My Dubai Rent takes you inside a reader's home to have a look at what they pay each month, see who they live with and ask what they like and don't like
Syrian Mohamad Hussein has lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Town Square on Al Qudra Road for the past year.
He moved there because he wanted his own space and a room for his mother, without paying an over-the-top price.
Two-bedroom apartments in the city vary significantly but are typically found in the Dh60,000 to Dh100,000 range - making Mohamed's place something of a bargain.
The 28-year-old, who works as a project manager for an irrigation firm, invited The National into his home to show why it is so special to him.
Where do you live and how much does it cost?
I live in a two-bedroom apartment in Town Square that costs me Dh38,000 [$10,345] a year.
The landlord was looking for Dh40,000 but I got it reduced by Dh2,000 because I was able to pay it in one cheque.
Before that, I shared a studio apartment with a friend in JBR and that was costing me around Dh2,600 a month.
What makes it so special to you?
I really like the vibe of the community here and it is a little more laid-back than a lot of places in Dubai.
You are away from the crowds of the city and I find it much more relaxing.
It is close to my office and my sister lives over the way in the nearby Mira community, so I am close to family here, too.
She is only a five-minute drive away, plus it only takes me half an hour to drive to work.
The facilities are great here. There is a cycle track that goes the whole way around the community.
I rollerblade around it a lot to exercise and I try to swim in the community pool every day.
It is a great place if you want to go for a walk but do not necessarily want to have to drive anywhere to do so.
My mother also comes over from Syria and stays six months with me.
That is why it is important that I have that extra room.
What have you done to make it your own?
I have bought all the furniture and amenities but, to be honest, I don’t spend an awful lot of time here apart from when I’m working from home.
It’s really just a base for when I am not hanging out with friends and family.
When I am here, I spend a lot of time gaming on the PC.
What is the downside to living there?
My friends who live in other parts of Dubai don’t want to have to travel this far out.
That means if I want to hang out with them, I have to spend a lot of time driving.
It’s about half an hour at least into town, maybe more depending on where they want to go.
They would only really come out this far if they wanted to go cycling.
The long drive to the Marina or Downtown can be annoying, so you have to be prepared to deal with that.
I do drive, so thankfully I don’t have to spend a fortune on taxis every day.
A lot of restaurants don’t deliver here either, so that’s another thing you have to learn to deal with living in Town Square.
There aren’t a lot of restaurants here that aren’t fast food, so you have to be careful not to fall into the habit of just ordering from them all the time.
On the plus side, though, it does encourage you to cook a lot more for yourself.
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
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
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Name: Peter Dicce
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Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Frankenstein in Baghdad
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