My Dubai Rent: Indian woman loves Dh65,000 apartment in 'area that never sleeps'

Rihea Sadarangani and her parents live in a two-bedroom apartment in the Al Qusais 1 community

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

It's fair to say that moving to a new country can be a daunting experience for most people taking that trip into the unknown.

However, when media entrepreneur Rihea Sadarangani moved to Dubai in 2017 she had no such issues, as she had spent every summer and winter holiday visiting the emirate.

Ms Sadarangani, 29, from India, who now runs her own website, Iconic Episode, would join her mother in visiting her father, who worked in the emirate, at every opportunity.

Rihea Sadarangani pays Dh65,000 a year to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Al Qusais 1 in Dubai. All Photos: Pawan Singh / The National

The living area of the apartment

The kitchen in Rihea Sadarangani's home

The view from the balcony

The family have lived here since 2017

The gym in the building

The swimming pool

The view of the community from Rihea Sadarangani's home

Those visits turned into a more permanent arrangement when she joined both her parents in living in the city seven years ago.

They pay Dh65,000 ($17,690) a year to live in a two-bedroom apartment in the Al Qusais 1 community.

She invited The National on a tour of her home.

Why did you choose to live here?

It's very peaceful and not too crowded. Plus you have every facility you need within 300 metres.

We are right beside a green Metro line station and there are four supermarkets beside us, two of which are open 24 hours, while there are more than eight restaurants and cafeterias near us too.

There is staff on at the building as well, so we never have security issues because someone is always sitting in the reception area.

Is there a sense of community around there?

Yes, all the people in the building and around it are all very social, we meet each other during celebrations such as Diwali or the New Year and we all usually go down on the street and celebrate together.

What have you done to make the apartment feel like your own?

It's a cosy and open space. Since our home is very spacious, we have not overcrowded it with stuff.

Simple and plain is what we love, as the saying goes 'a house becomes a home when you have your people with you'.

We filled the corners with our best memories, pictures in photo frames and gifts from people special to us.

We are foodies, so there always has to be food on the dining table!

Do you feel like you get value for money?

We do. We tried to look for somewhere else but it was difficult to get this security and level of service elsewhere.

Are you planning to move home any time soon?

No. We're definitely going to be here for next few years at least.

Is there anything you would change if you could about where you live?

Nothing at all, to be honest. I love how much convenience we have and there are so many things around us, the neighbours and staff in the building are always friendly and helpful.

I love the view we have as well. People are coming and going day and night, that's the beauty of life here.

There's always somebody on the move. It's an area that never sleeps.