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
Sangeeta Khiara and her husband were born and raised in the UAE. While their families originally come from India, for three generations they have made the Emirates their home.
Now, as the pair run their own companies – Ms Khiara is the founder of ArtBeat Productions – they’ve also bought their first property together in Dubai, where they live with their daughter and her in-laws.
They were living in rented accommodation in Jumeirah 1 for 14 years but were ready to go all-in with a family-focused community – and Tilal Al Ghaf ticked all their boxes.
The National takes a look around.
Please tell us about your home
It is a large, five-bedroom villa in Tilal Al Ghaf. We wanted it to be a reflection of ourselves, a space that we could feel cut off and at home at the same time. I wanted it to be like quiet luxury, nothing too over the top.
What renovations have you done?
We did a couple of extensions – we brought the balcony inside and extended the upstairs living area so we could have a home cinema.
How was the process of renovating?
The permissions, the contracting, the designing – everything was a smooth process with the companies we dealt with. It took four months to finish end-to-end, along with landscaping.
You need to be realistic that there needs to be a certain amount of patience, also from our end. If my expectations are not met, it's also because I don't think we were on the same page with someone, so we would tell them. Then you circle back every now and then.
Where did you move from?
We were renting our home in Jumeirah 1 for 14 years, then decided to take up our own home and move to a community. It's the first time I've lived in a proper community.
How much did your property cost?
We bought it for Dh8 million ($2.1 million). I can say that it's [now] up by 50 per cent. We didn't buy it with the intention to invest, it was to start making it our home.
We bought it off-plan when we were recovering from the pandemic in the second half of 2020.
Why did you choose this neighbourhood?
Majid Al Futtaim being such a known name, this was their flagship community in Dubai. We were sure they wouldn’t leave any stone unturned when it came to community living. The facilities and the way the whole community was planned out was beautiful. We saw it on the plan and we were very happy with it.
We were looking around for a while. We wanted to have a place that was more focused on family living, rather than providing a space with just amenities. I feel like we needed something for ourselves, for our child and for our parents. This was one of the communities that ticked all the boxes.
It's great to see our parents get out in the morning, take a walk around the community. The community is filled with so many lovely families. Everyone's really invested in each other and helpful towards each other.
You want to thrive in a community where people are like-minded and from so many different parts of the world. It's amazing.
What facilities do you have?
I have a park right behind my home. I open my back door and my daughter can just run over, so I can watch her from my balcony. It's a great plus for me.
There’s the swimming pool and the gym, which are less than a five-minute walk from my home. We have a padel court.
The community has a supermarket, they have cafes, they have a salon, they have a laundry. Everything is extremely accessible and close to where we're living. It doesn't feel like I need to go out for much.
How would you describe your interior design style?
It is very quiet luxury. It's comfortable. At the same time, we wanted it to be a space where a family could come in and have a great time. When I invite friends, everybody has their own space. We're all able to spend time together and it just doesn't look too cluttered.
Since we own this place, we went all out. We put our heart and soul into this project, and reaping the benefits of it is amazing. So you sit in your own house and you feel like, wow, we did a great job.
How long do you plan to stay?
It’s a family home for us. It’s been only three months since we moved in and I plan to live here for a really long time. In my previous home we were there for 14 years, so I feel like this is definitely going to be a long-term calling.
Dubai is home for us. It's becoming home for a lot of people all of a sudden as well. It's great. I really think you can coexist in an environment like this, with so many different cultures, so many different communities and be able to thrive alongside each other. It's a very rare thing.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
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'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
