My Own Home takes you inside a reader-owned property to ask how much they paid, why they decided to buy and what they have done with it since moving in
Aaliya Alam, founder of Things of Media marketing agency, was poised to move to the UAE for a job from India in 2020 before plans were scuppered by global lockdowns in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
It wasn’t until a few years later that she finally made it back, this time as a married woman after reconnecting with an old school friend, her now-husband Kazi Syed Ubaid, who has been living in the UAE for 13 years.
The couple recently bought their first property together, but instead of living in Abu Dhabi, where her husband commutes for work, or in Dubai where they had been renting, they decided to move to Ajman to get far more square footage for their money.
They invested in a Dh1.3 million three-bedroom villa in Al Zahya, which appreciated by Dh300,000 in just one week after they signed the paperwork, as more residents from across the Emirates are seeking better property deals.
The National takes a look around.
Please tell us about your home.
For Dh1.3 million I was able to get a 3,500-square-foot villa with three bedrooms, one majlis, a bigger kitchen, one living room and then outside we have a maid’s room as well.
Why did you decide to buy?
Once I’d moved here, we knew we had to buy a house and I don’t know why but I was always very precise that I have to go for Ajman. Everyone always said, why don’t you live here in Dubai or another city. I love Dubai, but you compromise with the square footage. I wanted to have a big house in a great budget, so that’s how it clicked.
Last year, I started the journey of searching for the house. My husband was totally against coming to Ajman, but I said even if you’re going from Dubai it’s an hour, if you just extend for half an hour we’ll have a big house where our children can be comfortable. They can run around, they can mess up the house and it’s all right. When we have guests, there would be no compromise, because they can stay here or there.
How did you find your home?
I went through a lot of difficulties, because here in Ajman potential is very good for real estate, but it's not that vast like Dubai and the other cities.
One day, I was just going through TikTok and I saw some villa and though, I have to go for it. I met that person, he was sub agent, and he said we’d definitely get it.
We started the journey last May and we ended up getting the house by November. It took that long.
How much did you get it for?
When I started the process, the price started going up. It was Dh900,000, which went up to Dh1 million. I was not able to get the approvals, but this was the house. The builder is great, he’s local, and he’s done everything in a very particular way, as if he was going to live in the house himself. In this area, each villa is different to the others.
We ended up getting it for Dh1.3 million, but that included everything like electricity and water [connections].
We got the approval on my birthday, on October 14, and did the registration on November 14, so we were able to reside here in January. The day we registered, it was Dh1.3 million and a week after a real estate agent said they had a family looking and that the house was worth Dh1.6 million. I think it’s worth Dh1.7 million now.
Everyone is migrating from Dubai, from Sharjah, even Abu Dhabi, and they’re coming to Ajman because of the budget. My neighbour is French and on the opposite side they’re British and they bought the house. I’m seeing a lot of foreigners coming in and buying houses here.
What’s your neighbourhood like?
It’s a little outside Ajman city, but from here it’s a 15-minute drive and you get to Umm Al Quwain. In about 30 or 40 minutes, you’ll be in Ras Al Khaimah, which is growing.
It’s not a closed community, but there are lots of grocery stores around and we can sign up to any gym in the area. It’s all very convenient and budget friendly.
What renovations have you done?
Nothing yet. We’ve just started. I’ve done some wallpaper. I want to do some micro-cementing, which is very much in trend, and I want to introduce more soft pastel colours. I just want to have my house more open.
We have a garden area but we haven’t started on it yet since it’s summer now. I’ll start that in winter so I can have plants that don’t die.
How would you describe your interior design style?
It should be more pastel, more white, but with a touch of green because I really like nature. I’m going to start doing the planting outside.
How long will you stay here for?
We will stay in the UAE indefinitely. This is a place we got entrepreneurial opportunity. This is a place where we get lot of peace, a lot of comfort, a lot of calmness. I think I will be here forever, inshallah.
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
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8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
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3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
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Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
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- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
