My Dubai Rent: Guinness World Record holder pays Dh75,000 for Al Karama home

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

Artist Alka Bhatia was born and raised in Dubai where she still lives, currently in the vibrant Al Karama community.

The former compliance officer is a five-time Guinness World Record holder for her crochet creations and is now working towards her sixth.

Ms Bhatia has seen the city grow from desert sand to one filled with skyscrapers, and from two-bedroom apartments renting for Dh9,000 a year to “the current situation” of landlords requiring a major chunk of incomes.

The Indian national and her husband moved to their current unit in the Al Wasl Building, near Emirates Post Dubai Central Office, in 2017. They share it with his parents.

Ms Bhatia, 45, took The National on a tour of their home.

What can you tell us about this flat?

This is a two-bedroom apartment with two and a half bathrooms.

It has central AC and the building is chiller-free. It has a pool, a play area for children, a gym – separate for ladies and gents, which makes it more special.

I love the apartment as I get to see the sunrise from my balcony and start my day with positive energy straight from the sun.

The building is on the main road. However, my apartment is facing an interior road, which makes it quite peaceful.

Where did you live before?

I had lived in a two-bedroom apartment with my parents in Al Fahidi Street since 1978. I moved to Karama after I got married.

Rents in this area are reasonable for their size. We pay Dh75,000 per annum.

Why did you choose the area?

The apartment is in a central place with easy connectivity to Bur Dubai, Deira, Oud Metha and Sheikh Zayed Road.

Our building is on the main road which makes it special as we beat the traffic on the interior roads.

There is a bus stop by our building exit so it is easy to connect to public transport, whether it's an RTA bus or the Dubai Metro red or green line.

Ms Bhatia's apartment is conveniently near large supermarkets, such as Nesto. Chris Whiteoak / The National

One of the major reasons we moved here was because there are lots of restaurants and grocery stores and big supermarkets, which means easy access for everything we need – not to mention emergency services; the building is opposite the fire station.

We have many clinics and pharmacies nearby, and we are also very close to hospitals in Healthcare City for any medical emergencies.

What are the other advantages of living here?

The security in the building makes its really safe for kids and elderly people and only families are allowed to rent apartments.

There is a maintenance team available around the clock that solves any issues pretty fast.

The famous BurJuman Mall is close, where you can hang out with friends.

Added to that, we have Al Seef at Dubai Creek also within 1km range, which is normally busy with various activities round the clock.

It is good for fireworks during New Year's Eve and Dubai Shopping Festival. It’s like a carnival throughout the year, so much happens in this area.

Are you in a sociable neighbourhood?

There are about 100 apartments in one block, there are two blocks in the building and we know quite a lot of people. We have also referred this building to family and friends as we like it a lot.

However, this is not a pet-friendly place – no pets are allowed.

The Al Karama community has a children's play area, as well as a walking track and benches for the elderly. Chris Whiteoak / The National

For children, they have a beautiful play area built recently with a lovely walking track and benches for elderly people – all in all, something to keep every member of the family occupied.

How have you made your house a home?

We have our own furniture with a little Indian feel.

Since I am an artist I like to put a lot of artwork on display in my house.

Anything that you would change?

I am quite happy with the way it is and do not really want to change much.

I have plenty of space and light to be creative, such as doing Diamond Dotz – which is a form of art, and crochet, which I sell and take orders for.

I have five world records [as Anjana of Crochet Collectibles], one in 2017 for the longest crocheted scarf, in 2018 with the largest display of crochet sculptures, the largest display of Christmas decorations in 2019, the largest display of crochet caps [in 2022], and last year one for the largest display of crochet ponchos.

All that work goes to charity and in the past I have donated our handmade crafts to children with special needs.

Do you think living here offers value for money?

It does. We have done many calculations of the rent and other bills like water, electricity and transportation. We always came out with a result that is the best for us.

Do you plan to stay in the property?

Yes. We like it here and are happy to stay as long as it is feasible to our pockets.

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Australia squads

ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.

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

Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now