Full Marina view - Opal Tower

The fire alarm went off at least twice a week, day or night, with a loud, relentless noise that kept interrupting my sleep and work. When I raised it with staff downstairs, they brushed me off and told me to wait for it to stop. I also had to deal with harassment from another resident. Lobby staff said they got complaints about him all the time and told me to avoid him, even though they knew about his abusive behavior. I found the staff rude in general. They often dismissed me or made me doubt what I was reporting. When I mentioned a problem with a lift, one person said I was using it wrong. After I insisted, he checked, opened the panel and reset it. There was an issue after all, but he went back behind the counter without acknowledging it. There were serious maintenance problems too. The bathroom ceiling leaked on and off for weeks. They fixed the leak but left the ceiling tiles missing for the rest of my year there, despite repeated complaints and service calls. A pipe burst overnight and flooded the kitchen. Emergency maintenance stopped the water by turning off the valves, but the damage to the ceiling and cabinets was left for three weeks before the water worked again, and three months before the ceiling and cabinets were repaired. I had to keep calling and complaining throughout. There are more examples, but I’m tired of typing.

I rented a one-bedroom on the 29th floor for a month through the tourist company Kainat, and the noise made the apartment almost impossible to stay in. The chiller in the tower opposite sounded like a Boeing jet engine running right in front of me, and the vibration was so bad my body shook. The windows and doors did not lock, and the glass did not block the sound. The bathroom was the only relatively quiet spot. After taking the one-month rent, Kainat gave me this unit. When I complained, the company said that if I did not want it, they would not refund me under the money contract. I felt they did not care about my rights as a customer. I intend to file a complaint and pursue my rights, and I am sure Dubai's laws protect individuals. I would not recommend staying on the 29th floor or renting from Kaynat Company. The noise made me feel nauseated and dizzy, gave me headaches and high blood pressure, and made me worry about the possibility of a stroke. Please watch the attached video with sound.

The apartment was clean and recently updated, with great views and a quiet, safe feel. It was affordable too, and parking was easy. The location worked well for getting to the marina and beaches, and there’s a 24-hour store on the property. We liked the pool, though it could use more chairs. I was very happy with the stay.

The location was really convenient, and the Airbnb-style room was clean and very nice.