There is no doubt that the UAE is home to some spectacular properties. From penthouse apartments to plush villas with sprawling gardens and incredible pools, it’s a real estate haven.
Each week, The National showcases some of the finest homes on offer in its Property of the Week. Here, we take a closer look at a Garden Home villa on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.
The key details
This three-bedroom villa is located on Palm Jumeirah's Frond M and has a built-up area of 6,000 square feet. It has undergone an extensive renovation and has been extended to the full plot capacity.
It has a gym, sunken fire pit in the garden, Marbella-style swimming pool, direct access to the beach and views of Atlantis, The Palm. The property is on the market for Dh35 million with LuxuryProperty.com.
What's the story?
Renovations can mean upheaval, disruption, dust and dirt. It's like taking a step backwards in order to take two steps forward.
There are tales around the world of home owners moving into caravans and living on the drive way for months while their pride and joy is turned back into the shell that it once was before gradually being restored beyond its former glory.
It can be a long road, but one that is so worth traversing, as proven by this instance of renovation success where the outcome is a sparkling home regarded as one of the finest of its type on the Palm.
It impresses both inside and out, from its clean interior with Italian marble and state-of-the-art kitchen to its feature furnishings such as the pool table and piano.
The open-plan living area leads straight on to an exemplary outdoor area via bi-folding doors offering the ideal Dubai lifestyle mix of entertaining, comfort and fun and games by the sea.
Also the red Ferrari parked in front is very much the cherry on top of the cake.
What the broker says ...
How do Garden Homes differ from the other villa types on Palm Jumeirah?
Garden Homes are the smaller of the villa types on Palm Jumeirah, ranging from three to five bedrooms, but make no mistake, they are still incredibly spacious. The built-up area for these homes is between 5,000 and 5,400 square feet, and the plots range from 6,000 to 7,000 square feet. These are highly desirable family homes, and tend to offer a homelier ambiance than what you might find with a Signature Villa.
How much do the renovations add to the price? How much did this one cost to upgrade?
Renovations add a multitude of value, specifically when done to a high standard, they can easily double or triple the value of a home. In today's market, most buyers are looking for fully upgraded turnkey homes where all they need to do is move in and start enjoying their new lives right away.
Is the Ferrari going with the seller – and the rest of the furniture?
The furniture is staying, as the house is sold fully furnished. All you need to bring is your suitcase! The Ferrari can also be thrown into the mix provided the buyer is willing to pay full price for it.
Where is the best value found – Palm Jumeirah or the newer villa communities such as MBR District One and Dubai Hills?
All fronds are now working in the same way. Some people prefer the newer custom fronds, however on the other hand some clients prefer a fully developed frond. The Palm will always hold more value and will be more desirable than any other area, due to the connotations of what owning a Palm Jumeriah villa means and the lifestyle that comes with it. The most expensive homes of this year were mostly on the Palm, with a small handful in other luxury areas such as Jumeirah Bay Island and Dubai Hills Estate.
What’s the single best feature of this house?
The phenomenal garden combined with the living space, where you can enjoy the most incredible sea views. This home provides a true beachfront family lifestyle on Palm Jumeirah. Really, all of the finishes of the home are phenomenal, which really becomes noticeable as you walk through it.
- Liam Ure, senior private client advisor, LuxuryProperty.com
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
The Baghdad Clock
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The years Ramadan fell in May
