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
With a love for loft-style apartments, it was a quick search on Google that prompted Injeel Moti to take a leap of faith and move into her dream open-plan duplex in Dubai nearly two years ago.
After visiting her colleague’s quirky apartment in Downtown Dubai several years ago, it sparked her love for open plan living, and in September 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ms Moti found her perfect pad in Shamal Residences in Jumeirah Village Circle.
The single businesswoman, who started Catch Communications, her own company several years ago, bagged a great deal on her rent during the pandemic, when the rental market was slow moving.
But never one to stay in one place for too long, she plans to move out of her one-bedroom apartment at the end of the year.
I wanted to live somewhere like this and get it out of my system before I get married and have lots of babies
Injeel Moti,
communications director
Here, she invites The National into her home.
Where do you live?
I’m in Jumeirah Village Circle. I've been here for almost four years now, and nearly two years in this apartment. I love this area because it has a great sense of community. There is such a mix of people living here and it’s quite cosmopolitan.
We’ve got everything from grocery stores to restaurants and even our own mall nearby, so it’s great if you ever need to nip out and get something. The one thing I loathe about JVC is probably the construction, and unfortunately there’s some going on right outside my apartment now.
Tell us about the property you live in
It’s a loft-style apartment. There’s actually a little story as to how I ended up here.
When I was 23, I went to a colleague's apartment in DIFC and it was a loft layout. I absolutely fell in love with it and knew immediately that I wanted to live in a place like that, so I guess you could say I sort of manifested this space over the years before moving in.
The apartment doesn't have a lot of privacy but I’m single so that’s fine for me. I wanted to live somewhere like this and get it out of my system before I get married and have lots of babies. It's definitely not a family-friendly space but moving in here was like a tick on my bucket list.
How much do you pay per month?
I moved in September 2020 and I got a really sweet deal. I pay Dh65,000 a year, so about Dh5,500 per month. I got really lucky with the rent because back then, due to Covid-19, rents were quite low. My neighbours, who just moved in recently, are paying a lot more than me.
Tell us about the unique features of the space
Oh honestly, I was sold as soon as I walked through the doors of the apartment because of the wall to wall and floor to ceiling windows.
There was so much natural light and that really helps boost my mood. I love the open staircase too. It has quite cool metalwork, which lots of people comment on when they visit.
I’m also obsessed with the floor tiles in the kitchen area, they’re colourful and quirky and you don’t see that kind of style a lot in rented apartments.
One of the best things about the building is the huge terrace that my cats can play on and the fact that my neighbours don’t mind my two cats roaming the corridors.
How have you made your house a home?
I love vibrancy and colour so you will see a lot of that in my apartment. In terms of the art pieces, it's all pretty random.
I picked them up from my travels in Zanzibar, Turkey, places like that.
You’ll also see a few cat portraits. I have two of my own, my two boys, and they are some of my favourite pictures.
My lounge area is really comfy and it’s a great place to relax. I have a few book shelves as I love books and love reading in my downtime.
How did you find the apartment?
I Googled loft apartments for rent in Dubai and came across Lootah Properties.
I had viewed two other apartments before this one but my mind was made up as soon as I walked in the door. I liked that the building was small too, it’s only four storeys and I’m on the top floor.
Do you plan on staying here for a while?
In this apartment no, but in Dubai, yes. My contract finishes in September so I am looking to move and actually buy a property nearby, probably a villa.
I do like to change things up a little bit, so two years in one place is a good effort from me. I’ve had a lovely time while being here.
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
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
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
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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
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
More on Quran memorisation:
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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