Sky Gardens DIFC

I have a friend that has just seen an apartment that she really liked in Sky Gardens and was about to hand over the cheques when she read this thread on EW. She is particularly concerned about the bad smell from the sewerage lines. Does anybody have any update on this? Is the problem still there? Does anybody live in Sky Gardens, and if so can you give me some feedback to pass on to her? Thanks so much!

Also check out Kharbash tower on the oppsite side same building as Dubai bank, the apartments are nice and airy and maintainence is great. It takes literally 2 mintues to get to DIFC i do it everyday. The other tower to look at would be the one with Zaatar n Zeit at the bottom, its a better homes building and very well maintained. The apartments however are a bit on a smaller side and the building is always under full occupancy.

You are welcome :) Do give me a shout out if you find a place in Ghaya. One more thing. Don't waste your time looking at apartments on Sheikh Zayed (within walking distance of DIFC atleast). I have seen nearly all of them (2 bedrooms), and only 2 were nice. 1st, Ghaya ofcourse, and 2nd was Blue Tower. Its a little far, a long walk from DIFC. Apartments are huge, very open. Its a brand new builidng. But last I heard, it was full too. Second, they don't provide free cooling or appliances, so that was a big minus for us. If you are looking for 1 bedroom ones, do check out Capricorn tower and another building or 2 right next to it (there are three nice buildings in a row). The buildings looked nice, but we didn't see the apartments as they had only 1 beds and we were looking for 2.

You guys/ Gals are the best! Thank you so much. I have seen Sky gardens and they are a lot smaller than what I wanted but I am about to leave an apartment due to sooo many issues with the property and the maintenance that the last thing i need is more. Plus where i am now (JLT) has a slight sewage issue too and it's close to unbearable so despite the good points to Sky gardens i think the bad points are enough to confirm my descion as a no go. Executive towers looks awesome, ticks most of the boxes - the contruction site is annoying but i think i could live with that being outdoors rather than issues indoors. I heard that they will be charging for the gym though - Gingercat - is this true? Ghaya Residence sounds great.. I'm going to do some research now and see if I can find out when an apartment will become available as you are right the location is perfect. I have seen another couple of buildings on SZR but they were old and the upkeep wasn't so good so i didn't check anymore... Seems I made a mistake. I think I need to pay more attention to SZR before I see any more at Executive towers. SZR would be an even better location than executive towers!! Thank you all sooooooo much!!! I'm so glad I joined this group ... and yesterday was my first post, i didn't even think I would get a reply :o)

Well, we got to know from an ex-facilities management guy from Sky Gardens (after we had left) that there have been more and more issues with leaks and all there. A couple of isolated incidents DO point towards on-going issues. Plus, they were not very good with repairs, maintenance and all (which I realised after moving into another apartment). The stove went bust (right at the end of our contract) and WE had to go about getting it fixed ourselves in the midst of moving into another apartment. We also got the building staff to paint small spots in the apartment which were a little dirty, and they charged us a BOMB for that! And they STILL cut some money from our advance for God knows what. We were charged a quarter of what they charged us for the paint job in the new building to fix all the window blinds, mirrors, frames, everything. Another thing is, I felt that our apartment in Sky Gardens was kind of 'heavy'. I dont know how to explain, and I dont know if you believe in all that, because I don't believe in all that myself, but I was always jumpy and scared to be left alone there (which I was everyday, ofcourse). But looking back, being alone in that house was not pleasant. No problems like that in this one, so I know it wasn't me but the place. But to each his own, so i wouldn't say that you shouldnt go and check out Sky Gardens. The sewage incidents have taken place in apartments on the side where a new building was being constructed (nearly done now). You wont have a good view either then, and privacy issues too. That is why rent is much lower for apartments on that side. Ours was on the side overlooking both zabeel and the difc back entrance, the empower block side. Now coming to what fairwater is saying, Ghaya is excellent! I know of soooo many people who came to live here as a 'transiiton' building until the building they liked had apartmrnts available, and they never left! Awesome indoor pool and gym area. Its a proper pool, good size and depth. A tennis court and a squash court. Cleaning twice a week, and the BEST part is maintenance and facilities management. They just rush to your place if somethings wrong and they'll fix it for sure, no expense out of your pocket. Their fixtures, their responsibility. Sooo spacious and open, my apartment looked huge after Sky Gardens. Huge balconies. We are on the carpark side, but its ot so bad. Can see the creek and ritz. And if you are on a higher floor, you will have an amazing view of the creek and the gate building and all too. Anyway, we took it because it was the only one available,and we didnt like any other apartmnt after seeing this one. Sooo close to the metro, I use it almost every other day. Loads of shops and restaurants around. Walking distance from DIFC (my husband walks to and from his office in DIFC, even for lunch). BUT...the building is currently fully occupied :p Thats what I have heard anyway. You should find out though. They can hold an apartment for you if some one is moving out soon. I hooe this is enough info, dont forget to read the plus points for Sky Gardens I posted before, Good luck with your apartment hunting :) <em>edited by Girl 88 on 15/02/2012</em>

have you considered an older building - ghaya residence on sheikh zayed road was fantastic when we lived there for 3 years. great indoor pool you can use all year round and not get sunburnt in summer. great gym with walking/ running track around it plus squash court. theres a tennis court on top of the car park. the apartments are big and light. they have big balconys - ours was really huge but then we had a 3 bed. the prices have come right down and when we were there cleaning twice a week was included in the price. dont go for a 1-3 floor apartment at the back as it overlooks the car park. but ask to see apartments at the back and you overlook the difc and the palace gardens beyond and it reduces the traffic noise too. there is a designated parking space also. its also a minutes walk to the metro outside 21 century building and 5 to emirate towers metro station and its literally minutes to difc there are loads of shops all around the building plus hotles as well as those across the road, which is easy to go across the road via the metro station crossings. why dont you go over and have a look. we didnt like exec towers as its a building site all around it and the issue with roads has been ongoing since we looked two years ago and the lifts were not working properly. good luck in your search.

In case this sways you, there are 2 gyms open in Executive Towers. :)

Hi Girl 88, (or anyone else with comments) I hope you don't mind me asking more about Sky Gardens. I work literally just opposite in Gates Village and so tempted to take an apartment at Sky Gardens but i have heard also about the smells and issues with maintenence, leaks etc... I dont know if these are isolated incidents or a general issue with the building. If I want to look at an apartment there - how to do I know if it is on the side with the sewage issues? So far I have just stayed clear of it... but like i say, it would be so ultimately convenient! Other than that i think Executive Towers is the only other place which ticks all of the boxes for me. Thanks for any advice

Have you looked at Executive Towers? Some of the ladies on here live there and there is (or was I'm not sure now) a large thread on here about Executive Towers. I've heard they have some really large apartments and great value too. We looked at a couple in Southridge too that were a good size although I don't know much about them. But both places had apartments in a similar price range to what I think you're looking for. Exciting looking for somewhere to live! We're going to check both of those out before deciding. Sorry to hi-jack your thread, but does anyone know how much notice we need to give the landlord letting him know that we don't want to renew the lease ealryl next year?

There are no stores near sky gardens either. You should take that in consideration too. That was quite a headache for us. Good luck!

I love the Lofts jenc. Easy to get to the DIFC, short walk to the Metro (if it's not too hot!) Disadvantages though - no shop! We were told they were putting one in but that was months ago - no sign of it yet and instead there is a new Maclaren garage - which will have fab cars but not much help with milk for a coffee! Also the reason we got the apartment we did was because we had a great view of part of the fountains - now there is a new building being built and blocks it even though we are high up :( That said, we are hoping to stay when we come to renewing in March but will try the East (I think) tower as maybe the view is going to be better from there. Good gym which is quiet most of the time, 2 pools, great maintenance, squash courts, and other than for the hottest 3 months of the year it's only a 5 or 10 minute walk to the mall. Spinneys at the Residences is also only a short walk but way too far in the August heat! There is a shop under 8 Boulevard that delivers so I've used that a few times. People are friendly too. I don't have young kids so can't comment really on life there for children :) Hopefully they will have a shop soon, if not then maybe the new building directly opposite will have one?! Good luck with finding somewhere wherever you end up :)

Lived there for more than a year. Like fruitcke said, its a greeat bachelor pad for guys working in the DIFC. Close to work, nice enough apartment. But I found our one-bed not so good for families. Our one bed had no windows so it was a bit stuffy. Couldn't cook much or the smell lingered for ages, and no place to hang the clothes to dry. Too small. Though you might not have these problems if you go for a 2-3 bed as they have balconies (looked dangerous to me for people with kids). Maintenance wasn't so good. They expected the tenants to arrange and pay for appliance repairs and all themselves (unlike our new place). No dishwasher. Open kitchen connected to the living room (that can be either good or bad, depending on what suits you). There are some apartments over which severage lines pass and they STINK, so beware! DH's friend had one of those, and was sick of the smell. There are some apartments in which there is water leakage. Mine wasn't one of them so I cannot really confirm this. Otherwise, it was good. Excellent location, good play area for kids, good gym, an open park/garden-like area on mezzanine, excellent lobbies every seven floors, nice reception, good bathroom fixtures, fully closed/covered underground parking. IAS lootah were providing cleaning services to tenants (had to pay, but much much lesser than other agencies) and they were very good and thorough with the cleaning.

I don't live there but know someone who does. He likes it enough, close to work, nice apartment, doesn't seem to have any complaints, he's a man so doesn't expand on it much more than that! :) I am in the Lofts though, we didn't want to be so close to work at the DIFC :)