My Dubai Rent: Woman pays Dh47,000 for Dubai Marina studio minutes from the beach

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

Sarah Sabbah, 24, said she pays Dh47,000 for a studio apartment that offers great views of Dubai Marina.

She said living in the marina offers her everything she could need within minutes.

Ms Sabbah, from Lebanon, works in the media sector and pays her annual rent with six cheques.

She invited The National into her apartment to show us how she has made it into a home and said has no intention of leaving any time soon.

Why did you choose to live here and not somewhere else?

I love going to the beach in JBR and it’s just a few minutes away from where I live. If I travel on my e-scooter I can be there in five minutes.

I work in Internet City, which is only a few minutes away as well, so that’s another plus for me.

It is an area that is very sports orientated and there are a lot of activities I take part in.

The community is quite young and vibrant too, which I love. There’s a great buzz surrounding the place.

I love the view I have of the marina because I’m facing the water and it’s relaxing to watch the boats in the harbour.

The building has a pool and a gym that is just amazing and there are saunas here too.

There’s also an area that acts as a rooftop garden, even though it’s midway up in the building, rather than at the top.

You can host parties there or even just relax and read a book.

Marina Walk is fantastic too, especially if you want to go for a run. There are plenty of restaurants and everything I could need is only a few minutes away.

If I need to go to a restaurant or salon, all I have to do is hop on my e-scooter.

Are you happy with what you are paying in rent?

I think it’s quite good for where I live, to be honest. I have been here for two and a half years and was paying Dh43,000 last year, but it went up a little bit this year.

Everyone keeps telling me I could get a bigger place for the same money if I moved farther out, but why would I?

It’s just convenient for me to stay here as I have the lifestyle I want and I wouldn’t be able to get that elsewhere.

What touches have you made to your apartment to make it feel more like your home?

Everyone says it’s just like I have been spat out into the apartment because there’s so much of me in it.

I have lots of pictures of friends and family. That way I am surrounded by people I love.

I am a very spiritual person and that’s portrayed in the apartment. There are a lot of vibrant colours because I don’t want it to feel dull.

There are also paintings in bright colours that I drew.

Is there anything you would change about your home if you could?

It can be a bit noisy because it’s so busy outside, which can be frustrating if I’m trying to sit on the balcony to read and relax.

I am about to contradict myself though because having said that, I do like to be in the energy and chaos when I go outside of the apartment.

Living in Dubai - in pictures

View of a 5-bedroom villa at Damac Hills in Dubai. Photo by: Pawan Singh / The National
Inside a studio apartment at Hive, a new co-living apartment block in JVC, Dubai. Tenants do not have to pay a penalty if they leave a rental agreement early. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
Expo Village is a new residential area in Dubai that is set to open to tenants in a few months with competitive rental prices. Photo by Chris Whiteoak / The National
Exterior view of the Auris Al Marsa Hotel apartments in Dubai Marina in Dubai. Photo by Pawan Singh / The National
Hafla park in Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai. Photo by Antonie Robertson / The National
View of the outside sitting area inside a 5-bedroom villa in Damac Hills, Dubai. Photo by Pawan Singh / The National
Communal swimming pool at Expo Village in Dubai. Photo by Chris Whiteoak / The National

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

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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