UNA Apartments

TL;DR: UNA Apartments by Nshama is a completed G+11 residential building in Town Square Dubai, handed over in March 2021. Housing 480 studios and 1-bedroom apartments across 12 floors, it features a pioneering 10,000+ sq ft digitized lobby with co-working spaces, a private cinema, and gaming zones — designed specifically for millennial and entrepreneurial lifestyles. Studios start from approximately AED 535,000, with gross rental yields of 7–8%, among the highest in Dubai's affordable segment.

Introduction

UNA Apartments represents one of the most conceptually distinctive residential developments in Dubai's affordable housing sector. Developed by Nshama and delivered to residents in March 2021, this G+11 building was explicitly designed to reimagine what residential living means for millennials, digital entrepreneurs, and creative professionals. Rather than following the conventional Dubai apartment model of maximizing unit count with standard lobbies and corridors, UNA transforms its communal spaces into a dynamic live-work-socialize ecosystem — anchored by a flagship 10,000+ sq ft digitized lobby that functions as a co-working hub, social club, and creative commons.

The building is located within Town Square Dubai, Nshama's 750-acre (approximately 3.04 sq km) masterplanned community in Dubailand. Town Square was launched in March 2015 by Fred Durie, Nshama's founder and CEO, who brought 13 years of experience as CEO of Emaar International — where he oversaw the development of Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Arabian Ranches. Nshama was created specifically to serve the mid-market gap left by Dubai's predominantly luxury-focused developers, targeting middle-income families earning AED 20,000 to AED 35,000 per month. UNA embodies this ethos with an entry point below AED 550,000 for studios while delivering amenities that rival buildings at twice the price.

Unit Configurations and Pricing

UNA Apartments houses 480 residential units across 12 floors, offered exclusively in studio and one-bedroom configurations designed for maximum spatial efficiency:

Studios range from 334 to 539 sq ft across three distinct floor plan layouts. The most common studio size falls between 346 and 353 sq ft — compact but intelligently designed with integrated storage, modern fitted kitchens, and large windows that maximize natural light. Current secondary market prices for studios range from AED 535,000 to AED 700,000, with per-square-foot rates between approximately AED 1,134 and AED 1,613.

One-bedroom apartments span 479 to 714 sq ft across five layout variations. The most common 1BR configuration falls between 484 and 485 sq ft, while the largest variants at 695 to 714 sq ft provide genuinely spacious living for the price segment. Secondary market values range from AED 690,000 to AED 911,000, representing strong value within the broader Town Square market where community-wide averages sit at approximately AED 918,000 for one-bedroom units.

All units feature contemporary design with integrated smart home provisions, sleek modern finishes, and large windows that flood interiors with natural light. The design language throughout is intentionally youthful — high-volume concrete, glass, steel, and wooden interiors create an industrial-chic aesthetic that distinguishes UNA from the more conventional apartment designs prevalent in Dubai's affordable segment.

The 10,000+ Sq Ft Digitized Lobby

UNA's defining feature is its groundbreaking lobby concept, which transforms the traditional apartment building entrance into a fully programmed communal living space spanning over 10,000 sq ft (with some sources citing up to 21,527 sq ft for the full lobby lounge complex). This is not a lobby in the conventional sense — it is a curated ecosystem of activity zones designed to foster productivity, creativity, and social connection:

• Co-working desks and dedicated workstations equipped with power, connectivity, and ergonomic seating for residents working remotely or running small businesses
• Music room with instruments and acoustic treatment for creative residents
• Games corner featuring billiards tables and recreational equipment
• Communal smart TV area for shared viewing, presentations, and community events
• Reading space and library for quiet study and reflection
• Creative and art zones providing space for artistic expression and collaboration
• Concierge service desk providing 24/7 resident support

The lobby redefines underutilized building foyer space as a living, breathing extension of residents' homes — a philosophy that Nshama's press materials describe as reimagining "the creative aspirations of the new generation." For residents in compact studios, the lobby effectively doubles their living space by providing professional-grade environments for work, entertainment, and socializing.

Building Amenities

Beyond the digitized lobby, UNA delivers a comprehensive amenity package that belies its affordable price point:

• Private cinema / mini theatre for movie screenings and community events
• Modern gymnasium and fitness centre with contemporary equipment
• Outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and poolside areas
• Recreation and gaming zones extending the social hub concept
• Retail stores and dining outlets within the building for daily convenience
• Supermarket access at ground level
• WiFi connectivity throughout all communal areas
• Underground parking with allocated residential spaces
• 24/7 security and video surveillance across all access points and common areas
• High-speed elevators serving all 12 floors
• Laundry and cleaning services available within the building
• Shuttle service to the nearest metro station, addressing the community's distance from rail transit
• Fire safety systems meeting Dubai Civil Defence standards

Town Square Dubai Masterplan

UNA sits within Nshama's Town Square Dubai, one of Dubai's most ambitious mid-market masterplanned communities. The development spans 750 acres with a planned build-out of 18,000 apartments and 3,000 to 3,500 townhouses. As of 2024, Nshama has handed over more than 3,000 units with a target of 5,000 by end of 2024, and the overall community is approximately 60–70% complete — meaning significant infrastructure value continues to be added through ongoing retail, educational, and healthcare development.

Key community features include the 50,000 sq m (37-acre) Town Square Central Park, over 150,000 sq m of landscaped green corridors, 16 distinct gardens, more than 10 km of cycling and jogging tracks, and a planned 2.5-million-sq-ft retail precinct housing 600+ outlets. The Reel Street Cinema, a partnership between Nshama and Emaar Retail, anchors the entertainment offering. Operational retail already includes Carrefour, Spinneys, multiple gyms, medical clinics, and dining establishments.

Location and Connectivity

Town Square Dubai occupies a strategic position at the intersection of Al Qudra Road (D63) and Emirates Road (E611/Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road) in Dubailand. This southern Dubai location provides dual arterial road access — Al Qudra Road connects west to Dubai Marina and east to Academic City, while Emirates Road provides north-south connectivity across the emirate.

Key distances include Arabian Ranches (adjacent, 5–10 minutes), DAMAC Hills (10 minutes), Dubai Miracle Garden (15 minutes), Mall of the Emirates (10–15 minutes), Expo City Dubai (25–30 minutes), Global Village (under 30 minutes), Dubai Mall and Downtown Dubai (25–30 minutes), Dubai Marina (25–27 minutes), and Dubai International Airport (approximately 31 minutes). While Town Square does not have an on-site metro station, UNA's shuttle service bridges this gap by connecting residents to the nearest Red Line station.

Investment Performance

UNA Apartments and the broader Town Square community have established themselves as one of Dubai's strongest performers in the affordable investment segment. Gross rental yields for studios and one-bedroom apartments at UNA range from 7% to 8% — significantly above the Dubai citywide average of approximately 6.9%. At a studio purchase price of AED 535,000 against an annual rental of approximately AED 44,000, the implied gross yield reaches approximately 8.2%, delivering a payback period of just 14 to 16 years.

Town Square was among Dubai's top-performing communities in 2023, recording apartment price appreciation of 19.5%. The community's freehold status allows ownership by all nationalities, and some developer inventory offers 5-year post-handover payment plans. Service charges are estimated at AED 13.5 to AED 25.14 per sq ft per year, with UNA trending toward the higher end due to its extensive communal amenity load including the cinema, co-working lobby, and pool facilities.

The ongoing completion of Town Square's remaining 30–40% of planned infrastructure — including additional retail, schools, hospitals, and community facilities — represents an embedded appreciation catalyst. As the masterplan matures toward full build-out, property values historically follow an upward trajectory that rewards early-phase buyers.