Lower rent and proximity to Dubai Marina and the Metro make Jumeirah Lakes Towers attractive, but with construction still under way, shops and services can be hard to find, Eugene Harnan says
From a distance, Jumeirah Lakes Towers is a futuristic-looking metropolis. Up close, say its residents, it's dusty and unfinished.
While many of the planned 87 mixed-use towers in JLT (as it is universally known) are nearing completion, there are still a lot with scaffolding and half-finished cladding.
"We moved here because the rents were good at the time," says Pratik Shaman, a 36-year-old Indian who pays Dh65,000 a year for the two-bedroom flat he lives in with his wife and their three-year-old son. "We would have paid double for an apartment half the size across the road in the Marina."
Despite the disadvantages of its being unfinished, he says, the neighbourhood has improved greatly compared with when they first moved in. "There were no shops, supermarkets or services. Some restaurants even refused to deliver food. It now has a feeling of a lot done - but more to do. There is still no supermarket."
Split into "clusters", each comprising three towers, JLT only last month celebrated a minor milestone when it completed the "S" residential cluster close to the footbridge that leads to Dubai Marina Metro station. The first of 26 similar phases, S-cluster will eventually be home to about 1,400 residents, according to Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre Authority (DMCCA), the master developer. While many of the towers elsewhere in the development have also been finished and are occupied, the announcement of S-cluster's completion signifies that retail and landscaping are also finished. It gives the residents of other clusters a good idea of what they can expect.
JLT has been planned as a business free zone, aiming to be the diamond-trading centre not only of the UAE but of the whole region. It is home to Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre, which moved into Almas Tower; believed to be the country's second tallest tower at 360 metres. There is a diamond exchange on the second floor and a diamond vault in the basement.
JLT's first hotel, The Bonnington, opened a few months ago and The Mövenpick is due to open next year. Two more hotels are planned, as well as shops, restaurants and a "dynamic waterfront lifestyle" according to the development's website.
But the waterfront so far, according to residents, is far from the sought-after image that was portrayed in the brochures. "The water levels have been dropping for the last few months," says Shaman.
According to those in the northern section of JLT, the opening of Dubai Marina Metro station gave the neighbourhood a real boost - making access to the rest of the city much more efficient, as well as opening up the better-developed Marina to them, now within a five- to 10-minute walk. However, those in the southern section say they are disappointed that JLT station is one of the few on the Red Line still not operating, even though it looks finished. Nevertheless, they express delight at being able to use the station's pedestrian overbridge to reach the Marina.
Stephen Gorman, a 27-year-old media buyer, moved to JLT early last year, taking advantage of the low rents. "There's a real young professional buzz to the place now. There was nothing to do around here but the buildings are really nice. It is only now that I see small shops and coffee shops opening around the other buildings."
In common with many residents, he complains about traffic delays getting in and out of JLT in the mornings and evenings. Part of the problem is that the six-lane road that encircles the entire development goes only in one direction and feeds into just two small slip roads onto the highway. "When I want to get out in the mornings it takes me at least 15 minutes. If it was a two-way road, I'd be on the highway in two minutes," says Gorman. "I was told by the letting agent that the one-way road direction was temporary but, nearly two years later, it still has cement trucks all going in the one direction."
One resident, who asked not to be named, says JLT's location outweighs that frustration. "I work in Abu Dhabi and don't have to face the traffic past the Marina area, which is often quite heavy. I have friends who live in Old Town, and it can take them 45 minutes longer to get home."
Residents all say that life in JLT has improved greatly. "At first, it had no internet and taxis were always really difficult to get because they didn't even know this place existed. When we phoned, they wouldn't know the tower and when I said JLT, they'd end up across in the Marina in JBR," says Gorman. "There are more taxis now, there are things opening up - but it still feels a million miles away from the Marina, which is only across the road."
Although Gorman now wants to move, he thinks JLT can only get better. "They are still working on the towers, which is a good sign, the metro has helped link [us] to the rest of the city and we can now walk over to the Marina. Living here depends on what you make of it."
Pratik Shaman, India
The best thing about JLT is the size of the apartments. We wouldn't get anything like this anywhere else. It looks finished but it is far from it. Everything is covered in sand and dust; we have to drive between cement trucks at all hours of the day and there is nowhere for the kids to play outside. There is a constant plume of dust in the air with all the construction activity."
John McBain, USA
"I live in a building developed by Deyaar, have rented it for about 15 months now, and love it, mostly because of its size and the view: I can see the Gulf, Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab. Plus, it is huge - almost 3,000 square feet - and it's great for entertaining. I hardly ever spend any time outside here, though, and have yet to use the Metro, despite it being 200 feet away from my building.To be honest, it is as if I live on a giant construction site; but I'm hoping things continue construction-wise and it will soon be more amenable to go walking around the neighbourhood."
Housing
Prices vary widely according to the apartment's size and amenities. Annual rent for a one-bedroom apartment is Dh50,000-80,000; for a two-bedroom Dh65,000-115,000; and for a three-bedroom Dh90,000-135,000, according to the Dubai office of Allsop & Allsop.
Schools
There are no schools within the neighbourhood but several international schools are nearby, including Wellington International School in Al Sufouh, Regent International School in The Greens, Dubai British School in The Springs and The Winchester School in The Gardens.
Medical facilities
Welcare Ambulatory Centre in Knowledge Village has a walk-in facility. Jebel Ali Hospital is near Ibn Battuta Mall, 10-15 minutes away.
Amenities
Local shops have begun to open but are still quite scarce. Ibn Battuta Mall is a 10-minute drive and Dubai Marina Mall and Almaya 24-hour supermarket are directly opposite JLT, across Sheikh Zayed Road.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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
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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
MATCH INFO
League Cup, last 16
Manchester City v Southampton, Tuesday, 11.45pm (UAE)
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Poacher
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Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
