From Dubai’s Marasi water villas and the Seahorses off the emirate’s coast, to a floating city in the Maldives and the world’s first community of SeaPods in Panama, homes on water are rapidly becoming a reality. The Dutch are largely credited as being the pioneers of this format, and it was an architect from the European nation, Koen Olthuis, who designed the latest crop of pods for Panama’s Ocean Builders.
While one of the Panamanian pods recently experienced a pump malfunction, causing it to tilt, the company was quick to rectify the issue and clarify that it was the lack of a back-up system on the prototype SeaPod that sparked the incident. Not only was nobody injured, but a statement from Ocean Builders read that nobody even got their feet wet.
Whether or not the SeaPods are still on track for December is yet to be seen, but here are eight other floating homes that are cruising along nicely.
Floating Private Island Amillarah the World, Dubai
Designed by Waterstudio, Olthuis's architectural firm, this floating construction is located on the World Islands off the coast of Dubai. According to the Waterstudio website, the firm says: “The island is covered with sand, which gives a beach feeling. It also has a big pool and mooring spot for a yacht. The exterior staircase connects the different terraces of the building, and the open facade of the ground connects the interior and exterior.”
Watervilla, Amsterdam
Another project by Olthuis, the USP of this villa is its pop-up bedroom. The bed is designed to sink into the ground, which then turns the bedroom into a study. The pop-up system demonstrates the flexibility that floating homes can incorporate.
Floating villas, Urk
One-off water properties aside, developers are also looking at creating floating communities. The Dutch municipality of Urk is home to seven large floating villas by ABC Arkenbouw. The glass-fronted, energy-efficient homes are insulated and equipped with solar panels.
Floating homes, the UK
From marine specialists Aquavista come two sets of floating lodges in the UK, one at the Sawley Waterside and Marina in Nottinghamshire and the other at the Priory Waterside and Marina in Bedford. Offering open-plan living areas and wraparound terraces, the two-bedroom homes are located within a gated community and fitted out by specialist UK lodge builders Prestige Homeseeker.
Marina Uno Floating Resort, Italy
Located on the Lignano Sabbiaodoro Riviera, the Marina Uno Resort launched its floating homes project in 2018. The fully equipped two-bedroom homes are located on the part of the property where the Tagliamento river meets the sea.
Floating home, Stockholm
Located in the Pampas Marina close to the Swedish capital's centre, this floating home was built by AquaVilla in 2006. Unusually for a home in constant contact with water, it is made of aluminium and wood panelling, which are nevertheless restricted to the exterior, and also comes with a hot tub.
Lausitz Geierswalder Resort, Germany
Located in the Elsterheide municipality at the heart of the Lusatian Lake District, this resort offers a collection of module house arks that rest on top of an “unsinkable” pontoon. Each 97-square-metre home spans two decks, with the lower featuring a dining area, kitchen and bathroom, while the upper deck has sleeping quarters and a furnished sun area.
Float House IV, Oregon
Floating on the Willamette River, this home is dominated by windows, all the better to capture 360-degree views of Portland's rolling waters. The owners need not fear about an invasion of privacy though, as design firms Integrate Architecture and Even Construction have fitted in peekaboo fencing as well as glass block in lieu of clear sheets.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the SeaPods making waves in Panama
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
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
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
