• This six-bedroom penthouse in The 118, Downtown Dubai, is on the market for Dh49.5 million. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    This six-bedroom penthouse in The 118, Downtown Dubai, is on the market for Dh49.5 million. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • One of the six spacious bedrooms in The 118 penthouse. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    One of the six spacious bedrooms in The 118 penthouse. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The grand hallway entrance. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The grand hallway entrance. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The double-height ceiling in the living area gives the already generously sized property the feeling of abundant space. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The double-height ceiling in the living area gives the already generously sized property the feeling of abundant space. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The property offers views of Dubai Fountain and the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The property offers views of Dubai Fountain and the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • This property 'appeals to buyers who appreciate luxury but will not compromise on location and space'. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    This property 'appeals to buyers who appreciate luxury but will not compromise on location and space'. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The sleek and well-contained kitchen is kitted out with white cabinets, a grey marble counter and a sizeable island, with space to sit. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The sleek and well-contained kitchen is kitted out with white cabinets, a grey marble counter and a sizeable island, with space to sit. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The property spans more than 11,500 square feet. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The property spans more than 11,500 square feet. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • It is located within walking distance of The Dubai Mall. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    It is located within walking distance of The Dubai Mall. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Modern bathroom finishings. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Modern bathroom finishings. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Splashes of colour in the living room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Splashes of colour in the living room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • The property has been finished with high-end names, including Kohler and Miele, as well as luxury German brand SieMatic in the kitchen. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    The property has been finished with high-end names, including Kohler and Miele, as well as luxury German brand SieMatic in the kitchen. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • It comes complete with seven bathrooms, six of which are en suite. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    It comes complete with seven bathrooms, six of which are en suite. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Hirsch Bedner Associates, an American international hospitality design company, has taken care of the contemporary interior design. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Hirsch Bedner Associates, an American international hospitality design company, has taken care of the contemporary interior design. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • A spacious dining room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    A spacious dining room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • There is no shortage of space to relax. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    There is no shortage of space to relax. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Within the building, there are 26 single-unit apartments with two penthouses. The first apartment can be found on the 14th floor ... Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Within the building, there are 26 single-unit apartments with two penthouses. The first apartment can be found on the 14th floor ... Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • ... so even the lowest home has a great view. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    ... so even the lowest home has a great view. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • According to the brokers: 'For most buyers this is their second or third home'. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    According to the brokers: 'For most buyers this is their second or third home'. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows drench the property in light. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Floor-to-ceiling windows drench the property in light. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • A generously sized dressing room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    A generously sized dressing room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
  • Sleek decor in the kitchen. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
    Sleek decor in the kitchen. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

Property of the week: a sleek Dh49.5 million Downtown Dubai penthouse in The 118


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

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 best homes on offer in its Property of the Week. This week, we take a look at a luxury penthouse in Downtown Dubai.

The key details

With sleek, clean and contemporary decor, this six-bedroom property is located in the luxury Downtown Dubai building, The 118. The penthouse apartment spans 11,598 square feet and offers views of Dubai Fountain and the glittering Sheikh Zayed Road skyline.

The 118 penthouse's spacious living room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
The 118 penthouse's spacious living room. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

What's the story?

As far as luxury living goes, a Downtown Dubai penthouse apartment that spans the entire floor has to be close to the top of the list.

The six-bedroom property is located in The 118 Downtown Dubai, which is located across the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard from The Dubai Mall, and all of its high-end shopping, dining and entertainment facilities.

Hirsch Bedner Associates, an American international hospitality design company, has taken care of the contemporary interiors. The minimalist and modern decor speaks for itself, with rooms dressed elegantly in white, with splashes of statement colour.

Minimalist design details. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
Minimalist design details. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

The double-height ceiling in the living area gives the already generously sized property the feeling of abundant space.

In keeping with a VIP address and price tag, the property is accessed by private elevator. The entrance corridor then leads directly to the open-plan living room, with a private outdoor terrace that boasts panoramic views of Downtown Dubai.

Each of the six bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and the master suite comes complete with a private terrace.

The sleek and well-contained kitchen is kitted out with white cabinets, a grey marble counter and a sizeable island, with space to sit. The property has been finished with high-end names, including Kohler and Miele, as well as luxury German brand SieMatic in the kitchen.

A modern, well-contained kitchen with SieMatic finishings. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
A modern, well-contained kitchen with SieMatic finishings. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

Within the building, there are 26 single-unit apartments with two penthouses. The first apartment can be found on the 14th floor, so even the lowest-set home has a great view.

The 118 offers the luxurious shared facilities you'd expect to find in a property of this ilk. There is a 4,000 sq ft sunset lounge; a temperature-controlled swimming pool with a skyline backdrop and a fitness centre with steam room and sauna; and a 20,000 sq ft rooftop poolside garden deck.

Within the development, there is also designated chauffeur accommodation, a 24-hour reception and security.

What the brokers say ...

What makes this property stand out?

The fact that it is a luxurious urban sanctuary right next to the largest mall in the world shows that you can have the best of both worlds. The 118 building, as a whole, stands out. To have one apartment per floor in a building so close to The Dubai Mall and in the heart of Dubai is unheard of. With only 28 units, it takes privacy and exclusivity to the next level.

One of the six bedrooms in The 118 penthouse. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty
One of the six bedrooms in The 118 penthouse. Courtesy Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty

Does the property have a particular view?

Instead of focusing on the Burj Khalifa, the best view is of the fountains and beyond, including the sea, Jumeirah as a whole and the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline.

What advantages does penthouse living have over villa living?

You can easily close up and toss the keys to the concierge and that just does not happen in a villa. You have your privacy as well as shared services, so you don’t have to worry about people walking into your house to access the pool or a garden. This highlights the safety of penthouse living, even though Dubai is an extremely safe city.

What kind of buyer has this property attracted?

Buyers who appreciate luxury but will not compromise on location and space – for most buyers this is their second or third home.

Are there any comparable properties in the UAE right now?

I would say Le Reve but that is in Dubai Marina; in Downtown, the only name that comes to mind is Il Primo [by Emaar], which is still under construction.

How in demand is the Downtown area?

Downtown Dubai has done well during the Covid-19 pandemic, as there are many options at walking distance, particularly at The Dubai Mall, without taking a car or public transport. The vibe of Downtown is indescribable – there is always something happening and people are discovering new restaurants and shops every week.

Does the property have any private facilities?

You can book a private massage with your choice of masseuse or book out the rooftop or garden at the pool for a dinner with your friends and family. A meeting room can be booked only for you or your business meetings.

Leigh Williamson, managing director of the Four Seasons Office at luxhabitat.ae

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings 
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

if you go

The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.

The trip 

Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eamana%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Farra%20and%20Ziad%20Aboujeb%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERegulator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDFSA%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinancial%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E85%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf-funded%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

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

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ovasave%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Majd%20Abu%20Zant%20and%20Torkia%20Mahloul%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Healthtech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Three%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaly%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mo%20Ibrahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.6%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%2C%20planning%20first%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GCC-based%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

SPEC SHEET

Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD  dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz

Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core

Memory: 8/12GB RAM

Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB

Platform: Android 12

Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW

Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps

Front camera: 40MP f/2.2

Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare

Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC

I/O: USB-C

SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano

Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red

Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now