It seems Dubai Marina is hoping to match Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue as a must-have address for an apartment if property prices at the top end of the market are anything to go by.
A 14,439 square foot apartment in La Rêve, a 50-storey tower, is up for grabs at a cost of Dh75 million. The flat has two living rooms, five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and a 500 sq ft terrace. It is not the largest flat in the building: that property totals 18,400 sq ft.
But this luxury pad’s buyer will still have plenty of room for parties.
The flat is within walking distance of the American University of Dubai and within driving distance of Emirates Golf Club. It is adjacent to the Dubai International Marine Club – the buyer of this flat is likely to own a clipper or two.
The lounge area resembles a high-concept modernist restaurant. Most of the house is hewn from marble. The bathroom has a jacuzzi and a sauna; the two are joined by a glass wall.
Everything is open plan: bedrooms double as offices, and the living rooms merge in long stretches of abstract, Swedish couches and tables. Windows wrap around the edge of the apartment, which is on its own floor, so residents have views out of every room. And, of course, the driver and the maid have their own rooms.
La Rêve, the tower that houses the property, is home to some of Dubai’s most expensive apartments. The building was sold out before completion in 2007. It was designed by the architects behind the Burj Al Arab, and built by Verve Developments. The complex houses only 80 apartments.
The tower has a rooftop garden, designed by Andrew Pfeiffer, a notable landscape designer.
Q&A
David Lawes, senior residential consultant at Better Homes, which is marketing the luxury pad in La Rêve, reveals more about the property:
Who is this flat for?
In this building, there’s a certain calibre of people. The very richest like to be among themselves: that’s where these people want to buy. You could buy a penthouse, and everyone around you would be in one bedroom flats and studios. But this is an elite building ... It’s for a high-end buyer. In the parking garage, I walked past a Bentley with an inch of dust on that had been sitting there for two years. Next to it there was a Rolls-Royce. It’s those kind of people who are buying properties in this building.
Why is this flat so expensive?
In this building there are only around eight of these flats. La Rêve is seen as the most prestigious building in the Marina in terms of quality and finishing. The lobby looks like it’s from a luxury hotel. The top floors are all single apartments. That’s pretty rare in Dubai Marina. When there’s so few of something, it’s very difficult to put a price tag on it. You could say why is a Maserati car such a high price? It’s a very high end, unique property, with high-end finishes.
Any other selling points?
It’s difficult to get into the building. The security is so tight – it’s like Burj Khalifa. It’s not a very busy building. It’s for people who want high-quality apartments when they come to Dubai every now and again. It’s not like the Jumeirah Beach Residences, which is a very bustling community.
abouyamourn@thenational.ae
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