My Own Home takes you inside a reader-owned property to ask how much they paid, why they decided to buy and what they have done with it since moving in
Jola Chudy has called the UAE home for almost two decades during which time she launched her PR and communications consultancy.
A recreational ultrarunner in her mid-40s, she shared a villa in Mirdif with friends on first moving into the country, before renting a one-bedroom unit in Old Town, Downtown.
In 2014, Ms Chudy, a Briton who runs Jola Chudy Consulting from home, bought an apartment in the Old Town, which she shares with her son Henry, nine, and two cats.
Ms Chudy showed The National around the two-bedroom sanctuary in the heart of bustling modern Dubai.
Do you have previous property ownership experience?
I have been a homeowner since my late 20s; firstly a ‘fixer-upper’ house in West London purchased with my sister, and then an investment flat, also in London.
I always wanted to buy something in Dubai to make a home – as much as spending a lot of time in the beauty of the outdoors is a huge part of my life. I’m currently training for the Marathon Des Sables in April.
It’s equally important for me to be surrounded by a harmonious environment at home, especially as I work from my apartment.
What can you tell us about the place?
My Dubai home is a two-bedroom, three-bathroom corner unit with a private garden that always seems on the verge of going a bit feral. I bought it in early 2014.
I’m fortunate my monthly bills are reasonable and that the area is quiet, despite being minutes away from Emaar Boulevard and Dubai Mall.
If I pop out for a stroll, I am usually greeted by the sight of queues of tourists waiting their turn at the Wings of Mexico statue.
What attracted you to the area?
I fell in love with what the community offered then and continues to deliver: a balance of peace and seclusion, while being right in the thick of things in Downtown Dubai, ‘the centre of now’ as Emaar’s tagline neatly encapsulates the area.
I found the property online originally and, as I was renting in the neighbourhood just around the corner in another block, it was quite easy to make a decision; I knew the area and recognised immediately that this apartment was quite special.
I do wish I had an extra room now that I run my business from home, but it’s not a major regret and I make do.
What inspired you to buy?
Rents in Dubai are high and always seem to be going up.
I did not like to be beholden to a landlord, especially as terms here are based on annual contracts – I wanted to buy as soon as I could to mitigate the cost.
In terms of my sense of place and home, it’s important to make my house a home and as a tenant, there’s only so much you can do cosmetically to stamp your personality.
How much did your home cost?
I paid Dh3.5 million in 2014 when prices were high.
I’ve seen the value go up, down and up again since living here – but it’s home for the long term so the fluctuations have felt somewhat irrelevant. It’s worth around Dh4 million now; I had it valued for my golden visa recently.
The buying process was relatively pain-free; the seller had a conveyance company and that helped a lot with all the admin, but our bank was also very helpful.
I sold my share in my London home and used that as a down payment; saving money in my 20s made a huge difference.
These days, with school fees and the cost of a child, there are plenty of other things my money gets spent on.
What drew you to this particular property?
The apartment is light-filled, has high ceilings and looks out on to trees and greenery, a rare and quite special feeling of being in a green oasis in the middle of the centre of Dubai.
The living space is large and open-planned and feels serene and peaceful, even with small children running through the garden.
Emaar is known for its quality build so that also reassured me as a buyer, as one hears of problems with properties here.
There haven’t been any significant issues; even my fridge, an original from when the development was built [and] probably qualifying for antique status, is still going strong.
What are the benefits of your address?
I fell in love with the charm of the architecture – a modern take on the traditional wind towers of the UAE.
Surrounded by skyscrapers and looking on to Burj Khalifa, the low-rise, sand-coloured blocks are clustered around cobble-stoned pedestrian walkways and framed by springs of fuchsia bougainvillaea.
It is a charming, unusual and highly desired bit of real estate in Dubai that still attracts buyers and tenants despite many newer developments coming online.
There are swimming pools, a pet-friendly cafe run by a resident, and hotels and restaurants within strolling distance. It’s looking pretty good for its age and has a feeling of community and safety too.
Rush hour can be frustrating, but luckily as a ‘work from home’ business owner, I don’t often face traffic.
What improvements have you made?
I created a third room out of nothing. I knocked through a walk-in wardrobe and a laundry cupboard, having studied the apartment floor plans at length and identified additional space in between the wardrobe and a small built-in cupboard.
In this, I keep my bikes and bike trainer … it’s super handy for all the accoutrements that come with triathlon training, along with all my sports equipment, as I am an avid recreational runner and ASICS FrontRunner – so I have quite a lot of running shoes.
I’ve added herringbone tile flooring and landscaped the garden. I’m currently eyeing up the kitchen and bathrooms – they’re next on my list for a makeover.
How else have you personalised the property?
I love bold colours, so my bedroom and parts of the living room feature bold, tropical patterns and rich wallpaper.
Along with updating the light fittings, I painted the standard mahogany doors and frames white to lighten the space further.
Although I am not naturally handy or particularly skilled at DIY, I enjoy the creative process and have been lucky to have a fantastic decorator, Lesleigh Groos, who interpreted my Pinterest boards to perfection and helped bring them vividly to life.
Do you feel financial advantages over renting?
It makes sense to buy if you can, from my perspective. At least you get some of that back, and you can always rent the property out if your plans change.
Although interest rates around the world are high right now, which has impacted the mortgage, it’s currently still cheaper than what someone would pay to rent it.
It will be interesting to see how the market performs over the next two years and I’m keen to buy another investment property to rent out in Dubai.
Would you sell if you moved or left the UAE?
I don’t think I’ll sell this property. Once the mortgage is paid off, it will represent a good source of rental income if I leave, which means it is also part of my retirement plan.
I have no concrete plans of where to retire just yet, but knowing I have a base here is a huge source of security.
I’m keen to add to my portfolio as my business continues to grow, as I think property, while perhaps not the most exciting of investments, generally is a pretty safe bet.
Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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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.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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 biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
India Test squad
Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
More on Quran memorisation:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
