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
For the past three years, Nidal Ben Madhkour, 38, has lived in a studio apartment in Dubailand Residence Complex. She moved to Dubai five years ago for work and quickly found a comfortable studio, where she now enjoys the quiet surroundings and easy access to everything she needs.
Working in guest relations at an events company, she said she appreciates the peace and quiet away from the hustle of her office in Downtown, while still being close enough to her job.
She invited The National for a tour of her home on the outskirts of the city to see what is that makes it special to her.
Tell us about your home
It’s a studio apartment with a spacious, open layout. I’ve been living here for three years, and I love how much natural light the place gets, thanks to the big windows. I’m currently paying Dh31,000, and it’s chiller-free, which is a big plus. When I first moved in, I was paying Dh22,000, but the rent has increased as the area has developed. I think it’s still a good deal, given how much the area has improved.
Why did you choose this area?
When I first moved to Dubai, I was living with a roommate in the same area. I liked the peaceful, family-friendly vibe of Dubailand, so when I decided to move into my own place, I stayed here. It’s quiet, away from the busy city, and has everything I need, from supermarkets to beauty salons. They’ve also recently improved the infrastructure, making it easier to access major roads, and there are more shops and facilities than when I first moved here.
Did you get a good deal on the rent?
Yes, I got a great deal at Dh22,000 when I first moved in, which was just after the Covid-19 pandemic. The area wasn’t as developed back then, but it’s grown a lot since. Now I pay Dh31,000, and while it’s more than I used to pay, I think the increase is fair considering all the new amenities and improvements in the area.
What was your first impression when you walked into the studio?
I immediately loved it. The open view, the big window, and all the natural light made it feel spacious. I visited a lot of apartments before choosing this one, and I just had a good feeling about it. It felt like the perfect place for me, especially since it was new, and no one had lived here before me.
What kind of facilities do you have access to?
We have a gym and a pool on the rooftop, which is great. There’s also a small park for families and kids in the building, and there are more parks around the area where people can exercise or relax. The building also provides free parking, which is a big plus, and the apartment is chiller-free, so I don’t have to worry about extra cooling costs. I’m not far from everything I need, and the facilities are definitely a big plus.
Do you feel like the property offers value for money?
Yes, I do. The rent prices in Dubai have increased a lot, but for Dh31,000, I think I’m getting a good deal. The apartment is spacious for a studio, and with chiller included, it helps save on other costs. Plus, the area has grown and improved a lot in terms of infrastructure and services, which adds to the value.
What personal touches have you made to your place?
The first thing I did to make it feel like home was to furnish it myself. I think furnishing your own place really makes it feel personal and comfortable. I bought all my own furniture and decorated it to my taste. It’s important for me to feel like the space is truly mine, and furnishing it myself helped me achieve that.
Are there any downsides to where you live?
Some people say it’s too far from Downtown, but I don’t think so. With the new roads, it only takes me about 15 minutes to get to Downtown and 20 minutes to get to work. So for me, the distance isn’t really a downside, but I can understand why others might feel that way.
Do you plan on staying in Dubailand much longer?
I’m very comfortable here. I don’t feel the need to move closer to Downtown, especially since the rent prices there are much higher. For now, I’m happy in Dubailand, and I don’t have any plans to move.
Would you recommend this area to others?
Definitely. Whenever someone asks me where to live in Dubai, I always recommend Dubailand. It’s quiet, comfortable and has a lot of family-friendly amenities. Plus, the prices are more affordable compared to other parts of the city.
How do you feel about rent prices in Dubai in general?
The rent prices in Dubai can be unpredictable. It’s frustrating that the prices can increase from year to year, which makes it hard to plan. In other countries, rent is more stable, but here, you always have to be ready for the possibility of paying more. I think it’s something that could be improved for renters.
If you could change one thing about your studio, what would it be?
If I could, I’d upgrade to a one-bedroom apartment. My studio is spacious and comfortable, but having a bit more space would be nice. That said, I’m still very happy with where I am.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
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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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Attacks on Egypt’s long rooted Copts
Egypt’s Copts belong to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, with Mark the Evangelist credited with founding their church around 300 AD. Orthodox Christians account for the overwhelming majority of Christians in Egypt, with the rest mainly made up of Greek Orthodox, Catholics and Anglicans.
The community accounts for some 10 per cent of Egypt’s 100 million people, with the largest concentrations of Christians found in Cairo, Alexandria and the provinces of Minya and Assiut south of Cairo.
Egypt’s Christians have had a somewhat turbulent history in the Muslim majority Arab nation, with the community occasionally suffering outright persecution but generally living in peace with their Muslim compatriots. But radical Muslims who have first emerged in the 1970s have whipped up anti-Christian sentiments, something that has, in turn, led to an upsurge in attacks against their places of worship, church-linked facilities as well as their businesses and homes.
More recently, ISIS has vowed to go after the Christians, claiming responsibility for a series of attacks against churches packed with worshippers starting December 2016.
The discrimination many Christians complain about and the shift towards religious conservatism by many Egyptian Muslims over the last 50 years have forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to migrate, starting new lives in growing communities in places as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States.
Here is a look at major attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians in recent years:
November 2: Masked gunmen riding pickup trucks opened fire on three buses carrying pilgrims to the remote desert monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor south of Cairo, killing 7 and wounding about 20. IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
May 26, 2017: Masked militants riding in three all-terrain cars open fire on a bus carrying pilgrims on their way to the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, killing 29 and wounding 22. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
April 2017: Twin attacks by suicide bombers hit churches in the coastal city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta. At least 43 people are killed and scores of worshippers injured in the Palm Sunday attack, which narrowly missed a ceremony presided over by Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt Orthodox Copts, in Alexandria's St. Mark's Cathedral. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
February 2017: Hundreds of Egyptian Christians flee their homes in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, fearing attacks by ISIS. The group's North Sinai affiliate had killed at least seven Coptic Christians in the restive peninsula in less than a month.
December 2016: A bombing at a chapel adjacent to Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo kills 30 people and wounds dozens during Sunday Mass in one of the deadliest attacks carried out against the religious minority in recent memory. ISIS claimed responsibility.
July 2016: Pope Tawadros II says that since 2013 there were 37 sectarian attacks on Christians in Egypt, nearly one incident a month. A Muslim mob stabs to death a 27-year-old Coptic Christian man, Fam Khalaf, in the central city of Minya over a personal feud.
May 2016: A Muslim mob ransacks and torches seven Christian homes in Minya after rumours spread that a Christian man had an affair with a Muslim woman. The elderly mother of the Christian man was stripped naked and dragged through a street by the mob.
New Year's Eve 2011: A bomb explodes in a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria as worshippers leave after a midnight mass, killing more than 20 people.
