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
For more than a year, Alvin Matilla has lived in a semi-furnished, one-bedroom apartment in Dubai's Barsha Heights.
It is home to Mr Matilla, 38, an account manager at a medical insurance company, and his three cousins. Having spent 12 years in the UAE, the Filipino citizen appreciates the peaceful atmosphere of Barsha Heights, while it is also close to Dubai Marina and JBR, making the area an ideal fit.
They have lived in the apartment since May last year and Mr Matilla invited The National for a tour to see what is that makes it special to him.
Why did you choose to live in this area?
I used to live in The Greens, which I loved, but the rent there increased. Barsha Heights is right next to The Greens, so it was a natural move. The rent was more affordable and it’s also closer to where my cousins work, so it made sense for all of us.
I’ve been in the area since 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I’ve got used to it.
Do you feel like the property offers value for money?
For Dh60,000 ($16,337) a year, the apartment is reasonably priced compared with others in the area, which can go for Dh65,000 or more. Barsha Heights has fewer amenities than The Greens, but the Metro is a 10-minute walk and there is a bus stop is right outside.
Rent prices are rising, especially post-pandemic, making it harder to find affordable options. But you have to balance location, price and comfort.
What kind of facilities do you have access to?
In the building, we have a gym and a swimming pool, which are pretty standard for apartments here. The building also provides free parking. Even though I don’t have a car yet, it’s nice to know I have a parking space when I do get one.
The apartment is also chiller-free, which helps to save on cooling costs, especially during the summer.
What personal touches have you made?
I’ve added my own personal touches, especially in terms of the colours and design. I like a minimalist style, so I’ve kept things simple with neutral colours like white, brown and black. I’ve added a few plants to make the space feel more lively, but overall I like to keep it clean and organised.
The minimalist design, the simplicity and the neutral colours all reflect my personality. I don’t like clutter, so I’ve made sure to keep everything neat and functional, which makes me feel comfortable and at peace in my own home.
What is your favourite part of the apartment?
My favourite area is the living room and dining area. It’s an open space and I like to keep it tidy and comfortable, especially because that’s where I entertain guests. It’s important to me that my living space feels welcoming and relaxing after a long day at work.
Are there any downsides to where you live?
The only downside is that the building is a bit far from the Metro station, which can be inconvenient at times. Other than that, I’m happy with the area.
It’s quiet and close to important amenities, such as clinics and hospitals, which are important to me.
Do you plan to stay in your apartment much longer?
For now, I’m planning to stay, but I would love to upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment next year if I can. It would give us more space, especially as I live with my cousins.
Would you recommend Barsha Heights to others?
Yes, I would, especially if you value convenience and accessibility. It’s close to the Marina, JBR and public transport options like buses. It’s a great area if you don’t mind walking a little to get to the Metro and if you prefer a quieter community.
What is your dream home?
My dream would be to live in a villa, maybe in The Greens, which is still my favourite area. Villas are more spacious and family-friendly, and it would feel more like home. I love the sense of community in The Greens and having more space would be perfect.
Napoleon
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
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
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
The years Ramadan fell in May
SPEC%20SHEET
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The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
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
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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