Ultra-luxury real estate developer Omniyat is adding another dimension to its master plan for Dubai’s fast-evolving Burj Khalifa District with an urban beach club.
The company behind some of the area’s most identifiable towers has acquired Marasi Bay Island, a reclamation project it will transform into a vibrant lifestyle destination within a destination.
The first beach club in Burj Khalifa District will be the setting for curated waterfront experiences - and the island project will complement Omniyat’s emerging “ultra-luxury ecosystem” for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
The latest move extends the firm’s ambitious vision for Marasi Bay, a dynamic waterfront address that blends high-end living, premium workspaces, five-star hospitality, leisure, and wellness experiences.
The location is seamlessly connected to Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, DIFC, Dubai Design District (D3), and Dubai International Airport.
Marasi Bay Island will be complemented by additional resort-style amenities along the south side of Marasi Bay, including private parks, a marina yacht club, and a floating multi-purpose pavilion.
Omniyat’s continuing vision is to redefine waterfront living and connect urban living to the sea. As the operator of Marasi Bay Marina, the company offers berths for superyachts, as well as an exclusive yacht club and a tender boat service.
Jetty lounges will be available for boat owners and guests of The Lana Hotel, alongside the Signature Pavilion, a 10,000-sq-ft retail and events space situated over the water.
Meanwhile, the south waterfront promenade will combine public and resident-only facilities, including a padel court, a children’s play area, a running track, and an art trail.
Sunset Park will open for the exclusive use of Omniyat residents. Described by the developer as the “beating heart” of Marasi Bay’s green spaces and a place for wellness, leisure, and community, the 30,000 sq ft private floating island will link to the waterfront promenade.
It will feature picnic lawns, private dining spaces with a chef’s kitchen and barbecue, flexible indoor areas for work and events, and specialised spaces such as sensory and meditation gardens, a yoga terrace, and a dedicated dog park, alongside viewing platforms and event lawns. Residents will be able to use a private jetty drop-off.
“In a reimagined approach to urban living, we are reshaping Marasi Bay into Dubai’s definitive ultra-luxury waterfront destination,” says Mahdi Amjad, founder and executive chairman of Omniyat.
“Marasi Bay Island is another jewel in its crown, complementing this luxurious ecosystem with exceptional waterfront experiences. Alongside the island, the newly unveiled amenities on the south side of the bay, further enrich the lifestyle offering for Omniyat residents and guests.”
Within this “curated ecosystem” lies a residential portfolio that complements its masterplan for “elevating waterfront living.
Rising 180m above Marasi Bay, Vela Viento, Dorchester Collection, Dubai - inaugurated in the first quarter of 2024 - represents “architectural excellence” courtesy of visionary design by globally renowned architects Foster + Partners.
Sister property to Vela, Vela Viento houses 95 exceptional residences where floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, and the waterfront below.
Each home features expansive terraces that Omniyat says “blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living” while select units offer terrace pools, double-height spaces, and suspended dining rooms that give an impression of floating above the cityscape.
Vela Viento is something of a beacon for Omniyat with its sell-out success motivating much of the creative development around it. It has also set the standard for what has been following.
With interiors by French design duo Gilles & Boissier, the building’s elegant, fully furnished homes offer exclusivity via private lift lobbies. The Sky Amenities Deck is positioned at more than 100m and features an infinity pool, double-height gym, yoga studio, and lounges; ground-level amenities include indoor pools, a spa, meeting spaces, and direct promenade access to The Lana Hotel and Marasi Bay.
With Dorchester Collection’s renowned management in place, Omniyat says residents enjoy “world-class hospitality that blends home ownership with legendary hotel service”, including the region’s first Dior Spa.
Also designed by Foster + Partners, The Lana is Dorchester Collection’s first hotel in the Middle East - and the sale of The Lana Residences penthouse set new records as the most expensive property deal in the Burj Khalifa District, as of May 2024.
Enara by Omniyat is also set to build on that legacy.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the standalone ultra-premium commercial building will cater to the global business elite by offering ultra-luxury office spaces with direct access to a vibrant promenade. There owners will enjoy access to outdoor wellness facilities for jogging, cycling and walking, complemented by an array of distinctive fine-dining concepts from world-renowned chefs.
Enara by Omniyat will also be is seamlessly connected via the promenade and a jetty service to Vela, Vela Viento and The Lana hotel and residences.
Marasi Bay is shaping up to be a hub of elevated lifestyle experiences orchestrated by the world’s finest brands, artists and innovators, according to Omniyat, adding an “exciting new dimension” to Dubai’s future.
"Designed to be an exclusive ecosystem for global citizens, Marasi Bay is transforming a former commercial district into a highly desirable, vibrant and extraordinary UNHW community,” Mr Amjad concludes.
"Commanding the most coveted and strategic position in the prestigious Burj Khalifa District, Marasi Bay is the ultimate celebration of waterfront living, powered by Dubai’s relentless momentum, and Omniyat’s commitment to redefining luxury.”
This page was produced by The National in partnership with Omniyat.
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Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
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Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
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US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
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Key facilities
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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