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
Aaliya Alam, founder of Things of Media marketing agency, was poised to move to the UAE for a job from India in 2020 before plans were scuppered by global lockdowns in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
It wasn’t until a few years later that she finally made it back, this time as a married woman after reconnecting with an old school friend, her now-husband Kazi Syed Ubaid, who has been living in the UAE for 13 years.
The couple recently bought their first property together, but instead of living in Abu Dhabi, where her husband commutes for work, or in Dubai where they had been renting, they decided to move to Ajman to get far more square footage for their money.
They invested in a Dh1.3 million three-bedroom villa in Al Zahya, which appreciated by Dh300,000 in just one week after they signed the paperwork, as more residents from across the Emirates are seeking better property deals.
The National takes a look around.
Please tell us about your home.
For Dh1.3 million I was able to get a 3,500-square-foot villa with three bedrooms, one majlis, a bigger kitchen, one living room and then outside we have a maid’s room as well.
Why did you decide to buy?
Once I’d moved here, we knew we had to buy a house and I don’t know why but I was always very precise that I have to go for Ajman. Everyone always said, why don’t you live here in Dubai or another city. I love Dubai, but you compromise with the square footage. I wanted to have a big house in a great budget, so that’s how it clicked.
Last year, I started the journey of searching for the house. My husband was totally against coming to Ajman, but I said even if you’re going from Dubai it’s an hour, if you just extend for half an hour we’ll have a big house where our children can be comfortable. They can run around, they can mess up the house and it’s all right. When we have guests, there would be no compromise, because they can stay here or there.
How did you find your home?
I went through a lot of difficulties, because here in Ajman potential is very good for real estate, but it's not that vast like Dubai and the other cities.
One day, I was just going through TikTok and I saw some villa and though, I have to go for it. I met that person, he was sub agent, and he said we’d definitely get it.
We started the journey last May and we ended up getting the house by November. It took that long.
How much did you get it for?
When I started the process, the price started going up. It was Dh900,000, which went up to Dh1 million. I was not able to get the approvals, but this was the house. The builder is great, he’s local, and he’s done everything in a very particular way, as if he was going to live in the house himself. In this area, each villa is different to the others.
We ended up getting it for Dh1.3 million, but that included everything like electricity and water [connections].
We got the approval on my birthday, on October 14, and did the registration on November 14, so we were able to reside here in January. The day we registered, it was Dh1.3 million and a week after a real estate agent said they had a family looking and that the house was worth Dh1.6 million. I think it’s worth Dh1.7 million now.
Everyone is migrating from Dubai, from Sharjah, even Abu Dhabi, and they’re coming to Ajman because of the budget. My neighbour is French and on the opposite side they’re British and they bought the house. I’m seeing a lot of foreigners coming in and buying houses here.
What’s your neighbourhood like?
It’s a little outside Ajman city, but from here it’s a 15-minute drive and you get to Umm Al Quwain. In about 30 or 40 minutes, you’ll be in Ras Al Khaimah, which is growing.
It’s not a closed community, but there are lots of grocery stores around and we can sign up to any gym in the area. It’s all very convenient and budget friendly.
What renovations have you done?
Nothing yet. We’ve just started. I’ve done some wallpaper. I want to do some micro-cementing, which is very much in trend, and I want to introduce more soft pastel colours. I just want to have my house more open.
We have a garden area but we haven’t started on it yet since it’s summer now. I’ll start that in winter so I can have plants that don’t die.
How would you describe your interior design style?
It should be more pastel, more white, but with a touch of green because I really like nature. I’m going to start doing the planting outside.
How long will you stay here for?
We will stay in the UAE indefinitely. This is a place we got entrepreneurial opportunity. This is a place where we get lot of peace, a lot of comfort, a lot of calmness. I think I will be here forever, inshallah.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
The five pillars of Islam
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.”
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
