London is awash with spectacular properties, and following the lifting of all UK travel rules, it is now much easier for travellers to come and see them.
The National'sLondon luxury property series serves to whet the appetite of buyers, and this month the featured property comes from the development arm of Gulf Islamic Investments.
The key details
This is a new-build development with a restored Victorian facade, led by Grid Properties, the development arm of Gulf Islamic Investments.
The exterior of the Elie Saab Residences in London. Photo: Calvermont
The luxury London property features 15 two and three-bedroom homes and a signature duplex penthouse apartment with stunning views over Hyde Park. The design of the common areas is curated by Elie Saab, featuring pieces from its Maison collection.
Elie Saab approached the project with GII from a luxury lifestyle vision, rather than simply designing a property. Every detail is created with the future residents in mind — from spacious interiors to the design of the common areas.
The residences have been built for a mature clientele looking for a pied-a-terre in the heart of London with the highest standards of luxury and comfort.
With 3.3-metre-high ceilings in the heritage side of the building, purchasers benefit from large amounts of natural light and uninterrupted views over the green spaces of Hyde Park and further across central London. Some of the apartments have spacious outdoor garden terraces, perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing after a busy day in the city.
Location-wise, the scheme is close to Kensington Palace and a few minutes from central London. The Elie Saab duplex penthouse on Bayswater Road is on the market for £9,717,666 ($12.7 million).
What the developer says
What makes the development stand out from the crowd?
It is an unparalleled opportunity to own a new build double-fronted property in prime Kensington that blends heritage, stunning views and a premium location with a modern spacious floor plan and the signature design vision of Elie Saab. It is also one of the only properties along Bayswater Road that has preserved the original Victorian facade.
Dating back to 1893, and part of the former palace court buildings erected along Bayswater Road, the development is one of the few to have survived the past 130 years, including the Nazi bombs disgorged on the city during the Second World War.
The new parts of the building were created using typical red brick and Portland stone cladding in a contemporary way, consonant with the front of the building and the heritage of the overall residential area.
Roomy interiors are lineaments of the Elie Saab Residences. Photo: Calvermont
What kind of buyer would the development most suit?
It will appeal to buyers that spend considerable time in London, perhaps on business, and want to live in luxury with a signature lifestyle to entertain guests when they are in town.
Why is now a good time to buy in London?
London is always in demand with buyers and GII and Elie Saab recognised this when choosing the city as its first joint venture — the first of many more.
Despite Covid-19, Brexit and other shocks, London is resilient and remains the gateway to Europe and other world cities as one of the foremost global business hubs.
— Shreen R Gupta, chief executive of Grid Properties
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Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
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November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
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
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
