Summer 2012
Palm Jumeirah RSP TO DESIGN PALM MALL ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE HUB
PALM VILLA FOR SALE AT DHS250 MILLION, VIPS ONLY NEED APPLY
TASTE OF ASIA AT THE AVENUES Asia Republic, the casual, open kitchen Asian
NAKHEEL SELLS 21 PALMA RESIDENCES ON FIRST DAY
Singapore architects RSP have been awarded
A 10-bedroom Palm mansion, with 70-seater cin-
diner, is the latest culinary offering to hit Atlantis,
Nakheel sold 21 of 104 Palma townhouses on
a Dhs25m contract to design the Palm Mall,
ema and indoor and outdoor pools is on the mar-
serving dishes such as Singapore Curry Laksa
the first sales day, reported Emirates 24/7. In-
retail complex set to open in 2014.
ket. Only VIPS are allowed to view the rare villa.
and Cantonese Fragrant Duck with Plum Sauce.
vestors must make a down payment of 40%.
Palm Jumeirah in Numbers
13
The number of days it takes for water to recirculate through gaps
in The Palm’s breakwater.
21
The number of Palma Residences townhouses sold on the first day of sales.
36
The percentage gain on the reserve price of a foreclosed luxury Marina
Residences apartment sold at Dubai Land Department’s public auction.
100+
Baby seahorses born in the Lost Chambers.
The rare Hippocampus Hystrix Seahorses, known as ‘Fry’, will assist in the repopulation of the species once they’re released into the Gulf.
120
Restaurants, cafés and dining options to feature on The
Pointe waterfront development.
233
The number of rooms at the
TV presenter Shereen Mitwali’s ultra-modernist, minimalist-inspired home is her white-washed sanctuary, a calm respite from the busy city yet conveniently located to its business areas
The Best of Both Worlds In an apartment on Palm Jumeirah, television presenter Shereen Mitwalli finds peace within a stone’s throw of one of Dubai’s busiest areas
by Karen Iley
From the luxurious white furnishings to the blazing brightness of the sea view, Shereen Mitwalli’s apartment on Palm Jumeirah dazzles from the moment you set foot inside. It’s a fitting reflection of its glamorous occupant. Shereen is a well-known face in Dubai, a TV presenter and events moderator who also owns a recruitment company in Australia. “When I come home, this is my space where I relax. When I’m on set or at events, there are so many people milling around, so I need a place to be tranquil,” says Shereen, who moved into the three-bedroom apartment in
Oceana six months ago. “I love water, I’m a Pisces so I feel peaceful next to the ocean.” Shereen found her apartment in a rather roundabout way, she says: “I had been looking for a waterfront apartment for some time and when I came to dinner one night at West 14th [within the Oceana complex] I could see that the area was great.” She moved her search to Oceana. “This apartment hadn’t been lived in before – I think the owner forgot he owned it! As soon as I saw it, I snapped it up.” When she first visited the Palm several years ago, Shereen’s reaction was, simply, ‘Wow!’ she laughs. “I was fascinated on so many different levels. It felt as though I had gone out of Dubai into a new city.” That sense of The Palm being a place apart has been a big factor in Shereen’s contentment about her home: “The fact that it’s so different from the rest of Dubai is important; while I love the hustle and bustle, I don’t want my home to be in the middle of cars driving, sirens, beeping...
The Palm offers this. It’s so close to my work commitments in Media City, to The Marina, my brother’s home in JBR – and yet far enough away to live in serenity.” For Shereen, living in an apartment on the Palm offers the best of both worlds – the sense of calm that comes from being on the waterfront with the convenience and simplicity offered by an apartment. “I’m ultra-modern and minimalistic and having positive energy in my home is important. I hate clutter and that is a direct reflection on my personal life. It’s uncomplicated and that’s how I like it”. The sophisticated simplicity of the apartment, its sea view, and the light that floods in provide a perfect setting for two paintings by Australian artist Colin Sweeney; they add a vivid pop of colour. “I’m an artistic person and a celebrator of success,” says Shereen. “It’s important to me that my home is a reflection of that, but that it’s also a place that re-balances me. It’s my little getaway."
WWW.LUXHABITAT. AE
recently-opened Rixos The
Palm Dubai hotel, all kitted out in chic and contemporary minimalistic style.
900
The number of workers expected on site at Palma
Residences at the peak of construction. The exclusive development is expected to be completed by 2013.
25
million. The sale price of a 10-bedrom, 45,000 square-foot
mansion on the Palm. The villa comes complete with indoor and outdoor pools, a 70-seater basement cinema, parking for 20 cars and a 180-degree sea view.
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Summer 2012
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Palm Jumeirah
Expert View with LINDA KUHN Luxury Sales Specialist, Luxhabitat E: lk@luxhabitat.ae | T: +971 50 228 3328
Exciting Times Ahead Living on the Palm Jumeirah offers residents the opportunity to take advantage of an address with considerable cachet, backed up by an enviable lifestyle, with a private beach and watersports right on the doorstep, and good security
The Palm Jumeirah has been enjoying a healthy growth spurt, with new developments adding to a recent rise in prices
No-one could say that property movements on The Palm have been slow. The first half of the year has been rather robust, with sale prices looking perky thanks in part to a lack of available villas. Demand for properties on The Palm is still exceptionally high, and beachside villas in particular tend to be snapped up almost as soon as they appear on the market. Three signature villas were sold in July for between Dhs21million and Dhs23million, so it’s cheering to hear that more beachfront properties are in the pipeline, with construction underway on Frond G and likely to begin very soon on Frond N. It appears that the market is solid and well-supported, and a raft of exciting new developments – both commercial and residential – will add even more impetus to The Palm’s property market. The most exciting of these ventures is ‘The Pointe’, a large-scale destination for dining and entertainment located at the tip of The Palm, opposite Atlantis. This huge waterfront complex will house 75 retail outlets, an array of high-end restaurants as well as an eclectic mix of cafés and patisseries in its 136,000 square metres. It will be home to stunning piazzas and landscaped areas and look out onto the marina and its own dancing fountain. Accessible by car, monorail or boat, it’s sure to be a magnet for residents and visitors alike. Then, of course, we can look forward to the eagerly-awaited Palm Mall, a 1.7 million square foot (158,000 square metres) retail venue. The Palm’s great location means residents don’t have to travel far to access the best of Dubai’s world-class shopping, but a mall to call its own is certainly a thrilling prospect. Construction is slated to start by the end of this year, with shoppers able to flex their credit cards some time in 2014. On the residential and leisure side, and just a few minutes’ walk from Palm Mall, building work on the Palm Views waterside project is
A raft of exciting new developments – both commercial and residential – will likely add even more impetus to The Palm’s property market
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW… …what vibrocompaction is. Well, it’s pretty crucial to life on The Palm, as it’s the process of densifying loose sand to create a stable soil suitable for foundations. Vibrocompaction is now underway at Palma Residences, Nakheel’s latest development located on 61,000
due to begin by the end of this year. Located at Palm Jumeirah’s East and West Marinas, Palm Views will house 192 ‘pied-à-terre’ style contemporary units as well as retail, dining and fitness facilities, all offering panoramic views of The Palm and the Dubai skyline. Offering more affordable studios – the 500 square foot (45 square metre) units are on sale at Dhs1 million – Palm Views properties are designed to maximise energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The project will be spread over two buildings, each with their own high-end fitness club and a selection of eateries and shops, and will be ready in the first quarter of 2014. Before that though, we’ll see the completion of Palma Residences, the collection of 104 Mediterranean-style villas each with direct beach or pool access. The properties range from Dhs6 million to Dhs8 million, and are likely to sell quickly in this area that appeals to both investors and potential home owners. It’s interesting to note that around this price range, three Garden Homes were sold in July between Dhs9.8 million and Dhs12million. There’s plenty more to look forward to with the opening of The Fairmont Hotel. The Palm has the ‘wow’ factor that appeals to both new and old residents of Dubai, and is certainly the best place to experience the best of beachside living. Whether for investment reasons or as an end user, The Palm remains one of the most sought-after locations in Dubai.
This spacious signature villa lies near the tip of a frond, giving it a feeling of spaciousness. The interior is decorated in light
Linda Kuhn was talking to Karen Iley
woods and marble, adding to the sense of airiness and connection to the beachfront. AED 25,000,000. Property ref. 1007
sq metres of reclaimed land off the eastern side of the trunk. Palma Residences is an exclusive collection of 104 Mediterranean-style residential units, each with direct beach or pool access, and is due for completion by the end of 2013. Prices range from Dhs6 million to around Dhs8 million.
Summer 2012
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THE JOURNAL
COME AND GET YOUR JUST DESSERTS… Courtesy of Yannick Alléno, the Michelinstarred chef at One & Only The Palm, in Stay, his signature restaurant, he is inviting guests to play an active role in the creation of their desserts from selecting the final ingredients to observing the preparation by the chef de pâtisserie at the pastry library. “I want to welcome A private infinity pool is just one of the ameneties of this stunning seven-bedroom, 7,000 sq.ft (650 sq.m) beachfront villa. A 'Mediterranean Gallery View' villa it
guests into an environment free of con-
is located at a high number on its frond, guaranteeing greater privacy and an enhanced sense of space. AED 22,000,000. Property ref. 990
straints and provide them with an innovative cuisine and dining experience. The pastry library is a part of this concept,” says Alléno. Located in a premium area of the restaurant, the pastry library opens into the main room, allowing guests to become an active part of the dessert service. “This will be a completely inter-
‘SMALL FRY’ ADDITION TO LOST CHAMBERS
active experience. They will be invited to come behind the pastry bar and see the chef’s work and select the ingredients
They’re the size of a very small fingernail
while watching the pastry chef,” says Al-
and extremely rare. The latest additions
léno. With its dramatic, monochromatic
to the Lost Chambers Aquarium at At-
décor and beautiful dishes, the restaurant
lantis are a herd of more than 100 thorny
deservedly enjoys a reputation for being a
seahorses. The newborns, known as
culinary jewel in the Palm's gourmet fir-
‘fry’, will assist in the re-population of
mament. We can't wait to get a taste of
the species once they are released into
this innovative way to end a meal.
the Arabian Gulf.
One & Only Palm Jumeirah; 04 440 1030
Turkish Delight
Until recently, few people ventured beyond Atlantis on the East Crescent of The Palm, but the opening of Rixos The Palm
This five-bedroom property, with an 'Atrium Entry 2' layout, is the most popular of the Garden-style Mediterranean villas on the Palm. It is offered for sale fully furnished, with a mature and attractive garden. AED 10,700,000. Property ref. 991
the Turkish hotel group, is starting to change that. Contemporary, chic and understated, Rixos will appeal to both holiday-makers and residents. It strikes just the right balance between style and comfort, with the restaurants, grounds and spacious rooms all following a modern, minimalist theme – a pleasant change to the usual bling and opulence. Rixos is particularly worth a visit if you’re a fan of Turkish cuisine. The excellent A La Turca restaurant traditional mezze and deli-
ciously tender kebabs and grills: try a hearty Iksander, a succulent dish of doner beef and tomatoes layered on top of Turkish bread to soak up the juices, and don’t miss Etli Ekmek, a jaw-dropping metrelong, crisp and thin ‘pizza’ with shredded beef, tomato, green pepper and parsley. Rixos Royal Spa adds another indulging experience to the offerings on The Palm, with luxurious therapies including a decadent traditional Turkish Hammam. For party people The White Bar is an übercool beach-side venue, with all-white décor, resident and visiting DJs and themed nights. Chic and stunning. 04 457 5555; www.rixos.com
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Summer 2012
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FEATURED PROPERTIES
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This magnificent villa has five bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms; at 13,000 square feet it is amply proportioned and boasts not only a private stretch of beach but its own infinity pool overlooking the sea and the Dubai skyline. An imposing double-height entrance hall reveals two side rooms that can be used for formal or family entertaining, while maid's and driver's quarters allow for household staff to be seamlessly incorporated into the lifestyle of this majestic property. AED 23,000,000. Property ref. 959
Tastefully finished to a high standard throughout, this rental villa comes completely ready to move into. The furniture is
The open-plan ground floor of this rental villa offers a relaxed and seamless lifestyle in full view of the sea, with a private
classical yet contemporary, complementing the relaxed lifestyle the villa offers. AED 900,000 per annum. Property ref. 1018
stretch of beach just steps away. Perfect for families, it is fully furnished. AED 800,000 per annum. Property ref. 1019