My Dubai Rent: mother-of-two negotiates Dh23,000 reduction in rent for villa


Kelly Clarke
  • English
  • Arabic

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

When Poonam Nnabuogor moved to Dubai with her husband and two children four years ago, space and convenience was at the top of their list when looking for a new home.

Having moved from a five-bedroom detached house in the UK with a private drive, it was a tough task finding something appropriate.

They eventually settled on a large, three-bed property in Jumeirah Park, complete with its own double garage.

Originally paying Dh190,000 ($51,728) a year in rent for the property, Poonam, a procurement specialist at Dubai Airports, managed to negotiate lower rent before and during the pandemic, knocking the family’s yearly bill down by more than Dh20,000.

Here, she invites The National into her home to take a look around.

Where do you live?

We’re in Jumeirah Park, and we have lived in the same property since we moved here in 2018.

Tell us about the property

It’s a large, three-bedroom villa and it’s really spacious. We have a huge open-plan lounge area downstairs, which opens up into a dining area, and the kitchen is a great size, too. We have a separate storage room or larder on the side of the kitchen, as well as a big utility space and maid’s room.

Upstairs is a separate open lounge area on the landing, which doubles up as my office, and all the bedrooms have an en suite. The extra space is a godsend when you have two growing boys who like to fight over the bathroom.

Outside, we have a large garden which is big enough for the boys to play football or basketball and we have a double garage, too. It doesn’t really compare in size to our family home in the UK but it’s great for what we need here.

How much do you pay for the property?

Many children in the area attend Dubai British School, which is rated 'very good' by the city's education regulator, KHDA. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Many children in the area attend Dubai British School, which is rated 'very good' by the city's education regulator, KHDA. Chris Whiteoak / The National

When we moved here in 2018, we paid Dh190,000 a year for the villa and the following year I negotiated the price down by about Dh10,000. Then Covid-19 hit in 2020 and I managed to further bring down the price. I’m a procurement professional, I negotiate for a living, so I used my skills and managed to get a really good deal.

Right now, I am paying Dh167,500 a year but I know the landlord wants to put the rent up.

Why did you choose this area?

Convenience for the boys, to be honest. It all came down to the location of their school. I have two boys, aged 10 and 13, and when we moved here in 2018, Dubai British School in Jumeirah Park was the only school that had space for both the boys.

When we toured the school, we liked the community and the feel of the area.

I work far from home, over at the airport, and I didn’t want to stress about them commuting to and from school on a bus. I wanted the comfort of knowing they could get to and from their campus easily. It’s about a three or four-minute walk from the front door, which is great.

I think the one downside about the area is that it doesn’t have any communal pools or gyms. One did pop up recently in one of the other districts but it’s a paid-for service.

What I do like about Jumeirah Park is the pavilion, which has a big supermarket and a few restaurants and shops. It’s got everything you need in one place.

Is it a sociable neighbourhood?

The family feel that they get a large and well-built property for the price. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The family feel that they get a large and well-built property for the price. Chris Whiteoak / The National

I have tried to integrate more with neighbours, I really have, but people tend to keep themselves to themselves. I’d like it to be more sociable but it’s not the end of the world.

The boys have a good set of friends that live nearby, so it’s good for them at least. And although it’s not a gated community, I feel safe to let them go out and play with friends.

Have you made any changes to the property?

I chose not to do any cosmetic changes to the villa because it’s not my house, I only rent it.

I’ve added cosy furniture to make it more homely but I haven’t painted any walls or upgraded any of the fixtures or fittings. I had some customised curtains made, which I love, but that’s been it really.

I’m quite a minimalist, I don’t like clutter, so the house is tidy and serene. I also bought a La-Z-Boy chair for the corner of the dining area and I’d say that’s my favourite place in the house. It’s where I go for some peace and quiet.

My husband is living back in the UK now, and although it’s just the three of us and the nanny at home, the house can be quite loud at times with two growing, boisterous boys.

Do you plan to stay in the property?

I’m on an unlimited contract so plan to stay in the UAE for as long as I can. It’s a nice life here and it’s important for me that the boys finish school here.

It’s a better education system for them. In terms of staying in the villa, time will tell.

If I can keep the rent at a reasonable rate then yes, I will stay. I was looking to buy somewhere but rents have skyrocketed this year, so I might just invest my money in the UK.

Dubai rents Q1 2022: in pictures

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Company%20profile
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The biog

Name: Greg Heinricks

From: Alberta, western Canada

Record fish: 56kg sailfish

Member of: International Game Fish Association

Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters

Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17

1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"

3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)

4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"

5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"

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Profile of MoneyFellows

Founder: Ahmed Wadi

Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund

CONCRETE COWBOY

Directed by: Ricky Staub

Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome

3.5/5 stars

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

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

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info

Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4
(Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)

Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Updated: June 12, 2022, 4:59 AM`