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 duplex apartment located in DIFC, the perfect home for an art lover.
The key details
This duplex in Dubai's Index Tower has been renovated with a key focus on design. On the market for Dh25.5 million, it has four bedrooms and five bathrooms, spread across 7,401 square feet. There is a strong focus on art and design in every room.
What's the story?
An art gallery or a Dubai apartment? This high-end property has works by world-famous artists Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. Like a gallery, the walls have been reinforced to hold heavy artworks.
Spread across two floors, interior designer Sam Farhang has created a contemporary space, with clean lines, a vast open-plan layout and splashes of vibrant colour, provided by the artworks, throughout.
The property is being sold fully furnished with high-end statement pieces, such as a Cassina Utrecht armchair and a custom-made Rugiano table. The artworks, however, are not a part of the sale.
The duplex boasts views of the Dubai skyline, including Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and Arabian Gulf.
Stepping inside, you're greeted by a vast open-plan formal living area, with a bar area overlooking DIFC. There is a second living room located behind a glass wall, which is a more informal TV room.
There are also numerous quiet seating areas, a second TV room and a home office, ideal for any prospective buyers who are still working from home.
Downstairs, one room is currently set up as a kids' playroom, making it a property fit for the most stylish of families, but it could be repurposed for a single occupant or high-flying couple.
Moving through the apartment, you make your way to the sizeable Poggenpohl-fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and ample work surfaces. A monochrome space, which fits with the entire property's aesthetic, there is also a statement green Nelson Mandela painting overlooking the informal dining area.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a more formal dining room, with sleek black and white marble tiled flooring, bold red artworks and bubble-style lighting.
Upstairs, three bedrooms have generous en suite facilities, while the master bedroom has his and her bathrooms.
What the brokers say ...
What makes this property stand out compared to other high-end, high-rise properties in Dubai?
Besides the fact the duplex penthouse spans more than 7,400 sq ft, it is very tastefully designed with spectacular views in an equally spectacular tower.
Each space is designed in a minimalist and tasteful way to create a zen and inspirational ambience. The Index Tower's intelligent architecture was crafted for the spaces to embrace its climatic surrounding environment – so residents will also enjoy substantially lower energy costs.
The tower is at the heart of DIFC with easy access to Downtown Dubai. It has a shopping centre at the podium for basic necessities and amenities and can be easily reached from various places in Dubai.
What inspired interior designer Sam Farhang?
In their brief to Sam, the current owners hoped to achieve a very simplistic interior for their home, one that incorporated their personalities, love of books, art and travels.
There are artworks by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst in the property. Are they originals and will they be sold with the property?
The artwork is too close to the couple’s heart and they will not be sold with the property. This gives the new owner an opportunity to bring his or her own pieces to make the property feel more like home to them.
What kind of buyer does this property attract?
It would definitely attract an end-user. I envision a young, professional couple who are looking to start a family or already have a young child as the penthouse is equipped for young children, complete with a nursery.
It would also attract an art collector looking to move in with their own collection, especially because the walls in this penthouse are reinforced to hold massive art weight.
What kind of lifestyle would this property give a prospective buyer?
A young family who love high-rise living in a tastefully designed home that responds to their needs – it is beauty, design and function. It is also a pet-friendly building.
Is this the most stylish apartment for the money on the Dubai market right now?
Absolutely, the focus on the design and attention to detail is impeccable.
Dubai property prices are increasing at the moment, why is now the time to buy this property?
While the property prices are steadily increasing, the demands for truly unique, quality properties are also increasing. There is not enough luxury and quality product in terms of property; the few that are there get sold at asking price or even more, very quickly. If you can understand the design merit of this property and it fits your lifestyle, you would buy it no matter what state the market is in as such properties don’t come by very often.
How long has the property been on the market?
It has been on the market for one month.
Carina Bou Ali, associate director, Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty
