It is actually significantly easier than before the COVID-19 pandemic to secure home finance at an affordable mortgage rate. Image: Supplied
It is actually significantly easier than before the COVID-19 pandemic to secure home finance at an affordable mortgage rate. Image: Supplied
It is actually significantly easier than before the COVID-19 pandemic to secure home finance at an affordable mortgage rate. Image: Supplied
It is actually significantly easier than before the COVID-19 pandemic to secure home finance at an affordable mortgage rate. Image: Supplied

Stop Paying Somebody Else’s Mortgage – Get Your Own


  • English
  • Arabic

Every month, millions of us hand over our hard-earned money to pay for rent that, once paid, is gone forever. You will not see this again. That is why anybody who is in a position to buy and move into their own home, must do so - because when you own a property, every Dirham you spend on it comes back to you.

According to Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest mortgage provider in the country, there is a shift in customer mind-set as far as home buying is concerned. Customers today are looking for a long-term residence that is spacious, provides better value for money, and in addition to the financial benefits of saving on rent, actually creates an investment for their future generations. And what is the perfect recipe for prospective home owners? Affordable property pricing, better quality of living and a comprehensive home financing solution that will help them easily transition from a rent paying tenant to a proud homeowner – a place they can truly call their own.

The entire home finance journey has been simplified to ensure the experience, from the time the customer chooses their home until he or she moves in, is a happy one

As we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, how difficult is it to secure home finance at an affordable mortgage rate?

The short answer is that it is actually significantly easier than before. The journey for any homeowner begins with choosing the right bank. One that plays the role of trusted advisor, and is with the customer, hand-in-hand, throughout the entirety of this exciting voyage of discovery, particularly for the first-time buyers. That is where Dubai Islamic Bank comes in. As the perfect partner to help navigate the complexities and provide the perfect customized solution. Our emphasis always remains on educating as well as empowering the customer on his or her home buying journey.

The entire home finance or mortgage journey has been simplified by Dubai Islamic Bank to ensure the experience, from the time the customer chooses their home until he or she moves in, is a happy one.

DIB can assist with budgeting for extra expenses that are associated with home buying.
DIB can assist with budgeting for extra expenses that are associated with home buying.

The complexities seen in the mortgage market become a thing of the past. Getting a pre-approval for home finance based on your financing eligibility is instant, within minutes in real time – and best of all, the pre-approval, offered via the website, is wholly contactless – no need to visit a branch.

With DIB, aspiring homeowners are given the opportunity to choose from a selection of personalised home finance options. The bank’s Home Finance Advisors provide expert guidance to customers and help them identify the amount of finance they can safely apply for, based on their monetary health. What’s more, customers can select the type of financing rate that they would like for their home finance - fixed or variable. Fixed profit rate options provide the much-needed certainty for customers who want to transition from renting to owning a property.

The objective is to put the customer in control of the choices he or she makes when it comes to home finance

Additionally, DIB can assist with budgeting for extra expenses that are associated with home buying. The objective is to put the customer in control of the choices he or she makes when it comes to home finance.

With the increasing reliance on digital and the significant benefits that it provides, DIB has introduced technology to digitize all contracts for home finance customers – yet another industry first for DIB. This means saying goodbye to reams of paper, filing hassles and security related worries. Customers have the option of downloading their contracts, or even reviewing them on their device at their convenience. This solution is completely secure and is backed by double authentication which only the customer can enable.

In conclusion, it is safe to say owning your own home is now a lot easier than it used to be. So why waste money on rent when you could quite easily be paying the same amount towards an investment that will bring you happiness – your own home.

For more information on DIB Home Finance, visit https://www.dib.ae/happy. To get instant home finance pre-approval for your own home, visit https://www.dib.ae/firststep.

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PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

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

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Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

The biog

Age: 46

Number of Children: Four

Hobby: Reading history books

Loves: Sports

Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

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

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The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8 
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k