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
Seven years ago Shereen Shabnam and her family began renting a mature four-bedroom villa close to a newer dynamic district of Dubai.
As a public relations content strategist for PR agencies and the media industry, Ms Shabnam values the central location of the home at Al Badaa, opposite the City Walk shopping, dining and residential destination and close to Downtown Dubai and Al Badaa Park.
The Fijian lives with her British husband, Eric, an English language specialist and stage actor, and their daughter, Natasha, 23, a forensics and criminology graduate.
Ms Shabnam, 50, took The National on a tour of their spacious villa.
Please tell us about your home
It has two floors, four bedrooms, with three bathrooms upstairs.
Downstairs is the kitchen, a maid’s room and a guest bathroom, a storage room, and our living room.
The unique selling point is having a private garden area with a view of Burj Khalifa, as well as a courtyard with a pool.
Our kitchen is where we spend the most time, as we cook a lot. It has a handy walk-in pantry.
The garage accommodates all three of our cars and our entrance is on a service lane, so it is very serene … a nice quiet street with no traffic coming through.
Where were you residing before moving to this address?
We lived for a long time in University City, in Sharjah, also in a four-bedroom villa.
And then for a few years in Mirdif, Dubai.
But we always wanted to live in this particular area given my erratic schedule as a media/PR personality.
After 23 years in the media/PR industry in the UAE, I work closely with four PR agencies for content strategy, including Coral Coast PR.
Why did you choose to live in this area?
Location was key to me. I have clients all over the city, so being central in Dubai was an important consideration.
I saw this place in 2015 and was determined to move in the minute a villa became available.
What are the advantages of being at this address?
We are right across the road from City Walk and next to a branch of Life Pharmacy with an Aswaaq supermarket and a Carrefour Express right on our doorstep.
I love that my office at Aspin Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road is less than 10 minutes away and the “family gym” at Shangri-La Dubai (near Financial Centre metro station) is just next door to that.
I believe in living a wholesome quality of lifestyle and to avoid spending time on the roads, driving in traffic.
Is it a sociable neighbourhood?
Yes, we have our neighbours gathering in the courtyard in the winter whenever possible, but the kids tend to get together more regularly.
How have you made the villa feel like home?
We are all keen readers, so every part of the house has a book library and collectively we have over 1,000 books in the villa – plus a comic collection.
There is also a hat collection, a shoe collection and a model car collection – to reflect my passion for cars. We are also art collectors.
The furniture in my house is rustic wood. I have a Rajasthani sofa chest that is over 100 years old and takes eight men to move. It’s a bit of a liability to have because of its weight and I would like to get rid of it, but my friends reckon that it is a good investment piece to own.
We only invested in the garden (in terms of upgrades), as during the pandemic we spent a lot of time out there. So, we bought plants and outdoor furniture.
Is there anything you would like to change about the place?
I want to get lighter curtains next time around … I always had dark maroon ones as I wanted splashes of red around the house.
Bills are a bit high, being a huge villa, but the location makes it worthwhile.
Do you think living there offers value for money?
Yes. Our rent is Dh165,000. Most people in our neighbourhood are paying over Dh200,000 for their home, but I opted for an older villa as it has more character. I like all things that are vintage and old.
Do you plan to stay in this property?
I love it here. It’s full of my stuff, my memories and it fits in with my lifestyle.
I have property in Fiji and Spain, but would like to own a place in Dubai. However, even if I buy a place here, I would still prefer to stay in my current home because it’s the most prime location this city has to offer.
Are there any downsides to living there?
Being an old villa, we have constant problems, such as plumbing stuff and water heaters, but nothing major.
But it gets resolved quickly, thankfully, by our maintenance team for which I am grateful.
However, the traffic near City Walk is getting worse by the day as a lot of people use the exit to avoid Salik on Sheikh Zayed Road, and that is a problem.
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
57%20Seconds
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
WISH
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The%20US%20Congress%20explained
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Results
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
if you go
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
