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
When Rishav Raj first moved to Dubai with his family two years ago, he was expecting it to be a short stay, but after securing a four-bedroom villa in Nad Al Sheba for Dh220,000 in rent a year, the 37-year-old Indian admits his priorities have changed.
Mr Raj, who works in the property sector, invited The National into his home to show us why it's so special to him and his family.
Why did you choose to live here?
I was looking for somewhere with a big space in a good location. If I was going to rent somewhere similar in the likes of Dubai Hills or Emirates Hills, it would probably cost me twice the price.
They are more vibrant communities but you get a sense of privacy and exclusivity here. If that's what someone is looking for then it's a perfect place to live, especially as I don't like the hustle and bustle of the city. It's quiet here but it's still not far from most places in Dubai.
I can get to most locations [in the city] quickly. I can be in Mall of the Emirates or the Palm within 20 minutes, it's the same with my office in Downtown. It only takes two minutes to get to my children's schools, as well. That solves a lot of problems for us.
There is a new mall opening here in March and we're close to Festival City Mall and Silicon Oasis, which have everything we need.
What touches have you made to the property to make it feel like home?
It was fully furnished when we moved in, which was really convenient. We've added some of our own furniture and utilities. The house is very well maintained. We never had any issues with the flooding [in April], even when water was accumulating on the streets. There have never been any problems with the likes of AC or electricity. There have only been a few small issues with general wear and tear, but the house still looks brand new.
Do you feel like you get value for money?
Yes, we were originally paying Dh200,000 but that went up to Dh220,000 last year. For someone looking to move in to a similar property here they would be expecting to be paying around Dh260,000. Even at that price you're still getting a big unit. This is a proper villa, it's not a town house.
When I moved here, places like Dubai Hills were not in my budget but this is a quiet environment and I would not change anything about it.
Is there a sense of community where you live?
Yes. There is a strong Indian community here as a lot of our children all go to the same schools. We interact with a lot of the parents.
Do you have plans to buy your own property?
I actually bought a property off-plan [in a nearby community]. We plan to sell it when it is completed as it is already worth twice what I paid for it. When we first moved to Dubai the plan was to live here for a year and then shift to somewhere else but my priorities have changed.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.