Inside an upgraded Dh5m villa in Dubai's The Meadows - in pictures

One of the effects of the raft of changes to UAE visa regulations announced during the past few months is expected to be an increase in the number of expats purchasing property in the country.

Non-Emirati retirees will be able to stay in the country - if they meet certain criteria - which will encourage more residents to set down roots rather than continue renting.

The fall in prices during the past four years has also made property affordable to a wider segment of buyers.

For those buyers who have saved up the necessary deposit and are searching for a property to call home for the long-term, but aren't looking to break the bank for the mega-millions villas and penthouses scattered throughout the emirates, what can their money buy?

Well, for just under Dh5 million, here's a fine example.

On first glance, with the sports cars in the driveway (it's not one of those free car deals I'm afraid), and big swimming pool to the rear, you might think this is one of Dubai's more upmarket communities where prices tend to take up 11 figures.

In The Meadows - part of the Emirates Living Community - you can get a pretty villa for far less, and in this case, one which has been upgraded to such a level of detail that whether you like it or not, you certainly take notice.

This three-bedroom villa, on the market with LuxuryProperty,com at Dh4.95m, can be considered part house, part art gallery.

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“The owners of this villa are designers themselves,” said Paul Martin, Associate Director at LuxuryProperty.com. “They are the founders of a reputable firm and as such, they were very conscious about designing a home that offered the right mix of comfort, functionality and aesthetic appeal."

The exterior may be minimalistic, but step inside and it really kicks off. White walls and floors are offset by brightly coloured works of art, and upstairs, orange lighting making the place feel warm and inviting.

The living room contains unique sculptures, including a giant pair of hands, plus abstract art, while a smart home system controls all of the ambience and the curtains.

The outdoor area is simple, with an astroturf lawn surrounding the pool and a stone pathway leading running alongside the property, but for those who aren't keen on maintaining such a space, it is highly convenient.

At night, it can be bathed in the custom-lighting which has been installed as part of the upgrade.

Coming in at a 3,380 sq ft built up area on a 5,937 sq ft plot, it is sizable enough for families to stay throughout the kids' school years, but then not too big for the parents to feel overly isolated once they have flown the nest.

And, it could even be a home fit for retirement.