Sonapur has no tourist attractions and no family housing. It is the nickname for the labour-camp district of Muhaisnah 2 in north-east Dubai, where employers house workers in camp rooms licensed for a fixed number of people each.
The district borders the Al Qusais Industrial Area, and most of its residents work in industrial and construction jobs.
Sonapur quick details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Official area | Muhaisnah 2 (the name is also used for camps in Muhaisnah 3 and 4) |
| Name meaning | “Land of gold” in Hindi and Urdu |
| Main road | Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) |
| Work zones nearby | Al Qusais Industrial Area and Sharjah’s industrial areas |
| Nearest metro | etisalat by e& (Green Line), about 4 km away, linked by feeder bus F07 |
| Typical room size | 125 to 200 sq ft |
| Room rent | AED 1,400 to AED 4,300 per room per month |
| Housing rule | Employers with 50 or more workers earning AED 1,500 or less must provide accommodation |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | About 13 km, a 12 to 15 minute drive |
Name & history
Sonapur means “land of gold” in Hindi and Urdu. Workers use it for the camp areas of Muhaisnah 2, 3 and 4, which were once a burial ground, and Muhaisnah 2 is the core of it.
A 2006 municipality crackdown ordered more than 100 of the area’s 495 camps shut for failing minimum standards in building, sanitation, drinking water and pest control. Camps that operate now follow federal MOHRE standards, covered below.
Location & surroundings
Sonapur sits in the Muhaisnah community of Deira, between E311 and D56, beside the Al Qusais Industrial Area. Sharjah’s industrial areas are a short drive away, which makes the district a base for companies working in both emirates.
Dubai International Airport is about 13 km away. Downtown Dubai is a 22 to 30 minute drive.
Inside the district you will find clinics, supermarkets, restaurants and mosques serving the residents. There are no hotels or attractions.
Room sizes, capacity & rent
Camp rooms in Sonapur measure roughly 125 to 200 sq ft, and the floor area sets how many workers can legally sleep in one. The minimum is 3 m² per worker, with no more than 8 to 10 people in a bedroom.
| Room size | Floor area | Workers allowed at 3 m² each |
|---|---|---|
| 125 sq ft | 11.6 m² | 3 |
| 150 sq ft | 13.9 m² | 4 |
| 160 sq ft | 14.9 m² | 4 |
| 180 sq ft | 16.7 m² | 5 |
| 200 sq ft | 18.6 m² | 6 |
A room needs about 194 sq ft to hold six workers.
What a room costs
Rooms rent for AED 1,400 to AED 4,300 per room per month. MOHRE-approved blocks that include DEWA, sewerage, gas, A/C, water tank cleaning and trash disposal sit between AED 3,100 and AED 4,300. A standard 160 sq ft room in a 299-room camp rents for AED 3,200 a month, or AED 38,400 a year.
Rents from AED 1,400 to AED 2,000 per room also exist. Check whether DEWA, gas and A/C are in the rent before comparing that figure with the all-inclusive blocks.
Divide the rent by the number of workers the floor area allows to get the real cost per worker:
- A 160 sq ft room at AED 3,200 holds 4 workers, which is AED 800 per worker per month.
- A 150 sq ft room at AED 4,100 also holds 4 workers, which is about AED 1,025 per worker.
- A company with 50 workers needs 13 rooms of 160 sq ft, which is AED 41,600 a month at AED 3,200 per room.
Rules for camps in Sonapur
The UAE’s labour accommodation standards apply to every camp in Sonapur. The ones that shape a rental decision:
- Under Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022, any establishment with 50 or more workers earning AED 1,500 or less per month must house them.
- Camp operators register the site in the Labour Accommodation System and keep its details valid.
- Each worker gets a bed, a side table and a lockable 2 m cupboard. Beds sit at least 36 inches apart, and three-tier bunks are banned.
- Shared bathrooms need one toilet per 8 workers and at least 2 toilets, with hot and cold water.
- Kitchens, a dining room, a first-aid room with a nurse, a prayer room and laundry facilities must be on site. Stoves and washing machines are not allowed in bedrooms.
- Camps must sit at least 5 km from family housing areas and close to industrial areas and an active road network.
Who Sonapur suits
Sonapur suits employers who need to house a large workforce for industrial or construction work in Dubai and Sharjah. It does not suit families or visitors, because the camps are licensed worker housing.
For employers, the district offers:
- Large camps of up to 299 or 300 rooms, so a whole workforce can live under one lease
- Access to E311 for staff buses
- Short distances to the Al Qusais and Sharjah industrial areas
The main trade-off is density: rooms are shared by 4 to 6 workers, so the camp needs active management.
How to get to Sonapur
There is no metro station in Sonapur. The closest is etisalat by e& on the Green Line, about 4 km away, and feeder bus F07 covers the rest.
By metro & feeder bus F07
- Ride the Green Line to etisalat by e& Metro Station. From Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, take the Red Line to Union and change to the Green Line.
- Walk to the Etisalat Bus Station next to the metro station.
- Board F07, a loop route through Muhaisnah to the labour accommodation at Al Qusais.
- Get off at the stop for your camp in Muhaisnah 2.
Allow about an hour from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station.
By bus 13
Bus 13 runs from Gold Souq Bus Station in Deira to Muhaisnah 2, 7th Street, with no change needed. The full trip takes about 90 to 100 minutes.
By taxi or ride-hailing
A taxi from Downtown Dubai costs about AED 55 to AED 75 and takes 22 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Dubai Taxi and Careem both serve the area. Give the driver the camp name or street number as well as Muhaisnah 2.
By car
Drive to E311 (Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road), which borders Muhaisnah 1 and 2, then follow the signs for Muhaisnah 2. Camps sit on numbered streets such as 7th Street, so a camp name or street number in your navigation app saves time.
FAQ
Is Sonapur the same as Muhaisnah 2?
Sonapur is the common name for the labour-camp district of Muhaisnah 2. Workers also use it for camps in Muhaisnah 3 and 4, but Muhaisnah 2 is its core.
Is there a metro station in Sonapur?
No. The nearest is etisalat by e& on the Green Line, about 4 km away. Feeder bus F07 runs from there to the camps in Muhaisnah 2.
How much does a room cost in Sonapur?
Camp rooms rent for AED 1,400 to AED 4,300 per room per month. MOHRE-approved blocks with DEWA, gas and A/C included sit between AED 3,100 and AED 4,300, and a 160 sq ft room at AED 3,200 a month costs AED 38,400 a year.
How many workers can share one room in a Sonapur camp?
The floor area decides it, at a minimum of 3 m² per worker and no more than 8 to 10 people per bedroom. A 160 sq ft room holds 4 workers, and a room of about 194 sq ft holds 6.
Can families or tourists stay in Sonapur?
No. Sonapur’s camps are licensed worker housing, and the rules require camps to sit at least 5 km from family housing areas. Hotels and family apartments are in other parts of Dubai.
Is Sonapur in Dubai or Sharjah?
Sonapur is in Dubai, in the Muhaisnah community of Deira. It sits close to the Dubai-Sharjah boundary and to Sharjah’s industrial areas.
What to check before renting a room
- Count the workers earning AED 1,500 or less per month. At 50 or more, housing is mandatory.
- Convert each room’s area to square metres and divide by 3 to get the workers it can hold, then divide the rent by that number.
- Ask the landlord for the MOHRE approval and the Ejari-registered contract.
- Confirm in writing whether DEWA, gas, A/C and maintenance are inside the rent.
- Visit by F07 or taxi first, and look at the kitchen, washrooms and first-aid room.
