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Other scale of Dubai

01.11.2006
Author: Gennady PANTELEEV
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Real Estate Dubai is most often associated with concrete and glass huge modern towers - the hotel Burj Al Arab, which became a symbol of the emirate, with business centers on the bay, with skyscrapers district Dubai Marina, with a building under construction Burj Dubai, which promises to be the highest in the world . Other Association - branch of "palm" islands lapped by the waters of the Gulf. However, few people remember about the low-rise buildings - villas and townhouses, which are built up whole areas of Dubai.
Traditional Arab houses are very different from European dwellings – the desert climate has left its mark on both architecture and building materials. Courtyards, wind towers that once served as air conditioners, walls with tiny windows – all this is viewed with pleasure by tourists coming to Dubai, walking around the old city. However, modern private houses being built in new areas of Dubai only vaguely resemble their ancient predecessors.
The current Dubai villas have all the necessary engineering systems, their layout is close to European buildings. Even if the creators of the project use a traditional style, then in essence the house fully meets all the requirements of the time.

Growing up with Dubailand
The main areas of low-rise buildings are located deep in the emirate, at some distance from the coastline. Let's start with the complex, which is eloquently called The Villa, is part of the global Dubiland project, which in the near future will become the largest amusement park in the world. The villas included in the complex will be built in a Mediterranean style, so that the residents of the complex will be able to feel like they are in Spain, without actually leaving Dubai.
Sales at The Villa are underway at the off-plan stage, and many experts believe that this is one of the most profitable investment offers for those who are willing to invest millions of dollars in real estate. It is expected that, as the Dubiland project develops, real estate prices in The Villa will grow at a pace significantly ahead of the average in Dubai. To date, the cost of five–bedroom villas with an area of 575 sq. m. is about $1.4 million - not cheap, but not expensive, about the same as the villas on The Palm Jumeirah in 2003, whose value then increased several times.
Another low-rise project located near Dubiland is called Arabian Ranches. Its developer is Emaar, the second largest and most reputable company in Dubai. As the name implies, the architecture of this complex uses the features of Arabic architecture in its modern sense. Accommodation in Arabian Ranches will be especially interesting for those who are passionate about golf or horse racing. Right in the very center of the complex there is an upscale 18-hole golf course, and nearby there is an equestrian club and a polo field. One of the important factors for foreign buyers is the availability of an English–speaking school.
Arabian Ranches is divided into 9 relatively small blocks, each of which is built up with buildings of a certain type. These are semi-detached townhouses, medium-sized villas, and luxurious, spacious mansions. The price range is very wide – from $480,000 for a two-bedroom townhouse to $1.41 million for a five-bedroom Savannah villa. Unlike most other areas of Dubai, real estate in Arabian Ranches can be purchased at a very high readiness stage.

On the shores of lakes
Another large-scale low-rise building site is located a short distance from the coast of Jumeirah. Nakheel and Emaar companies have created and are creating about a dozen residential complexes built up mainly with villas and townhouses. A distinctive feature of most of them are artificial lakes, which give the landscape a lively, natural look and give residents the opportunity to forget that they are in the territory conquered by man from the desert.
The area of the prestigious Jumeirah Islands complex is no less than 300 hectares, it consists of 46 blocks. According to its concept, it is like a continuation of the Jumeirah Lake Towers skyscraper district, but on a completely different scale. Two- and three-storey houses are built on the banks of man-made canals, among picturesque waterfalls and fountains. Buyers are offered a choice of four architectural building themes and three types of floor plans for house designs. However, the project is completed and the sales from the developer are over. Secondary market prices range from $1.16-1.7 million.
The Jumeirah Village residential complex, although formally called a village, is in fact a very respectable area, built up mainly with one- and two-bedroom townhouses and two-bedroom villas. In addition, several apartment buildings will be built in the complex, which, however, will not be much out of line with the general concept of low-rise buildings. Prices for the most modest townhouses start at $300,000, while villas cost about $600,000 – perhaps one of the most affordable offers of detached houses in a prestigious area of Dubai today. The area should be fully completed in 2008.
However, the most prestigious and expensive villa complex in the Jumeirah area is Emirates Hills from Emaar, named so, apparently, by analogy with the famous California Beverly Hills. The developer managed to create a truly elite corner of luxury, where the value of real estate is measured in several million dollars. The main highlight of the complex is the 18–hole golf course, which allows you to perceive Emirates Hills as the most prestigious golf club in the Middle East. Prices speak eloquently about the quality of the complex – on the secondary market, already built houses of the first stage are sold for at least $ 3 million, and maximum prices reach $ 9 million – this is significantly more than on the "branches" of The Palm Jumeirah.
Close to Emirates Hills is The Meadows area, built up with villas with a number of bedrooms from 3 to 7, whose architecture is a cross between Mediterranean and Arab traditions. This area is not so luxurious and is designed more for high-income family buyers who are willing to pay from $1.1 to 1.9 million for a house. It is a quiet, peaceful area with a well-developed infrastructure.

On palm branches
Villas located on the "branches" of the artificial island of The Palm Jumeirah are often cited as a classic example of successful investments in Dubai real estate. They were the first to go on sale back in 2003 and were sold within a very short time. Today they appear on sale only on the secondary market. If the initial price for Signature villas was a little more than $ 1.2 million, today they are being resold for at least $ 2.1 million, and the maximum price exceeds $ 5 million. It is not difficult to calculate that the most successful investors have earned over 300% profit in just over three years!
Prices for private houses on the second "palm" island, The Palm Jebel Ali, the construction of which is still far from completion, are more affordable. Two-bedroom townhouses with an area of 159 square meters can be purchased for as little as $659,000, much more spacious Garden Home cottages are sold at prices of about $1 million, and the cost of Signature villas is about $2 million. A special type of property that is being created only on The Palm Jebel Ali is the Water Home villas built right on the water. The cost is $880,000 for a four–bedroom villa with an area of 350 sq. m
. The construction of the third artificial island, The Palm Deira, has been suspended for the time being – during the work, the builders encountered some technological problems. This island will be built no earlier than 2015, and if so, then buying real estate here is premature.

A piece of the world
The pinnacle of luxury and the highest price segment are the private islands in Nakheel's The World project, which is dramatically different in concept from everything else that is being built in Dubai, both on the mainland and on artificial islands. As part of the project, an archipelago of 300 islands will be created, the outlines of which resemble a world map, the cost of each of them is measured in tens of millions of dollars.
"Every year we issue invitations to 50 customers," says Adnan Davoud, marketing manager of The World project, "and this year there were three Russians among them. The invitation system is not a face control, but a sign of our respect. Anyone who shares our project concept and has the necessary amount of funds can inform us about their desire to make a purchase and then receive an invitation."
An important feature of The World project is the maximum freedom for the buyer. He is free to do whatever he wants within the framework of his island - to build a residence for his own residence or a small hotel. Moreover, it is possible to change the configuration of the island and expand it, since the owner pays not only for a piece of artificial land, but also for the adjacent part of the Bay.
Nakheel expects to complete its part of the work – namely, the creation of islands and a breakwater protecting them from waves - in 2008. Then it's up to the owners – each of them has the opportunity to choose a contractor, and it does not necessarily have to be Nakheel. Already, one of the islands is inhabited - a private owner has built a spacious villa on Iceland, arranged a small palm grove with walking paths, a swimming pool, a pier and a helipad.

Whether it will still be ...
Many low-rise residential complexes in Dubai have already been completed, but the main part is still at various stages of design and construction. There are also very recent projects, such as The Lost City from Nakheel. This complex will be built in the Jebel Ali area and will be dedicated to historical themes. Its inhabitants will appear to be in an ancient Arab city, but at the same time they will enjoy all the benefits of modern civilization.
It is worth expecting the emergence of new low-rise areas and as part of two global projects in the near futureof the future - The Arabian Channel and The Waterfront. However, where exactly the villas will be built and how much they will cost is an open question, since at the moment the design is at a very early stage.

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