My Own Home takes you inside a reader-owned property to ask how much they paid, why they decided to buy and what they have done with it since moving in
Retired educator Radhika Bhandari and her husband Maninder, who has a background in finance and continues to work as a consultant, are not only proud of their home but also their community.
The couple bought their three-bedroom apartment in Motor City’s Green Community back in 2010 and have since become heavily involved with the local homeowners’ committee.
Radhika – who spends her time working with Indian NGOs online, teaching mahjong at home and looking after her grandchildren – says there is nowhere else like it in Dubai, thanks to the environment, neighbours and the spaciousness afforded by the apartments.
The National takes a tour.
Please tell me about your home.
It is an apartment but it gives us the feeling of living in a villa. It has got a lovely terrace, which is on the ground floor, so we have the pleasure of the view of a lovely lake and lots of greenery.
It has three bedrooms and a huge kitchen, which we have cordoned off and made a little family TV room in there, because that is where we hang out a lot when the grandchildren come.
It has got Dutch bathrooms with all the bedrooms, a powder room, a laundry and storage room inside, as well as another storeroom on the terrace.
There is a very spacious living and dining room. The lovely thing is all the bedrooms and living room look out on to the lake and greenery.
The maid also has her own room and bathroom.
What do you love most about this home?
We love that it is one level. It is just enough space for both of us, as well as when we have visitors, so we do not feel cramped. I think these are some of the most spacious apartments in Dubai – they are well planned, with excellent building materials and lots of storage space. Each apartment comes with two storerooms.
And it is part of a lovely community. There are 160 apartments in the complex, but you never feel as if there are so many people around you.
It is a very different kind of community because, although you are in this huge complex, you are very comfortable, you have your privacy and accessibility, and the people are wonderful here.
I really think it is one of the nicest communities to be living in Dubai. People who have visited all walk in here and say, ‘Wow, this is like an oasis within a desert’, because of the landscaping and the greenery and the water body.
Why did you decide to buy?
We bought the home in 2010 and by then we had been in Dubai for 10 years. We had actually bought another place in Victory Heights, and we were going to move in there but then, due to health reasons, because I wanted a one-level home, we decided to offload that.
We came to visit a friend in Green Community who owned an apartment, and I just fell in love with her place.
At that time, our daughter was taking a gap year between work and doing her master’s degree, so we wanted to be in this end of town because of the accessibility for her, for her friends.
Prices had also come down and we were ready to reinvest in Dubai. We thought since long term we are going to be here, why not? Instead of paying rent every year, we worked out the math.
How much did you buy the house for?
On the market, the house was about Dh2.7 million but because of the downturn, the previous owner had not even moved in or anything and she was in a bit of a stressed situation. So, we got a little cheaper than that, for about Dh2.5 million and we did not take a mortgage.
Today, I would like to think it would be Dh4 million-plus. One would expect that, because the community has really come up well, and we have put some money into the apartment. Plus, we have the prime view on the ground floor with the lake.
I would not expect less than Dh4.2 million to Dh4.3 million. You are not going to get an apartment like this anywhere else.
What renovations have you done?
I have added a lot of storage. The outside terrace area is fully redone, because they give you a shell when you come in. I spent a fair amount on the landscaping and adding features there.
My kitchen also has a new look, thanks to wrapping.
We have not done anything major because the quality of construction is very good. We have not had to replace the floors or anything like that.
Every three to four years, we get it painted. We basically ensure its upkeep and make sure everything is working well.
What amenities do you have access to?
We have two clubhouses between four buildings, which each have a pool, gym and party room.
We have an outside children’s play area and a nice walking area around the community.
How has the neighbourhood changed since you first moved in?
Everything is available here in Motor City. I mean, you have all the top supermarkets, from Spinneys to Carrefour and Waitrose. We have the smaller ones as well, like Viva. We have got Lulu coming in, a Geant is about to open.
You have some medical centres; our GP is down the road. You have ATM machines, very nice children's amenities. There are a variety of eating places.
Accessibility is really easy for us. Within five minutes, you are on Sheikh Zayed Road. You can get on to all the major roads from here very, very easily.
And I live five minutes away from my daughter and my grandchildren, as they are in Victory Heights.
How long do you plan to stay in your home?
I have no desire to upgrade or move while we live in the city. We are going to stay as long as possible.
I do not see us going back home [to India or Singapore] in a rush. We have our daughter and grandchildren here. We have a fabulous group of friends, a very nice social circle. We love the community. Our neighbours are just wonderful. Everyone is on good terms with each other.
The standard of living is so good over here, so unless we really have to for health reasons, I think that would be the only reason we would go back.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Zayed Sustainability Prize
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Honeymoonish
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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.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
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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
Company%20profile
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
