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
Karla Hirtescu has spent 12 years living in Dubai, all of them in the bustling tourist district of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
The Romanian, 39, works for an IT software company in Media City leading their global customer reference team.
Ms Hirtescu rents a three-bedroom apartment a short walk from the beach with her husband, Eugen, their daughters, Olivia, aged four, and Bianca, 13, and their live-in nanny.
Here, she takes The National on a tour of her spacious home.
What can you tell us about the property?
It’s a three-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms and one guest washroom that doesn’t have a shower.
The nanny’s room has its own bathroom.
We have a nice balcony with views of the beach. You can see Bluewaters Island and the Ferris wheel [Ain Dubai]. It’s very nice.
The kitchen isn’t open, but it’s also not closed and you can see into the living room.
Why did you choose this area?
When I first came to Dubai, one of my friends lived in JBR. I stayed in her place and really loved it.
It has the beach, it's family orientated and I love the fact that you have everything downstairs: The Walk, the restaurants, hotels, supermarkets. Everything.
If you don't want to use the car at the weekend, you have so many activities that are within walking distance. It's full of tourists, so everyone is happy.
The children's school is next to Burj Al Arab, so again, very close.
When we first moved here, we lived in Bahar 4 for two or three years. Then we moved to Sadaf 1 (both in JBR) until 2019 when we moved into this apartment.
You’ve not considered living in other districts?
During the pandemic, we were thinking it would be nice to live in a house. But all of the affordable houses were very far away and disconnected.
My office is 10 minutes away by car. My husband at the time was also working in Media City, so it was very convenient. Right now, because his job is close to the airport, he has a bit of a drive.
What are the advantages of living here?
You have the Metro and the tram nearby. You’re within walking distance of Dubai Marina.
If you want to go to Marina Mall or if you want to walk, ride bicycles or run by the marina, it’s easy, or if we go on a boat party.
There’s all the hotels nearby where you can go for the pool and beach. They’re moving Cove Beach, which was on Bluewaters [at Caesars Palace], right in front of my house and also opening the Five [hotel brand] in JBR.
There are so many family-friendly activities, such as an escape room and glow-in-the-dark mini golf right next to our building.
The balcony and my daughters’ room have the same nice view of the sea. Every time there are fireworks in JBR, my balcony is the best place to see them.
Usually, for New Year’s Eve, we’re back in Romania. But I have friends asking me for keys to my apartment so they can celebrate at our place.
What other facilities do you have nearby?
There is a big gym for Bahar residents. Each cluster, including Sadaf and Shams, has its own gym.
You also have access to five pools, which is good because you can enjoy the sun in the morning and the shade in the afternoon.
Is it a sociable neighbourhood?
Our friend who I stayed with before is in the same building three floors up, so we're neighbours now. We have another five or six Romanian friends who also live in Bahar, so we're very well connected.
There's also the plaza area, which houses kids' areas, playgrounds and supermarkets. There are no cars so it's super-safe for children.
The children make friends and then we become friends with the parents. They want play dates and stuff like that, it's very nice.
How have you personalised your home?
You cannot really make lots of improvements to a house that you rent.
But everything in the apartment is ours. We decorated nicely with paintings, pictures and ornaments. We made it like a family home. Everywhere you will see my accent.
We bought the blinds and drapes in the living room and we have an amazing customised painting my husband had made for me as a gift by one of our Romanian artist friends, Vladinsky, who is starting to become a famous international name.
In my youngest daughter's room, we have decorated with flowers and have written her name.
What would you like to change?
The kitchen is a bit small. It doesn’t have enough cupboards and places to put your stuff.
We've managed to add some things; my husband build a breakfast bar. But it's enough for us.
If we owned the apartment, I would put in wooden floors in the living room and bedrooms. I would definitely change the kitchen cabinets and drawers, and wardrobes.
I would also decorate it in the style of what would appear in lifestyle magazines.
Does living here offer value for money?
We’re paying Dh135,000 ($36,754) per year in four cheques. In 2020, when the pandemic started, we managed to get it down to Dh100,000.
All of the other buildings nearby that have a full sea view go for Dh160,000 to Dh170,000 [for the equivalent unit].
We've been all over JBR and the Bahar 5 three-bedroom apartments are the biggest and nicest, compared to any other tower in JBR.
Do you plan to stay?
Definitely. If we become millionaires in the next two years and can afford a villa in the hills or somewhere fancy-schmancy in Jumeirah on the beach, then we would move. But we’re happy here.
Are there any downsides to living on JBR?
During the weekend it is not so quiet, or during the national holidays, because everybody comes to The Walk to celebrate. Then you get the Lamborghinis revving their engines, but we’ve got used to it.
During the weekend it gets crazy. During the day, it’s OK but in the evening, by 4pm, we have the car parked and we just go and walk wherever we want to go.
Have you not been tempted to buy a home?
When we moved in we said we were going to stay for only five years.
If I had bought from the beginning, that would have been good because I would have paid off the mortgage.
But I prefer to buy in Romania because we might go back at a certain point, after the kids finish school.
We bought apartments in Romania; one in Bucharest, one in the mountains. We’re buying another one.
In JBR right now, they’re Dh4.5 million [for a three-bedroom apartment] and the prices are increasing.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
More coverage from the Future Forum
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
