My Dubai 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
Australian life coach Kim Bransdon lives a world away from her hometown of Sydney but it is the multicultural diversity she finds herself in at Al Habtoor City that makes her choice of Dubai home special.
Ms Bransdon, an author who specialises in coaching professionals through her company Executive Coaching and Mentoring International, moved to Dubai two years ago with her husband and daughter, 15.
Her three-bedroom apartment in Noora Tower offers spectacular views of Burj Khalifa, and has the bonus of being close by to the bustling Kite Beach and tourist hub of Dubai Mall and Downtown.
The 181-square-metre apartment is rented for Dh240,000, with beach living just a short bike ride away. It has become a home-from-home for the Australian family, who love spending time outdoors.
After moving to Dubai in 2022, Ms Bransdon stayed in Zabeel House in The Greens while her husband worked in Saudi Arabia on the Neom project, allowing her time to find the perfect place to live.
They settled on Al Habtoor City, and have integrated into a thriving community alongside residents from all over the world, a reflection of Dubai’s rich diversity.
Why this area in particular?
When I first arrived, I would set alarms for morning, afternoon and evening traffic to see what the commute times would be like. I looked at villas in Meydan, Arabian Ranches, Silicon Oasis, Town Square and apartments at the Marina and Business Bay, but kept coming back to Al Habtoor City. Then we watched rent prices soar, which was tough.
It is central and we wanted to live in a multicultural environment. The added bonus is our pool deck is like a resort pool. Water is my relaxation, and calming self-care is important for our downtime.
I specialise in coaching professionals who want to make changes, continue to be successful, and have more balance in their lives. It is really important I follow that advice too, which is a major reason why we chose to live here.
I can walk or cycle from home to the beach or my office in Knowledge Village in the cooler months. Being in a diverse location means accessibility to good coffee at Fuze cafe, and the other local cafes and restaurants.
It's approximately 20 minutes to school in the mornings, 17 minutes’ drive to my office and 20 minutes’ drive to the airport, unless there’s traffic. Being close to the sea is very important for an Australian who misses Sydney beaches.
What do you get for your money?
The apartment comes with a built-in fridge and washing machine, so we didn’t have that expense. Living high up, the views are amazing. It is something we admire every day and we don’t take it for granted. Most of my days are spent listening, helping and supporting clients to reach their full potential and feel happier and more fulfilled, so I need my relaxing space at the end of each day.
What have you added to make it a home?
I brought furniture with us over from Australia, and so it was nice to have home comforts once the container arrived. After six months of hotels and short-term rentals, I underestimated how wonderful it would be to sleep in my own bed again. I’m enjoying looking for local art to furnish the walls to complement our existing pieces. While the apartment is very stark and white, which I love, I also love colour, which is expressed through our art.
I'm really enjoying trying to find local art that I can put on the walls to complement our existing pieces. I want to get colour into the apartment that way, because, for me, it's really important.
How well do you know your neighbours?
I have got to know some of our neighbours, being in a three-building complex and a 72-storey apartment building means we can’t know everyone. We have beautiful new friends from all over the world, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Venezuela, UK, and, surprisingly, another Aussie who lives in the complex.
Would you move out to another place soon?
My daughter would like us to move to a villa community closer to her school or a community where her friends live. It’s a tough one, as the location and proximity at Al Habtoor work for us and I would miss the pool. I try to swim and enjoy the resort holiday feel every day. It nourishes my soul. However, if rents keep increasing it is definitely a consideration. We will have to weigh up what we are paying for and what we are getting. If I had to move home, it would be really hard to leave our community of friends that we have built here.
Is there anything you would change?
There are always changes that can be made. My job is all about changes when I’m coaching people, and it’s natural as human beings that we always want more. If there was one thing I could change, it would be a bigger balcony to entertain friends.
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
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CREW
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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.
MATCH INFO
Al Jazira 3 (O Abdulrahman 43', Kenno 82', Mabkhout 90 4')
Al Ain 1 (Laba 39')
Red cards: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)
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
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
Allardyce's management career
Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) - England (2016)
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
