My Dubai Rent: Food app owner pays Dh155,000 for four-bedroom villa in Villanova

Briton Andrew Burgess relocated to Dubai in 2007 and has been residing in the Villanova community since 2014. As the founder of a food app, Forked Up, he pays Dh155,000 per year to lease a four-bedroom villa in Villanova. The 51-year-old lives with his wife Lucy, their nine-year-old son Cyrus, their nanny Nancy, and their rescue pets Jack, a cat, and Harley, a dog.

The villa boasts three bathrooms, a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, a maid's room, a balcony, and a garden. The downstairs bedroom has been converted into Burgess' office, while the kitchen doubles as the setting for their family cooking series.

Burgess and his family moved to Villanova after their previous residence, Mira, became unaffordable due to rising rents. They had previously lived in Al Barsha, which they enjoyed before the birth of their son Cyrus. Their decision to move to Villanova was based on finding a balance between budget, space, and location, as well as a desire for a family-friendly community with green spaces, parks, and a neighbourhood atmosphere.

One of the key factors in choosing Villanova was the community's dog-friendly pub, allowing Harley to join the family occasionally. The community also features parks, walking paths, playgrounds, and easy access to major roads, supermarkets, restaurants, and shopping malls. Burgess and his family have made the villa their own by filling it with furniture, artwork, and family photos, creating cherished memories throughout their time there.

The kitchen and living area serve as the heart of the house, where family meals and the cooking series are enjoyed. The garden has become an extension of their living space, complete with a football goal, golf practice net, and various grills for cooking and entertaining.