"It's difficult to be in a bad mood when you live here," laughs Hala Nassim as she collects a trolley to start the weekly food shop. "That wonderful view, the vibrant cafes and of course being so near the water are the things I love most about Marina Walk."
It's hard not to agree. We may be standing in the decidedly unglamorous bread aisle at Spinneys but even from here, the view over Dubai Marina with its bobbing yachts and glittering towers is truly stunning.
The neighbourhood that the Lebanese-born Nassim and her family call home is at the epicentre of "New" Dubai - a now vast area that started with the 25-acre "six tower" development that broke ground just as the Millennium dawned. Back then, Dubai's expatriates could only dream of owning their own property and the swish sales office with its mock-up apartment showcasing the latest in smart technology became something of an attraction for wide-eyed would-be investors.
Fast-forward a decade and the residents of the six towers may not be as technologically advanced as the developer envisaged (a refrigerator with the ability to collate its own shopping list and connect to the local supermarket was just one of the Jetsons-style attractions of the show apartment) but they do have the prestige of living in one of the few areas that remained covetable to tenants and buyers alike during the 2009 downturn.
And it's not difficult to see why. The towers that make-up the Marina Walk area - Al Mass, Fairooz and Murjan (named after precious stones) and their neighbours Mesk, Anbar and Al Yass (after Arabic scents) are connected by a network of wonderfully landscaped rooftop gardens that are divided around each building. Sixty four villas - also at roof level - surround the development while, on the Walk beneath, a vibrant café culture keeps the neighbourhood buzzing with a southern European-style vibe from morning till night.
The fact that Marina Walk residents and all their amenities are cloistered away from the crowds that throng the promenade below does lends the neighbourhood an air of great exclusivity - a fact enhanced by a seriously heavy presence of security guards who certainly do a good job of keeping the hoi polloi sneaking past the swipe card entrances at ground level that lead to the residents-only pools and gardens.
Still, even for visitors to the Marina there's enough going on - a clever configuration of water fountains springing out of the pavement slabs keep children entertained, and cool, for hours on even the hottest of days. A traditional dhow, handily berthed at its own jetty, takes visitors on hour-long cruises and of course a choice of over 30 restaurants and cafes has all culinary tastes well covered. Tthe neighbourhood's much acclaimed Indian restaurant, The Rupee Room, proudly displays its cultural heritage as coming all the way from - Scotland.
Early in the morning, before the cafes crank up their trade, many residents pile on to the picturesque waterside for a spot of serious jogging - or at least brisk walking: "It really is one of the very few places that you can safely exercise in Dubai without having to worry about traffic," says one resident who admits that his daily constitutional is the highlight of living in the area. Since the neighbourhood is a big draw for young families, there's also a constant gaggle of mother and baby get-togethers in the cafes (where a designer pushchair and a Juicy Couture tracksuit are prerequisite entrée for the neighbourhood's yummier-than-average mummies, it seems.)
One faction you don't see much of around Marina Walk is teenagers - at least not any more. Back in the early days when the first couple of towers, Spinneys and crane- counting were the only attractions on offer, the developer opened Dubai's first open-air skateboard park. For the first time, the emirate's youth had somewhere to let of steam (and come April it certainly did get steamy.) Parents would park their cars on the open ground beside the park and relax with a takeout coffee while their progeny practised their Ollies and Pop Shove-Its to their heart's content. One day it was there. The next it wasn't - but hey, that's Dubai. The land it occupied is currently the construction site for Infinity Tower - a building that, when completed, will achieve a full 90-degree spiral giving Dubai Walk residents even more of an absorbing vista.
Another pursuit that has disappeared from the neighbourhood in recent years is the Friday Craft market. It decamped to The Walk at JBR and not too many residents are complaining: "It's so much better to drive in and out and get a table for lunch now it has gone," says Nassim.
It's not total nirvana for residents, however. The sound of pile-driving is something that they've lived with for years: "But you don't really notice the constant noise until you've moved out and come back to visit," says one who recently departed for The Palm Jumeirah. "When you live here its easy to tell yourself that it's the most perfect place to live - but of course, in reality, nowhere is."
Kristina Demenko, Russia
We use the neighbourhood 100 per cent. Every weekend we are here - we invite friends for lunch and dinner at one of the restaurants below our penthouse and then we'll take a trip on the boat we keep moored here. Ours is the smallest building of the six, so it's never too busy by our pool. Almost every day we take a walk around the Marina - it's wonderful and there really is nothing I don't like about living here.
Mercy Jimenez, Philippines
I have lived in the neighbourhood for four years and look after two children for the family I work for. It is very nice to be able to bring the children out for walks without worrying about cars and crossing the roads. The kids ride around on their scooters and we meet up in the playground with other nannies and children. It is a good place for families and is very quiet, except at weekends when so many more people visit the Marina.
Pendar Vatanian, Iran
We moved last month from Marina North after living in the same apartment for almost five years. I don't think the developer has ever bettered the standard of the homes in the first six towers. We enjoyed living there so much we tried to look for a similar apartment to buy but it fell through at the last moment and we moved out - there are certainly a lot of things I miss about living there.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
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
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
