8 months ago

“I have lived in the UAE since 2011 and I am writing this review as a long-term resident and an American working teacher. I am not a tourist and I am not an influencer. I am fully aware of the UAE’s social media laws, so everything I am sharing is respectful, constructive and based on my personal experience. My intention is not to harm anyone. I simply hope management reads this, provides clarification and considers improvement. I have lived in many different communities across the UAE, from Reem Island to Mirdif, and most recently Azizi Riviera in the beautiful Meydan area. Unfortunately, my experience at Joya Blanca has been a letdown when compared to these previous properties. There are positives. The security staff are polite, kind and always helpful. The interiors of the apartments are beautifully finished. I personally have a lovely view of the Burj Al Arab, and other residents have very nice pool views. The building is generally quiet, peaceful and home to classy, respectful residents. Those aspects deserve acknowledgment. However, several issues need attention. The facilities do not match the standard of the apartment interiors. The cross trainer in the gym has had a broken pedal for a very long time. I stepped on it, fell off and almost injured myself. I emailed management about this and did not receive a response. There is also a recurring issue with garbage and sanitation. The garbage rooms are often full, and a noticeable smell carries into the hallways. In the main waste area downstairs, I frequently see security guards assisting with trash disposal, which makes me unsure whether the waste management system is working properly. The gym hours are also very limiting. The gym only opens at 7 a.m. and management has made it clear that it cannot open earlier. As a teacher who needs to be at work at 7 a.m., I cannot use the gym in the morning at all. With my limited salary, this forces me to pay for an external gym membership, which is disappointing for a building that advertises on-site fitness facilities. There is also the matter of lift access. You cannot use the lift without scanning a QR code on your phone. While I understand that this is intended for safety, Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world, and this building is in a very safe area. After living here since 2011, I personally feel this level of access control is unnecessary and inconvenient. Regarding location, the building is in Arjan, but it is not realistically walkable to cafés, bakeries or everyday conveniences. A car is absolutely necessary. I have a car, so this is not a personal issue for me, but potential tenants should be aware. Lastly, when I have emailed management about concerns, I have often been ignored or dismissed. I do not believe I deserve that kind of treatment, especially as someone who has lived in the UAE for many years, understands how things should operate here and has a reasonable, not unrealistic, standard. I know this is not Palm Jumeirah, but I still expect a certain level of service and communication. I am sharing this respectfully, and I am genuinely sorry that I have to post something like this. My hope is that management reads this and considers improving communication, maintenance and overall resident support. Feedback or clarification from the team would be greatly appreciated.”

Fixtures & Fittings

Good

Residence Staff

Fine

Communal Facilities

Basic

Building Access

Not answered

Commute

Not answered

Amenities Nearby

Long Drive

Sun at the Pool

Not answered

Residents Mainly

Professionals

3 months ago

“I visited this building twice because I was going to rent there. Both times I went, the security were helpful and polite; they even provided me a power bank to charge my phone. For the late replies, I called the number that is on Google Maps and just wanted to see how things would go. I told him I had sent an email but no one was answering. He immediately looked into it and kept following up with me to see what the issue was. I don’t know about the past, but I am just sharing my experience because all those negative reviews can make a lot of tenants walk away. However, the building is really good.”

Fixtures & Fittings

Not answered

Residence Staff

Helpful

Communal Facilities

Not answered

Building Access

Not answered

Commute

Not answered

Amenities Nearby

Not answered

Sun at the Pool

Not answered

Residents Mainly

Not answered

4 months ago

“The overall experience was really good, Our broker from authentic holiday homes Issa really made sure that we get everything managed for our apartment. I lived in Joya Blanca for 1 year and the building facility + the management system is very good.”

Fixtures & Fittings

Not answered

Residence Staff

Helpful

Communal Facilities

Great

Building Access

Not answered

Commute

Not answered

Amenities Nearby

Not answered

Sun at the Pool

Not answered

Residents Mainly

Not answered

5 months ago

“Dear Management, I am writing to formally complain about the unacceptable and unprofessional behavior of one of your security guards during my visit to the building. I came to visit a friend, and as usual, security asked for my ID, which I understand is normal procedure. Unfortunately, I did not have my wallet with me because I was in a hurry. The guard rudely pointed at my phone and asked for ID there. I politely explained that I do not store personal documents on my phone, but I offered to give my phone number instead. He checked it and allowed me to use the elevator. I also mentioned that I visit this building weekly. He responded in an unfriendly way, saying it was the first time he had seen me. I replied that this might be because he works the night shift. About 10 minutes later, I received a call from security (in very poor English, which I could barely understand) asking me to come down and move my car. I immediately went down and asked why, since I always park in the visitor parking. The guard accused me of lying and pointed his finger in my face while speaking in a rude and aggressive manner. I explained that I have been coming to this building for three years and I know very well where visitor parking is. He then said the space was for “customers” and that a customer had come, gotten angry, and left. I replied that if there is only one visitor parking space in the building, this situation is not logical. He then ordered me to go outside and said, “That’s your problem,” while shouting at me. At that moment, two other cars moved and a visitor parking space became free. I asked if I could park there. He ignored me and walked away. When I asked for his name, he said it was “personal” and refused to tell me. I went to the reception desk and asked the other security guard for his name, but he only smiled and did not help. This made me extremely frustrated. I told them that their staff should wear badges and that I want to file a complaint about the way I was treated—being shouted at, pointed at, and ordered around in a disrespectful way. Then the same guard came back and told me he had taken my picture. I was shocked and told him this is not allowed and that there are rules in the UAE regarding taking photos of people without permission. I told him I would call the police. All of this happened simply because he said it was the first time he had seen me and, in my opinion, he did not like how smoothly I was allowed to go upstairs and decided to create a problem and ruin my evening. When I finished my visit and came back down, he told me that visitor parking is only for 10 minutes and that I stayed too long. I told him I was never informed about this rule by the morning security, and that this was the first time I heard about it. I said, “Okay, good to know,” but also explained that it is not his business how long my visit is. I am writing this expecting a serious response and a proper apology. I also request: • The name of the security guard involved • That all security staff wear visible badges • That your staff receive proper training in communication, behavior, and basic English • That your staff learn how to speak respectfully to visitors and residents If I do not receive a response within 24 hours, I will escalate this matter to the relevant authorities. And I can proof it by CCTV cameras my building enter time around 10 :20pm I hope you will take this complaint seriously and handle it professionally.”

Fixtures & Fittings

Not answered

Residence Staff

Unhelpful

Communal Facilities

Not answered

Building Access

Not answered

Commute

Not answered

Amenities Nearby

Not answered

Sun at the Pool

Not answered

Residents Mainly

Not answered

8 months ago

“The worst decision I’ve ever done was renting a house in this building. Joya Blanca’s management is, without exaggeration, the most unprofessional and exploitative team I’ve ever dealt with. They only reply i get from them is when they want money, and they completely ignore every other emails or requests. I’ve been living here for three weeks and they still refuse to give me access to the elevator unless I pay 100 AED -a payment they demanded only by phone, refused to document by email, and still refuse to issue a receipt for-. Meanwhile, every neighbor I asked confirmed they never paid this amount. So where is this money really going? It gets worse. They demand a 2000 AED deposit just to move a sofa into your own apartment. And despite having paid my full rent, Ejari, and bills, they refused to let me enter my own home at night because I “didn’t send an email” informing them I was arriving. I ended up booking a hotel room even though I technically already had a rented apartment in their building. That’s the level of negligence and nonsense you deal with here. Today, I still don’t have proper elevator access and have to ask my neighbors every single time just to reach my own floor, while management keeps ignoring my messages. If you’re thinking about renting an apartment in Joya Blanca: just DON’T. The treatment is cheap, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.”

Fixtures & Fittings

Not answered

Residence Staff

Unhelpful

Communal Facilities

Not answered

Building Access

Not answered

Commute

Not answered

Amenities Nearby

Not answered

Sun at the Pool

Not answered

Residents Mainly

Not answered