My Own Home takes you inside a reader-owned property to ask how much they paid, why they decided to buy and what they have done with it since moving in
Just over two years ago, George Karebian and his wife paid Dh2.4m to own their first house, within the Serena housing development in the Dubai suburbs.
A regional manager at a Japanese medical equipment manufacturer, Mr Karebian, who is Syrian of Armenian origin, has been resident in the UAE for 20 years and has previously lived in Mirdif as well as Nahda, in Sharjah.
He married Ani Bezdigian, a 34-year-old communications professional at Ducab, eight years ago and together they have three-year-old twins, son Hagop and daughter Araz.
Mr Karebian, 40, showed The National around his home.
Tell us about your property
Our home is a three-bedroom semi-detached villa in Serena community, in Casa Viva. We have three bathrooms, a maid’s room with bathroom, and a store room.
We purchased this place and moved in back in March 2021. The process was quite easy to understand and go through. It took a bit longer than expected, but no complaints.
What made you buy a home?
I have been renting throughout my stay in the UAE. And when the price of the two-bedroom apartment I was renting started rising, we made the decision to at least look for possible options.
A few weeks later, we came to the conclusion that buying would be better.
What led you to choose this area?
We looked at and viewed almost all the options in Dubai. The criteria was that we needed at least three bedrooms with a decent-sized backyard for the twins to run around in. It had to be new and with a certain style, relatively close to the main city for our commute to work [George works in DAFZA, while Ani works in Jebel Ali].
Having nurseries, schools, grocery shops and other services at close proximity was a plus. The prices were increasing so I think we made the right decision, since the property is now for sure more expensive than when we bought it.
Where were you living before?
We were in Dubai Silicon Oasis, a relatively large two-bedroom apartment … somewhere we called home for a couple of years pre- and post- the twins.
What benefits do you enjoy owning rather than renting?
When you can call it yours, you can feel it; it’s not a house, it is a home.
It is definitely a home for the kids to grow up in, something that will be passed on to them.
Even though as a financial investment it doesn’t make sense now, down the line the realisation of this home as an asset will hit harder.
I am not saving over rent if you compare apples to apples, but after years and years the asset will be tradable if needed and that’s the main financial benefit.
What upgrades have you given to your home?
No major modifications have been done. The house and the layout were good from the start.
All we had to do is to make sure the backyard is a nice cosy place for us and the kids, so we did landscaping. A nice permanent fire and BBQ place were built. We added as much green as possible and carpeted the area with high-quality artificial grass for the kids to be safe if they fall while running.
We have a bookshelf upstairs, but since we have three-year-olds we haven’t had the chance to hang any of our photos yet.
What facilities do you have access to?
There is an outdoor play area right across from our house, also a Cheeky Monkeys [indoor playground brand] that is very close. Two Fitness First branches are nearby, as well as nursery options. Geant, Spinneys and Choithram supermarkets are very close, as are a few coffee shops.
The closest mall is Cityland. It has a Carrefour inside. And Dubai Hills Mall is also not far away.
Any downsides to living in the area?
There are no disadvantages, I believe, compared to living in the city centre. You lose the ability to call the supermarket for home delivery, but there are substitutes like InstaShop, Talabat Mart and others. It is a bit of a longer drive to some places, but closer to work, which is important.
The biggest [financial] hit was the down payment, which in our case was around half a million dirhams, something that is not in your pocket as security. We had to start saving from scratch, and it’s harder with twins, but I believe this was a good move.
Is this your forever home?
We don’t know what the future brings, we don’t know what is around the next corner, but for now … it’s our little home that we are enjoying and raising our kids in.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
