Dubai's luxury mansions have garnered immense popularity among buyers, rivalling the demand for flats and penthouses in skyscrapers. Foreign investors and residents alike are captivated by the allure of villa living in the vibrant city. These prestigious properties offer an array of advantages, allowing individuals to relocate to the UAE with their families and housekeeping staff, while enjoying the exclusivity and amenities of gated communities. Read on to explore the lavish interiors, price ranges, and prime locations of Dubai's best mansions.
How Much Do Villas in Dubai Cost?
Dubai's real estate market continues to witness a surge in house prices, with a starting point of $400,000. Defining an upper limit proves challenging, but the current record stands at an astounding $163,000,000 for the most expensive villa. Developers now offer ultra-luxury houses priced up to $90,000,000, showcasing grandeur and opulence on a massive scale, spanning over 4,000 square metres of floor area.
New buildings in the UAE
Key Considerations for Choosing a House in Dubai
Dubai's urban landscape seamlessly integrates vibrant business centres and towering skyscrapers with serene parks, lush golf courses, and elegant villas. The city's well-planned real estate development is characterised by gated communities that create miniature cities within the larger metropolis. These exclusive enclaves offer their own distinct infrastructure, atmosphere, and pace of life, harmoniously coexisting alongside the bustling cityscape.
Dubai's thoughtfully designed communities prioritise the well-being of their residents, offering a secure and private living environment with ample space for leisurely strolls. This strategic planning allows for convenient proximity to major highways, shopping centres, and prominent landmarks. Remarkably, developers have skillfully crafted a countryside ambiance, while ensuring that reaching iconic destinations such as Burj Khalifa or Dubai Marina from your villa takes no more than 20 minutes.
Photo: Eslam Tawakol (Unsplash)
Dubai's gated communities take pride in the excellent transport accessibility and safety offered. However, their decision-making process also involves closely evaluating other distinguishing features that set each complex apart from one another.
Community Infrastructure
Dubai's gated communities strive to offer residents an exceptional range of amenities within easy walking distance. These exclusive enclaves boast an array of facilities, including spas, gyms, golf courses, parks, gardens, restaurants, and entertainment centres. For those who require a dedicated workspace, conference rooms and individual offices provide a comfortable environment. Family-friendly features abound, with children's clubs and playgrounds available in most communities. While not all communities are welcome pets, there are those that are pet-friendly.
Inside the House
In the realm of luxury houses, the inclusion of functional rooms and entertainment facilities directly impacts the overall cost. Pricing is typically determined by the number of bedrooms, with elite houses boasting a minimum of four. Elevating the status of a villa are additional features such as private spas, well-equipped gyms, inviting swimming pools, luxurious hot tubs, expansive walk-in closets, and spacious garages.
When evaluating properties, it is essential to take into account the availability and positioning of rooms designated for household staff. This factor holds particular significance for individuals who hold a golden visa, which grants them the privilege of relocating their household staff to the UAE. Read more about the Golden Visa here.
Unique and extraordinary elements such as a private bowling alley or a dedicated cinema, the price escalates significantly.
The Ritz Carlton Residences, Dubai Creekside (Housearch)
Finishing and Furniture
In Dubai, luxury housing is typically delivered to buyers in a ready-to-move-in condition, meticulously prepared down to the finest details. From the onset of the construction process, buyers are acquainted with the materials selected for bathroom finishes and the reputable companies tasked with making the sofas for the living room. With a plethora of options available, luxury houses offer the opportunity to select personalised decorations and furnishings, ensuring a truly tailored living experience.
When constructing luxury villas, traditional materials such as marble, mosaics, and luxurious woods have long been favoured for their timeless elegance. Additionally, the opulence of gold accents adds a touch of grandeur to these prestigious residences. However, in recent years, there has been a growing preference for hypoallergenic and eco-friendly materials, driven by a desire to promote the well-being and health of the property owner.
Renowned global brand designers are often sought after to create exceptional mansions. The fusion of their expertise and artistic vision can result in properties that command staggering prices, reaching into the realm of tens of millions of dollars.
View from the Window
In Dubai, numerous developers provide buyers with a view guarantee for their mansions, ensuring that breathtaking vistas of the canal or the majestic Persian Gulf will remain unobstructed by future constructions. Remarkably, even in the central areas of the city, captivating views can be enjoyed, with some mansions overlooking lush green golf courses, a prominent feature found abundantly throughout Dubai.
In certain cases, buyers have the unique opportunity to tailor their views to their preferences. Developers offer the option to plant meticulously designed gardens in front of mansions situated along the coast or on captivating islands, at the request of the discerning buyer.
Where You Can Buy a Villa in Dubai
Dubai's real estate landscape continues to witness the emergence of new communities, each offering its own array of luxury housing options, including exquisite villas. Amidst this expansion, there are certain areas in the city that have become synonymous with the allure of owning a private residence, providing residents with a truly exceptional living experience, including:
- Palm Jumeirah
- Arabian Ranches
- Jumeirah Golf Estate
- Al Barari
- Jumeirah
- Emirates Hills
The Most Expensive Mansions in Dubai
The year 2022 witnessed an unprecedented surge in the sales of high-end houses in Dubai, with several multi-million villas finding their owners. Among the top performers, the top three positions were secured by villas situated on the iconic fronds of Palm Jumeirah.
A Mansion with a Seven-Star Spa
In the spring of 2022, the Belleview Real Estate agency announced the sale of a snow-white villa with an area of 3000 sq. m and 10 bedrooms. The deal for 280,000,000 AED ($76,000,000) was brokered by the Irish agent Conor McKay. A 70-metre beach complements the house. Inside, there is a seven-star spa, hammam, several hot tubs, and a hair salon. The name of the buyer of the mansion was not disclosed, but the media believe that businessman Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest people in India, is behind the purchase.
Photo: Belleview Real Estate
A Villa with a Bowling Alley
Casa Del Sole, developed by Alpago Properties, shatters Conor McKay's previous record with an astounding deal worth 302,000,000 AED ($82,200,000). This extraordinary four-level villa is situated on Frond G of the renowned Palm Jumeirah. Boasting eight exquisite bedrooms, the villa offers an array of luxurious amenities, including a spa with a hammam, a fully-equipped gym, a private cinema, and even a bowling alley.
Villa Casa del Sole. Visualization: Alpago Properties
The Most Expensive Villa of 2022
Little information is available about the most expensive villa sold in Dubai in 2022 for a staggering 598,000,000 AED ($163,000,000). It is believed that this magnificent mansion is positioned on the prestigious tip of the palm frond, enjoying breathtaking beachfront views from three sides. According to Bloomberg, the notable buyer behind this remarkable acquisition is likely Mukesh Ambani, who may have purchased the villa for both his son and himself, creating a luxurious and close-knit living arrangement.
Luxury Mansions for Sale in Dubai Today
Although the Dubai real estate market is experiencing rapid growth, the availability of mansions in prestigious areas remains limited. Knight Frank reports that a mere eight new villas are planned for construction in premium locations such as Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, and Jumeirah Bay between 2023 and 2025. Given the high demand for luxury properties, analysts anticipate that new sales records will be set in the coming years.
Exclusive properties like Casa Del Sole are often not publicly listed for sale. However, there are several other remarkable mansions in Dubai currently available for purchase at the time of this article's publication.
Gems Estates от Damac (Housearch)
A cluster of luxurious villas is currently being constructed in the Damac Hills community, with the houses positioned around the prestigious Trump International Golf Club. This expansive community offers a variety of amenities including schools, supermarkets, parks, gyms, an artificial wave pool, and stables. The Gems Estate, a collaborative project with the Roberto Cavalli studio and the de GRISOGONO jewellery firm, showcases opulent golden accents and a design reminiscent of a stunning piece of jewellery. With an area of 2,000 sq. m, the mansion will feature seven bedrooms, a gym, a spa, a billiard room, a cinema, and dedicated staff quarters. The completion of this development is expected by the end of 2024, and house prices start at $3,000,000.
The Ritz Carlton Residences (Housearch)
A prestigious complex of villas, affiliated with a renowned hotel brand, is set to be situated in the Al Jaddaf area along the picturesque Dubai Creek, in close proximity to the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary featuring beautiful mangroves. The construction is projected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026.
The project is centred around the theme of "wellness," emphasising the use of natural and healthy materials for the finishing and furniture. Each of the 12 villas features eight bedrooms and a private swimming pool in the yard. With a generous floor area of 4,300 sq. m, the house also includes a charming garden, a spa with a massage room and sauna, a cinema, a billiard room, a gym, a wine cellar, a spacious garage with a car wash, and a dedicated section for household staff. Prices for these luxurious villas start at $46,000,000.
Ellington Villa Collection La Mer (Housearch)
Currently under construction in the prestigious Jumeirah area, near the beautiful La Mer beach, is a magnificent mansion spanning 3,000 sq. m. The completion of this luxurious residence is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. The house offers seven bedrooms, a spacious garage, a serene spa with a massage room, a delightful barbecue area, two stunning swimming pools, a well-equipped gym, a private cinema, a rooftop terrace, and an elegant living room with a grand piano. Additionally, there will be separate quarters for the dedicated staff. The design of the mansion prioritises space, boasting high ceilings and panoramic windows that invite an abundance of natural light. The current price for this extraordinary property is set at $90,000,000.
In a Nutshell
The demand for villas in Dubai continues to remain strong, while the supply in the elite segment remains limited and is expected to remain so in the near future. Renting out a villa in Dubai can yield profitability comparable to that of a flat. These houses are typically built within gated communities, offering buyers access to the comprehensive infrastructure of the community. The prices of houses in Dubai vary depending on factors such as location, floor area, and amenities. It is not uncommon for developers to collaborate with popular designer and jewellery brands to create exclusive and exceptional mansions.
Visualization on the cover: Gems Estate (Housearch)