Accommodation
Although non nationals now have the opportunity to purchase a home in Dubai, many formalities have yet to be completed in another year or so until they are ready for occupancy. Therefore for now rental is still the main option. Dubai is the most accommodating place to live in the gulf and high quality accommodation is in good supply throughout the city. Many have excellent recreational facilities - gym, sauna, satellite television or in-house video and covered car parking are some of the available facilities that the residents can make use of.
Many expatriate executives choose to live in the Jumeirah suburb, which stretches southward along the coast from the city centre. For top-of-the-range villas, the choice is between larger independent properties or smaller villas in compounds. The latter usually have swimming pools, squash and tennis courts.
Most rented accommodation in Dubai is unfurnished (although kitchens may be partly or fully equipped). Many villas and new apartments have central air-conditioning already installed and a range of furniture and household equipment.
Main accommodation options are:
- Apartment/villa sharing
- Standard apartment
- Villa
- Hotel apartment
Click here to obtain a list of real estate agents in Dubai who can assist you in searching a house in your preferred location suitable to your budget.
Tip: Remember to ask for a copy of the estate agent's identification card and make sure you save copies of all receipts, contracts and other documents.
For a List of New Residential Developments and Commercial Property in Dubai Click here.
Things to Come
Dubai already has some of the best entertainment venues; hotels, and most impressive man made structures on the planet, yet there are still a lot more ambitious plans for the future. Here is just a selection of what can be expected in the next few years :
Dubai Land
Describing itself as the ultimate entertainment and leisure destination, Dubai Land aims to become the worlds top tourism destination. Given the enormity of the project and the range of leisure activities on offer, it may well succeed! Covering some three billion square feet, and estimated to cost in the region of $20 billion, it's planned to be made up of 45 mega projects and 200 sub-projects, and it will be twice the size of the current largest resort, Disney World. Dubai Land aims to open to the public in 2008.
Some of the attractions include:
- Snowdome
$1 billion ski-dome project that will host a wide variety of snow based activities, aiming to provide a complete winter experience for its visitors. It will feature only real snow, containing around 6000 tons of it. It will also include hotels, residential apartments, shopping and food outlets. It will stand 75 meters tall, with an entrance characterised by two giant ice columns. The facilities available will comprise of an ice rink, snow castle, mountain run, toboggan run, rotating ski slope, snow play area and warm and cold spas. - Sports City
500 million square foot sports and lifestyle venue, set to be located next to the Dubai Aerodrome.
It will consist of multi purpose indoor, and outdoor stadiums, and dedicated cricket and hockey stadiums. The stadium complexes will be the most modern and advanced in the Middle East. Another of the key facilities will be a signature 18-hole golf course designed by Ernie Els.
To accompany the other facilities will be a number of academies featuring some of the biggest names sports. Manchester United will have a soccer school based here, along with David Lloyd tennis academy, Butch Harmon school of Golf, and the ICC have now moved their cricket headquarters here from London. Sports city will surely be the global home of all things sport.
Hydropolis
Aiming to be the world's 1st luxury underwater hotel, Hydropolis will contain 220 suites, 20 meters below the surface of the Persian Gulf, sitting on the sea floor. When built it will cover 27 acres, and be made up of a land station section., linked by a transparent 515 meter train tunnel, to the jelly fished shaped underwater hotel .The Land station is a wave shaped facility, that stands out of the water where guests are welcomed and via which they can enter the underwater complex. The upper levels will contain a variety of facilities, such as a marine biological research laboratory, a cosmetic surgery clinic, conference facilities and restaurants.
The hotel will contain suites shaped like bubbles, comprising of clear glass for the suite walls. It will also feature translucent domes that will contain a ball room, and a concert hall. A large petal-like roof will be able to retract, allowing the facility to stage open sky events. Hydropolis is sure to be a totally unique and futuristic destination that will be known around the globe.
Burj Dubai
Drawing its inspiration from the structure of a Hymenocallis flower, it will be the worlds tallest building and tallest man made structure upon completion and is set to become a breathtaking symbol of Dubai's prosperity and ingenuity. The tower will look different from each angle, and will be situated on a man made lake, which will wrap around the base of the tower. The interior will be designed by Giorgio Armani, who will also open his first hotel in the lower sections of the tower. Set to be around 800 meters tall with the final height remaining unknown, the $8 billion project will contain over 700 private apartments, as well as a wide array of facilities and restaurants. The Burj Dubai is part of the Down Town Dubai project, which will cover 500 acres, and include residential buildings and the worlds largest shopping mall amongst other thing