Live in the heart of old Dubai for Dh25m

If you want to live in the heart of old Dubai, this villa offers the perfect opportunity. The five-bedroom residence on a quiet street in Al Safa 2 is on the market for Dh25 million.

Yes, I know the canal is being built down that end of town and traffic is a nightmare as they dig up Safa Park, but it won’t always be like that. And when the construction work is finished, you’ll have a canal on your doorstep.

While the location might not be Downtown Dubai or Uptown Marina, it’s where old school Dubai lives and resides with access to the beach and the burgeoning retail and F&B outlets.

The house is surrounded by a high wall guaranteeing privacy for the established gardens that feature lush vegetation and a beautiful private pool which is both chilled and heated allowing year-round usage. There is also an outside Jacuzzi for those who enjoy the trappings of luxury and lounging in exquisite surroundings. The garden has a semi-tropical feel with wonderful covered terraces allowing formal outside dining or chilling with friends in a poolside hang out.

There is a small gym overlooking the water next to the terrace. The villa itself has five spacious and bright bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, en suite bathrooms and, in most cases, access to a terrace.

The villa is pristine with a high-level of finishing and wood panelling throughout. There is a huge reception room with an ultra modern kitchen, a wonderful vestibule with a wide sweeping staircase, and a master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom.

There is a separate servant’s quarters, large enough for two people and equipped with a bathroom and functional kitchen.

The villa also offers access to a one-bedroom private suite with a kitchen. It allows a family to have guests stay in their own self contained space and also enjoy the camaraderie and conviviality of family living.

The villa occupies just shy of 10,000 square feet and is offered with all white goods.

Q&A

Thomas Bunker, manager of Off Plan Sales for Better Homes tells Andrew Scott more about the five-bed villa on sale in Safa, Dubai:

I thought only GCC nationals could buy in the Jumeirah area?

That is true unless you have a very close friend who is local. The owner of this property is a European expat that has such an arrangement and he is in sole charge of the sale.

You don’t often see these types of villas come on the general market.

The problem is that when they do come for general sale, the word gets out and a prospective buyer finds that he is some way related to the seller and can avoid paying the two per cent commission to agents by buying it privately. Two per cent commission on Dh25 million is Dh500,000 so it is understandable, I would do it myself if I had the opportunity. It is set in the heart of Jumeirah between Al Wasl Rd and Sheikh Zayed Rd situated perfectly for access in and out of the city.

Dh25m sounds a lot though even for such a great location.

The seller has actually dropped the price by Dh5m. It has been on the market for six months. I think it’s worth Dh35m but the market at the moment is challenging. The finishing in the villa is by far above most others. It is a classic style with care and attention shown to all aspects. It is a conservative US style interior – almost Martha Stewart inspired.

ascott@thenational.ae

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter