Mark Wallington's Blog: All Categories

Designed to be an on-shore alternative with off-shore features, the Dubai International Financial Center or DIFC is a free trade zone in the heart of Dubai’s new business district.  The DIFC has high standard, world-class regulations and offers a degree of transparency which appeals to investors and firms.  It also has the added feature of being a tax-free environment in Asia’s newest major business center and the Middle East’s biggest business hub, Dubai.

 
DIFC is already home to a number of the world’s finest multinational companies, but with ongoing development and expansion to include more commercial space, it will soon be home to even more.  The fact that 100 per cent foreign ownership is possible, and that there is no taxation on income or profits…

Set to be the biggest and best business hub in the Middle East, Business Bay is set to be the financial center of this growing economy.  The project, created by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is currently under construction and will be based on other key financial districts such as Manhattan in New York, and Canary Wharf in London.

 
The enormous scale of the development includes the dredging of the Dubai Creek an extra 11km towards the coast to create the bay which will be surrounded by freehold commercial and residential towers.  As a free trade zone, Business Bay will provide better infrastructure and a better environment for firms to work in, as well as offering the best of amenities to the people that live there and the people…

Recognised as the world’s tallest structure, and fast becoming the icon for life in Dubai, the Burj Dubai tower offers a one of a kind living experience.  With the final height a much guarded secret, and the current level of construction placing the tower over 536m and more than 146 stories, the project, when completed, will be the centerpiece of the entire Downtown Dubai development, surely Emaar’s greatest venture to date.

 
The Burj Dubai will feature both residential and commercial units, with luxury apartments and office space, as well as the world’s first hotel by designer Giorgio Armani.  The hotel will be at the base of the tower and the remaining freehold space will occupy most of the other floors, with an observation deck located 442 meters…

The Arabian Ranches are an exclusive community of luxury villas and townhomes, located conveniently near the Emirates Road and the Emirates Golf Club.  The concept of the development is based on creating a beautiful home environment in the heart of the desert, away from the stress of city life.  The homes are surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, with the finest equestrian and golfing facilities in close proximity.

The development also offers a great deal of variety in the properties that are available, ranging from large freestanding villas to smaller villas to townhouses to single story homes, all reflecting unique architecture with traditional Spanish, Mediterranean and Arabic styles.  These different specifications for the community are divided…

Designed to provide the ultimate in luxury and space, the Al Kaheel Equine Park and villas is a unique freehold property sub-development of the expansive Dubailand project by Dubai Properties.  The Al Kaheel residences are different from other property developments in Dubai because they offer spacious, luxury living in truly natural surroundings.  This combination of modern design and Arabian heritage really defines Al Kaheel as the perfect place to own a home.

The project will contain 400 homes, all individually designed and unique, with spacious interior and exterior features that overlook the desert landscape.  Buyers have the option of four, five and six bedroom villas, and even have the options of extra amenities such as private swimming pools,…

With villas in short supply and the difficulties involved in finding a property not too far away from the heart of Dubai (traffic is a nightmare, remember), its no surprise that the Arabian Ranches freehold development has been a resounding success.  It is made up of a selection of villas situated next to Emirates Road in Barsha and the Emirates Golf Course.  The most extravagant of these properties may well be the Hattan villas, which are located right overlooking the fairway and offering beautiful unimpeded views.

 These villas are targeted at the family market, with the square footage ranging from 4,742 square feet all the way up to 6,419 square feet, if you really like your space.  The gardens are fully landscaped and you have access to the Lakes club…

Everyone all over the world is now aware that the Burj Dubai is the tallest building on the planet, and it is getting taller everyday.  Now that the glass paneling is being put on this magnificent piece of architecture, it’s easier to imagine what living there would be like.  The building is set to house both residential and commercial property, but it’s the former that will prove to be most interesting.  What must it be like to live in what will be one of the world’s most famous skyscrapers?

 The first answer that comes to mind is: expensive!  You wouldn’t expect anything else.  In fact, the higher the floor that you live on, the more expensive it gets, perhaps it’s a type of residential hierarchy, where the more space between you and the earth means you…

Now, if you’re looking to buy a nice little mansion by the sea, then here’s some Dubai real estate that’s worth your attention: Palm Jumeirah’s signature villas. They may not be what everyone wants, then probably aren’t what a lot of people can afford, but to all those investors that like the idea of living on an island in a really big house (I’m guessing most), then read on.

The Palm Jumeirah, phase one of the Palm trilogy is located just off the beach after the Burj Al Arab (large hotel that looks like a sail) and is already home to the residents of fully completed sections. If you have seen the pictures of the fronds, you would probably think its just rows upon rows of bland houses stuck together to maximize the numbers, however, upon closer inspection…