Tucked away behind a high fence a few metres from Al Muneera beachfront, one of Abu Dhabi’s few waterfront houses – available for expatriates to buy – has gone on sale.
Only 11 Al Muneera Beach Front terraced villas at Al Raha Beach were built when the masterplanned development was completed in 2011. And, after the developer Aldar sold assets to the Government in exchange for a cash injection during the global financial crisis, only three of the luxury homes remain in private hands.
The five-bedroom property, which also includes a gym, dining room, office, four bathrooms, living room and foyer, is on the market for a steep Dh18.5 million.
“When I first moved to Abu Dhabi I thought I’d get a house on the water,” says Andrew Covill, director at Henry Wiltshire, the estate agent selling the property. “But despite the fact that Abu Dhabi is surrounded by water, there are actually very few houses that expatriates can buy next to the sea. That’s what makes this place so special.”
The villa’s location, just a short walk from the shops and restaurants in Al Raha Gardens complex close to Abu Dhabi International Airport, is certainly enviable.
As is the 575 square metre villa’s private infinity swimming pool. A small garden complete with its own gnarled olive tree also cries out for a pool party or a barbecue.
“When Aldar built these properties they shipped in ancient olive trees as a key part of the landscaping,” Mr Covill says. “I suppose it gives the place a bit of a Mediterranean feel.”
But there is no easy-going vibe to this ultra-modern glass and steel structure, which wraps itself around the pool and the decking area.
A high-tech wiring system throughout the house means that residents can adjust the temperature and lighting, play music and even open and close the curtains at the touch of a button.
Sadly, getting such super technological functions to work on our tour of the property was nigh on impossible; so we viewed the property in silence, steadily getting hotter and hotter.
Whoever snaps up this home will not only need a good head for technology, they will also need pretty deep pockets to fund the lifestyle required for a villa of this size and sophistication.
Q&A
What is Al Raha Beach?
Built along 5.2 million square metres of natural beachfront, Aldar’s Al Raha Beach development is a mix of homes, offices and shops. It comprises three communities, all in the eastern section of the master plan: Al Muneera, Al Zeina and Al Bandar.
What are the plans for the area?
Earlier this year Aldar announced it was developing another 233 homes at its Al Bandar community in Raha Beach as it presses ahead with plans for the area. Ultimately the developer expects the 3.6 million-square-metre plot between Abu Dhabi city and Yas Island to house up to 120,000 residents.
What are the villa’s good points?
As a location in Abu Dhabi, Al Muneera at Al Raha Beach is hard to beat. Completed in 2011, the community has had time to become established and many of the shops and cafes in the parade next to the beach have now opened. Also, the community is located just 45 minutes from Dubai Marina in Dubai and 10 to 15 minutes drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Moreover, the villa itself is completely landscaped and finished and (if you can work the sound and aircon system) the place is ready to move in.
What are the drawbacks?
Dh18.5m is a lot of money to part with and even though the house looks directly onto the sea, the view across the water onto Yas Island is of a rather less-than-inspiring industrial water tank.
How much would it cost to rent?
Mr Covill estimates that a similar home would fetch about Dh700,000 a year in rent.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
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