If you're thinking of moving soon, it's definitely a good time to negotiate on both the rent and the amount of cheques paid because there are bargains to be had.
Villas can be found in premium suburbs such as Umm Suqeim for around Dh130,000, and there are also places where you can rent villas and townhouses for under Dh100,000, even for around Dh50,000.
Remember, there's still merit in going old school on a house hunt. If you want to find a villa in a neighbourhood that's not a gated community, such as Al Badaa, Al Barsha or Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, do a drive around and keep an eye out for 'to let' signs. You can often find great deals this way, and some are direct from the landlord.
But in terms of villa and townhouse communities, here are eight places where you can find a home for under Dh100,000 a year (and remember, always negotiate)...
1. Emaar South
Dubai South is a huge new development inland of the Palm Jebel Ali near Maktoum International Airport. Part of it, Emaar South, has been developed by Emaar, a company that has a good reputation for maintenance and community management (you can expect communal gardens and pools to be kept in good running order in Emaar properties).
The community is around a 35-minute drive to Mall of the Emirates, and there are immense bargains to be had for some of the villas that have just been completed.
You can find two-bedroom options in Urbana for Dh46,000 and two bedrooms in The Pulse for Dh55,000. Three-bedroom townhouses in the area are listed at around Dh80,000. Meanwhile, the huge Golf Links four-bedroom villas are going for around Dh150,000.
2. Mira Oasis
An extension of the hugely popular Mira community, which is also an Emaar development, you can find three-bedroom villas in Mira Oasis for around Dh80,000 a year at the moment.
The community is right next to the Al Qudra cycle track, has a tranquil feel as it's surrounded by dunes and is about 30 minutes from the city.
With development of Dubai Hills, Town Square, Studio City and more, there are plenty of options for shopping and dining in the area now, too, which wasn't the case when Mira first opened. Mira Town Centre also has a Spinneys.
You can also find options in the main Mira community for just under or on Dh100,000.
3. Akoya
Not far from Mira is Akoya, a villa and townhouse community by Damac with many different areas. Three-bedroom houses that are close to 2,000 square feet are currently renting for around Dh60,000, these are in communities there such as Juniper, Aknan and Pacifica. There are even some listings for three-beds in Aknan for Dh45,000.
Four bedrooms in Juniper similar to the video above are being listed for Dh75,000 to Dh80,000.
More established areas such as Silver Springs have five-bed villas going for upwards of Dh160,000, while five-beds in Claret are currently listed at Dh70,000, so the rentals in the community are very varied.
It's definitely worth exploring and looking around to make sure the area you're looking at has the amenities you seek. But there's a Carrefour nearby, and tennis courts and pools throughout the community.
4. The Springs
This is an older villa community, but it's well established and very central (you're mere minutes from Dubai Media City and Sheikh Zayed Road).
Because it's older and many of the villas are owner occupied, the interiors and quality can be very varied, so if you decide this is the area for you, definitely look at a few villas. Many owners have upgraded their kitchens, for instance, which is a nice touch, or have added wooden floors (add keywords to your search to find a villa with an upgrade that's important to you).
You can find two-bed homes here for around Dh70,000 at the moment, and three bedrooms for Dh95,000. If location is paramount, this is a great community to explore.
5. Town Square
Just across Umm Suqeim Road from Mira is Town Square, where you can rent a four-bedroom home for Dh100,000. Meanwhile, the three-bed Hayat Townhouses are renting for about Dh75,000.
Town Square is home to villas and apartments, and has a Spinneys, a park, a Carrefour market, a pharmacy, coffee shops and more.
6. Mudon
This community is just across the road from Dubai Sustainable City (which has gorgeous villas, which are going for about Dh160,000). The two-bed Arabella Townhouses start from about Dh80,000, while a three-bed costs just on Dh100,000 at the moment.
7. Ghoroob, Mirdif
Going for bang on Dh100,000 (but you may be able to negotiate), the new townhouses in Ghoroob are light and modern, with fresh-looking kitchens and wooden floors.
They have two main bedrooms, and then a smaller room with its own en-suite, and are spread across nearly 2,000 square feet.
This is a great location for anyone who wants to be on the Dubai International Airport side of the emirate, as it's minutes from the city's main airport. There is a huge mall in Mirdif (Mirdif City Centre) and plenty of smaller boutiques and restaurants.
8. Layan
The Layan community is part of Dubai Land, and is just off Emirates Road (next to Sustainable City). The ground-floor units are called townhouses or villas, but there are people above you. The way they've been designed, however, it does feel like you're in a villa as it's very private. The properties start at around Dh70,000.
Specs
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
MO
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Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The years Ramadan fell in May
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
