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
Avi Gambhir, a former software company manager, has spent seven of the 12 years he’s lived in the UAE, based in Al Furjan.
When he first moved into his Dh2.2 million ($600,000) three-bedroom townhouse in 2018, it was a quiet, closed-off community with little access to the rest of the city. It has since grown exponentially and is now one of the most accessible parts of Dubai, with limited traffic congestion and plenty to do.
As its popularity has risen, so have house prices and the value of Mr Gambhir's property has since soared after a brief dip during the Covid pandemic.
But Mr Gambhir has no plans to sell just yet. In fact, he loves the place so much that he now works permanently from home, running a travel agency with his wife, Sucheta Malik Gambhir, called Miles & Menus.
The National has a look around.
Please tell us about your home
It’s a three-bedroom townhouse with a small garden at the back, a nice living room, dining area, big kitchen, maid’s room and powder rooms.
When did you buy this property?
February 2018. We moved in July that year, because there was work that had to be done. It was a blessing in disguise for us, as Covid hit about one year later and everybody was working from home. My daughter did about two years of schooling in this house.
How much did you buy it for?
I bought it for Dh2.2 million. Now I’m getting offers around Dh3.7 million. During Covid, the property rates went down by about 40 per cent, so people were anxious about it. But in Dubai, if you are in the right area …
Why did you choose this neighbourhood?
First of all, the accessibility. It's strategically located – only five minutes to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, 10 minutes to Sheikh Zayed Road or Garn Al Sabkha, and Al Asayel Street is only two minutes’ drive. It's a nice community and it’s the only villa community connected to the Metro.
It was a small community, it's still very calm in this area, even though it has started opening up. People are nice. My daughter's school is a 10-minute drive away. My office used to be 10 to 15 minutes from here. My daughter does ballet and her ballet school is 10 minutes’ drive.
It was more about convenience for us. There are no traffic issues, no bottlenecks, lots of exit points and access to the Metro. We're in a great place.
How has the neighbourhood changed since?
I have seen Al Furjan grow in the past seven years. Nakheel is putting in much effort to improve the infrastructure. Very soon Al Furjan will also be a gated community. I am part of a group of volunteers and homeowners working with Nakheel on this project.
We have meetings with them every quarter, as we understand the security challenges facing communities. For instance, we were always in need of a dog park, because everybody loves pets, right? So we agreed with Nakheel that they'll give us some space for the dog park. All these things we negotiate on behalf of the community.
What renovations have you done?
We did some bits in the kitchen. We changed the furniture, we did our TV wall, added some wardrobes. We changed our bedrooms and put lights and a small fountain in the garden, as we love water.
They aren’t major renovations, some small changes here and there. Overall, I would say we’ve spent about Dh100,000 to Dh120,000 on renovations.
What facilities do you have?
We have a gym, tennis courts, padel courts, a swimming pool in the area, plus so many kids’ parks. Every zone has a kids’ park. There is one right behind me. There's the new dog park coming very soon.
We also have access to restaurants and grocery stores. There are now two schools here, which opened after we moved in – Arbor School and Arcadia, so both renowned names. There is a small traffic bottleneck in the mornings when people drop their kids at school, but we've no complaints.
How would you describe your interior design style?
We believe in a minimalist lifestyle. We don’t have too much furniture but what we do have, we believe in quality. It’s very classy and contemporary.
How long do you plan to stay?
Honestly, I’ve never thought about it. I bought it, so I call it our home and we don’t usually sell our homes. We love it here. It's a decent-sized three-bedroom.
Maybe we will consider, if my daughter goes to college next year, whether we want to move. Since my wife and I work from home and have our own company, it's much easier for us to work from wherever.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 1
Mata 11'
Chelsea 1
Alonso 43'
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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SPECS
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
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Andor
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Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now