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
Ananda Shakespeare tried living in serviced hotel apartments for convenience and cost, including lower rates during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With Dubai rents having dipped, however, she opted to return to leasing an apartment of her own again so she could have her possessions around her.
After a year in a Dubai Production City (IMPZ) studio, Ms Shakespeare’s landlord suggested a dramatic rent hike, prompting her to look elsewhere.
The communications consultant, who is single and owns Shakespeare Communications, says the situation did her a favour; for Dh1,000 more than she was paying annually she recently moved to a new unit in Dubai’s Damac Hills 1 with improved views, a community feel, and good road links.
Here, Ms Shakespeare, 41, invites The National into her home for a look around.
Where do you live?
A seventh floor studio in Damac Hills. I’m near to the E611, Hessa Street and really close to Al Qudra bike track.
I tried different parts of Dubai, then I would go travelling for three months. I didn’t pay rent and had my stuff in storage
Ananda Shakespeare
Why did you choose this area?
It’s a nice community. I live two minutes walk from a supermarket, food trucks and I’m overlooking greenery, a skateboard park, and the desert beyond that. I’ve a great view from floor to ceiling corner windows, so it’s bright. This is more private than before because there’s nothing overlooking me.
They’ve an app to tell residents about what’s going on in the community. Last week they had a water slide, something for families, and it’s very dog friendly.
How much do you pay for the studio per year?
Dh25,000. I was paying Dh24,000 last year, but they were putting it up to Dh31,500 and I was not getting anything more for that. Now I’m getting not just more value for money but a better living experience.
These are the cheapest Dubai rents I have had in 17 years.
What are the advantages of living here?
The building is nicer, better designed, more luxurious and it’s got more facilities.
The lobby is plush, lots of beautiful furnishings and seating, pictures everywhere; Damac has really made an effort in communal areas. It’s nicely landscaped and there are local food trucks in a square with sculptures that light up in the evening. It’s a slightly smaller building, which I prefer, only one or two security guards so you get to know them.
Are there any disadvantages?
It is further out than IMPZ and taking me 10-15 minutes extra to get to meetings, but I am happier. Initially, I was thinking Sports City because that’s not really further out than IMPZ, or Motor City, but that’s more expensive.
How did you find the apartment?
I used a property aggregator, but also joined community Facebook groups. The studio had everything I wanted … the balcony, great views, clean and new, and really nice to look at.
The studio is about the same size as the last one, but it feels bigger because they’ve been much more clever with the design.
How have you personalised it?
I’ve only been here three weeks. I’m not much of a homebody; for me making a home a home is putting pictures up.
But it is nice to have more personal belongings around me, like paintings, books and crystals. I’ve also asked the landlady if I can install a fly net on the balcony door.
Do you plan to stay in the property?
It works better for me having a more stable base. Living in serviced departments at the time made financial sense and gave me flexibility. I tried different parts of Dubai, then I would go travelling for three months. I didn’t pay rent and had my stuff in storage.
I don’t think studios were this price back then. I’m about to leave the country again and it doesn’t matter so much that I’m paying rent.
The pandemic has changed my attitude towards money. I’m keeping my outgoings low, even though Shakespeare Communications is doing really well, and saving. You want to put yourself in the strongest financial position should anything happen again.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Company%20profile
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m, Winner: Zalman, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hisham Al Khalediah II, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Qader, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
8pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nayslayer, Bernardo Pinheiro, Jaber Ramadhan
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
MATCH INFO
Day 1 at Mount Maunganui
England 241-4
Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28
New Zealand
Yet to bat
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is the definition of an SME?
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.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
