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
Interior designer Karen El-Khazen has spent Dh400,000 completely revamping her rented villa into one of Dubai’s most whimsical homes.
Ms El-Khazen, chief executive of Karen K Sanctuaries, pays Dh300,000 for the 14,000-square-foot four-bedroom home in Umm Suqeim 3. Payments are split over four cheques on a five-year agreement.
Since moving into the property in 2021, the 37-year-old has added a meditation room, a “cuddle puddle” and a Bali-themed bathroom, with a “fashion library” and a “Garden of Eden” in the works.
As well as designing and crafting bespoke furniture, including a floating library and enchanted forest ceiling adornments, Ms El-Khazen, from Lebanon, has designed an eclectic boudoir and a games-themed kitchen from the former “blank canvas”.
Here, she invites The National inside and explains why creating a dream home shouldn’t be limited to property owners.
Why did you choose to live here and not somewhere else?
Before I even entered the villa, I knew it was mine. The energy and the space are incredible, and the garden has plenty of room for my eight chihuahuas and my cat.
I previously lived in Jumeirah 3 and I wanted to stay by the beach, while the low-rise building helps me feel more grounded. This part of Dubai just feels so authentic.
All I wanted was an old palace-type building with columns and a big garden. I had to do a nice facelift on it because the interiors were really bad. I think that's why I got such a good deal on it.
What kind of facilities do you have around you?
I’m within walking distance of Burj Al Arab so I have endless options of restaurants, shops and beaches.
It’s very quiet here but then you cross the road and you're in the centre of everything. Then, when you cross back, you're back in your own little haven.
There’s an amazing 24-hour bakery close by and I love Brew coffee shop. There are also some nice, quirky, vegan places and local cafes. It’s a charming little neighbourhood that needs to be discovered on foot to find the hidden gems.
The property also has a pool and an outdoor kitchen, which I’ve transformed into my design studio where I upcycle furniture, throw paints and make hats.
Did you have to look at many properties before settling on this one?
I saw a few but when I saw this one it just felt right. I actually wanted somewhere old and battered because I wanted to completely renovate everything.
I was just looking for my own blank canvas. Transforming the old into the new is a big part of what I do, and I was looking for a challenge.
I saw a nice villa before this, but the view was mainly of the neighbour's children and laundry, which put me off.
I used to live in a very prestigious but small eight-villa compound and I wanted to break away from compound life. Previously my neighbour would just take the liberty to swing my door open and come in uninvited.
Do you think living here offers value for money?
Absolutely. I started my tenancy during Covid so I got a great deal. Everything in the area that resembles my villa is now priced up to Dh800,000.
At the time, a lot of people were leaving the country but I wasn’t going anywhere.
Often people say Dubai is expensive but I came from living in London so I was used to a robust market. I’m getting great value for my money here and the five-year tenancy sealed the deal.
What touches have you made to the apartment to make it feel like your own?
I redid everything in the villa to create my inner child's playground. When you walk in there’s a Marie Antoinette/Breakfast at Tiffany's living and dining space, which is open-plan.
To the right, I have my own little home bar and entertainment space with a glorious enchanted forest theme, with golden branches draped from the ceiling so you feel like you're in the woods.
The guest bathrooms are adorned with Renaissance steel with a modern twist and a whole mirror wall of baroque frames.
Under the stairs, I've created a secret Alice in Wonderland-themed cuddle puddle, which is basically a cosy relaxation space, right next to a three-metre floating library.
I also turned a food storage room into a meditation room and spa where I start my day with a morning water gong.
The kitchen is also super fun. I've turned the breakfast table into a billiard table where we play pool and have dinner parties.
Upstairs I have my office area with an M16 gun lamp and vampire red drapes and my bedroom is super modern with a classical twist, with a huge four-poster bed and custom-made furniture that I crafted myself.
Finally, my Bali bathroom features a massive bathtub with greenery dangling from the ceiling and white pebbles everywhere. I spend hours in that tub.
What future renovations do you have planned?
The second bedroom is going to be turned into a fashion library. There will be a massive three-metre closet with a steel ladder and another wall will display all my headpieces.
The third wall will display all my shoes and there will be a daybed in the centre and a sofa by the window.
I’m also planning to convert one of the bedrooms into a Garden of Eden in the next month or two. It’s going to be my inner garden sanctuary with a hanging bed on ropes and greenery trailing down the walls.
Why have you invested so much in a rental property?
I’ve spent every dirham with all of my heart and I’m so grateful to live here. I’ve had the opportunity to create my canvas and build a home that gives me inner peace. I might not own it but in this moment it’s mine and I get to own these moments for the rest of my life.
To buy this villa, I'm probably looking at around Dh50 million, but I get to pay humble rent. Yes, I invested in it, but I'm living in my own dreams and that is priceless.
Also, I’m the sorceress of sourcing, so it looks like I’ve spent way more than I have. It’s all about knowing what materials to use and how to make the most of a building without spending an arm and a leg.
I have no plans to leave so I’m happy to keep working on my dream home.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
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
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
