There is no doubt that the UAE is home to some spectacular properties. From penthouse apartments to plush villas with sprawling gardens and incredible pools, it’s a real estate haven.
Each week, The National showcases some of the best homes on offer in its Property of the Week. This week, it's an Emirates Hills mansion with Dubai skyline views ...
The key details
An eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion located in the coveted Emirates Hills community. The property is spread across a built-up area of 22,000 square feet, on a 24,000- square feet plot, with a basement and a roof terrace for entertaining. It is being sold fully furnished.
What's the story?
This custom-built, waterfront property has been put on the market by the owners who designed it in 2013. Clearly built with family and entertaining in mind, there is no shortage of space and luxury leisure facilities within the home, including a bar area, outdoor dining, roof terrace, sauna, billiards room and Jacuzzi bath.
Stepping into the home, you're greeted by a grand entrance and sweeping staircase within a double-height atrium.
On the ground floor, the open living areas flow from space to space, with a large kitchen, formal and informal dining areas, and a grand living room. There are also two bedrooms on the ground floor, which can offer a little more space and privacy to their occupants.
The further six bedrooms are located on the first floor, including the master suite, accessible by the grand staircase or internal lift. The bedrooms overlook the nearby golf course and the adjacent lake, as well as offering spectacular city views.
However the master suite stands out with herringbone parquet flooring, a walk-in wardrobe and sizeable ensuite facilities.
Framing the property is a first floor terrace, which wraps around the villa and looks out over the Dubai Marina skyline.
On the top floor, there is a roof terrace designed with entertaining in mind. A spacious terrace and dining area has all of the appeal of Dubai's most chic roof-top bars and lounges.
In the basement, there are media and billiards rooms, a bar and ample lounge space.
What the brokers say ...
What makes this property stand out?
A home can be viewed as a portal into one's life, it's a physical reflection of past influences and a glimpse into a future journey. So when we have the opportunity to design and build a home using a blank canvas, or in this case an extensive vacant plot of land in one of Dubai's most prestigious residential estates, it truly allows the owners to draw upon life experiences to create something unique and special.
What inspired the interior design?
Creating several interconnected living spaces and experiences in the family home was the primary goal of the owners and designer. Ensuring effective circulation and connectivity between the three floors and rooms was a focus. The designers considered that although bringing the family together was paramount, so to was creating living areas that were not in conflict visually or acoustically. This home is inspired by family.
What kind of buyer does a property like this appeal to?
This property is desirable for a broad reach of owners, it is not specific to one nationality nor taste in design, however one trait that will be common is the desire to live in a home where the family comes first. The property is Vastu compliant, which is also very attractive as it is rare to have such a grand custom home desired to meet the criteria required for compliance.
What makes Emirates Hills such a desirable neighbourhood?
Emirates Hills is an upscale gated community inspired by Beverly Hills, California and embodies luxury living at its finest. It was one of the first freehold property areas in Dubai, allowing international buyers to purchase a home in a premier neighbourhood. This gated community provides security and 24-hour maintenance, along with dedicated play areas for children. It is a friendly villa community that offers a comfortable lifestyle for anyone who wishes to live here. Emirates Hills is located away from the hustle-bustle of the city, making it is ideal for individuals who prefer a peaceful and luxurious lifestyle away from the traffic.
How long has the property been on the market?
The property has been lived in by the same owners since its completion in 2013; the owners put the home on the market in December 2020.
What lifestyle amenities in the property have appealed to prospective buyers the most?
The ambiance, use and flow of the open spaces. If you are looking to get away and have some fun, you don't need to leave the home. The large full-size basement is designed for entertainment and fun. A media room, billiards table, lounge and full facilities ensures that this basement getaway is a perfect retreat for the kids or adults.
Matthew Bate, managing director at The Urban Nest, theurbannest.ae
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
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Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
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Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Honeymoonish
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AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
