DUBAI // Sandy Rubin and her husband Matt have been living at the Shoreline apartments on the Palm Jumeirah for three years and much has changed.
“Shoreline is great because there are a few really nice spots to eat that you can walk to and Nakheel finally opened the park last year, which has changed life a lot,” Mrs Rubin said.
“It’s wonderful to have a running track downstairs and every morning and evening there are a lot of people out walking their dogs or playing with their kiddies or doing their fitness regimes, which makes it feel a lot more like a self-contained community.”
She said they were eagerly awaiting the opening of the Golden Mile stores and restaurants because “this is going to make it very easy to never leave the Palm. There are rumours of a Waitrose, which would be fantastic”.
Mrs Rubin sees the Palm becoming more of a destination, although there are some issues with the developer, Nakheel, on the Shoreline, such as the use of the beach clubs for guests of residents.
Visitors must pay between Dh50 and Dh100, which deters Mrs Rubin from inviting visitors.
“It would be nice to see this change,” she said.
Having hotels close by is a bonus for when family and friends visit.
“They are such a great attraction. There are a lot of new developments coming up so it will be interesting to see how that changes life here, but mostly I think it will be for the best,” she said.
“We bought our three-bedroom [apartment] on the Shoreline last year and certainly feel it is a great investment that has already appreciated in value.
“And we feel that more hotels, restaurants, shops ... will just add to that value, as well as to the overall quality of life on the Palm.”
mswan@thenational.ae
