• Umm al Quwain, United Arab Emirates, May 19, 2012 - A house in UAQ. ( Jaime Puebla / The National Newspaper )
    Umm al Quwain, United Arab Emirates, May 19, 2012 - A house in UAQ. ( Jaime Puebla / The National Newspaper )
  • Close to the sea, this villa has an artistic front gate.
    Close to the sea, this villa has an artistic front gate.
  • The house of Badriya Mohammed, 32, in Ras Al Khaimah. Badriya has a staircase lit by decorative green lasers but considers her Dh1.7m house "a piece of the mountain" where she was raised. Location: Burairat, RAK. ( J???
    The house of Badriya Mohammed, 32, in Ras Al Khaimah. Badriya has a staircase lit by decorative green lasers but considers her Dh1.7m house "a piece of the mountain" where she was raised. Location: Burairat, RAK. ( J???
  • The house of Hareb Suroor in Ras Al Khaimah. There is a new popularity of houses styled like European castles, with turrets and round towers. In most cases, people say they are copying palaces.
    The house of Hareb Suroor in Ras Al Khaimah. There is a new popularity of houses styled like European castles, with turrets and round towers. In most cases, people say they are copying palaces.
  • The house of Hind Eissa Al Nuaimi in Ras Al Khaimah.
    The house of Hind Eissa Al Nuaimi in Ras Al Khaimah.
  • The house of Rashed Saeed, 41, in Ras Al Khaimah. Rashed says he originally wanted a house in the shape of an airplane. "But that was too expensive," he said.
    The house of Rashed Saeed, 41, in Ras Al Khaimah. Rashed says he originally wanted a house in the shape of an airplane. "But that was too expensive," he said.
  • The house of Waleed Al Shamsi in Ras Al Khaimah. "You know, sometimes when I sleep at night, I wake up at two or three in the morning and I draw the ideas for my house."
    The house of Waleed Al Shamsi in Ras Al Khaimah. "You know, sometimes when I sleep at night, I wake up at two or three in the morning and I draw the ideas for my house."
  • The house of Badriya Mandoos, 37, in Ras Al Khaimah. Badriya says of her home "You will make just one home in all your life, so why not make it something beautiful?"
    The house of Badriya Mandoos, 37, in Ras Al Khaimah. Badriya says of her home "You will make just one home in all your life, so why not make it something beautiful?"
  • A house in New Mareedh, Ras Al Khaimah. Jaime Puebla / The National
    A house in New Mareedh, Ras Al Khaimah. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • This blue house has a nautical feel to it.
    This blue house has a nautical feel to it.
  • The house of Khaled Al Ali, 36, and wife, Budoor. Jaime Puebla / The National
    The house of Khaled Al Ali, 36, and wife, Budoor. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Apr 23, 2012 - The house of Badriya Mohammed, 32. Badriya has a staircase lit by decorative green lasers but considers her Dh1.7mil house "a piece of the mountain" where she was raised. Location: Burairat, RAK. ( J???
    Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Apr 23, 2012 - The house of Badriya Mohammed, 32. Badriya has a staircase lit by decorative green lasers but considers her Dh1.7mil house "a piece of the mountain" where she was raised. Location: Burairat, RAK. ( J???

UAE

In pictures: Villa Architecture of the Northern Emirates

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  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are famous for ground-breaking architecture, but this flair isn't confined to the large cities.

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