My Rent takes you inside a reader's home to have a look at what they get for their money, how much they pay in rent and asks them what they like and don't like
Deborah Bellis Wyborn was spending so much time relaxing in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) at the weekends with friends that she wondered why she didn't just move there permanently.
So she took the plunge and moved out of Dubai, relocating to RAK, where she pays Dh70,000 in rent for a three-bedroom villa by the sea.
Ms Wyborn, who runs her own relocation company, Relocate MENA, said she has never looked back since moving seven months ago.
The 52-year-old from the UK invited The National into her home to see why she made the move from the city to the seaside.
Why did you choose to live here?
There were a number of reasons. I had lived in several gated communities in Dubai over the years but a lot of my friends had made the move to RAK.
I was spending a lot of time in RAK as a result, especially at the weekends when I would do a lot of travelling back and forth.
It meant the majority of my quality free time was spent here so I began thinking about moving permanently.
House prices in Dubai were going through the roof and when an agent contacted me to say there was this amazing property available in RAK, I didn't think twice.
How much do you pay in rent?
The landlord originally asked for Dh80,000 but I offered him Dh70,000 and he accepted.
I was living in a town house before in Damac Hills 2 and now the same property is being advertised for Dh150,000.
I was paying Dh70,000 for a five-bedroom until the landlord served me an eviction notice.
That's more than twice what I am paying to live by the sea with stunning views of Saraya Islands.
What is the community like where you live?
I live in Al Mataf and there's a real sense of community here. There are lots of Emirati families who live close to me so it definitely feels very traditional.
It's lovely here. It's super-quiet and relaxing. The scenery all around me is gorgeous.
I thought I would miss the hustle and bustle of life in Dubai but that hasn't been the case at all.
It's only about a 15-minute drive to the mall. When I lived in Damac Hills 2 it would often be an hour and 10 minutes' drive into the centre of Dubai.
I realised quickly that I wasn't really missing out on anything, especially as I work a lot from home anyway.
There's a real coffee culture here too. There are so many brilliant, little independent coffee shops everywhere.
At the weekends you'll see groups of people together in the most obscure places that you wouldn't ever think of going into, the reason is because the coffee there's so good.
You don't get many branches of Starbucks or Costa here.
What touches have you made to make yourself feel more at home?
My home's my haven. My house is full of plants and pillows, as well as cats.
Are you glad you swapped Dubai for Ras Al Khaimah?
I've got so much peace of mind living here. There are so many expats moving here from other emirates, especially those from the UK.
A lot of people are moving here because it offers a change of pace.
The cost of rent is so high in Dubai as well, which is another factor.
People don't want to pay those prices unless they absolutely have to. If you've lived here for a certain amount of time you'll want to save money where you can.
It's about the value of money for many.
Living here you get all the scenery of the sea and the mountains, it's only 20-minutes away from Oman.
It's just so relaxing to live here. Another advantage is that everything is so much cheaper here than in Dubai.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
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Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
HEADLINE HERE
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