Dubai: Luxury in Dubai’s real estate market is no longer measured by vast spaces, views, swimming pools and marble alone, as the demands of the very wealthy reveal a new generation of highly exclusive luxury.It starts with rooms, secret safes, and facial and iris recognition access systems, and extends to private car elevators, underground galleries, and integrated health and wellness facilities, all the way to diamond-encrusted bathrooms and private pools within the residential units.These requests reflect a deeper shift in Dubai’s ultra-luxury real estate market, with an increasing segment of buyers moving from acquiring property as a seasonal home or short-term investment to making Dubai their primary residence for long-term living.With this shift, the wealthy are now looking for homes designed around the details of their daily lives, hobbies, and cultures, including majlis (sitting rooms) for large families, private kitchens for chefs, cinemas, spas, and yoga studios, as well as designing the property according to the principles of Indian Vastu and Chinese Feng Shui, making privacy, personalisation, and quality of life the new standards of luxury.Evolution of tasteHomes often provide advanced security systems that include biometric access systems that work with a fingerprint, face, or even the eye. Picture credit: SuppliedChris Whitehead, managing partner at Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty, said that at the higher levels of the market, the buyer is not just looking for a home, along with traditional considerations, such as location and space.The quality of construction, and even the special requests made by buyers, often reveal deeper aspects of their mindset and diverse needs, which actually drive them to make the purchase decision.He added: “Those with huge wealth are looking for homes that offer a greater sense of spaciousness, often including large outdoor areas or basements.”Requests for built-in closets to store belongings within spacious dressing rooms are also common. Due to the special nature of these requests, these features are rarely mentioned in general marketing presentations, but they are implemented within custom-designed homes. These homes often provide advanced security systems that include secure secret safes, and sophisticated technologies, such as biometric access systems that work with a fingerprint, face, or even the eye.He added that Dubai offers a more distinctive lifestyle compared to many other global cities, which attracts wealthy individuals from around the world. Cultural considerations also play a pivotal role in many home searches, which is clearly reflected in specific requests.Whitehead gave an example, saying: “Many buyers from India and East Asia, who make up a large proportion of luxury property buyers, are keen to adhere to the principles of Vastu (an ancient Indian engineering and architectural system that aims to align buildings and spaces with natural and cosmic forces to attract positive energy, health and prosperity) when choosing their homes.”Similarly, Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese art that literally means "wind and water," aims to achieve harmony and balance between humans and energy.Therefore, questions arise regarding the orientation of the property or some rooms, the flow of energy through the main entrance, and even the quality of materials used in the interior finishes.Whitehead stated that his company manages a number of bespoke luxury properties, particularly in upscale residential communities, such as Emirates Hills and Dubai Hills Estate, where adherence to the principles of "Fasto" is one of the most attractive elements for buyers seeking exceptional properties.He said: “These examples highlight a fundamental shift in buyers' outlook when looking for an ultra-luxury home in Dubai.” About a decade ago, most buyers viewed properties as seasonal holiday homes or short-term investments that could be resold for quick profits.However, this trend has changed significantly, particularly over the past five years, with the majority now being end-user buyers who have made Dubai their primary residence and long-term investment destination.He added: “When a property becomes a primary residence, the infrastructure and service requirements change completely, and the goal is no longer simply to own a luxury property.”The search has become focused on a home that enhances the quality of daily life, making bespoke amenities a crucial element in the purchase decision. Amenities, privacy, and spaces designed to meet personal interests have become among the most prominent features that reflect the concept of modern luxury.Some buyers from India look for houses that adhere to the principles of Vastu, while some Chinese buyers require properties that follow Feng Shui. Picture credit: SuppliedOne example is an ultra-luxurious palace in the Umm Suqeim area designed by the renowned designer, Victor Udzinia, which was listed among the properties Sotheby’s manages. In addition to its museum-like interiors, the property contained an underground car showroom accessible via a dedicated vehicle lift.This place did not just have a car garage, but a private car museum, equipped with temperature control systems, clad in travertine stone, and directly connected to an indoor entertainment area.Whitehead added: “Health and wellness facilities are among the top priorities for luxury property buyers today, with key features including professional spa equipment, home gyms, and advanced smart home control systems. The properties we offer in Jumeirah Bay Island and Emirates Hills directly meet these demands.”One of the most notable examples is a modern villa in the Umm Al Sheif area designed by SAOTA, which includes a fully independent floor dedicated to wellness and recreation, including an underground yoga room, a private hair care studio, and a steam room. It also features a small indoor pool. This floor connects directly to an underground car showroom designed to display a private collection of cars, while the outdoor garden and pool area maintain a luxury resort-like aesthetic, according to Whitehead.Whitehead noted that ultimately, what buyers of ultra-luxury properties in Dubai are looking for is a home that resonates with their lifestyle and meets their needs and those of their families. These needs may be cultural in nature, such as a majlis (traditional sitting room) that suits the requirements of large Arab families, or they may be more personal and reflect individual interests.Global standardsFiras Al-Masdi, CEO of FAM Real Estate, said that Dubai’s luxury real estate market is witnessing increasing demand for homes that offer unprecedented levels of comfort and privacy.He noted that some exceptional customer requests include private elevators leading to secure rooms, and diamond-encrusted bathrooms.He added that Dubai is establishing, in many ways, new global standards for ultra-luxury lifestyles, noting that the market has witnessed a significant boom in luxury residential projects since the COVID-19 pandemic, with developers competing to offer new features and experiences.He explained that private swimming pools represent one of the most prominent examples of this transformation, as they were previously exclusive to ultra-luxury apartments, while today they have become a basic feature in all units within some new projects.Al-Masdi pointed out the expanding list of facilities sought by the wealthy, including health resorts, business centres, upscale restaurants, nature reserves, and sports facilities, in addition to apartments that occupy an entire floor.He emphasised that the practical design of luxury residences in Dubai now rivals what is available in major global markets such as New York and London.He explained that some luxury residences now include open kitchens and separate kitchens for chefs, professional cinemas, private health resorts equipped with jacuzzis, steam rooms and massages, gyms and indoor gardens, which reflects the evolving needs of the wealthy towards residences that combine the luxury of hospitality and the comfort of family life in one place.
