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
Dr Javairia Hassan, a medical director at Dubai Healthcare City, rents a spacious one-bedroom apartment in The Greens and Views for Dh90,000 ($24,500).
This is the first apartment in Dubai for the Pakistani who moved from her home country about three years ago.
Dr Hassan and her husband Hassan Ashraf were drawn to the location for its serene and secure environment, which features a scenic lake, walking track and proximity to The Greens Souq with its variety of food, grocery options and cafes.
She took The National on a tour of her ground-floor apartment, featuring a large courtyard that her two children enjoy, and told of how it has become a cosy family home filled with personal mementos and memories.
Tell us about your home
Our apartment is on the ground floor and it has one bedroom with cabinets and attached washroom, a closed kitchen, spacious living room and a dining area.
We have a big courtyard and it’s my favourite part of being on the ground floor. Our kids can go easily without using lifts to the play area, which is just in front of our home.
The best part of our apartment is that it’s in a closed community so they can't exit the apartment complex when they're outside playing.
Where did you live before?
Since we came to UAE, we've been living here.
What are some other advantages of living here?
It is a calm, beautiful and safe place to live. There is a beautiful lake inside the community, it has a scenic walking track. There is a souq with lot of food and grocery options, many cafes and multiple salons.
We go for our Friday prayer in a mosque that is near our apartment and the location also really helps during the month of Ramadan.
Our community has so many different nationalities, so it's a good opportunity for learning about cultures and taking part in events our neighbours host.
In winters, we host barbecue parties outside in the common area with friends and have lots of memories that we've made these past few years.
It’s also very close to tourist attractions, so our guests really enjoy staying with us.
How have you made the apartment your home?
We have decorated it with our beautiful memories – my younger son was born while we were living here, so this flat is his childhood home in a way.
We have decorated it with our awards and pictures and my son's handmade drawings.
Our souvenirs are also on the shelves, that we have collected from our travels over the years.
Do you plan to stay in the property?
Our family has grown in number and we would also like our parents to stay with us, so, we have to move to a bigger house.
As much as we love this community, it only has apartments. We'd prefer moving into a villa sometime in the future.
Do you think living here is value for money?
Rents are soaring here because of high demand, so I think it does offer value for money – it's near to the metro, main malls of the city and it's on Sheikh Zayed Road. It's a convenient location for travelling to work and leisure activities.
Are there any downsides?
It’s hard to answer, honestly. I think it would be challenging to settle in other communities once you live here.
And while it was spacious for us when the kids were younger, we'd prefer moving into a bigger place now as our family grows, but we've made some great memories here.
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
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Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
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