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
Lebanese entrepreneur Sola Kbaitry has lived in her three-bedroom Springs 11 townhouse for the past 13 years. Ms Kbaitry, who lives with her husband and two teenage children, has been in the UAE since 2002 and bought the property for Dh1.8 million back in 2012.
She’s since renovated it extensively, infused Mediterranean flair into her interiors to remind her of home and says she has no plans to go anywhere else, despite the fact she says she could sell it for upwards of Dh7 million.
But it’s important to her that her children always have a place to come back to that they can call “home”.
The National takes a look around.
Please tell us about your home
It’s a three-bedroom townhouse in Springs 11. We bought it in 2012 for Dh1.8 million.
How much is it worth now?
For renovated properties, they’re going for more than Dh5.5 million, but it depends on the location and renovations you have done. My house would be worth about Dh7 million now if I wanted to sell.
What renovations have you done?
We broke everything. I broke the walls, changed the tiles, the windows, the doors. It was as if we were building a new house again from scratch.
We did that when we had just bought it, then little by little I’ve changed the look and feel and theme of the house.
What is your interior design style?
It’s gone through many stages, but for now it has a Mediterranean look, because I’m from the Mediterranean. I always say, “Why do I have to go back home and feel like what I feel there? Why not bring it here to Dubai?”
We’ve got natural stone, white walls, holes in the walls for decorations where you can put, for example, some plates or cups.
We have neutral colours, greenery around you, open windows. I have a glass room that’s been extended and brings the outside to the inside. When you’re sitting in the house, it feels like you’re sitting in the garden.
Why did you decide to buy?
This was our first property, because we wanted to build a family and we didn't want to keep on moving houses as the rent went up. It was the right decision and we’re very happy.
Why did you choose the Springs?
We rented there before and we love the community. It is so beautiful. We have the lakes around us and the Spinney’s next to us. The supermarkets, the school, it's all within walking distance. In winter, you can walk around, walk your dogs, so you have more nature.
What facilities do you have?
We have a gym next to us. We have pools in the community. We have the park where the kids can play, and they have all the slides and swings.
The nature and walking trails and quiet are important to me, because after a long day at work, and especially because we travel a lot, me and my husband like to come back and just chill and relax, not be in traffic. We don’t want to hear any other sound. The vibes are important for us. They’re positive to recharge and then start again.
How long do you plan to stay in this property?
We don’t think of selling it, because it’s home. The kids have been raised here. We love it. We think if we want to buy, we can do that and then rent that property out. But for us, this property is home.
It’s like your parents’ home, when you go back there, you feel different. When you enter, you remember your childhood. We want that for our kids.
Because we’re expats and we don’t live in our country, I wanted them to be rooted somewhere. Now they tell me they want to study abroad, but they want to come back to Dubai. They want to come back home, so that’s nice.
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SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
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5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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5.
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- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
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- Three wins in past 10 starts
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