It’s pretty clear that 2016 hasn’t been the greatest year for the prime end of Dubai’s luxury property market. As Cluttons recently pointed out when issuing its third-quarter report, economic uncertainty and job losses in well-paid industries such as banking and finance have meant demand for luxury property, either to buy or rent, has declined.
As Faisal Durrani, the company’s global head of research, recently explained, the biggest declines in values across the city have been at the top end of the market.
There are some properties, however, that will always attract interest among a select group of buyers, such as this huge, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom villa at Emirates Hills, up for sale for Dh146 million.
The villa has 25,000 sq ft of living space on a 34,000 sq ft plot. Myles Bush, the chief executive of PH Real Estate, the agency marketing the luxury home, says that properties of this stature rarely come to market.
The villa overlooks the fairways and lakes of The Montgomerie golf course and the lakes behind it, while a number of ancient olive trees have been placed around the perimeter of the villa’s entrance. To the rear, there is an oversized infinity pool, an inset Jacuzzi and a fire pit for entertaining guests. The climate-controlled car parking area in the basement has space for up to eight vehicles.
Inside, the main living space is an open-plan area looking out over the golf course, with several other reception rooms making up the remainder of the ground floor. A family office and casual living space sits next to three of the smaller bedrooms that can be used either as guest or children’s bedrooms.
On the floor above, accessed either by a floating staircase or a Schindler lift, there is a pair of oversized bedroom suites with large bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and private living and sleeping areas.
Other facilities alongside the huge garage in the basement is a gym, a steam room, a spa, a storage cellar for beverages, a maid’s quarters and a driver’s room.
q&a only for the one per cent
Myles Bush of PH Real Estate tells Michael Fahy why this Dh146m villa justifies its price tag:
Who would live in a house like this?
The home will no doubt be sold to one of the select and most prominent dynasty families based here in the GCC. The villa is like nothing else that we have seen before and is really for a family who understand the true meaning of luxury and high-class living. This is not a property to be “flipped” or to make a quick buck from. This is a family home for the elite 1 per cent of the population.
What is its most impressive feature?
Simply the attention to detail and build quality. Let’s be honest, most villas in Emirates Hills have six to seven bedrooms, a pool, a lift and some staff rooms. This particular villa has been created with so much more. Care has been taken over the materials used, time has been invested into the architecture and such consideration over the floor plan, flow and layout. This is a home like no other.
What are the neighbours like?
The neighbours within Emirates Hills understand quality living, they appreciate the finer things in life and they value privacy and security. They typically include celebrities, diplomats and captains of industry.
So there’s three bedrooms on the ground and two above. Where’s the sixth?
There is a self-contained studio that sits on a lower mezzanine level. Before you reach the basement with the gym, sauna and the other facilities, there is a doorway to one side.
mfahy@thenational.ae
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