As the UAE's growing millionaire population continues to fuel the property market, an increasing number of luxury and established brands – including fashion labels, watchmakers and even a football club – are putting their stamp on the market.
The number of dollar millionaires in the UAE stood at 130,500 at the end of December, ranking the Emirates as the 14th-largest wealth market globally, according to global real estate consultancy Knight Frank.
As demand grows, so does the market, and Italian luxury house Bvlgari announced this week it will be launching fashion houses with its own branded residence in the UAE. Bvlgari Resort & Mansions in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open in 2030.
Bvlgari to Brabus, The National rounds up brand and real estate partnerships in the UAE below.
Bvlgari Resort & Mansions in Abu Dhabi
Partner: Eagle Hills
Completion date: 2030
Situated on a private, horseshoe-shaped island, offering sunset views on one side and the city skyline on the other, this project will include 90 branded residences that will blend Bvlgari’s signature, high-end Italian style with Arabian flourishes. Additionally, the resort will feature 60 rooms and suites, as well as 30 beachside villas.
Framed as an addition to the Abu Dhabi Corniche, it will be accessible by a purpose-built bridge or by sea, offering an air of exclusivity while remaining close to all that the capital has to offer. It will also offer water sports and marine activities to ensure guests and residents can enjoy the sea in full.
To fit within Bvlgari’s upscale aesthetic, the project will be carried out by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, from the Milanese architectural firm ACPV Architects, with design that plays on the idea of glass and gold emerging metaphorically from the desert dunes.
Trump International Hotel and Tower
Developer: Dar Global
Completion date: Not announced
To be located on Sheikh Zayed Road at the entrance of Downtown Dubai, this $1 billion project is a partnership between The Trump Organisation and Saudi developer Dar Global.
Trump International Hotel and Tower will include a branded hotel, residential units and a clubhouse. Three to four-bedroom apartments will be sold for about Dh4 million to Dh5 million, while two penthouses will cost Dh75 million ($20.4 million) each, according to the developer.
The property is one of many coming projects in the Trump-Dar Global partnership, which includes Trump Golf Villas and Trump International Hotel in Muscat as well as Trump Tower in Jeddah.
Chelsea Residences
Developer: Damac Properties
Completion date: Not announced
With a focus on fitness and well-being, the famed Chelsea Football Club and Dubai developer Damac Properties have teamed up for a first-of-its-kind branded residence in the world. To be located in Maritime City in Dubai, the project will include 1,400 units with its beachfront location offering seafront views to all residents, who will also have access to Chelsea-branded amenities.
Chelsea Football Club's brand will be woven into the fabric of the project, Damac Properties said, “both in terms of high-end style, commitment to excellence and vision for the future.”
“With the club located in the heart of London, the collaboration will bring Chelsea to life in Dubai, supporting our continued growth on the global stage. We can’t wait to see Chelsea Residences take its place in the Dubai skyline,” said Jason Gannon, president of Chelsea Football Club.
Couture by Cavalli
Developer: Damac Properties
Completion date: 2027
Unveiled in 2022, Couture by Cavalli is a 14-storey building on the Dubai Canal featuring 70 units comprising three, four and five-bedroom duplex sky villas and six-bedroom duplex penthouses. Designed by Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, whose namesake designer died last year, the tower's interiors will be inspired by the Amazon jungle.
Each unit, starting at $6 million, will have its own infinity pool and terrace garden overlooking Dubai Canal, with views of the skyline and Burj Khalifa on one side, while units on the other side will offer views of Safa Park and Burj Al Arab. Penthouses will have access to private sky gardens and a party terrace with infinity pools, while podium-level amenities include a lagoon drop-off area, a gym and spa, a cigar lounge, club rooms, a floating juice bar and cabanas and lush tropical gardens.
Damac Properties bought out Roberto Cavalli in 2019 through his private investment vehicle.
Damac Bay by Cavalli
Developer: Damac Properties
Completion date: 2027
Another Cavalli-branded project by Damac Properties, this three-tower development is located in Dubai Harbour. Rising to 42 storeys, the towers will feature Cavalli-designed nautical interiors and offer one- to three-bedroom apartments as well as three- to five-bedroom duplexes with striking sea views.
The towers are linked at the top by a “sky garden” featuring infinity pools, restaurants and floating workstations. Apartments start at $1.3 million.
Safa One de Grisogono
Developer: Damac Properties
Completion date: 2026
Announced in 2022, this twin tower project was designed to replicate a necklace, and marked the first partnership between Damac Properties and Swiss jeweller de Grisogono. Situated on the edge of Safa Park, the architectural design is inspired by a necklace created by Fawaz Gruosi, the founder of de Grisogono.
Damac says the theme of the project is The Nature of Luxury, with lush garden terraces and hanging gardens, an artificial beach and swimming pool.
The higher Tower A will have an urban tropical island with cascading waterfalls, plentiful plants, as well as the sounds and sights of exotic birds.
One, two and three-bedroom apartments will be available on the luxury levels, while super luxury levels will feature two, three, four and five-bedroom apartments. Prices start at $1.2 million.
Safa Two de Grisogono
Developer: Damac Properties
Completion date: 2027
Four months after announcing its first property with de Grisogono, Damac Properties unveiled plans for another co-branded property, Safa Two de Grisogono. Located close to Safa One, the announcement of the 80-tower Safa Two came a month after Damac Properties announced it had acquired the ailing de Grisogono.
Founded in 1993, the Swiss jewellery brand filed for bankruptcy in 2020.
Like its predecessor, the architecture of Safa Two de Grisogono is inspired by a signature gem from founder Gruosi’s collection, a highly sought-after 45.39-carat natural ruby ring called Virgin Scarlet. A defining feature includes a “ruby heart” at the centre and a floating pool on the 60th floor.
Safa Two will have extensive green features across living units and public spaces, apart from other amenities such as a viewing deck and food and beverage outlets. It will also have a “Fog Forest” at the crown of the tower, featuring lush landscape and man-made fog.
Karl Lagerfeld Villas
Developer: Taraf
Completion date: 2027
Announced in 2023, this 51-home project is the result of a partnership between Dubai developer Taraf and the luxury fashion house founded by late German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Showcasing a blend of traditional and modern architecture, combined with Lagerfeld's instantly recognisable design aesthetic, the villas are inspired by 18th-century Paris, where the designer spent most of his life. Located within a gated community in the Meydan area in Dubai, the entire community will be Karl Lagerfeld-branded, with the centre strip designed to represent a runway linking a community club with landscaped gardens and a lagoon.
The 51 properties will range in size from 721 square metres to 1,790 square metres, and owners will have the opportunity to personalise their homes by choosing between two design options for the facade: Soft Modern or Urban Modern.
The project will be 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.
Bugatti Residences
Developer: Binghatti
Completion date: 2027
Unveiled in 2023 at a glittering ceremony, the world's first Bugatti-branded residential building will be located in Dubai's Business Bay.
The 46-storey tower takes a futuristic wobbly form and is shaped like a boomerang when viewed from above. The sleek curves reflect the designs of Bugatti sports cars.
Bugatti Residences will house 171 Riviera Mansions and 11 Sky Mansion Penthouses, each carrying design elements inspired by the French Riviera.
Amenities include a Riviera-inspired beach, pool, spa, fitness club and a chef's table. There will also be valet, chauffeur and concierge services, an exclusive members-only club, and two garage-to-penthouse car lifts.
Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences
Developer: Binghatti
Completion date: 2026
Dubai developer Binghatti first revealed plans for the Burj Binghatti, its partnership with American jeweller Jacob & Co, in 2022.
Planned as one of the tallest residential buildings in Dubai, developers said it would offer residents the chance to “live amid the clouds”.
Containing two and three-bedroom suites and penthouses, prices at launch started at $2.1 million. In keeping with its ultra-luxurious positioning, properties in the tower have names such as Billionaire Penthouse, while other apartment designs include the Fleur de Jardin Penthouse and the Astronomia Penthouse.
La Mer by Elie Saab
Developers: Arte Developments and Octa Properties
Completion date: 2028
Located on Ras Al Khaimah's Al Marjan Island, the property is made up of three beachfront towers connected at various levels with a dual lobby. Created in collaboration with Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab, a total of 355 residences will be on offer, each with Saab's signature style, along with pieces from his furniture collection.
The development will feature 10 residence categories from one-bedroom apartments to chalets and villas, plus nine penthouses. The family-friendly development will have a children’s club, outdoor play area and indoor pool, plus male and female spas, a co-working space, a gym and a grand pool and deck on level 18. On level one, Serenity Park offers landscaped gardens along with the Signature Lounge, while the Link Garden on levels two and three connects outdoor and indoor spaces.
Baccarat Residences
Developer: Shamal Holding
Completion date: 2027
Crystal maker Baccarat's first property in the UAE is in partnership with Shamal Holding. The 145-property tower's glass facade is inspired by the luxury brand's crystals and offers Burj Khalifa views.
Located in Downtown Dubai, two-to-four-bedroom furnished apartments will be available, alongside four penthouses and a five-bedroom palatial residence with a private gym, pool and drink cellar.
Residents will also have access to all of the adjoining Baccarat Hotel’s amenities such as the Grand Salon and signature bar. The upcoming hotel will be home to fine dining restaurants, wellness spaces and a spa and pool.
Bulgari Lighthouse
Developer: Meraas
Completion date: 2027
A partnership between the Italian jeweller and Dubai property developer Meraas, the luxury tower in Jumeira Bay is expected to combine the finest architecture and design. Designed by ACPV Architects, the 27-storey tower will comprise 31 penthouses topped with a three-level Sky Villa.
The coastal positioning of the tower will allow for uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline, putting it at one of the most sought-after locations in the city. Residents will also benefit from access to the facilities of the neighbouring Bulgari Resort Dubai.
Franck Muller Aeternitas
Developer: London Gate
Completion date: Not announced
Named after the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer, the Franck Muller Aeternitas tower in Dubai Marina will be one of the city's tallest once completed. It will also be home to the world's tallest branded residential clock tower.
Unveiled last year, the 450-metre tall building will comprise 649 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as duplexes called Sky Mansions and Sky Villas, spread over 106 floors.
The entry point for a one-bed starts at Dh1.6 million with luxury amenities for residents, including a Zen garden, private cinema, cigar lounge, library, spa, yoga room and 24/7 concierge services.
Each apartment purchased comes with the promise of a limited edition Franck Muller watch, but it won't be a Franck Muller Aeternitas watch, which are valued at $2.5 million.
Brabus Island
Developer: Reportage Group
Completion date: 2029
German automotive brand Brabus, known for their high-end modifications, has partnered with Reportage Group to launch a four-tower development. Called Barabus Island, the project on Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi will feature two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as four-bedroom duplexes.
Premium amenities will include several swimming pools for adults and children, fully-equipped gyms, a health club, a spa with sauna and steam rooms. There’s also a private padel court, outdoor jacuzzi, kids’ play areas, barbecue zones and social spaces for gatherings. Each apartment will feature smart home automation and dedicated concierge services.
Apartments start at $762,000.
