Question: I’ve lived in Dubai for 10 years but my rent in Jumeirah Village Circle in recent years has gone up quite a lot. In fact, this year alone, it has increased by nearly 25 per cent.
Friends in other areas are reporting similar situations, so some are moving further out or even relocating to other emirates altogether. Is this sustainable? Are tenants being priced out of Dubai? GC, Dubai
Answer: It’s true that Dubai’s rental market has seen one of the strongest growth phases in its history, especially in recent years. This surge is down to rapid population growth, the influx of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs and limited supply in popular communities.
However, saying tenants are being “priced out” isn’t entirely accurate. Rather, we’re seeing a redistribution of demand. In the past, areas such as JVC, Discovery Gardens, Dubai South and Mirdif have benefitted from those seeking value, while rents in prime areas like Downtown, Dubai Marina and Business Bay have begun to stabilise after sharp rises between 2021 and 2024.
The Dubai Land Department’s Smart Rental Index still serves as a control mechanism, but it’s important to note that the index, while up to date in terms of live data, measures Ejari renewals rather than available rental pricing in the open market.
When renewal rents exceed what’s permissible, tenants have every right to file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre.
For those on tighter budgets, the strategy is not necessarily to leave Dubai but to adapt, consider smaller units, newer fringe communities or shared housing. Developers are also responding with more mid-market housing stock to rebalance affordability.
So, while the current cycle may feel unsustainable, Dubai’s rental market has always been cyclical. Expect rents to stabilise by next year as new supply from large-scale master communities begins to hit the market.
Q: I’m looking at buying in a newly developed community but the service charges there seem quite high compared to older areas. Are high service charges a bad sign and how do they impact my investment? JC, Abu Dhabi
A: Service charges are one of the most overlooked aspects of buying property in Dubai, but they are critical to understanding the true cost of ownership.
First, to clarify: service charges are annual fees paid by owners to cover maintenance of common areas, security, landscaping, facilities and sometimes even chiller charges. They are usually calculated on a per square foot basis.
High service charges are not automatically negative. They usually reflect the level of amenities and upkeep in the building or community. For example, a luxury development on the Palm Jumeirah with concierge, valet, multiple pools, gyms and landscaped gardens will naturally have higher service charges than a mid-range tower in Sports City.
Well-maintained buildings with high charges often hold their value better and attract quality tenants willing to pay higher rents. The danger lies in paying high service charges for a poorly maintained building. This is why due diligence is essential. Always request the latest service charge statement and if possible, speak to current residents about the quality of management.
From an investment perspective, service charges directly impact your net rental yield. For example, two properties may have identical gross rental income, but the one with higher service charges will give you a lower net yield. That said, some investors accept lower yields in prime locations because they are banking on strong capital appreciation.
In short, don’t just look at the number. Look at what you’re getting in return. High service charges are acceptable if the amenities, maintenance and tenant demand justify them.
Q: Several developers in Dubai, such as Damac, Omniyat and Danube, and other emirates are launching office towers. Why is there a sudden focus on commercial real estate? FJ, Abu Dhabi
A: This is one of the most interesting shifts we’ve seen in the market recently. After nearly a decade of residential dominance, developers are rediscovering the potential of Grade A office space. The reason for this commercial activity is down to three main drivers:
Post-pandemic demand: Many multinational companies have expanded their UAE footprint, local start-ups are scaling up, and family offices are also opening up in droves. Hybrid work is here to stay, but companies still want prestige addresses, especially along Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay and the environs of Dubai International Financial Centre, not forgetting that many of these office locations have virtually 100 per cent full occupancy, so there is a strong demand.
Tight supply: The office market hasn’t seen significant new stock for several years, pushing rents up by more than 30 per cent in some business districts.
Investment appeal: Commercial assets are increasingly seen as stable, income-generating products for institutional and private investors alike and with the limited supply of quality commercial spaces, it's no wonder that developers have decided to expand operations into this space.
Mario Volpi is senior vice president of investment advisory at Allegiance Real Estate. He has worked in the property sector for 40 years in London and Dubai. The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to mario@allegiance.ae
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
