My Dubai Rent takes you inside a reader's home to have a look at what they pay each month, see who they live with and ask what they like and don't like
Ailan Lapuz, 36, had always shared accommodation with friends and family since moving to Dubai 14 years ago.
To save money, the Filipina mother of four co-shared apartments across different areas of the city since 2008, including busy spots in old and new Dubai.
When her children moved back to the Philippines a few years ago, client relations manager Ailan and her husband chose a location where they could live the quiet life she craved as a self-confessed introvert.
Here, she invites The National into her home.
Where do you live?
I live in Discovery Gardens. My husband and I moved to the area three years ago, but we have lived in our current property for two years.
Tell us about the type of property you live in
It’s a studio apartment but quite spacious. We have a small balcony and really relish having that little slice of outdoor space.
How much do you pay per month?
Our annual rent is Dh30,000, so that works out at Dh2,500 per month, which includes cooling charges. I think this is still a lot of money but it is great to have my own space. My husband and I used to live in Deira with our children and shared a one-bedroom apartment with my brother and his family. It was a really busy household so I enjoy the peace and quiet of where we are now, so I’m happy to pay a little more for the privilege.
How is it living in one room with your husband?
Actually, my husband works in Abu Dhabi and rents shared accommodation there. He remains in Abu Dhabi on the days he works as it is too much to travel back and forth daily, and comes home to Dubai on his off days , which is usually one or two days a week. Because of that, most of the time I’m in the apartment on my own. I’m a real introvert, a real home body, so that kind of lifestyle suits me down to the ground. I stay home a lot.
Why did you choose to live in Discovery Gardens?
When we were looking for a place to rent three years ago the rental market was quite high so we were limited on where to stay. Old Dubai was good but very crowded and I like the quiet life. We wanted our own apartment so we were on the hunt for a studio as it was within our price range. Because my husband works in Abu Dhabi we thought it would be good to be located at the far end of Dubai, closer to the highways taking him straight into the capital.
We rented a studio for one year but the rent was too high so we found this place, which was slightly cheaper and we made the move. I love how green it is in Discovery Gardens.
The areas surrounding the buildings are nice to walk around and there is a basketball court near our place, which my husband loves to use on his off days. We have a communal swimming pool too, which is great when you want to unwind and enjoy the weather.
Is the area well-connected?
Yes, just before Expo started we got a brand new Dubai Metro station on our doorstep. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from our front door, so it’s great if we want to visit malls or different areas of the city. Within walking distance of our building you will find salons, supermarkets and coffee shops too, so we have everything we need.
How have you made your house your home?
Well, we live in a studio so I guess there is only so much you can do with such little space. We have a lounge area with a sofa and TV. I have a desk and chair that I use when working from home and we have a bed.
It’s all very simple as I am a very simple woman. The kitchen area is small but I spend a lot of time there cooking dinner and lunch. I don’t really have many family photos up and the décor is just quite basic.
Do you plan on staying here for a while?
I like the area so I don't plan on moving. Rents are so high in Dubai right now so it is best to stay put. As I said I am a very simple person, an introvert, so I don't like too much change.
Because of that I think we will stay here for at least a few years.
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Yemen's civil war
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The five pillars of Islam
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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