JUMEIRAH 3 BY HELEN FARMER WHO EDITS THE PARENT BLOG THE MOTHERSHIP (CLICK TO VISIT IT)

Helen – please tell us about your family? 

My husband Nick and I met on a blind date here in Dubai six years ago, and we now have a daughter, Phoebe, who is 17 months old, and two cocker spaniels. We live in a three-bedroom single storey villa not far from Sunset Mall – and I never want to leave!

 You live in Jumeira 3 – what do you like about the area? 

I love our neighbourhood. Phoebe goes to nursery at Kid’s Island, which is a short walk away, we’re minutes from Sunset Beach, we can stroll out to dinner, and there’s a great mix of residents, from our Emirati next door neighbours to fellow expats. I even spotted a cow in the garden of a house on our street once…

You have shops and restaurants on your doorstep – which are your neighbourhood favourites? 

I often work from Spill The Bean in Sunset Mall and their healthy lunches keep me going. In the evening we can go for Mexican at Maria Bonita’s or Italian at Mozzo Centrale, and (very) often, order in Biryani Pot – the chicken tandoori is hands-down the best in the city. For shopping, we’re at Mercato a few times a week, and the Spinneys centre has saved the day on many occasions, for last minute groceries, flowers and baby products.

Please tell us about your businesses?

I’m a magazine editor by trade, and launched parenting blog The Mothership (www.themothershipdxb.com) last year to offer fellow mums a dose of honest parenting – the good, the bad and the downright bizarre about raising kids in Dubai. From personal pieces about my own experiences to articles by Dubai-based experts, plus news, reviews and events, I’m really proud of the community I’m building, and love it when readers get in touch to say how much a post resonated, or was useful. Moving forward, I’ll be holding more workshops to help support other mums, from work-life balance, to practical classes. 

 What advice would you give to someone looking to find a property in Dubai?

 I’m a strange one, because I love house hunting, so when we were looking for the villa I was happy to do the research and offer my husband a short-list. Speak to people who live in the areas you’re interested in, and be willing to make compromises; I love the proximity Jumeira 3 has to the beach, but we don’t have a pool or much of a garden. We might look at a compound in the future so Phoebe can play safely outside, but for now the space works well for us.
I have lived in Dubai for nine years now, everywhere from Satwa to DIFC, but this is the first place that has really felt like home.

Click here to see a selection of properties Tregoning Property has available in Jumeirah 3