Dubai Marina: This is my kind of neighbourhood

Dubai - Russian national Inna Ostapenko talks about how the neighbourhood has changed for the better through the years.

I’m a Russian national and a jewellery designer. I have been living in Dubai since 2006 and Dubai Marina has also been my home in the UAE since then.

My neighbourhood has changed for the better through the years.

Winds of change have been blowing since I set up base here.

I remember driving through Jumeirah road along the serene Arabian Sea and the majestic Burj Al Arab in all its resplendent glory.

However, few buildings existed those days. For instance, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) was still under construction and so was Palm Jumeirah, whose scenic views take my breath away.

Dubai Marina’s rapid progress has made it one of the toniest residential addresses in the emirate.

The infrastructure is of international standard and the Dubai government’s emphasis on an excellent public transport network has eased commuting to a great extent. However, the tram service, which isn’t used by too many people, causes traffic snarls because of the longer duration of red light at traffic signals. Usually, there is bumper-to-bumper traffic on weekends because Dubai Marina attracts many visitors from other parts of the emirate and the country at large.