Three different ways to live in Dubai

Dubai has never been hotter, and that’s not just the temperature. It saw the highest number of $10m-plus property sales of any global city in the year to the end of March 2023, according to Knight Frank’s data. Its share of super-prime sales rocketing from 2 per cent in 2019 to 17 per cent. 

Factors such as global instability, poor economic performance in Europe, and concerns over crime and safety are prompting increasing numbers of people from overseas to relocate, and Dubai is ticking all their boxes.

“It has great security, every restaurant you could possibly want and has made huge advances in the quality of healthcare,” says Andrew Cummings, Head of Prime Residential UAE at Knight Frank. 

The schools are going from strength to strength and a series of secularising reforms have liberalised laws governing alcohol consumption and changed the working week to align with the West. 

“Five years ago, it was all about low taxes, but now Dubai’s appeal is about the lifestyle on offer,” Cummings says. “People look at it not only as a place to go on holiday but somewhere you can have an amazing quality of life.”

When it comes to putting down roots, the best-known, most vibrant neighbourhood is Downtown, home to the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, and the hub for upmarket restaurants, nightlife and some of the luxurious car rental. 

“If you want an urban lifestyle, Downtown is the place – everything is on the doorstep and it’s only a short drive to the beach and the airport,” Cummings says. The best views of the district can be soaked up from 118 Downtown, one of the area’s top addresses.

For something more peaceful, there’s Al Barari. From the Arabic for ‘wilderness’, this is one of the city’s greenest, most sustainable neighbourhoods, replete with lakes, gardens and landscaped walkways, and a host of impressive eco measures, such as water conservation plants and solar panels. It also has restaurants, a state- of-the-art health club and a spa to indulge in. 

Al Barari is divided into several residential areas, some of which feature apartments while others, such as The Nest, offer luxurious villas that are popular with the families that flock here. “There’s a good sense of community,” Cummings says. “People still think of Dubai as a desert, but Al Barari is an oasis.”

The Nest, Al Barari, AED 48m 

This vast six-bedroom mansion has 11,646 sq ft of space and exquisite finishes, from the bespoke crystal chandelier in the double-height entrance to the Calacatta Oro marble flooring and the Poggenpohl kitchen with integrated Gaggenau appliances. The principal suite has a walk-in closet and a private terrace, while there are separate maid’s and driver’s rooms. As well as having a KNX home automation system, which controls lighting, temperature and security, the property is sold with its luxurious Minotti and Fendi furniture and its specially curated artwork. Outside, there are manicured gardens, a swimming pool and an outdoor dining area with a fully-equipped kitchen.

118 Downtown, AED 88m 

You can’t get better than the vistas from the Duchess, a six- bedroom duplex penthouse with panoramic views of Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Fountain. One of only two VIP penthouses in the prestigious 118 Building, the 11,045 sq ft property has seven bathrooms, a private elevator, and grand living and dining areas with double-height ceilings that are ideal for entertaining. All the everyday essentials are catered for, too, with laundry, service and maid rooms. The development has 24-hour security, a concierge, valet parking, a meeting lounge, and an outdoor infinity pool and poolside garden. Plus, there’s a well-equipped gym and a massage room and sauna.

The Mansion, Lanai Islands, from AED 65m 

For the ultimate in luxury mansion living, look no further than the 27 seven- and eight-bedroom residences on two private islands that offer direct access to Tilal Al Ghaf’s crystal lagoon. Designed by the award-winning global architecture firm SAOTA and with interiors by the renowned Kelly Hoppen, each mansion on Lanai Islands is also customisable. This is a first for Dubai real estate and means buyers can choose their home’s exterior façade and interior style as well as other options such as the bedroom and fitness suites. Each property includes a home cinema, a gym, a spa and expansive underground parking, while there is also plentiful space for staff and huge primary suites with his and hers closets.