Tilal Al Ghaf Location Guide: Distance to Downtown, Metro & Nearby Areas 2026
Where is Tilal Al Ghaf in Dubai? Exact address on Hessa Street, drive times to Downtown, Marina, DXB airport, metro access, and nearest communities explained.
Written by Ale
Tilal Al Ghaf Location: Where Is It in Dubai and How Easy Is It to Reach?
Tilal Al Ghaf sits along Hessa Street (D61) in Dubai's DubaiLand master district, roughly midway between Sheikh Zayed Road to the north and Al Qudra Road to the south. The community isn't in old Dubai. It isn't near the Marina, and no metro station sits next door. Getting this straight upfront saves buyers a lot of confusion. This post covers the exact address, drive times to key destinations, road access, the public transport reality, and what the location means for daily life.
Key Takeaways
- Tilal Al Ghaf's address is Hessa Street (D61), DubaiLand, Dubai. No current metro access and no postcode (use Google Maps or Makani number for navigation).
- Off-peak drive to Downtown / Dubai Mall is about 29 minutes. Peak-hour runs 45–55 minutes on the Hessa Street corridor.
- Dubai Marina is the closest major hub at about 13 minutes off-peak. Dubai Hills Mall is about 9 minutes.
- Car ownership is essential. The 14-station Dubai Metro Blue Line (opens 9 September 2029) runs east-only (Creek Harbour, Silicon Oasis, Mirdif), with no station on the Hessa Street / DubaiLand corridor. Tilal Al Ghaf stays car-dependent.
Exact Address and Map Reference
Full address: Tilal Al Ghaf, Hessa Street (D61), Dubai, UAE.
DLD district: Filed under Al Hebiah Fourth within Dubai's DubaiLand master district. On property portals, you'll mostly see the community referenced simply as "Tilal Al Ghaf, Hessa Street." The underlying DLD sub-community name rarely shows up in everyday listings.
Coordinates: approximately 25.0100° N, 55.2700° E. For navigation, use the official MAF Google Maps pin or the Makani number rather than rough coordinates. The community's main gate and internal streets are officially mapped.
No postcode: the UAE doesn't use a national postcode system. For mail and deliveries, use the Makani number, a Google Maps Plus Code, or simply "Tilal Al Ghaf, Hessa Street, Dubai." Couriers and ride-hailing apps navigate reliably to the main gate.
Hessa Street (D61): the main arterial road connecting Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) in the north to Al Qudra Road (D63) in the south, passing through Jumeirah Village Circle, Motor City, and Dubailand. Tilal Al Ghaf's main entry sits directly off this road.
Drive Times to Key Dubai Destinations
All times are approximate. Off-peak means outside morning (7–9am) and evening (5–7:30pm) weekday rush. Peak-hour times on the Hessa Street corridor can run 40–80% longer than off-peak, so factor that into any school run or commute calculation.
| Destination | Off-peak drive | Peak-hour estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai / Dubai Mall | 29 min | 45–55 min |
| Business Bay | 25 min | 40 min |
| DIFC | 28 min | 40–50 min |
| Dubai Marina / JBR | 13 min | 25–35 min |
| Mall of the Emirates | 20 min | 30–40 min |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | 34 min | 45–55 min |
| Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) | 20 min | 30 min |
| Dubai Hills Mall | 9 min | 15–20 min |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 10 min | 15 min |
| Arabian Ranches 3 | 10 min | 15 min |
Residents consistently report that the Hessa Street corridor is manageable for a 7:30am school drop-off. Anyone whose workplace sits in DIFC or Business Bay should test the commute during school term before committing. The 45–55 minute peak-hour drive to Downtown is real, not a worst-case scenario. Treat broker off-peak numbers as the best case.
Road Access
Primary Access: Hessa Street (D61)
Hessa Street is the community's main artery, and all daily commuters and deliveries use it. Northbound connects to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) at the Al Safa interchange, giving access to Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road destinations. Southbound meets Al Qudra Road (D63), opening routes toward Dubai South and Al Maktoum Airport.
Typical congestion windows run 7:00–9:00am northbound and 5:00–7:30pm southbound on weekdays during school term. Outside these windows, the road flows well. The Hessa Street corridor has been progressively widened and is better than it was five years ago, but it remains a single-arterial dependency for all Tilal Al Ghaf traffic.
Secondary Access: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311)
MBZ Road (E311) is one of the three major arterials the community depends on, alongside Hessa Street (D61) and Al Khail Road (E44). From inside Tilal Al Ghaf, it's about a five-minute internal drive to an E311 on-ramp. Once on E311, you bypass the Hessa Street bottleneck and reach DXB, Sharjah, and Al Quoz much faster. Residents commuting east or northeast should factor this route into their planning.
Al Qudra Road (D63)
This is the southern connector, useful for residents travelling to Dubai South, DWC airport, and Expo City. Al Qudra Road also passes through The Villa and Dubailand, making it the natural route for school runs and errands in the southern suburbs. Traffic on D63 is generally lighter than on Hessa Street during peak hours.
Public Transport
Metro
No metro station serves Tilal Al Ghaf as of 2026. The nearest existing station is Mall of the Emirates on the Red Line, about 15 km away. That distance makes the metro impractical for daily commuting without a car.
The Dubai Metro Blue Line opens on 9 September 2029 with 14 stations on two branches serving Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, International City, Silicon Oasis, Academic City, and Mirdif. All of it is east Dubai. No Blue Line station serves Tilal Al Ghaf or the Hessa Street / DubaiLand corridor. If you buy here, don't assume future metro access will solve the car dependence. Any eventual west-Dubai metro coverage is more likely to come from further Red Line / Expo 2020 extensions, not the Blue Line.
Buses
RTA bus coverage along the Hessa Street / DubaiLand corridor is limited. No high-frequency bus route offers a practical daily commute for most residents. Buses aren't a realistic primary transport mode for this community.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Careem and Uber both operate with good coverage. Pickups from the main gate or internal community streets usually arrive within 5–15 minutes. Dubai Taxi (RTA) is also available via the DTC app or flagging near the gate.
Indicative fare estimates:
- To Dubai Marina: AED 35–55
- To Downtown Dubai: AED 40–60
- To DXB airport: AED 45–70
- To DWC airport: AED 30–45
These fares make ad-hoc rides affordable, but a twice-daily taxi commute adds up fast. Residents without a car should model the monthly ride-hailing cost before deciding it replaces a vehicle.
Nearby Communities
The table below helps buyers compare Tilal Al Ghaf's position against competing communities, and tenants relocating from nearby areas.
| Community | Distance (km approx.) | Type | Drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian Ranches 3 | 5 km | Villas / TH | ~10 min |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 8 km | Apts / TH | ~10 min |
| The Villa (Dubailand) | 6 km | Villas | ~12 min |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | 12 km | Villas | ~15 min |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 14 km | Villas / Apts | ~20 min |
| Motor City / Uptown | 12 km | Apts / TH | ~15 min |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | 14 km | Villas | ~18 min |
Proximity to Arabian Ranches 3 (10 minutes) makes Tilal Al Ghaf a natural comparison when you shortlist. Same drive time, different developer, different lifestyle proposition. See the amenities and lifestyle post for the on-the-ground living comparison. For how the physical community is designed, see master plan and phasing.
What District Is Tilal Al Ghaf In?
New buyers sometimes see older write-ups that locate Tilal Al Ghaf in "Nad Al Sheba." That's wrong. Tilal Al Ghaf sits within Dubai's DubaiLand master district, filed with the DLD under the Al Hebiah Fourth sub-community. It's adjacent to Dubai Sports City, Dubai Studio City, and Jumeirah Golf Estates, along the Hessa Street (D61) corridor.
The practical implication: always use "Tilal Al Ghaf" as your destination term in Google Maps or the official Makani number at the main gate. Searching "Nad Al Sheba" routes you to a completely different part of Dubai near the racecourse, far from the community.
Is the Location a Deal-Breaker?
Honest assessment, because it matters for a ten-year lifestyle decision.
The no-metro situation is a genuine constraint for car-free households. If you or your partner don't drive, or don't plan to own a vehicle, Tilal Al Ghaf is a difficult proposition. The Blue Line (opens September 2029) serves east Dubai only and won't change this. The community's connectivity story is about arterial road access (D61, E44, E311), not rail.
Hessa Street congestion is real but manageable for most residents who adjust departure times. The school-run dynamic is significant. When RGS Dubai opens its doors alongside hundreds of families hitting Hessa Street, the northbound road backs up. Families should test the 7:30am run specifically.
The Al Maktoum Airport proximity is an underrated positive. If you fly frequently through DWC, which will expand significantly as Al Maktoum International grows, a 20-minute airport drive versus 30–45 minutes to DXB adds up over the years.
For the full community picture, see the Tilal Al Ghaf guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Tilal Al Ghaf in Dubai?
Tilal Al Ghaf sits along Hessa Street (D61) in Dubai's DubaiLand master district (DLD sub-community: Al Hebiah Fourth), between Al Qudra Road to the south and Sheikh Zayed Road to the north, adjacent to Dubai Sports City, Dubai Studio City, and Jumeirah Golf Estates. It's not in any of the established coastal or central districts. It's a mid-southern suburban location, roughly 25 km from Downtown Dubai and 15 km from Dubai Marina by road.
Is there a metro station near Tilal Al Ghaf?
No. The nearest existing metro station is Mall of the Emirates (Red Line), about 15 km away. The 14-station Dubai Metro Blue Line opens on 9 September 2029 but serves east Dubai only (Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Mirdif). No Blue Line station is planned for Tilal Al Ghaf or the Hessa Street / DubaiLand corridor. Car ownership is essential for Tilal Al Ghaf residents.
How far is Tilal Al Ghaf from Downtown Dubai?
Roughly 25–28 km by road. Off-peak drive time is around 29 minutes via Hessa Street north to Sheikh Zayed Road. During peak hours (7–9am inbound, 5–7:30pm outbound), the same journey commonly runs 45–55 minutes. Business Bay is a similar distance and travel time.
How far is Tilal Al Ghaf from the airport?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is about 30 km away, or 34 minutes off-peak. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is about 20 km, or 20 minutes off-peak, making it the closer airport. For frequent DWC flyers, this proximity is a genuine location advantage.
Drive times are indicative off-peak estimates based on standard road routing. Verify travel times personally during your preferred commute hours before making a purchase or rental decision.