Let's not kid ourselves - we all aspire to live in Dubai's Emirates Hills or the leafy Al Barari where it feels as though you are in another world surrounded by nature as opposed to the bustle of the downtown high-rises.
But the reality is that only the super-rich can shell out for the palace-sized villas which come with enough bedrooms and bathrooms to house many generations of the same family.
There are, however, neighbourhoods in Dubai which offer a standard of living close to the aforementioned communities - at a far lower price point.
One of these is Jumeirah Islands, considered a hidden gem among Dubai's luxury landscape, located behind Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
The neighbourhood is divided into a series of interconnected island clusters containing a collection of villas in different architectural styles as well as townhouses. And one of the villas in the European cluster has recently come on the market at a price of Dh8.5 million.
"The interior design and the upgrades done to this villa are truly exceptional," said Andrew Cummings, managing director of LuxuryProperty.com, which is marketing the property.
“From the upgraded flooring to the new wall moulding and even the general layout, it offers the aesthetic and quality you would expect from a home at Emirates Hills but at a more manageable price point."
_____________
Read more:
Inside a Dh10.75 million JBR penthouse in Dubai
Why the obsession with real estate in the UAE?
Buying in the UAE will always beat renting due to long-term capital gain
_____________
With its tree-lined front entrance and dark wood finishings inside, it has the feeling of a country manor, and on a plot of 8,805 sq ft it certainly has the size.
Of course, a roaring log fire-place isn't required in such climes and marble floors are almost standard in Dubai's larger properties, so the rural connection ends there.
All four bedrooms are located upstairs and the master bedroom has space for its own private sitting room. Meanwhile, to the rear, there's a terrace overlooking one of the lakes providing peace and tranquility - the lakes essentially create a moat around the perimeter of the community thereby secluding the properties from the busier roads.
The outdoor area downstairs comes with a patio deck which wraps around the back of the villa, while the low-maintenance garden includes a shaded swimming pool with a barbecue station and gazebo.
Property prices in the UAE continued to slide in the third quarter, with sale prices in Dubai recording the most pronounced decline of 4 per cent, according to a report by Asteco.
S&P Global Ratings estimated earlier this year that prices in Dubai, the country's largest real estate market, could slip 10 to 15 per cent over the next two years.
However, recent changes to visa regulations which allows expatriates to remain in the UAE during retirement is expected to provide a boost to the property sector.
____________
The National at Cityscape:
Exclusive: Damac to maintain Dh5bn of annual sales amid debt reduction plan
Cityscape Dubai to showcase developers' schemes as market confidence grows
