A rendering of the Bulgari Lighthouse development. Photo: Meraas
A rendering of the Bulgari Lighthouse development. Photo: Meraas
A rendering of the Bulgari Lighthouse development. Photo: Meraas
A rendering of the Bulgari Lighthouse development. Photo: Meraas

Dubai apartment sells for record $112 million as property market surges


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

A record has been set for the most expensive apartment sale in Dubai as the property market continues to ride the momentum from last year.

The sale, worth Dh410 million ($112 million), was for a penthouse at Bulgari Lighthouse development at Jumeirah Bay.

The property is an off-plan purchase for a nine-bedroom home with five parking spaces, Dubai Land Department data show.

Set across 38,970 square feet, the price means it sold at Dh10,521 per square foot, with the deal registered on February 1.

Bulgari Lighthouse is a 27-storey residence overlooking the sea, and will have 31 penthouses, plus the three-level sky villa.

The development, by Meraas, has been designed by renowned architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, and the building “embodies Italian contemporary aesthetics while taking inspiration from the natural world and the beautiful surrounding landscape”, according to the project's website.

Property prices across Dubai rocketed last year, particularly in the prime sector, as the market and wider economy bounced back from the coronavirus-induced slowdown.

A record for ultra-luxury property deals was set, with 219 sales of homes valued at $10 million and above.

Dubai’s prime residential market registered transactions worth Dh30.7 billion ($8.35 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting a volume growth of about 40 per cent from the third quarter, a report by Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty found.

The average price of property in prime areas was Dh6.9 million, with 9,836 units sold, it said.

As well as records for the total number of transactions, records were also set for the most expensive property sale and highest rental deal during 2022.

Record transaction numbers have continued into 2023, with 9,879 sales transactions worth more than Dh28 billion recorded in January.

That is a more than 128 per cent year-on-year increase in volume after 5,739 transactions were completed in January 2022.

“In terms of value, the transactions for existing properties witnessed an increase of around 42 per cent year on year, reaching over Dh16 billion, compared to Dh11.4 billion in January 2022, recording highest volume and value for the month for in a decade,” Property Finder said.

“Off-plan transactions witnessed remarkable performance, with a 90 per cent year-on-year increase, recording over 5,000 transactions, compared to 3,086 in January 2022, as well as an increase of 130 per cent in value worth more than Dh12.1 billion, as opposed to Dh5.3 billion during the same time last year.

“This was recorded as the highest volume and value for off-plan transactions for the month of January over the last decade.”

Last month, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed described the emirate's property market performance as “exceptional” and said it would help achieve its vision to be “one of the world’s top three cities”.

“The results also support the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 … to double the size of Dubai's economy by 2033,” he said. “The sector is a pillar of Dubai's strategy for sustainable development and a vital driver of its 2040 Urban Master Plan.”

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My Dubai Rent: Mother's 'crazily good deal' for one-bedroom apartment on city outskirts

The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Updated: February 03, 2023, 7:48 AM`