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 look at a beachfront mansion on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.
The key details
High-end living at its finest. This six-bedroom, six-bathroom Palm Jumeirah property is spread across 14,420 square feet on a 14,451 square feet plot, complete with its own gym, sauna, spa, cinema, infinity pool and a private beach.
The property is being sold furnished and has been on the market for five weeks.
What's the story?
Does it come any better than a home complete with its own stretch of private beach?
This waterfront villa is located on Palm Jumeirah. Set over three storeys, the property has been designed to make the most of light and space, with floor-to-ceiling windows, floating steps, a reflection pond, a framed sculptural tree and a luxurious infinity swimming pool.
The property is located on the tip of the frond, with access to its own private beach, looking out on the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai Marina skyline.
The ground floor boasts spacious living and dining rooms, with a large family kitchen. There is also a guest bedroom and staff quarters.
Upstairs, on the first floor, prospective buyers will find a gym, complete with spa and steam room, along with a luxurious private cinema and four en-suite bedrooms.
Adding to the air of luxury that the property delivers, the second floor offers itself over to the master suite, which comes with a separate office, spa and sun terrace.
Al fresco, the property comes into its own, boasting shaded terraces, a barbecue area, an infinity pool and 67 metres of private white, sandy beach.
What the brokers say ...
What makes this property worth its Dh100 million price tag?
The value of an ultra-luxury property can at times be debated, however, when a property has several unique selling points, is built to the highest of standards and is located in an ultra-prime location, then there is little room for debate and the price tag is unquestionable. Villa Aurum, a BlackBrick Luxury Collection property, is one of those homes where the Dh100 million price tag is well justified.
Villa Aurum's location, on the tip of Palm Jumeirah's Frond M, reinforces that location is everything. As an owner of this villa, you will be only one of 16 that own a property at the very frond tip of one of the world's largest manmade archipelagos.
What makes this property stand out?
Being on the tip of the frond, Villa Aurum offers more than 60 metres of direct private beach access with a 20m infinity pool ensuring maximum use for family fun or entertaining guests.
The open-plan design allows for all living and entertaining areas to be maximised, while ensuring adequate privacy through well-placed soft furnishings.
What inspired the decor in the property?
The owner has installed Italian marble and other stone work throughout the home. All the furniture is Italian branded and placed by an Italian interior designer.
The design is heavily influenced by the sea with the connection between built and natural environment being at the core, similar to that you commonly experience along the Italian Mediterranean coastline.
What attracts high-end buyers to Palm Jumeirah?
Palm Jumeirah will always be a special address in Dubai. It is well-known internationally and boasts more than 78 kilometres of coastline. The restaurants, beach clubs, hotels, yachts and open space pull together to create a world-class lifestyle destination. It is a truly stunning beachside address, unlike anywhere else in the world.
– Matthew Bate, founder and chief executive at BlackBrick, www.blackbrickproperty.com
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
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
MATCH INFO
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Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
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Netherlands v UAE, Twenty20 International series
Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg
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