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
Pakistani actor and photographer Habibullah Qureshi moved his family to Muhaisnah on the outskirts of Dubai to be within walking distance of his son’s school.
The father of two, who has appeared in numerous television and online commercials, last month moved, with his wife and children, from an apartment in Majan, close to Global Village.
He told The National that the move, to a neighbourhood on the edge of Sharjah, made sense on several levels.
Not least because they needed the extra space for their two children, aged five and two, to grow up and play in.
How much do you pay in rent?
I pay Dh30,000 across six cheques. We wanted a bigger apartment than before and we wanted to be close to a school for my son.
That was really important because there was no school close to us in Majan, so this is a much better option for us.
What are the best things about living where you do?
Everything is so convenient here. The schools are nearby and there are so many grocery shops and restaurants near us.
We used to have to order everything online, living in our last home, because there were no stores or restaurants close enough to walk to.
We were a little bit isolated, here we have everything we need.
It’s conveniently located between Dubai and Sharjah, which is a bonus because we are not too far from anywhere.
Our last home was a lovely community with lots of greenery and you could even see peacocks walking around freely at times.
But we often felt like we were deserted in the middle of nowhere. You used to have to get in the car if you wanted to go anywhere.
It was a smaller apartment as well, so it made sense to move here where we are close to everything.
We were paying slightly less there though. It was Dh24,000 for a studio apartment whereas this is a bit more, but it is a one-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms.
I have a friend who lives in the same building with his kids so there’s a nice sense of community.
It’s a very vibrant place. We have our choice of cuisines right outside our front door.
We can walk to quite a few restaurants, which is amazing, one night we could be having Pakistani cuisine and then the next night it could be Egyptian.
Parking is really easy here too. There are loads of spaces available outside as well as in the building parking.
What touches have you made to make it your own?
That’s my wife Mariam’s department. Before we moved in she was already making plans about what to do with the place.
We’ve painted one of the walls red to match the curtains and cushions.
Only being here a month has meant we have not had a chance to change too much yet though.
But I’m happy with how she’s putting her personal touch on it. We are going to get more plants and photo frames for the walls but it’s already shaping up well.
Are there any downsides to living where you do?
It’s a pretty old building and we’ve had a few maintenance issues. We had to get a lot of things fixed when we moved in.
Thankfully the building's management has been really helpful and approachable, so any problems were just small ones.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
