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UK-born Tara Rose Kidd is the owner and founder of a chain of hair and beauty salons who lives with her family in a waterfront apartment in Abu Dhabi.
The 42 year old moved to the UAE 17 years ago and has spent almost half that time as a resident in the fast-evolving Al Raha Beach district of the capital.
She now lives in a modern unit in a stylish building overlooking the water in the Al Bandar community with her husband, Murray, their son, Sonny, aged eight, and their Italian greyhound called Frank. They pay Dh240,000 ($65,350) per year to rent it.
The National takes a look around.
Please tell us about your home
We are in a sea-facing, 11th-floor apartment in Al Bandar, at Al Raha Beach. It is a three-bedroom apartment with three bathrooms and a kitchen.
It has a huge balcony which feels like another living room, so is perfect for the cooler weather that has arrived.
How long have you lived here?
We've been eight years in Al Bandar. The first two years we were next door in the Al Naseem Residences B building, and then six in our current sea‑facing apartment.
Earlier we lived in Al Raha Gardens, the Al Reef community and – when we first arrived in Abu Dhabi – a converted villa in Al Nahyan Camp.
Why did you choose your current place?
It was our dream. I remember sitting at Tiki Pacifico [local restaurant and bar], looking up and saying, “one day”. It’s the view and the freedom of being on the water, having the doors open and the breeze rolling in.
The apartments are well-built and spacious. It just feels like home, which is why we’ve never left.
Also the property is close to one of the motorways connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi so I can visit branches of my business, Tara Rose Salon. And my husband can easily reach the car showrooms he co-owns in Dubai.
We are also a very short drive to Zayed International Airport, which is handy for when we go on holiday.
How much do you pay to live there?
The apartment cost us Dh180,000 when we moved in. Today it is Dh240,000 a year. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a reasonable rise over time. Also, we have a fabulous landlord, which makes all the difference.
How have you made it your home?
It isn’t about things, it’s about the life we’ve built here. This home holds my son’s childhood, the years our businesses grew and a marriage that has deepened. The sea view we once dreamt about now frames our every day and that’s what makes it feel completely ours.
What amenities are nearby?
We have access to two resident pools, plus tennis courts, a gym and a squash court. There’s an on‑site supermarket, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, so everything we need on weekends.
The area is quiet, comfortable, not crowded. It feels easy and stress‑free and is right by the water with a marina promenade.
We are minutes from Yas Island and Yas Bay for dining and events, and we can even take a boat across to Yas. Dubai is an easy hop during the week.
What would you change about living there?
I would only add more space, such as an extra couple of bedrooms and a dedicated office. Otherwise, I wouldn’t change a thing.
What keeps you renting vs buying?
We’ve always reinvested into our businesses, so tying up capital in a purchase never made sense while we were building.
My husband has his company and I have mine.
Have you thought about buying your own property?
The dream is to buy. For us that means Ramhan Island. I even sit in the show home sometimes and picture it as already being ours.
Over the years we’ve seen some amazing places, but for us the sea view comes first. We fell in love with Ramhan Island because it gives us both – a villa with real space and water all around.
It’s peaceful and quiet – everything we’ve always wanted. Now it’s about saving hard to make it ours.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
INFO
Everton 0
Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Teaching in coronavirus times
