For Dawn Draper, a home in Dubai has always meant a home on the Palm. She has been living on the Palm Jumeirah ever since she arrived in the UAE in December 2007. Although her current home is her third in as many years, they have all been in Shoreline Apartments located on the trunk of the Palm.
Dawn, head of operations at Ocean View Real Estate, recollects her early days as challenging since she didn't know anyone in the area. When she first came to the city, she looked at several apartments and villas before zeroing in on a unit in the Shoreline Apartments. "I had a couple of really nice agents who showed me all around Dubai - from Downtown to the Palm to Marina to Jumeirah Beach Residences," Dawn recalls.
"I hate heights and I knew I didn't want to be anywhere too high. In Dubai, especially in Dubai Marina, lots of buildings are tall. The good thing for me was you pay more the higher you go, and I wanted to live at a lower level, so it put me in a slightly lower rental bracket."
Why settle on the Palm?
Although Dawn, who was born and brought up in the UK, was new to Dubai and knew nothing of its real estate sector, she chose to live on the Palm. "I decided on the Palm because I could see it had many facilities and amenities in the pipeline, which was important to me because it meant there was an opportunity to build a social life," she recalls. "I moved into building 7 of Shoreline Apartments, which was managed by IFA. The facilities there were slightly better presented. When I moved there, the swimming pool and the beach club weren't open; they opened almost a year after I moved in. As time progressed, all the beach clubs and restaurants opened."
She attributes her affection for the area to the "absolutely fantastic atmosphere it offers — very casual and relaxed". While Dawn knew nothing about the neighbourhoods in the city before she arrived, today she considers herself lucky enough to be aware of each one, as well as the facilities available in them.
"That's obviously a bonus for me personally. People generally keep two things in mind when they look for a property: one is an area where they desire to live in and the other is the budget. I am probably no different to anybody else but since I know the areas quite well and the facilities available, now it is an easier choice for me," she says. An Ocean View agent helped Dawn find the two-bedroom plus maid's room unit where she is living now. "The moment I saw the apartment, I liked it and paid the deposit right away. I moved here in October last year." While Dawn agrees that many people choose the Palm because it is an enviable address, she says there is more to it than that. Residents are generally happy with the safety and security as well as the facilities. The Palm's true magic lies in its location and the abundance of shopping and dining options it offers close by, she says.
The restaurants feature a wide variety of cuisines such as Australian, European, Mexican and Mediterranean. They are extremely popular with Palm residents as they are located within walking distance. Aside from the great dining options, the Palm has plenty of other things going for it. In between every two buildings in Shoreline Apartments where the beach clubs are located, there are gymnasiums overlooking the beach, the Burj Al Arab and the Dubai skyline.
"You could be running on the treadmill looking out at the most fantastic view that most people see only in post cards," says Dawn. Along the trunk of the Palm, there are florists, pharmacies, dry cleaners, mini marts, hairdressers, coffee shops, travel agencies, etc. "Literally anything you want is on the Palm," says Dawn. It's a great place to make friends - and bring friends.
When you do need to leave the area to hit the malls, it's not a problem. "Shopping is one of the big bonuses for me," says Dawn. "Within five to ten minutes, you could be in Dubai Marina, so that's a very important aspect about the Palm — location and ease of access to the main road as well as the small roads."
There is easy access to Shaikh Zayed Road, which is well connected to major shopping destinations. Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Madinat Jumeirah are all reachable within ten minutes, and Marina Mall and the The Walk are close by too. While many communities in Dubai are affected by rush hour traffic jams, Palm Jumeirah residents have no such worry.
Superior quality and lots of space
Dawn loves space and her apartment offers this in plenty. Her home features an en suite bathroom and an extra bathroom. "I can't find a replacement for the quality and the space the units give you and also the views they offer," she says. While she lives here by herself, she chose a two-bedroom apartment because her sons and friends from the UK visit her regularly. "If I had visitors, I would want them to come and stay with me instead of hotels. I have always gone for bigger apartments; not just space for myself but for the people who visit me."
Dawn is still undecided whether she will continue living in her apartment once her tenancy ends in October. However, she is certain that she will not move off the Palm.
