My Own Home: Architect transforms Dubai apartment into stunning show home


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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

Architect and interior designer Jorge Rangel bought his off-plan, one-bedroom apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle after renting in Dubai for seven years.

Mr Rangel, 61, from Spain, snapped up the apartment for Dh600,000 in 2020, intending to transform the “blank canvas” into a live-in showroom.

Now, two years after he moved in, the apartment is worth more than Dh1million and is unique to the building, with its formerly whitewashed walls transformed by stylish mirrors, mosaic tiles and modern art.

Here, Mr Rangel invites The National inside to admire his handiwork.

Please tell us about your home

I bought my one-bedroom JVC apartment for Dh600,000. I've recently been offered more than Dh1 million for it, but I don't want to sell.

I bought it off-plan and when I first came to see the mock-up, I really liked the neutral finishes. It was like a blank canvas that was perfect for me to redesign.

I ended up changing everything except the flooring. I love the floor-to-ceiling windows, they fill the apartment with natural light, which is very important to me.

What made you buy your own property?

I’ve been in Dubai for nine years and rented for the first seven. As contracts are usually limited to a year in Dubai, I felt like there was no security.

Every year the rental price seemed to go up and it just felt like a drain on my pocket.

Even if you stay in a property for 10 years, you have nothing to show at the end of it. At least if you own the property, you’re investing in an asset. You need somewhere to live either way.

I’d been renting in the area for five years and I was in a position to buy so I decided to go for it.

Why did you choose this area?

JVC is very convenient for me because most of my work is in the surrounding areas like Dubai Marina or Jumeirah Beach Residence.

The area itself is also booming. We have five-star hotels and lots of restaurants, so if you want to go for a meal or a drink there’s no need to go to the marina or anywhere else. Your social life is not limited here.

Mr Rangel had planned to spend Dh50,000 on renovations but exceeded his budget. Pawan Singh / The National
Mr Rangel had planned to spend Dh50,000 on renovations but exceeded his budget. Pawan Singh / The National

We also have a mall in the neighbourhood and a petrol station.

Most importantly, we have a lot of greenery, which can’t be said for some neighbourhoods in Dubai. There are a lot of small gardens and big boulevards full of trees and spaces to walk.

It’s very beautiful and one of the main reasons I chose to live here.

How did you discover this home?

I'm an architect so it's part of my job to find properties for my clients. When I hear about a new development or something unique in this area, it’s my duty to check it out.

When I saw the plans for this building, I felt it suited me and what I was looking for. Most importantly, it had plenty of natural light and a neutral design.

The new developments in JVC are very modern and contemporary with lots of working space, as well as facilities that enhance the value of the property and the quality of the neighbourhood.

How did you find the purchasing process?

I spent almost two months negotiating a payment plan from the developer before we agreed on the terms and conditions. After that, everything was smooth and straightforward.

Mr Rangel was a fan of the apartment's natural light and gave the 'blank canvas' a complete overhaul. Photo: Jorge Rangel
Mr Rangel was a fan of the apartment's natural light and gave the 'blank canvas' a complete overhaul. Photo: Jorge Rangel

Once the building was ready, we did the handover after about two weeks so it was pretty fast, mostly because I was going to change most of the features anyway so finishings weren’t a concern.

After that, I spent about two months on the renovations before I was ready to move in.

What upgrades have you carried out?

I changed the ceilings throughout because they were covered in aluminium tiles which I found disgusting. The lighting was also really harsh, so I replaced all of the fixtures.

In the guest bathroom, I changed everything and in the master bathroom, I replaced the shower area and redid all the tiling.

Mr Rangel's revamp included installing mirror cladding in the bedroom, new light fixtures and a bar in the kitchen. Pawan Singh / The National
Mr Rangel's revamp included installing mirror cladding in the bedroom, new light fixtures and a bar in the kitchen. Pawan Singh / The National

In the master bedroom, I added cladding with mirrors to the walls and in the kitchen. I installed a bar. I even changed the light switches to touch control. It was a full makeover.

I had planned to spend Dh50,000 on renovations but to be honest, I lost control. I just stopped counting after we went over that amount.

I also use it as a showroom for potential clients. I love to show off the before and after pictures. It’s quite a transformation.

What are the disadvantages of living in JVC?

The only issue that I found living here is the access, which is only possible by Hessa Street.

Traffic can be quite bad but there are plans under way to open up the roads that link JVC to Dubai Marina and JBR.

It’s a massive job, so it’s not going to be completed any time soon, but they are working on it and it’s great news for the future.

Will you stay in this property?

We never know what’s going to happen in the future, but I have no intentions of leaving Dubai.

I’m very happy here and I have a very comfortable life in my apartment.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

The stats

Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

While you're here
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Match info:

Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')

Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The biog

Age: 46

Number of Children: Four

Hobby: Reading history books

Loves: Sports

Most F1 world titles

7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)

7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)

5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)

4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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While you're here
Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

UAE%20FIXTURES
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to get exposure to gold

Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.

A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.

Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.

Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.

London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long

However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.

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Updated: October 25, 2023, 4:15 AM`