A former teacher who quit her job to set up her own business said she wants to change the room rental landscape in Dubai.
After teaching in a primary school for five years, Danielle Hall, from the UK, set up iiabud_dubaii, a small-scale co-living rental service.
As an experienced landlord in the UK, she wanted to offer something where people, particularly single women new to Dubai, felt safe and able to forge new friendships.
“I’m just finishing up my last week as a teacher and I’m on my knees health wise. The workload is huge,” she said.
They are all three-bedroom apartments and each room within a property is en suite, which is a big bonus for renters knowing they don't have to share bathroom facilities
Danielle Hall,
iiabud_dubaii
“I noticed that many young professionals struggle to find legal, clean and quality rooms to rent or apartment shares in Dubai, so that’s where the business idea came from.
“I started off with three rooms in one apartment and now I have 21 rooms spread across seven apartments, so it has really taken off.
“I decided to hang up my teaching boots to focus my efforts full-time on iiabud_dubaii.”
After securing a business licence for holiday home rentals, Ms Hall, with her business partner Lisa Thomas, rent apartments under their company name on annual contracts.
The business pair source the apartments direct from a well-known developer in Dubai and provides accommodation to people who want to co-share with like-minded people and pay their rent and bills in one monthly payment.
The licence allows three people, who are unrelated, to live together under one roof and, per the agreement with the developer, apartments are let out only to same-sex occupants.
All seven properties are fully furnished and located in Downtown Dubai, close to public transport.
“The buildings are secure, have modern amenities including a pool and gym and are located within walking distance from a metro station,” she said.
“They are all three-bedroom apartments and each room within a property is en suite, which is a big bonus for renters knowing they don't have to share bathroom facilities.
“There will never be more than three people living in one apartment, so our renters know there is no risk of overcrowding.”
At current rates, standard rooms cost Dh4,000 a month and master suites are priced at Dh4,400. Room rates are reviewed every three months.
Tenants are encouraged to sign a lease for at least three months and they pay their rent monthly, up front.
“I’ve heard so many people having terrible landlord-tenant experiences, so I want to eliminate that headache for people,” she said.
“I’m a normal person starting out my business, so I have great interaction with my tenants because they are the very people that can advise me on what works and what doesn't.
“They don’t have to worry about sorting out things like setting up an Ejari or paying big security deposits for things like Dewa and air conditioning.”
Ms Hall said at the moment about 50 per cent of her residents are new to Dubai.
“It’s a big support for people who have just moved here because most landlords ask for Emirates ID, but many people don’t have it in the early stages,” she said.
“I ask for a copy of their passport and a copy of a job offer letter if relevant, although that is not essential.
“And just to cover any risk of damage tenants are asked to pay a one month’s rent deposit.
"I really want to change the room rental landscape in Dubai and offer a personal service that works for young professionals looking to make friends and love a comfortable home life here."
MATCH DETAILS
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)
Genk 1
Samatta (40)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
