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
After nearly a decade of moving from place to place in a demanding hospitality job, Jessi Chai was ready to lay down some roots.
She’d gone from Oman to the Maldives and on to Hong Kong, before she decided to move back to Dubai in 2022, a city she’d lived in from 2015 to 2017. This time she was ready to commit to living here long term, however, and decided to buy a property and start her own PR business.
Two years on, and she’s so glad she bought her Dh1.2 million one-bedroom home in Waves Tower by Kasco in Business Bay, which she describes as the perfect starter home.
The National takes a tour.
Please tell us about your home.
It’s a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony on the Business Bay side of the Dubai Canal. I'm just doors down from the new Lana – Dorchester Collection hotel.
Beside me is going to be a Ritz Carlton and the One Sankari, which is going to be stunning.
There's a lot going up in this area.
Why did you choose this neighbourhood?
I love the canal. It's just super convenient for me.
I work out along the canal and at Kite Beach. I run to d3. I just love this area. It really fits in with my lifestyle.
How much did you buy it for?
I got it for Dh1.2 million. That is good for this area because there's nothing in that bracket at the moment unless you're looking at much older properties.
It's worth about Dh1.6 million now.
Why did you decide to buy?
It was more of an emotional decision than for investment purposes, just because for the past nine years of my life, I was working in hospitality, where you move around every one or two years. I just never felt like I had a home base other than Vancouver or Taiwan, which is where my family resides.
I really wanted to have a home when I moved back to Dubai, I didn't really want to move around. I didn't even have an Emirates ID yet. I didn't have a bank account, and I started looking at property immediately. I just knew I needed a home.
Two years in, and I feel really lucky that I've bought a place. It has just been so nice to ground myself.
What facilities do you have access to?
We have pretty much everything Dubai offers, so you get a swimming pool, a gym, a sauna and changing rooms.
What renovations have you done?
I've added in some shoe shelves because there was empty space by the door, so I've covered up where the internet cables are.
I've added more storage and then I've kind of continued this wavelike motion towards the living room, where I have a bookshelf.
There’s extra storage everywhere – anywhere possible, from the doorway through to the kitchen, into the living room.
I think I might do some painting, but I have no other renovation plans for now.
Do you plan to move anywhere after this?
I would love to move closer to Downtown. I don't think this is my forever home. It is a great start and a great first property.
I think in the future, I would love to own more apartments and rent them out, or maybe get a two-bedroom. Ideally, looking into next year, I’d like to upgrade.
Have you seen a financial difference between renting and buying?
Yes, if I were to rent right now, anywhere in this area, I'd be looking at double what I pay for my mortgage. So, I'm really happy with my decision.
I wish I bought earlier. I wish, you know, my parents never bought me any toys and just gave me the money in the bank.
There’s really no right or wrong time. I’d say just get in if it feels right, if it's a good fit for your lifestyle. If you have the funds and if you're going to be paying rent anyway, just do it.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
The Porpoise
By Mark Haddon
(Penguin Random House)
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Company%20Profile
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