 1-beds start at AED 75,000 and easily hit AED 110,000. Or JLT where similar apartments run AED 60,000–90,000 for a 1-bed. Tecom gives you nearly the same access to the Marina/JBR social scene (10 minutes away) at a meaningful discount.
The caveat: building quality in Tecom varies dramatically. A 2008-built tower might have an outdated kitchen and no gym. A 2018-built tower two streets away has a rooftop pool and smart home controls. Always view the specific building, not just the area.
The Tech Corridor Commute
If you work in any of these locations, Tecom makes your life significantly easier:
- Dubai Internet City (DIC): 5–10 minute walk or 3-minute drive. Major employers: Microsoft, Google, LinkedIn, Amazon, Oracle.
- Dubai Media City (DMC): 5–10 minute walk. Major employers: MBC, CNN, Reuters, social media agencies.
- Knowledge Village / Dubai International Academic City: 10–15 minute walk.
- Dubai Design District (d3): 12 minutes by car.
This isn't just convenience — it's a financial calculation. No car expenses if you work nearby. No fuel, no Salik toll gates, no parking fees. A Tecom resident working at DIC saves roughly AED 800–1,200/month compared to someone commuting from JVC or DSO.
Metro: One of Tecom's Biggest Advantages
Tecom has genuine Metro access, which many similar-priced areas lack entirely. Two stations serve the area:
- Sharaf DG Metro Station: Red Line, directly accessible from the eastern end of Tecom. 2 stops to Mall of the Emirates, 6 stops to Burjuman/Downtown.
- Dubai Internet City Metro Station: Red Line, on the western edge. Direct access to JLT, Marina, and JBR via the tram connection at DMCC station.
If your workplace isn't walkable but is on the Red Line, you still avoid driving. This is a major advantage over car-dependent communities like JVC, DSO, or Arabian Ranches. It's also the reason Tecom maintains high occupancy even when rents increase.
Move-Day Logistics
Moving to Tecom is straightforward compared to more congested tower areas:
Service elevators: Most Tecom towers have dedicated service elevators. The buildings aren't as tall as Marina or Downtown towers, so elevator wait times are shorter. Expect a 2-hour booking window for your move.
Truck parking: Street parking for moving trucks is usually available. The internal roads behind the main tower clusters have less traffic than the main streets. Your apartment movers should know to access from the side streets, not the main roads.
Building permits: Most Tecom buildings require a move-in NOC from building management. Apply 2–3 days in advance with your tenancy contract. Some buildings charge a refundable deposit of AED 1,000–2,000 to cover potential damage to common areas during the move.
Move costs for Tecom apartments: AED 1,000–1,500 for a studio, AED 1,200–2,000 for a 1-bed, AED 1,800–2,800 for a 2-bed.
Food, Nightlife, and Daily Life
Tecom's restaurant strip along 34th Street is one of Dubai's most underrated dining corridors. Dozens of restaurants spanning Lebanese, Indian, Filipino, Japanese, Italian, and American cuisines — most at prices significantly lower than Marina or Downtown restaurants. You can eat out daily here without breaking the bank.
For groceries, there's a Carrefour Market within the area and several smaller supermarkets. The larger Carrefour at Ibn Battuta Mall is 8 minutes away.
Nightlife isn't within Tecom itself — it's residential at heart. But JBR and Dubai Marina are 10 minutes by taxi, and many Tecom residents consider this the perfect arrangement: quiet at home, nightlife a short ride away.
The Naming Confusion: A Practical Issue
The dual naming causes real problems:
- For official addresses (Emirates Post, government forms): Use "Barsha Heights"
- For taxis and ride-hailing apps: "Tecom" works better — most drivers know it by this name
- For deliveries: Some apps list it as Barsha Heights, others as Tecom. Check both if your address isn't finding correctly.
- For moving day: Give your movers the building name and a Google Maps pin. Don't rely on "Tecom" as a destination — the area is large enough that they could end up on the wrong street.
Tecom vs The Alternatives
- vs Al Barsha: Al Barsha is more suburban — villas, low-rise apartments, Mall of the Emirates. Tecom is tower-based, more urban, and focused on young professionals rather than families.
- vs JLT: JLT has lake views and slightly better community infrastructure (walking paths around the lakes). Tecom has better walkability to the tech corridor and equivalent Metro access. Rents are comparable.
- vs Dubai Marina: Marina has the beach, the walk, and the social scene — at a 20–30% rent premium. If you work in DIC/DMC, Tecom gives you the same area access at a lower cost.
- vs Production City: Production City is cheaper but further from the tech corridor, no Metro, and limited dining/retail.
Ready to move to Tecom? Get a free estimate — we move people into and out of Tecom towers every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tecom the same as Barsha Heights?
Yes. The area was officially renamed from Tecom to Barsha Heights in 2019, but residents, taxi drivers, and most apps still use "Tecom." Use "Barsha Heights" for official addresses and government documents. Use "Tecom" when giving directions or booking taxis.
How much is rent in Tecom Dubai?
Studios rent from AED 35,000–50,000/year, 1-bedrooms from AED 55,000–80,000/year, and 2-bedrooms from AED 80,000–120,000/year. That's 20–30% cheaper than Dubai Marina for similar apartment quality, with the added benefit of being walking distance to Dubai Internet City and Media City.
Does Tecom have Metro access?
Yes, and this is one of its major advantages. Sharaf DG and Dubai Internet City stations on the Red Line both serve Tecom. From Sharaf DG, it's 2 stops to Mall of the Emirates and 6 stops to Downtown. The tram connection at DMCC station provides access to JBR and Marina.
