Dubai may look like a megacity of skyscrapers, but it also has dozens of districts with elite villa complexes. Detached houses with grounds are very popular here among families with children and well-off people seeking peace and quiet. In this selection, you will learn about the new villa communities, the most interesting ones architecturally, location- and infrastructure-wise.
The Sanctuary
Developer: Ellington Properties
The Sanctuary is a closed luxury community being constructed on lagoon shores in the Mohammed Bin Rashid City area — created to be somewhat of a city within a city. The developer plans to create areas for walking, playgrounds and sports grounds, recreation areas, and footpaths.
The Al Quoz Pond Park, Godolphin racetrack, a tennis court, a basketball court, several medical clinics, gyms, shops, cafés, and restaurants are all located nearby. This community is perfect for families with children as there are several comprehensive schools nearby: Dubai International, Towheed Iranian, Gems Our Own Indian, Global Indian International, Clarion, as well as Odyssey and Chubby Cheeks kindergartens. In addition, the area has a family park and the large Mall of the World.
You can buy two-storey villas in the complex ranging from 729 to 1,357 square metres with turnkey finishing and smart home systems installed. Each mansion will have its own garden, a swimming pool, a barbecue area, a patio with a terrace and sun lounge chairs. The cost of properties here starts from $4,628,999. The complex should be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Gems Estates
Developer: DAMAC Properties
Gems Estates is a block of deluxe class villas designed by the Roberto Cavalli studio in Italy and the De Grisogono jewellery brand. The complex consists of two-storey villas with five to seven bedrooms ranging from 1,023 to 2,281 square metres. Each mansion has a swimming pool and a terrace.
The development will soon have a gym, a park, playgrounds and sports grounds. Kindergartens, schools, and a hypermarket are five to 10 minutes away from the complex. Residents will also have access to the DAMAC Hills district infrastructure which includes the Malibu Bay wave pool, the Trump International Golf Club, as well as artificial ponds and beaches.
The cost of real estate in Gems Estates ranges from $4,761,062 to $9,623,417. The developer plans to complete the complex in the third quarter of 2024.
Portofino
Developer: DAMAC Properties
Portofino is a luxury complex of Italian-style villas and townhouses in the DAMAC Lagoons district. The area already has everything you need for a comfortable life: grocery stores, pharmacies, kindergartens, schools, medical centres, restaurants, and entertainment.
The complex’s own internal infrastructure is also impressive. The cluster has playgrounds and sports grounds, barbecue zones, gardens, a fishing lake, outdoor capsule offices, water cafes, decorative lagoons with covered gazebos, a music pavilion, and even an observatory. The infrastructure also includes a swimming pool with a wall fountain, children's slides, and recreation areas. A 15-minute drive will get you from Portofino to the Jebel Ali School, The Wonder Years Nursery, Aster Clinic, and First Avenue Mall.
The complex features three-storey seven-bedroom villas and three- to five-bedroom townhouses with full designer finishes and furniture. Each house has a room for the staff, a swimming pool, recreation and barbecue zones, balconies, or terraces. The floor area ranges from 193 to 1141 square metres, and prices from $427,229 to $4,602,314. The complex handover is planned for the second quarter of 2025.
Costa Brava
Developer: DAMAC Properties
Another residential complex in the DAMAC Lagoons project is Costa Brava. The project features Mediterranean-style villas with five, six or seven bedrooms, and townhouses with three to five bedrooms. The floor area of the properties ranges from 187 to 303 square metres and prices from $418,243 to $760,789.
The complex will soon acquire a spa centre, a gym, a swimming pool, sports grounds, playgrounds, as well as a park. Nearby are CreaKids Kindergarten, Jebel Ali School, and South View School Dubai. The developer plans to complete the complex in the third quarter of 2025.
Dubai Hills Vista
Developer: Emaar Properties
Dubai Hills Vista is a futuristic complex designed in collaboration with the legendary Lamborghini car brand. It is being built in the Dubai Hills Estate which comprises several residential complexes. In addition to housing, Emaar is building entertainment facilities here (for instance, the Dubai Hills Mall with a golf course has recently opened), and creating parks and artificial lakes.
The Dubai Hills Vista complex’s own premises will have a large swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, a park for walking and jogging, a gym, and a golf course. GEMS Wellington Academy, GEMS International School, GEMS New Millennium School, Alphabet Street Nursery, and Children's Oasis Nursery are located in the vicinity. Accommodation here is represented by fully furnished six-bedroom houses. The floor area of the villas ranges between 749 and 853 square metres. The complex is scheduled to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Jouri Hills
Developer: Arada
The Jouri Hills gated community of villas, townhouses, and mansions is to appear in Jumeirah Golf Estates. One of the highlights of the area is the international golf course that hosts the DP World Tour every year.
A gym is to open on the territory of the complex, along with sports grounds and playgrounds. Comprehensive and preparatory schools Nibras International, Dubai British, The Arcadia Preparatory School, Sunmarke, kindergartens and nurseries Gummy Bear, Play Time Amusement Arcade, and Jebel Ali Village are located in the vicinity.
The project comprises townhouses with three and four bedrooms, villas with five bedrooms, and mansions with six bedrooms. Each property will be equipped with a smart home system and all the necessary household appliances: a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a dryer, an oven, and a microwave. All villas have their own pools. The floor area of the property ranges from 294 to 532 square metres, the cost is between $1,088,904 and $2,236,351. The developer intends to complete the project in the second quarter of 2025.
Golf Grove
Developer: Emaar Properties
The Golf Grove residential complex is to be completed as early as 2023 in the new developing area of Dubai Hills Estate. The complex is made up of villas in different architectural styles with three or four bedrooms and spacious terraces. The floor area of the houses ranges from 270 to 313 square metres, prices start at $831,858. A large swimming pool, playgrounds and sports grounds, a gym, and a park will soon be available at the complex. The following schools are in the vicinity: GEMS Wellington Academy, GEMS New Millennium School, GEMS International School. Kindergartens: Alphabet Street Nursery, Children's Oasis Nursery.
Palm Hills
Developer: Emaar Properties
Palm Hills is a luxury complex with two-storey villas. The interior design was developed by the Lebanese designer Elie Saab. Each villa has five bedrooms with balconies, an equipped kitchen, a staff room, a bathroom, and a three-car garage. The floor area of the properties ranges between 512 and 611 square metres, prices range from $2,722,940 to $5,173,587. The developer expects to complete the project in the final quarter of 2024.
The complex is located in the prestigious area of Dubai Hills with all the necessary infrastructure long in place. For instance, residents can visit the golf academy; GEMS New Millennium School, GEMS Wellington Academy, and GEMS International School are within a one to two kilometre radius of the villas. One of the best clinics in Dubai, the Royal College Hospital, is also in the area.
Emerald Hills
Developer: Emaar Properties
The Emerald Hills premium complex is being constructed in the Dubai Hills Estate district where low-rise buildings predominate. The floor areas range from 667 to 2000 square metres. The price of the properties starts at $908,123, but the range is quite wide. For instance, a house with an area of 2276 square metres is for sale for $16,737,400. All residences have their own swimming pools and several garages.
Residents of the complex will be able to utilise the entire infrastructure of the district which includes, for instance, a tennis court, a golf course, a basketball court, jogging tracks, shopping centres, supermarkets, beauty salons, restaurants, and cafés. In the immediate vicinity of Emerald Hills, there are British educational institutions offering modern European educational programmes. A 15-minute drive will take you to several preschools and an educational centre, as well as the British Medical Centre.
Arabian Ranches lll, Caya Villas
Developer: Emaar Properties
Caya Villas is the third phase of development of the Arabian Ranches lll district planned to be finished in the final quarter of 2024. The complex offers stylish mansions with three, four or five bedrooms ranging from 328 to 509 square metres. All properties will be sold with complete finishing.
The houses with four bedrooms have two terraces (one of them on the roof), as well as an indoor garage for two cars. Villas with five bedrooms, in addition to terraces on the roof and on the ground floor, will also have balconies, a garage for three cars, and a private garden on the grounds. All mansions have panoramic windows. The cost of real estate here starts at $1,116,400.
The complex will have a gym, a yoga studio, a spa area and community centre. There are playgrounds and sports grounds, a pavilion with a swimming pool, and barbecue zones. The main feature of the complex is a landscaped park with a so-called lazy river, and walking paths. The gated community of Arabian Ranches is located near the central part of Dubai and is considered the greenest area of the city. There are lawns and parks everywhere, and there are three lakes: Al Reem Lake, Alma Lake and Palmera Lake.
Sidra Villas
Developer: Emaar Properties
The elite residential complex Sidra Villas is being constructed in the prestigious area of Dubai Hills Estate. Here you can buy a two-storey house with three, four or five bedrooms ranging from 288 to 510 square metres. The property is sold with finishing and is equipped with all the necessary household appliances. The houses have rooms with private bathrooms for a nanny and staff, and there is a covered garage for two cars on the ground floor. The prices for villas here start at $1,007,488.
The complex has zones for recreation and walks with landscape gardening. The internal infrastructure includes a swimming pool, a gym, playgrounds and sports grounds, a park, walking paths, a tennis court, as well as shops, a restaurant, a cinema, a shopping centre, and a golf course. A 7-minute drive from the complex will get you to the famous Dubai Hills Golf Club, a 15-minute drive will get you to the beaches, as well as Wild Wadi and Aquaventure water parks.
Palm Villas
Developer: Ellington Properties
The Palm Villas residential complex is built on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. It offers five-bedroom villas with the area up to 600 square metres. Houses are sold with finishing, each of them has terraces, balconies, and swimming pools. Prices for the properties start at $4,356,112. The project won the International Architects award for the architecture and design of the houses.
The complex has pools for adults and children, playgrounds and sports grounds, a fitness centre and gym, a private beach, a garden, and parking. The Mall of the Emirates is a 12-minute drive from the complex, while Marina Mall and Dubai Mall are 20 minutes away.
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In a Nutshell
The main advantage of detached housing is privacy and safety. Villa complexes are usually inaccessible to strangers and are well-guarded which is particularly important for buyers with families. The peculiarity of the Dubai projects is that low-rise districts (with townhouses and mansions) are not necessarily in the suburbs. Many of these complexes are built in the city’s central districts which means the inhabitants can utilise not only the internal infrastructure, but that of the whole city.
Cover photo: Palm Villas
