The Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Dubai are inspired by the facade of the fashion house's headquarters in Paris. Photo: Taraf
The Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Dubai are inspired by the facade of the fashion house's headquarters in Paris. Photo: Taraf
The Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Dubai are inspired by the facade of the fashion house's headquarters in Paris. Photo: Taraf
The Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Dubai are inspired by the facade of the fashion house's headquarters in Paris. Photo: Taraf

First look at Karl Lagerfeld villas in Dubai, where 18th-century Paris meets high fashion


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The first images of a branded luxury villa development in Dubai which will carry the name of late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld have been revealed.

Showcasing a blend of traditional and modern architecture, combined with the late German designer’s instantly recognisable design aesthetic, the Karl Lagerfield villas are inspired by 18th century Paris.

Announced in October last year, the plan to build 51 luxury homes is a partnership between the luxury fashion house and Dubai developer Taraf.

Located within a gated community in the Meydan area, the entire community will be Karl Lagerfeld-branded, with the centre strip designed to represent a runway to link a community club with landscaped gardens and a lagoon.

The project will be Karl Lagerfeld's third branded residential property development in the world and the first in the Middle East. The fashion house launched luxury residences in Marbella, Spain, in 2021, and last year announced a hotel tower with branded residences in Malaysia.

The Dubai villas are set to be completed in the second quarter of 2027.

“I’m happy to open the next chapter of Karl’s future legacy,” Pierpaolo Righi, chief executive of Karl Lagerfeld, told The National. “It’s an exciting moment for us because Dubai held a very special place in Karl’s heart for one very simple reason: he was very much driven by the mantra of 'embrace the present and invent the future'.

“And I think there is no better visualisation of what that means than what Dubai has done over the last few decades. We are taking Karl’s legacy into the future, and I think there is no better place than Dubai to do so.”

A rendering of the interior of a Karl Lagerfeld-branded villa in Dubai. Photo: Taraf
A rendering of the interior of a Karl Lagerfeld-branded villa in Dubai. Photo: Taraf

Inspired by Lagerfeld’s fascination with 18th-century Parisian architecture, the project mirrors the elegance and demure of this period. The design of the five, six and seven-bedroom villas takes inspiration from the facade of the Karl Lagerfeld headquarters in Paris, one of the late designer's favourite buildings.

The 51 properties will range from 721 square metres to 1,790 square metres in size, and owners will have the opportunity to personalise their homes by choosing between two design options for the facade: Soft Modern or Urban Modern.

Each property features a grand entrance reminiscent of the building's 18th-century charm, guiding residents towards the showpiece of the house: a spiralling staircase, which in itself is a grand piece of architecture. Each villa comes equipped with a pool and garden area, as well as a study, majlis, show kitchen, dining area and multiple bathrooms.

Residents will benefit from exclusive access to the Parisian-style community clubhouse, which features meeting rooms, a library, swimming pool, sauna, gym and luscious green gardens.

It was well known that the late designer and creative director of Chanel and Fendi had a strong fascination with architecture. His love for creativity and design spanned much further than just fashion, and it is this that the brand promises to focus on with these residences.

“It’s an invitation to become part of Karl Lagerfeld’s world, which meant so much more than just fashion.” added Righi. “It was about people, places, history, architecture, literature, music.”

More information is available at www.tarafholding.com

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now

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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

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• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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Dolittle

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One-and-a-half out of five stars

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Price: From Dh801,800
Jetour T1 specs

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Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

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Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600

Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

Du Football Champions

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Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

Updated: March 05, 2024, 3:01 PM`