Property of the week: Dh82 million Cipriani-designed penthouse on Dubai Canal


Farah Andrews
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There is no doubt that the UAE is home to some spectacular properties. From penthouse apartments to plush villas with sprawling gardens and incredible pools, it’s a real estate haven.

Each week, The National showcases some of the finest homes on offer in its Property of the Week. Here, we take a closer look at the new Mr C Residences project in Dubai.

The key details

The penthouse apartment at Mr C Residences will be a new-build masterpiece. The duplex property, which developers hope will be handed over by the end of 2023, has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and a square footage of 15,220.

The penthouse is on the market for Dh86.3 million ($22.7m).

A Burj Khalifa view from the terrace of the Mr C Residences penthouse. All photos: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
A Burj Khalifa view from the terrace of the Mr C Residences penthouse. All photos: Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

What's the story?

Off-plan projects are 10 a penny in Dubai, but few are designed by the masterminds behind the famed Cipriani brand.

The Mr C Residences have been conceptualised in collaboration with brothers Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani, the fourth generation of the chic Italian brand. The development features designs by Miami architecture firm Arquitectonica and New York's Meyer Davis Studio, and it is located on the waters of Dubai Canal, with Burj Khalifa views.

The penthouse will come furnished with chic Italian pieces, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out across Jumeirah, the Downtown Dubai skyline and to the Arabian Gulf.

The first floor features a spacious show kitchen, with a fully equipped wet kitchen back-of-house, as well as two en-suite staff rooms, a guest powder room, a library and office, a gym, private lift, family den, family room, children's playroom, formal living room and dining area.

A private pool on the terrace of the penthouse
A private pool on the terrace of the penthouse

There are sizeable terraces on both levels, which have dining spaces, summer kitchens and swimming pools, and upstairs you'll find five en-suite bedrooms, with a grand master bedroom suite with walk-in wardrobes and an en-suite master bathroom. The penthouse also has its own private roof deck terrace with stunning landscaping.

The Mr C Residences, named for the Cipriani brand, will offer premium lifestyle benefits, including a butler, housekeeping, valet parking and security services, and tailoring, car, transportation, technology and business services. On site, there will also be the Bellini Cafe, a luxury spa, gym, yoga area, sauna, steam room, swimming pool and cinema.

What the broker says ...

This property has a very distinct style – what inspired it?

The building itself is inspired by the classic Venetian roots of the Mr C brand, with modern design touches thanks to Arquitectonica and Meyer Davis Studio. Throughout the project the details support the water-bound theme of luxury yacht design.

The soft forms imply a relaxed mood reflecting the idea of a resort nestled in the city. The idea of the soft facade shaped like waves is because it’s on a canal and relates to the currents flowing of the canal, and is a reference to the wind blowing in the Jumeirah neighbourhood.

The property has a Downtown Dubai backdrop and is located on the Dubai Canal in Jumeirah
The property has a Downtown Dubai backdrop and is located on the Dubai Canal in Jumeirah

Will there be a Cipriani within the complex?

There will be a Bellini Cafe – inspired by the famous Bellini cocktail from Harry's Bar. In 1948 at his famous Venice bar, Ignazio Cipriani’s great-grandfather, Giuseppe Cipriani, invented the drink, inspired by Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini.

What kind of buyer will this attract?

With the entire development being limited to 27 properties, this is a true luxury offering. The buyer will appreciate the Mr C brand signatures throughout the development and cherish the privacy and exclusivity of this bespoke development. It has got a resort-like experience in a very boutique setting. All the residences will have private access elevators, too, with easy access to everyday amenities through the Mr C concierge app and aided with smart home technology. It's the perfect blend of old-world charm meeting contemporary elegance.

The Dubai Canal is a relatively new area, so what attracts people to living there?

An upcoming neighbourhood with small bespoke developments, such as the Four Seasons Private Residences and now Mr C Residences, Dubai Canal is set to carve a niche for itself, mainly because of its superb location between Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai. The residents here appreciate the secluded privacy, serviced amenities and the Canal lifestyle unlike anywhere else in Dubai.

Armies of Sand

By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
 

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

The biog

Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children

She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career

She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence

Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Updated: November 10, 2021, 6:48 AM`