<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/my-dubai-rent/"><i><b>My Dubai Rent</b></i></a><i><b> 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</b></i> Sarah Sabbah, 24, said she pays Dh47,000 for a studio apartment that offers great views of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/living-in-dubai-marina-1.1106395" target="_blank">Dubai Marina</a>. She said living in the marina offers her everything she could need within minutes. Ms Sabbah, from Lebanon, works in the media sector and pays her annual rent with <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/10/21/one-cheque-rents-on-the-rise-as-many-dubai-tenants-stay-put-to-avoid-rising-costs/" target="_blank">six cheques</a>. She invited <i>The National</i> into her apartment to show us how she has made it into a home and said has no intention of leaving any time soon. I love going to the beach in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/12/30/rixos-premium-dubai-jbr-is-a-classic-hotel-that-still-delivers-hotel-insider/" target="_blank">JBR</a> and it’s just a few minutes away from where I live. If I travel on my e-scooter I can be there in five minutes. I work in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2022/10/12/intel-to-open-ai-research-centre-at-dubai-internet-city/" target="_blank">Internet City</a>, which is only a few minutes away as well, so that’s another plus for me. It is an area that is very sports orientated and there are a lot of activities I take part in. The community is quite young and vibrant too, which I love. There’s a great buzz surrounding the place. I love the view I have of the marina because I’m facing the water and it’s relaxing to watch the boats in the harbour. The building has a pool and a gym that is just amazing and there are saunas here too. There’s also an area that acts as a rooftop garden, even though it’s midway up in the building, rather than at the top. You can host parties there or even just relax and read a book. Marina Walk is fantastic too, especially if you want to go for a run. There are plenty of restaurants and everything I could need is only a few minutes away. If I need to go to a restaurant or salon, all I have to do is hop on my e-scooter. I think it’s quite good for where I live, to be honest. I have been here for two and a half years and was paying Dh43,000 last year, but it went up a little bit this year. Everyone keeps telling me I could get a bigger place for the same money if I moved farther out, but why would I? It’s just convenient for me to stay here as I have the lifestyle I want and I wouldn’t be able to get that elsewhere. Everyone says it’s just like I have been spat out into the apartment because there’s so much of me in it. I have lots of pictures of friends and family. That way I am surrounded by people I love. I am a very spiritual person and that’s portrayed in the apartment. There are a lot of vibrant colours because I don’t want it to feel dull. There are also paintings in bright colours that I drew. It can be a bit noisy because it’s so busy outside, which can be frustrating if I’m trying to sit on the balcony to read and relax. I am about to contradict myself though because having said that, I do like to be in the energy and chaos when I go outside of the apartment.
