• Jumeirah: Dh2,079 per square foot — up 1.8 per cent in June, up 3.6 per cent in May, up 3.5 per cent in April. The National
    Jumeirah: Dh2,079 per square foot — up 1.8 per cent in June, up 3.6 per cent in May, up 3.5 per cent in April. The National
  • APARTMENT PRICES: Downtown Dubai rose by 0.3 per cent month-on-month in June, 0.5 per cent in May and are at Dh2,050 per square foot (they were up 0.7 per cent in April). Reuters
    APARTMENT PRICES: Downtown Dubai rose by 0.3 per cent month-on-month in June, 0.5 per cent in May and are at Dh2,050 per square foot (they were up 0.7 per cent in April). Reuters
  • The Palm Jumeirah: Dh1,913 per square foot — down 4.2 per cent in June, up 4.2 per cent in May, up 4 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Palm Jumeirah: Dh1,913 per square foot — down 4.2 per cent in June, up 4.2 per cent in May, up 4 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • DIFC: Dh1,679 per square foot — down 0.5 per cent in June, up 2.5 per cent in May, up 1.2 per cent in April. Jeff Topping / The National
    DIFC: Dh1,679 per square foot — down 0.5 per cent in June, up 2.5 per cent in May, up 1.2 per cent in April. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Mohammed bin Rashid City: Dh1,531 per square foot — up 1.9 per cent in June, up 2.3 per cent in May, down 0.2 per cent in April. Satish Kumar / The National
    Mohammed bin Rashid City: Dh1,531 per square foot — up 1.9 per cent in June, up 2.3 per cent in May, down 0.2 per cent in April. Satish Kumar / The National
  • Dubai Hills: Dh1,511 per square foot — up 1.6 per cent, up 2.7 per cent in May, up 0.3 per cent in April. Photo: Emaar Malls Management
    Dubai Hills: Dh1,511 per square foot — up 1.6 per cent, up 2.7 per cent in May, up 0.3 per cent in April. Photo: Emaar Malls Management
  • Business Bay: Dh1,489 per square foot — down 2.2 per cent in June, up 1.3 per cent in May, up 1.7 per cent in April. Sarah Dea / The National
    Business Bay: Dh1,489 per square foot — down 2.2 per cent in June, up 1.3 per cent in May, up 1.7 per cent in April. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Jumeirah Beach Residence: Dh1,412 per square foot — down 2.8 per cent in June, down 1.0 per cent in May, down 2.2 per cent in April. Photo: LuxuryProperty.com
    Jumeirah Beach Residence: Dh1,412 per square foot — down 2.8 per cent in June, down 1.0 per cent in May, down 2.2 per cent in April. Photo: LuxuryProperty.com
  • Dubai Marina: Dh1,386 per square foot — up 1.8 per cent in June, down 0.3 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Victor Besa / The National
    Dubai Marina: Dh1,386 per square foot — up 1.8 per cent in June, down 0.3 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Greens and The Views: Dh1,082 per square foot — up 1.2 per cent in June, down 2.5 per cent in May, down 0.6 per cent in April. Sarah Dea / The National
    The Greens and The Views: Dh1,082 per square foot — up 1.2 per cent in June, down 2.5 per cent in May, down 0.6 per cent in April. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Jumeirah Lakes Towers: Dh1,004 per square foot — down 0.9 per cent in June, up 3.1 per cent in May, down 1.1 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Jumeirah Lakes Towers: Dh1,004 per square foot — down 0.9 per cent in June, up 3.1 per cent in May, down 1.1 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Damac Hills: Dh1,002 per square foot — up 0.4 per cent in June, up 2.1 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Pawan Singh / The National
    Damac Hills: Dh1,002 per square foot — up 0.4 per cent in June, up 2.1 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Jumeirah Village Circle: Dh911 per square foot — up 1.2 per cent in June, up 0.4 per cent in May, up 0.1 per cent in April. Razan Alzayani / The National
    Jumeirah Village Circle: Dh911 per square foot — up 1.2 per cent in June, up 0.4 per cent in May, up 0.1 per cent in April. Razan Alzayani / The National
  • Town Square: Dh846 per square foot — down 1.9 per cent in June, up 0.4 per cent in May, down 1.9 per cent in April.
    Town Square: Dh846 per square foot — down 1.9 per cent in June, up 0.4 per cent in May, down 1.9 per cent in April.
  • Motor City: Dh653 per square foot — down 2.5 per cent in June, up 0.8 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April.
    Motor City: Dh653 per square foot — down 2.5 per cent in June, up 0.8 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April.
  • Dubai Silicon Oasis: Dh601 per square foot — up 3.6 per cent in June, down 2.9 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dubai Silicon Oasis: Dh601 per square foot — up 3.6 per cent in June, down 2.9 per cent in May, down 0.7 per cent in April. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dubai Sports City: Dh606 per square foot — up 3.0 per cent in June, down 3.9 per cent in May, down 1.1 per cent in April. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Dubai Sports City: Dh606 per square foot — up 3.0 per cent in June, down 3.9 per cent in May, down 1.1 per cent in April. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Discovery Gardens: Dh515 per square foot — down 1.8 per cent in June, up 0.3 per cent in May, down 2.2 per cent in April. Pawan Singh / The National
    Discovery Gardens: Dh515 per square foot — down 1.8 per cent in June, up 0.3 per cent in May, down 2.2 per cent in April. Pawan Singh / The National
  • International City: Dh442 per square foot — up 0.9 per cent in June, down 0.5 per cent in May, down 0.6 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National
    International City: Dh442 per square foot — up 0.9 per cent in June, down 0.5 per cent in May, down 0.6 per cent in April. Antonie Robertson / The National

Revealed: Dubai and Abu Dhabi's most popular areas to rent and buy


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai are the most popular places to rent luxury apartments in the emirate, a new report has revealed.

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Business Bay are the most sought after locations for those looking for affordable apartments in Dubai.

The findings were published in the H1 2022 report from property portals Bayut and Dubizzle, which took account of rentals and sales across the UAE in the first half of the year.

The same study said potential buyers for affordable apartments were most likely to look at the Business Bay, Damac Hills 2, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) areas of the city.

“Over the first half of this year, many pivotal changes have been taking place both within the region and globally,” said Haider Ali Khan, chief executive of Bayut and Dubizzle.

“With the focus on safety and security being understandably high, Dubai has stood out as an appealing option, particularly for international investors and expat owners.

Positive steps taken in property sector

“Earlier this year Dubai Land Department made all transaction data publicly available and in the past few weeks there have been some strategic decisions around moving away from cheques to offer direct debit payments; both positive moves in line with the evolving needs of the growing population of Dubai.”

He said he expected interest to remain high in Dubai real estate in the coming months.

“The sales prices for villas and apartments in the most searched for locales of Dubai have experienced increases of 1 per cent to 19 per cent in H1 2022,” stated the report.

“Given the impressive start to 2022, the growth in sale and rent prices in Dubai are indicative of healthy demand for property in both the affordable and luxury segments of the market.”

Dubai Hills, Jumeirah and Al Barsha are the most popular areas for luxury villa rentals.

For those looking to buy luxury villas in Dubai the most in demand locations are Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills and Palm Jumeirah.

Sale prices rise in Abu Dhabi

  • Al Raha Gardens is one of the most popular locations for home hunters in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Raha Gardens is one of the most popular locations for home hunters in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The family park in the Khalidiya neighborhood in Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova/The National
    The family park in the Khalidiya neighborhood in Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova/The National
  • Al Muraikhi house, a well known feature of Al Mushrif neighbourhood. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Muraikhi house, a well known feature of Al Mushrif neighbourhood. Victor Besa / The National
  • A bike ride on Al Bateen boardwalk. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A bike ride on Al Bateen boardwalk. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Al Bateen Wharf area. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
    Al Bateen Wharf area. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
  • Yas Acres has 1,315 villas on Yas Island, a popular choice for people looking for a home in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Aldar
    Yas Acres has 1,315 villas on Yas Island, a popular choice for people looking for a home in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Aldar

The report said sales prices for residential properties in Abu Dhabi have risen by 1 per cent to 14 per cent in the affordable segment, whereas those in the luxury segment have climbed 1 per cent to 8 per cent.

The most popular locations for renting luxury apartments in Abu Dhabi are Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach and in the Corniche area.

“Al Reem Island has remained a firm favourite for renting high-end apartments in H1 2022, showing a moderate growth of up to 3.5 per cent in asking rents,” the report said.

Those looking for affordable apartments in the capital are most likely to turn their attention to properties in Khalifa City A, Al Khalidiya and Al Muroor.

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For those renting luxury villas in Abu Dhabi, the most popular areas are Al Mushrif, Al Bateen and Yas Island.

Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Khalifa City A and Khalifa City B are named in the report as the most popular options for those seeking to rent an affordable villa.

“The Abu Dhabi market has continued to build on its strong foundations, with a drive towards building robust systems and processes,” said Mr Khan.

“Not only has Abu Dhabi been repeatedly recognised as one of the safest and best cities to live in the world by various international bodies, the transparency levels in the market have also improved considerably, leading to greater confidence from buyers and investors.”

The most popular areas to buy luxury villas in Abu Dhabi, according to Bayut and Dubizzle, are Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Raha Gardens.

Those in the market for renting affordable villas are most likely to seek out properties in Al Reef, Khalifa City A and Hydra Village.

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

CREW
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Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Results

5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

Updated: August 06, 2022, 3:00 AM