The Yard Dubai – A unique attraction in Al Khawaneej

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bridge and the lake in the yard dubai3

Meraas is known for its eccentric take on shopping destinations. They have a long list of unique constructions in their themes; the beach-themed La Mer, Al Seef, which takes you back to the heritage of Dubai, the adventure-themed Hatta, Bluewaters Island, and many more. The list of things to do in Dubai is long. Even from the first look, it is evident that they have taken a keen interest in adding a distinctive signature to all of them.

One of their recent gifts to the prophetic is The Yard. It extends the Last Exit in Al Khawaneej with a starkly different theme. 

The Khawaneej is where Dubai’s farmlands, lakes, and stables are clustered. The Yard by Meraas represents this greener side of Dubai in great detail. At the same time, they have made it a place for fun and enjoyment.

Attractions in The Yard

As the name implies, The Yard looks like typical ranches in America and Europe, with elements like the Love Lock bridge inspired by Pont des Arts in Paris. It recreates a rustic neighborhood replete with vintage farm machines lying hither and thither all over the place. Some of these are mere models for pictures. There are some others which are for the kids to play.

The Yard has beautiful stretches of green grass, palm trees, and a walking trail shaded with palm branches. There are water mills, wells, and even an 18-meter tall windmill to complete the ambiance.

The Yard was opened to the public in January of 2018. Its location is a little off of the central city. The place hasn’t started pulling the crowd yet. The Yard will also be expanding in different phases. When it is complete, it will have a total area of 2.8 million square feet, more than half the Dubai Mall floor area.

The Yard is a playful destination that is perfect for families. The theme and decor make it a whole lot more enjoyable for children. Desert safari Dubai is of must to do activity in Dubai for all reasons for tourists coming from all over the world.

The Yard is the perfect Instagram spot.

The Yard is a chic destination that adapts elements from the old lifestyle. There are numerous Instagram-worthy spots, like those in La Mer and Kite beach. There are models of vintage technologies all over the park. The fun thing about The Yard is that you have many things to do even if you are not shopping or eating. The lake with two bridges is an excellent location for sunset pictures. The whole place looks stunning in the golden hour, making this a perfect venue for photoshoots.

Some of the animal models are so realistic, as the model of sheep drinking water. The statue of a cow reading newspaper named the Yard Times is comical. Some of them are creepy too. One model shows scarecrows repairing a farm truck and another scarecrow that appears to be conversing. You can sit on the milkman’s bicycle and lie amongst the harvested vegetables. Garden landscaping is also interesting to see.

Some attractions make it attractive for romantic couples as well. To make everything even better, the entree to The Yard is free. The Yard sometimes doubles as a place to host community events and outdoor programs.

Another beautiful thing about The Yard is the ample parking space. You can go here on a weekend evening and find a parking space in no time. So, on festive days, you will be better off visiting here rather than, say, Dubai Mall if you are driving yourself. You don’t have to pay for the parking regardless of how long you park.

How to get to The Yard Dubai

Because it is away from the central city, the best way to get here is by car. There is also plenty of free parking to make driving here even more convenient. 

There is no metro route anywhere nearby. The closest metro station to Al Khawaneej is Rashidiya, 10 kilometers away. If you think you can take a bus, tough luck! You will have to walk at least 3 kilometers after getting down at the nearest bus stop. And the only buses that take this route are 11A.

The Yard Timings

The best thing about The Yard is that you can enjoy the parks and the scenery anytime. The Yard welcomes visitors 24/7. But the retail outlets and restaurants are not open 24 hours. The retail shops here are open every day from 11 AM to 12 midnight, and the eateries stay open a little late until 2 AM and open one hour earlier than the retail shops.

It won’t be as harsh in the summer as in the cities in Dubai. The location of The Yard saves it from humidity to an extent.

The Yard is a great place to visit if you want to see a completely different side of Dubai and have fun at the same time. 

The Yard location

The Yard is located in Al Khawaneej near the Mirdiff City Center. This place, situated towards Dubai’s northern side, used to be a favorite location for luxury apartments. Recently, there have been new shopping and entertainment centers propping up. Mirdif 35 is one such shopping center in this neighborhood. The vibes and ambiance of this area are vastly different from the hustle and bustle Dubai is famous for. Al Khawaneej is surrounded by farmlands, horse stables, and cattle farms.

Restaurants in The Yard

The main attractions in The Yard are the restaurants. There are so many of them for you to choose from. The Yard is a gastronomer destination with various restaurants and food trucks.

There are indoor air-conditioned restaurants which are good if it is summer, outdoor ones are great for enjoying the view while having food. Food trucks are also something you should try. You can buy the take-outs from the food truck and find a convenient spot in The Yard. 

Last Exit D89

There are, in total, four Last Exits in Dubai. Last Exit D89 is a part of The Yard with a slew of food trucks with drive-thrus. The Last Exit here is different from all others with its farm theme.

Homestead

There are even old-style bakeries that take you back to the olden days. The Homestead bakery offers handcrafted materials and artisan bread. It has a perfect interior to match the ambiance of the whole place.

Krush Burgers

A place for some of the finest burgers. In The Yard, they offer a drive-thru a food truck.

The Inventing Room

This dessert place is known for its eclectic theme of a chemistry lab. Desserts here are served in laboratory-style tumblers spewing fumes of liquid nitrogen.

Attractions near The Yard Dubai

Posh Paws Animal Sanctuary and Petting Zoo

This petting zoo is also an animal rescue shelter. This zoo is exclusively for domestic animals and birds. All of these animals are either donated to the zoo or are rescued. Visitors of all ages can learn about the animals and pet them. And if you are interested, you can adopt them.

Mushrif National Park

Unlike other parks, this is a center for adventure sports and a wildlife reserve. Mushrif Park spans over a 5-kilometer square, making it the largest park in Dubai. There is a global village inside the park with Arabic and English-style houses.

Mirdif 35

This mall is less than two years old. Mirdif 35 is one of the recent developments in the outskirts of Dubai. These developments also demonstrate the development trend in Dubai is going to be in the coming decades. It is a shopping and lifestyle center located on Khawaneej road.