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
Vidisha Bathwal loves living in her apartment on the Golden Mile in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah for which she and her husband paid Dh5.5 million ($1.5 million).
The Indian, who owns a catering company in the city, moved to her home in one of the city's most glamorous areas four years ago.
She invited The National into her home to see what makes it so special to her.
Why did you choose to live here?
There's so much space, it's fantastic. We were living in JLT but wanted to move for more space. Now we have a 5,000 sq ft penthouse with an attached balcony, which can serve as a terrace garden, and we can hold 30 to 40 people at parties.
It's also a great location, we are very close to Nakheel Mall. It's just a few minutes' walk away so it's great have that on our doorstep, especially when we have two small kids.
The whole area around is buzzing with life, there are so many different communities – it's great to have that, it allows our children to bond with different people, rather than just mixing with their own nationality.
It's a nice feeling to live in such a vibrant community.
Do you feel like it represents value for money?
Yes. It's great value for money as we are right beside the West Beach. When I moved in four years ago, that wasn't there.
Now there is an influx of great hotels and restaurants right here, just a walk away from the front door.
It's one of the most happening places in Dubai, with people travelling from all over the city to check it out. We just have to walk across the road, though.
What touches have you added to make it feel more personal?
It was an empty place when we moved in so everything that has been done is by us.
We colour-coded some rooms. Our room is blue and white, for example.
We've got a piano in the kids' room and there's a family wall corner with photographs.
Do you plan to stay here in the years to come?
Actually, we are moving to a bigger villa in Dubai Hills later this year.
Ideally, we would like to keep this property, though, and rent it out.
We might keep it as well for guests who come to stay with us, we haven't decided yet.
Do you expect to have regrets about moving to a new community?
I will be really sad to leave The Palm as I've grown to love it over the course of the last four years.
We are definitely looking forward to moving to Dubai Hills but a lot of people say that you never know your neighbours as well when you're in a villa community, rather than apartments.
I can see why that is, because when you're in a community building there's a lot of shared space.
There's a worry you won't see anyone for long periods in a villa community.
Is there anything you would change about where you live if you could?
One disadvantage to living here is that it can be very, very loud.
West Beach being so popular means there is nearly always congestion on the roads.
It has got to the stage that we are so used to it that we can almost drown it out, but then at other times it can be a lot.
It can be bad on Friday and Saturday when there is so much traffic that even the service roads are blocked.
There's not much you can do but wait until it clears out, which can be frustrating.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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."
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