London is awash with spectacular prime properties, and following the change to the UK's travel rules, it is now much easier for travellers from the UAE to come and see them.
The National'sLondon luxury property series serves to whet the appetite, and this month, a five-bedroom villa in Kensington is the star.
Featured property
Victory House, London, England, W8 5RF United Kingdom — £22.5 million ($30.5m).
The key details
Victory House is a light and spacious double-fronted freehold villa spanning more than 6,373 square feet.
The luxury London property features five bedrooms and six bathrooms, so prospective owners will have no excuse for going unwashed.
It's not only the residents who will live in the lap of luxury — their groceries will also live the life of Riley in a vast Cormier-designed kitchen which flows through to a formal dining room followed by an elegant and spacious reception room.
The villa features Fendi and Ralph Lauren furnishings throughout and is peppered with Italian chandeliers and fireplaces from France.
If the fireplaces don't keep you warm enough, then underfloor heating will do the job. Cooling down can also be achieved quickly with air-conditioning throughout.
Moving outside, the landscaped gardens are designed with privacy and leisure in mind, and the two off-street parking spaces are rare commodities in the Kensington locale.
The assemblage of entertainment options offered is even rarer.
The nautical-themed lower ground floor and basement contains one of the largest home cinema screens within a private home in London. There's also a temperature-controlled wine cellar, bar, spa that consists of a mosaicked pool, multi-jet Jacuzzi, massage area, steam room, gymnasium, changing room, shower and a peaceful patio area.
Location-wise, the house is near Kensington Palace, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park.
A view of Victory House's neighbour Kensington Palace, with a statue of King William III in the foreground. Photo: Alamy
What the broker says
What makes the property stand out from the crowd?
It is rare to find a double-fronted corner villa in prime Kensington with the benefit of gated parking, especially one that has so many state-of-the-art security features, leisure, entertainment and tech aspects.
Are there similar homes in London?
There are comparable properties in size, quality and value across London but Victory House particularly stands out because of its aesthetic and design concept.
What kind of buyer would the property most suit?
Victory House can present itself as the perfect family home but would work just as well as a secure second home for an international buyer needing a pied-a-terre in London.
It will appeal to those with a keen eye for detail, with an appreciation of all the luxury finishes and the tech-savvy elements in the home.
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
