My Dubai Rent takes you inside a reader's home to have a look at what they get for their money, how much they pay in rent and asks them what they like and don't like
Adrian John and his fiancee Lucy Melts recently moved to Dubai suburb Damac Hills 2 after receiving a huge rent increase request and then an eviction notice from the landlord of their previous home.
The British couple, better known as Mr & Mrs Brunch, own and operate food and beverage money-saving app Let’s DXB. They wanted somewhere with space and quiet where they could relax in between working and checking out the emirate's social hotspots.
A teacher in Jumeirah by day, Ms Melts, 37, and Mr John, who works in sports management in Motor City, pay Dh100,000 annually for the townhouse they share with their cat Darthie.
Mr John, 39, took The National on a tour …
Tell us about your home
It’s a three-bedroom townhouse, plus maid’s room with toilet and another toilet downstairs. All three bedrooms are en suite.
We have our main bedroom, the guest room and a spare room that’s a bit of a laundry room that we’re going to turn into a study. We’ve also got a really nice garden.
Where did you live previously?
We moved in May of this year, bringing to an end our five-year love affair with Town Square.
We had a three-bedroom townhouse there, slightly smaller, an older unit. We were paying, at last year’s prices, Dh90,000.
Now you can’t get anything for less than Dh150,000. The landlord wanted to raise it to that sort of level. We didn't realise the prices would shoot up so much, so that tempted us to look further afield.
We were in JVC [Jumeirah Village Circle] and The Greens before that.
Why choose this area?
We’d had always seen it as a bit out of the way, but we were surprised at how close it was once you’ve lived in Town Square.
If someone was moving from the Marina, it would feel like the middle of nowhere, but we were already out here so it wasn’t much of a stretch.
Our old property was a little dark, things had started going wrong with air conditioning, water coolers and boilers.
Everything we’d heard about certain clusters in Damac Hills 2 – that it was brighter, fresher, newer – sparked our interest.
We came to view a few homes, looked at this one, fell in love as soon as we walked in. Obviously, the price was great.
What facilities are available?
It’s all separated into clusters and the community has so much that’s included for free. We’ve got a swimming pool across the road from our cluster and you can also use the other clusters any time.
The community centre, probably 300 metres behind our house, has a Carrefour, shops and restaurants.
They also have a gym there, free to all residents, and massive squash courts, an infinity pool, they do spin classes. There’s a dog park.
It’s very much a community feel.
Malibu Bay just opened – a water park with a lazy river and wave pool, cabanas, again free for residents. It’s the same with the paddle courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, outdoor gyms. There’s a lake, food lorries ...
The Rotana hotel (restaurant) food has nice and different themes like taco night, a brunch, Sunday roast. We’re also eight minutes from the bar at Dubai Sevens stadium.
What other advantages are there to the address?
My big one is traffic. Town Square traffic in the morning, and evening sometimes, was horrible, with one exit.
Here you’ve got two exits at the moment and they have built another road which will be a cut-through and make it much quicker. In the morning: no traffic at all, and then coming home: no traffic. That makes a huge difference to our lives.
Have you personalised the house?
We had the garden landscaped when we moved in. We’ve got furniture from the old place and we bought a few things like a big mirror to open up the room and a new dining table. Also, some things from our travels. Our theme is rustic boho.
Any key features?
A whole wall is floor-to-ceiling windows, which is what we really loved. I love natural light.
We’ve got a large upstairs terrace that leads out from our balcony, which we’re looking to convert into a Mediterranean-style chill-out terrace. We can’t wait for the cooler months to be able to enjoy it.
Do you think this home offers value?
Absolutely. Rental price was definitely key in the decision process.
This year is a big year for us, we’re getting married in four months, so that extra Dh50,000 our landlord was trying to gain can be used to pay for bits and bobs for our wedding.
We were looking at spending money a bit more wisely, and wanted to upgrade as well.
We looked at places in Villanova and Arabian Ranches 3, but the villas were small compared to what you can get here – it was a light bulb moment.
It was a smarter decision to get somewhere newer and bigger for the money, and with all of the extras you get – gym memberships, the water park – definitely good value.
Are there any downsides to the area?
The road that connects Al Qudra Road to Damac Hills 2; it’s really beautiful because you’ve got desert on both sides, but it’s not somewhere you can rush along because it’s single-lane, winding, speed bumps. That’s probably the only real negative.
That said, we both have the same journey time (to work as before) because there’s no traffic, even though it’s further out.
Once you’re here, you’ve come back from work, you don’t really want to be driving out again. There’s loads for the community to do, we’ve got everything.
We were worried about Deliveroo and Careem delivering out here, but they all come now.
Do you plan to stay in the property?
You never know, being in Dubai, but it’s our haven. We just love to be able to relax and chill. We can avoid all the craziness and be in our own bubble.
This cluster was brand new, so no one’s lived in this house before, which is a big positive.
We’ve got both sets of parents coming to stay in December for the wedding and we’ve got enough room.
We feel comfortable staying here for the foreseeable, unless things dramatically change and we are able to get somewhere closer to town for a lot less than we’re paying now
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
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.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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.
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 BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
