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
Pakistani actor and photographer Habibullah Qureshi moved his family to Muhaisnah on the outskirts of Dubai to be within walking distance of his son’s school.
The father of two, who has appeared in numerous television and online commercials, last month moved, with his wife and children, from an apartment in Majan, close to Global Village.
He told The National that the move, to a neighbourhood on the edge of Sharjah, made sense on several levels.
Not least because they needed the extra space for their two children, aged five and two, to grow up and play in.
How much do you pay in rent?
I pay Dh30,000 across six cheques. We wanted a bigger apartment than before and we wanted to be close to a school for my son.
That was really important because there was no school close to us in Majan, so this is a much better option for us.
What are the best things about living where you do?
Everything is so convenient here. The schools are nearby and there are so many grocery shops and restaurants near us.
We used to have to order everything online, living in our last home, because there were no stores or restaurants close enough to walk to.
We were a little bit isolated, here we have everything we need.
It’s conveniently located between Dubai and Sharjah, which is a bonus because we are not too far from anywhere.
Our last home was a lovely community with lots of greenery and you could even see peacocks walking around freely at times.
But we often felt like we were deserted in the middle of nowhere. You used to have to get in the car if you wanted to go anywhere.
It was a smaller apartment as well, so it made sense to move here where we are close to everything.
We were paying slightly less there though. It was Dh24,000 for a studio apartment whereas this is a bit more, but it is a one-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms.
I have a friend who lives in the same building with his kids so there’s a nice sense of community.
It’s a very vibrant place. We have our choice of cuisines right outside our front door.
We can walk to quite a few restaurants, which is amazing, one night we could be having Pakistani cuisine and then the next night it could be Egyptian.
Parking is really easy here too. There are loads of spaces available outside as well as in the building parking.
What touches have you made to make it your own?
That’s my wife Mariam’s department. Before we moved in she was already making plans about what to do with the place.
We’ve painted one of the walls red to match the curtains and cushions.
Only being here a month has meant we have not had a chance to change too much yet though.
But I’m happy with how she’s putting her personal touch on it. We are going to get more plants and photo frames for the walls but it’s already shaping up well.
Are there any downsides to living where you do?
It’s a pretty old building and we’ve had a few maintenance issues. We had to get a lot of things fixed when we moved in.
Thankfully the building's management has been really helpful and approachable, so any problems were just small ones.
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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When: 7pm kick off
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