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
Shona Hind and her husband Paul rent an apartment on Palm Jumeirah, fulfilling a pledge they made to live on the island at some stage during their time in the UAE.
Initially, they lived in the Shoreline apartments, which Mr Hind helped to build in a job that brought them to the Emirates from Britain 17 years ago.
The couple, who also own an investment property in Abu Dhabi, initially leased a three-bedroom ground-floor flat until their daughter moved out.
They now rent a two-bedroom unit in Marina Residences from where Ms Hind, 54, also runs her organic mosquito repellent business, Free Me Company.
Ms Hind took The National on a tour.
Tell us about your home
We’re on the seventh floor, my lucky number, and we’ve just signed our third renewal. Before that, we were in Shoreline for two years.
We just needed two bedrooms, one for us and one for the office and for visitors, so moved over to Marina Residences. At the time, they were cheaper than where we were at Shoreline.
It’s got four bathrooms and a maid's room we use for storage.
Where have you lived previously?
We’ve moved a few times. We lived in Arabian Ranches, started off in The Springs, then moved to a bigger house in The Meadows.
Before the Palm, we were in JBR and moved out to Silicon Oasis, because I was starting a flip-flop business so needed more space for storage.
Although it was a beautiful place to live, it was little bit too far from work.
Why did you choose this area?
It was always our goal to live on the Palm at some point, but it wasn’t really practical when we had kids of school age. That’s why we started off in the communities and then [moved] when the time was right.
Paul came over in 2005 to train scaffolders. He was on the Palm, doing scaffolding for Shoreline apartments.
We prefer Marina Residences, however, being near Nakheel Mall and halfway to Atlantis. And if you’re going to live on the Palm, it’s nice to have a view.
We love to do the walk along the crescent, or the [hire] bikes, and cheaper cab fares if we go out anywhere.
What are the advantages of living here?
Paul’s got a full-time job in scaffolding and construction for Zayed National Museum and drives to Abu Dhabi every day. So what works for us is that where we are is central and it suits me for my business; it’s easy for me to meet people.
The view out of my window is the edge of the Palm, so when I’m working I’ve got a lovely outlook. If I’m on the balcony, I’ve a full view of the Atlantis.
This side of the road gets the sunset and the other side of the building gets the sunrise.
We’ve got two lots of friends living in the same building. They were always saying how homely it feels and the most comfortable place they’d lived in in Dubai.
What kind of facilities do you have around you?
There are six Marina Residence buildings – east and west both have a marina. It’s lovely to go for a walk there and both have little clusters of restaurants.
Every building has a gym and a swimming pool.
Is it a sociable neighbourhood?
It’s getting that way. One of my friends started "meet your neighbours" events. We went to one at a little new restaurant downstairs called The Strand.
Community is something that you can’t expect to just happen.
How have you personalised the apartment?
We had a 16-year-old rescue cat, so it was important we had a balcony, which we cat-proofed because she loved going outside to look at the birds. Unfortunately, we lost her two weeks ago because she got ill, and have now taken the netting down.
I always look for a place to put my drinks fridge. My dad is the driving force behind me doing my own business and making it successful; he bought us that fridge and it’s come with us to every home.
We’ve all our own furniture and curtains. Years ago Paul used to be a DJ, so we have his records on display.
Wherever we’ve travelled in the world, we always pick up a souvenir for our bookcase. We’ve got family photos on there. Also, a nice big framed picture that my mum and dad bought us. It came out on the ship with us.
Does living here offer value?
Now, yes, because we moved in three years ago and we were really lucky because of the capping (Rera rent calculator) system here.
You can’t get a two-bed in Marina Residences now for less than Dh180,000. When we moved here, we were paying Dh97,000. It went up to Dh108,000, and this year it’s gone up to Dh118,000. You can’t even get a one-bed in Shoreline for less than Dh140,000.
Paul’s job pays the rent and my company pays all the bills, because this is also my home office. I looked around for offices for Free Me, but thought “what’s the point?” because I’ve got a storage unit in Al Quoz and minimal product in my maid’s room here for website orders. If I have meetings, I arrange them in Nakheel Mall or, if it’s somebody I know, I have them here for coffee.
Are there any downsides?
The swimming pool and gym, which are lovely, only have a flight of stairs to access them. No lift, no slope. So when our family came over with a six-month-old, you had to carry the buggy up. So, no chance for someone in a wheelchair. It’s the only downside.
Do you plan to stay there?
We love it. We’d never live anywhere else. We’re really fortunate that we can stay here because of the rent.
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RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
How it works
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The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
The years Ramadan fell in May
