My Sharjah 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
Retired teacher Najla Majdalawieh, 54, has called Sharjah home for 32 years.
Having previously lived in Al Mamzar, she moved to Al Taawun and has stayed ever since, drawn by its convenience and vibrant surroundings.
Her three-bedroom apartment, which also includes a spacious living room, a large kitchen, and a maid’s room with an en suite bathroom, now costs Dh60,000 annually in rent.
While she enjoys the location, she admits that traffic congestion and limited parking are major challenges especially for her three children, who struggle with it on their ways to and from work.
Why did you choose to live here?
I love Sharjah, its atmosphere, its streets, its everything. This city feels like home to me, and I have never considered living anywhere else. I was attracted to the area because it is well-served. Everything I need is within reach. It’s close to Dubai, near the beautiful Al Qasba Canal, a wonderful spot for the community to unwind, and not far from Al Mamzar Beach, which offers a scenic retreat.
What touches have you made to the property to make it feel like home?
I love adding personal decorative touches that reflect my character. To bring a sense of Middle Eastern culture into my home, I added solid wooden doors, intricately carved chairs, and traditional geometric-patterned frames, each contributing to an elegant and culturally rich ambience. These changes have transformed my apartment into a warm and inviting space.
What do you enjoy most about your home?
One of the best things is its proximity to my friends’ homes. I also have lovely neighbours, and we have built a great relationship. The community here is social and full of life, which is something I deeply appreciate.
Is there anything you would change if you could?
If I could, I would love to have more green spaces. I have a passion for gardening and would love an area where I could plant and care for greenery. Right now, I make do with indoor plants.
How do you spend your time in the area?
I enjoy early morning walks around the neighbourhood and often organise regular meetups with my friends and neighbours. There is always something happening in the community, and I love being part of it.
Would you recommend this area to others looking to move here?
Well, the biggest downside is the heavy traffic and the difficulty in finding parking. But apart from that, it’s a wonderful area with great amenities. For those who prioritise convenience and an active social life, this is a great place to be but if not, I would recommend Al Mamzar area.
Would you consider buying a property in Sharjah?
I would buy a property in Sharjah, but not in this particular area. If I were to invest in a home, I would choose a location with less congestion. But no matter what, I wouldn’t leave Sharjah, this city is my home.
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
