Latest news with #Jumeirah1
The National
10-08-2025
- Business
- The National
My Dubai Rent: Entrepreneur pays Dh113,000 for one-bedroom apartment in Wasl 51
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 Russian entrepreneur Olga Sukhanova, who owns a commercial and hospitality property company, has lived in Dubai for almost four years and has found her dream apartment. She cannot buy it – even though she wants to – because it is in Jumeirah 1, an area where only people from the Gulf can purchase property. However, because she has been paying Dh113,000 a year for three years, she is happy to continue renting for as long as she lives alone and can make the place her own. The National takes a look around. Please tell us about where you live This community is low-rise, with just three levels, and I like the layouts because they're huge. I have a one-bedroom, but the size is 1,500 square feet. I also have a terrace. Why did you choose this neighbourhood? I lived before in Madinat Jumeirah Living, but then I moved to Jumeirah 1 because I really like this area. Before, I worked in DIFC, that's why it was important to live close to my work, because it's just 10 minutes by car. It's also very important to me to live close to the sea, because this is the value of Dubai. The sea is a five-minute walk away. I also like that it is a quieter, more authentic area. How much do you pay? It's Dh113,000 per year. I rent from the developer, which is good because they haven't changed the price in three years. I also have the opportunity to pay monthly because of the developer. We have an app where I can ask all my questions and send my request for maintenance – they solve any problem. What facilities do you have? We have a gym and a swimming pool. There are lots of really modern cafes around the community. It's very modern, for hipsters I think. I like it because I can just walk across the road and there are lots of opportunities to eat lunch and dinner. The quality of the cafes is very good, so you can just sit and enjoy it. How have you made the apartment feel like home? All the apartments here are unfurnished. That's why I've organised everything how I like it. It depends usually on my mood, because I've changed it a few times. For example, I've changed the colour of the walls to make it lighter. That's why I like it unfurnished – I can choose and change and I don't have to ask permission during the rental period. Is there anything you'd change about the apartment or neighbourhood? Actually, no. Sometimes I think, for example, one month before I have to send a request to extend my rental, whether I will move. But then I think, where can I move that I can find the same qualities and the same size for the same price? In my opinion, there is no other alternative in Dubai. Would you consider buying? I would love to buy if I have the opportunity. I would buy this apartment, but it's impossible for foreign people. How long do you plan to stay here? I don't know. It depends on the future. If someone proposes to me and I get married, I will maybe move to a bigger apartment. For now, I will stay here because it's more than enough for a young single woman.
Khaleej Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's oldest laundry shop faces closure after owner 'loses Dh34,000 in online scam'
A nearly 50-year-old laundry shop in Dubai's Jumeirah 1 neighborhood is facing closure, according to its owner, Ravi Verma, who says he was the target of an elaborate online scam. Bait Al Abyad Cloth Pressing, believed to be Dubai's oldest functioning laundromat, was started in 1978 by Verma's father-in-law. For years, it ran on old-school values, loyal customers and a steady income. But all that is now at risk. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'I don't know what to do,' said Verma, 35, as he showed bounced rent cheques for both his shop and home. 'The scam has wrecked my life. The real estate company has already filed a case against me.' Verma said his troubles began in early June when he received a WhatsApp message from a woman who identified herself as 'Ria'. Her profile photo showed a young, smiling woman. She offered him a part-time online job, claiming he could earn extra money by completing simple tasks. 'She said she'd introduce me to her senior, Salama, on Telegram. I had deleted my Telegram app long ago fearing scams, but this seemed like an easy side hustle so I reinstalled it." Verma said he was added to a Telegram group with around 45 members. 'Every day we received small tasks, like adding items to an Amazon cart and sharing screenshots. We didn't have to buy anything. Each task earned me Dh5, which is almost what I charge for washing and ironing a shirt and pant.' Tempted by the effortless money, Verma said he continued. Soon, the tasks escalated. He said he was asked to transfer Dh120 to an account to earn Dh156 the same day. Then came higher-stakes tasks: Dh300 to make Dh390, Dh1,480 to earn more, he claimed. 'I was hooked,' he admitted. 'This was so much easier than running a laundry.' But then came the turning point. 'One day, they said I made a mistake in a task and had to 'rectify' it by completing additional ones that required a payment of Dh5,890,' he said. 'By now, I was desperate to recover my money. That's how they trap you.' Verma said he was assigned a 'mentor' who began demanding payments in the thousands — Dh8,640, then Dh3,150, then another Dh10,800. 'Each time I paid, they said I was closer to getting my money back. I believed them.' By this time, Verma said he had lost Dh34,150. He had transferred money to multiple bank accounts in the UAE, often in part payments. All his interactions had been through text. He never spoke to or met anyone. The final blow came when he was sent a screenshot claiming his 'credit score' had dropped below 100 due to 'abnormal operations", and that he needed to pay Dh900 for each of the 20 points deducted (Dh18,000) to unlock his earnings. 'When I tried to reason with them over messages, they removed me from the Telegram group. That's when it hit me. I had been scammed,' he said. Verma said the ordeal has not just emptied his bank account but brought the family business and his life to a breaking point. He has since filed a police complaint in Dubai and shared details of the transactions, Telegram group, and bank accounts involved. 'I regret it every day. My father-in-law trusted me with this shop. I was supposed to keep it running. Instead, I've pushed it dangerously close to collapse,' he said. 'I am thinking of sending my family back to India. I can't afford to keep them here anymore." Verma's story is just one among hundreds. Last year, Khaleej Times reported how a Dubai hotelier lost Dh66,000 to a similar task-based scam that cybersecurity firm CloudSEK estimates has siphoned off over Dh400 million from victims globally. What is a task scam? Task scams lure victims with promises of part-time online work that involves simple activities: liking posts, adding products to carts, or watching videos. The catch: you must upgrade your account or pay deposits to keep earning. How it works Initial contact: Victims receive unsolicited messages on WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar platforms often posing as recruiters. Low-risk trade: Initial tasks are easy and may even pay small sums to build trust. Deposit trap: Victims are later asked to invest money to unlock higher-paying tasks or withdraw earnings. Manipulation: Scammers assign 'mentors', fabricate group chats, and share fake success stories to keep victims engaged. In most cases, the earnings shown in apps or dashboards are fake. Victims are asked to pay repeatedly to fix errors, restore their 'credit score", or access the next level, keeping them trapped in a loop of loss. How to spot and avoid task scams Ignore unsolicited job offers via messaging apps. Never pay money to earn money. Verify employer identities through official websites or LinkedIn. Don't download unfamiliar apps or click suspicious links.
