Think Dubai Only Caters For City Slickers
Most people travel to Dubai for the luxury shopping malls, to see its skyscraper landmarks, the Burj Al Arab Hotel and Emirates Towers, for business, or to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the Arabian souks on Dubai Creek.
If you are in Dubai for reasons of work, a plush city centre flat is probably top of your list, like this stunning 2-bedroom penthouse in the Marina, for example.
But in fact, and especially if you are planning to stay long term, that is far from your only option.
Take Emirates Hills, for example, home to the first freehold properties to have been sold in or around the city, and named after Beverley Hills, in LA.
It’s certainly exclusive, and you won’t find many natives there – most of the properties are owned by wealthy Western Europeans, Indians or Iranians, who originally purchased plots of land and turned them into super-homes – like this 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom property with its own pool, situated conveniently next to the golf course.
Of course, if you can’t find the right surrounding for your dream home, you can always build them – which is what happened when the Dubai government decided to build an artificial island, the Palm Jumeirah, using a land reclamation company, Nakheel.
Palm Jumeirah is one of three artificial islands built, which together have extended the length of Dubai’s shoreline by a staggering 520 kilometres.
Besides the hotels and beach resorts, you will also find properties designed in just about every style you can think of, from this homely 4-bed apartment, to this design masterpiece, with its own private gym – truly the last word in opulence.
Finally, if you are looking for a bit of rural chic, how about trying The Meadows? Set amongst lakes and parks, villas are aimed at families and The Meadows even has its own town centre. You could do a lot worse than this 5-bedroom villa.
Like most things in Dubai, these out-of-town developments are a work in progress. What it lacks in history and culture, it more than makes up for in luxury high specs – and golf courses!
