logo
My Dubai Rent: Entrepreneur pays Dh200k for JVT apartment after 20 years in UAE

My Dubai Rent: Entrepreneur pays Dh200k for JVT apartment after 20 years in UAE

The National27-07-2025
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
Business owner Rebecca Rees has spent almost 20 years in Dubai and lived in at least eight rental properties in that time. While she loved her last property, a town house in Jumeirah Village Triangle that she rented for a decade, a landlord dispute led her to move out.
Now, still in JVT, she rents a large three-bedroom apartment that's both her home and office – and has no plans to buy or move in the foreseeable future.
The National takes a look around.
Where else have you lived in Dubai?
I've lived in at least eight properties. I got into this habit that, until 2014, I moved pretty much every year. Sometimes because rents came down massively and I could upgrade.
In 2014, I moved to a town house just down the road in JVT, which I stayed in for 10 years. I absolutely loved it, but for various reasons, two years ago, I moved here.
Tell us about the property you're in now
It's an apartment, so very different, but still in JVT. It wasn't an easy decision, until I saw it. I wouldn't have considered an apartment, because I had dogs, and they were used to the garden. Both of those dogs have passed away now, so I took the decision to come here.
I love the space. I love the size. It's a three-bedroom. I work at home, so the third bedroom is my office. I've now got a proper second bedroom, which is basically for the parents when they come.
It's very, very modern. There were maintenance issues starting to creep in when I was in the villa. It just became so much hassle and, I thought, I just want an easier life.
How much do you pay in rent?
Just shy of Dh200,000. It's considerably more than I was paying for the town house. When I left there, my rent was Dh120,000 and the reason I was paying so little is because I'd been there so long, so I was getting a very good deal there.
It's not cheap, but the flip side is I work at home, so I don't have commuting costs. And if this was a two-bed in the Marina or somewhere, it would be a lot more money. It's all relative.
What facilities do you have?
It's got beautiful facilities. It's got a pool, which I never had in the town house. It's got a beautiful gym.
It's got a residents' lounge, which is really handy for remote working. I mean, it's just me living here, so noise isn't a problem, but if you are a family and there are kids running around, I'm sure I'd want to escape to these little private offices they've got in the building for people who work remotely. There's a pool table, there's a library.
There's also a dog park on site. It's dog friendly.
It's like a hotel without the on-site dining. That's the best way to describe it.
The security team are amazing and I like the fact that it's seven floors of accommodation. So it's not high rise. It's a genuine, small community of people. Most people who live here are owners, so as a result, it's very much taken care of, really well appointed.
Why did you choose this neighbourhood?
I can walk across the sand to the Springs. It takes me 10 minutes. I drive to Spinneys in the Meadows. It takes me 10 minutes to get on to Al Khail Road.
There was a time, years ago, that JVT was considered remote and inaccessible. But now, it's very, very well positioned.
I love it. I wouldn't want to be down in the Marina or somewhere. It's too touristy and hectic for me. You do get a few tourists here now, but nothing like you would in the other areas.
What else is around you?
In the immediate area, there are a couple of other buildings. It's residential around me. There are padel and tennis courts nearby.
There are lots of convenience stores and pharmacies. There are a couple of hotels, which have got restaurants, so there's a Movenpick and a new one called Hotel Local right opposite me.
How have you made the apartment feel like home?
I haven't bought much in the way of new furniture. In fact, because the town house I had was very large, I did actually offload quite a bit of furniture.
I've invested in new couches. I wanted a different feel here, so nice white leather. It's really bright. I've painted some accent walls. I had curtains fitted, added rugs. I've changed the dining table as well.
Is there anything you'd change about this place?
I miss having a garden, but I can't change that. I'm currently planning a bit of design out on the balcony. It's a very long balcony, it runs the length of the house, but it's narrow, so you can't do a lot with it. I'm just currently thinking I'll put some plant pots out there, and maybe put some fake grass down to make it more of a garden.
Why don't you want to buy a property?
I should have bought being here so long but I think, for me, like a lot of expats, you sometimes don't know how long you're going to be here.
My original plan was to come for a year, but, yeah, how's that working out? So, I kept saying, I'll give it another year … I think, really, I don't want the commitment, and if I suddenly did have to go, I can just go.
How long do you think you'll be in this property for?
Well, I've no intention of leaving. Put it that way. The landlord is lovely. I'm very, very happy here.
I've no plans to leave Dubai at all. I mean, one day I will, but at the moment I have no plans to leave.
I don't know what's going to happen with rents. There are hints that rents are going to start to come down, maybe stabilise a bit, which would obviously be welcome news for everyone. But I'm prepared mentally and financially to stay here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed
Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed

Arabian Business

timean hour ago

  • Arabian Business

Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed

Dubai's residential real estate market continued its upward trajectory in July 2025, with Betterhomes reporting strong growth in both sales and leasing, driven by robust off-plan demand and an influx of new tenants. Drawing on data from Property Monitor and its own transactions, the firm highlighted significant month-on-month gains in volumes, values, and rental activity. Average price per square foot: AED1,893 ($516), up 3.3 per cent from June Total transactions: 18,816, up 20.5 per cent month-on-month Total sales value: AED51.3bn ($13.96bn), a 10.6 per cent increase Off-plan sales: 65 per cent of transactions, up from 62 per cent in June The top-performing villa communities in the month were The Wilds, Grand Polo Club & Resort and The Oasis. Meanwhile, the top-performing apartment communities were Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay and Damac Riverside. Average Dubai Land Department sale prices July 2025 Apartments: AED1.99m ($541,500) Townhouses: AED3.25m ($884,200) Villas: AED9.7m ($2.64m) Betterhomes' own portfolio showed higher average apartment prices at AED2.33m ($633,800) but lower villa prices at AED6.1m ($1.66m). Christopher Cina, Director of Sales at Betterhomes, said: 'The continued strength of Dubai's off-plan sector shows enduring confidence in the city's long-term growth. We're seeing demand from both seasoned investors and first-time buyers eager to secure properties before completion'. Top 5 off-plan developers by sales value Sobha Realty: AED2.7bn ($735.6m) Emaar: AED2.6bn ($708.4m) Binghatti: AED1.7bn ($463.1m) Damac: AED1.6bn ($435.6m) H&H: AED1.5bn ($408.8m) Top 5 title deed developers by sales value Emaar: AED5.9bn ($1.61bn) Aldar: AED4.6bn ($1.25bn) Damac: AED2.5bn ($680.6m) Nakheel: AED1.7bn ($463.1m) Sobha Realty: AED1.5bn ($408.8m) Renting in Dubai Leasing activity also strengthened in July, with Dubai residential market recording 39,251 rental transactions, a 3.4per cent month-on-month rise. New contracts made up 40 per cent of these deals, up from 37 per cent in June, indicating an influx of fresh tenants into the market Al Khail Heights registered the highest apartment rental growth at 1.5 per cent month-on-month, reaching an average of AED67,500 ($18,400) annually, while Jumeirah led villa rental growth with a 4.2 percent increase to AED498,000 ($135,600) per year. Across Dubai, average rents by property type were: Apartments: AED72,000 ($19,600) Townhouses: AED172,000 ($46,800) Villas: AED255,000 ($69,500) Betterhomes recorded a 10 per cent month-on-month increase in tenant leads in July, reflecting continued demand across its rental portfolio. Average leasing prices within the company's transactions stood at AED141,000 ($38,300) for apartments, AED190,000 ($51,700) for townhouses, and AED368,000 ($100,200) for villas. Dubai real estate outlook 2025 Betterhomes says the combination of rising sales volumes, strong off-plan absorption, and robust rental demand reaffirms Dubai's standing as a leading global property hub. With investor confidence high and fresh tenant inflows accelerating, the company expects momentum to carry through the remainder of 2025.

Emirates NBD's zero-fee trading hits $1.4bn in first year
Emirates NBD's zero-fee trading hits $1.4bn in first year

Arabian Business

timean hour ago

  • Arabian Business

Emirates NBD's zero-fee trading hits $1.4bn in first year

Emirates NBD is celebrating one year since the launch of its zero-transaction-fee trading initiative for UAE-listed equities on its award-winning ENBD X digital wealth platform — a move that has boosted market participation and broadened access to local investments. Since its debut on 26 August 2024, the initiative has delivered impressive results: More than 300,000 commission-free trades executed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and Nasdaq Dubai AED5bn ($1.36bn) in total trade volume Access to more than 150 UAE-listed equities via the ENBD X app Emirates NBD trading The zero-fee model has attracted a growing base of first-time investors, young professionals, and everyday savers, helping democratise wealth creation and align with the UAE's 'We the UAE 2031' strategy to deepen capital market development and enhance financial inclusion. ENBD X integrates banking, investment, and advisory services into one seamless digital experience, offering real-time trading, instant onboarding, and customisable price alerts for timely market decisions. Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, said: 'We are pleased to see an outstanding response to the zero-transaction-fee trading initiative that we launched on our digital wealth platforms, accessible via ENBD X. 'One year on, our customers have embraced purposeful investment by investing in local equities. As a leading national bank, we are proud to transform how people invest, by providing an inclusive, accessible, transparent and affordable platform, while also supporting local businesses. 'This has contributed profoundly to the long-term growth of the UAE economy in line with the vision of our wise leadership.' The initiative follows Emirates NBD's earlier launch of fractional bonds on ENBD X, underscoring the bank's commitment to innovation and broadening access to financial markets. By removing barriers to entry, Emirates NBD is positioning ENBD X as a gateway to the UAE's financial future, driving both personal wealth creation and national economic growth.

Dubai traffic: How the RTA is using AI to slash congestion and boost road efficiency
Dubai traffic: How the RTA is using AI to slash congestion and boost road efficiency

Arabian Business

timean hour ago

  • Arabian Business

Dubai traffic: How the RTA is using AI to slash congestion and boost road efficiency

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out 'Data Drive – Clear Guide', a next-generation digital platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse five years of historical traffic data alongside real-time road conditions — enabling instant, data-driven decisions to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow across the emirate. The platform aggregates and processes vast traffic datasets from leading international providers, delivering accurate, minute-by-minute insights via an interactive map. It allows users to pinpoint specific roads or areas, assess average speeds, track traffic density, and measure travel times, making it a powerful tool for both operational teams and strategic planners. AI traffic analysis in Dubai Key capabilities include: Analysing historical and live traffic flow to spot recurring congestion patterns Identifying times of smooth traffic flow and bottlenecks in the network Sending instant alerts on traffic disruptions, jams, or unusual slowdowns Monitoring traffic diversions and event-related road performance in real time Automatically generating before-and-after reports to evaluate the impact of roadworks or infrastructure upgrades By replacing older, manual data-gathering processes that often took weeks, the platform can now deliver the same insights within minutes. This dramatically improves response times, enabling RTA teams to take swift action to manage incidents, optimise diversions, and minimise delays. The launch is part of RTA's wider vision to harness AI, intelligent analytics, and autonomous mobility solutions to make Dubai the world's smartest city and a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and transport efficiency. According to RTA, the platform will play a vital role in enhancing digital transformation within the emirate's transport sector, providing stakeholders with the tools they need to plan smarter, respond faster, and keep Dubai moving efficiently.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store