Family secures Dubai two-bedroom apartment for 69,300 dirhams
Silvana Sari, a 38-year-old Indonesian restaurateur, pays an annual rent of 69,300 dirhams for her family's two-bedroom apartment in Dubai's Al Jaddaf area, a figure she says is lower than the typical rate for similar units nearby. Sari, who moved to the UAE 12 years ago, rents the approximately 1,300-square-foot apartment with her husband Bobby, 37, their seven-year-old daughter Louise, and their nanny. The unit features three bathrooms and two balconies, and the family lives on the first floor of one of the building's two towers. Sari told The National that before moving to Al Jaddaf, the family lived in a studio apartment in Bur Dubai for six years. They became the unit's first tenants six years ago when the new building was less than a year old. She said the main reason for choosing the home was the family's need for more space after hiring a live-in nanny to care for their daughter. Sari added that because of Louise's young age, the family chose a lower floor with a large balcony so the child could use the outdoor space more safely. According to Sari, the building does not charge for cooling or chillers, and maintenance costs are free. She said the first year's rent was 72,000 dirhams, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, the landlord reduced the rent twice and subsequent increases remained limited. The family renewed their sixth contract in January. Sari was previously a flight attendant for Emirates airline, making Al Jaddaf's proximity to the airport important to her. She now owns the modern Indonesian restaurant 'Boby Bowl' in Jumeirah 1, while her husband works as a professional chef at a French-Japanese restaurant in the Dubai International Financial Centre. She said the commute from home to her restaurant typically takes 10 minutes, or about seven minutes when the roads are clear. Dubai Mall is about 10 minutes away, and Dubai International Airport is a 10-to-15-minute drive. Access to the E44, E66, and E11 roads, new Al Khail Road exits, and a bridge currently under construction to ease traffic were cited as other benefits of the area. The building features a gym and a rooftop swimming pool, and in recent years a clinic, pharmacy, convenience store, restaurants, cafes, and a metro station have opened nearby. However, Sari noted that the family needs more green spaces, parks, and playgrounds. She also highlighted a shortage of parking spaces; the family owns two cars but has only one assigned parking spot, while free dirt parking lots nearby have now become paid parking zones. Sari said she loves living in the apartment, but given rising rents, she has no immediate plans to move to a larger home or buy property, preferring to invest more money in her restaurant. She described the business's goal as introducing Indonesian cuisine in a modern, accessible format and building a brand that starts in Dubai and represents Indonesia globally.