Dubai Properties, a member of Dubai Holding, operates with the express aim of conceiving unique communities that offer unparalleled value to suit the diverse lifestyles of discerning customers

As the region's leading master developer, Dubai Properties has launched high-profile projects that are unique in several aspects. These include Business Bay and several components within this development, as well as Jumeirah Beach Residence and Culture Village. These projects cater to niche requirements, meeting the most demanding specifications of investors and buyers.

In 2006, Dubai Properties was granted which is attributed to the strong interest in real estate to the Dubai Property Law which allows non-GCC citizens to own property. The law was issued at the right time for investors. It clarified issues about the legal framework in real estate investment and enhanced the confidence of investors, especially foreigners.

Million dollar business
The multi-billion dollar Business Bay, which is being developed over 64 million square feet along the extension of the historic Dubai Creek, is being positioned as the region's business capital, offering high-end facilities and world-class infrastructure for international and regional corporations. A commercial vision When Business Bay was announced it marked a shift in approach towards the real estate market in the region. While the market had been primarily focused on residential developments previously, the advent of Business Bay meant that commercial developments could share in the boom as well. The project established a definitive trend to develop office towers on free hold and lease hold basis. The reason for this was the phenomenal need for such property in a city that has become a global trading and finance hub.

The Executive Towers in Business Bay were the first projects announced in the development by the master developer, Dubai Properties. The 11 towers feature residential, commercial, hospitality and retail sections, all centrally linked by shaded pathways, open courtyards, the ubiquitous multi-storey shopping mall, as well as entertainment and dining areas. One year later, Dubai Properties announced its signature project - The Vision Tower - at Business Bay. A 60-storey freehold office tower at the Creek side entrance, this elegant office tower will deliver over 500,000 square feet of prestigious office space across 51 floors. Its associated amenities will include a car park for 1,420 vehicles - a must-have for any corporate tower in the city. Dubai Properties named it The Vision Tower as it personifies the few who are able to see far into the future and leverage the advantages that the tower offers in terms of its own unique facilities as well as its location; the reason why The Vision Tower has been invested with a theme - 'Let your vision separate your business from the rest'.

With commanding views of the Sheikh Zayed Road and the Creek, the Vision Tower is an architectural icon, an elegant composition of glass facades that create a stunning sculptural design for Business Bay. The transparent glass exterior allows for clear two-way views, making for an unconventional approach to the traditional glass towers of yesteryear. The AED4 billion Bay Square in Business Bay was unveiled at Cityscape Dubai 2007, the region's largest business-to-business property investment and development event. The five million sq. ft. development, scheduled for completion by 2009, is positioned as a new age community project, targeting businessmen, residents and retailers seeking a stress-free lifestyle in a corporate environment.

The centerpiece of the 13 building development will be a boutique hotel - with a 'downtown' setting, and an exclusive residential tower. The remaining 11 buildings will comprise mixed-use projects, featuring retail and commercial space, and two storeys of rooftop and terrace apartments. Dubai Properties has also been tasked with the management of their existing portfolio of projects including the sprawling 1.7 km waterfront community of Jumeirah Beach Residence, the largest single phase residential development in the world. Handed over in January 2007, with a choice of one, two, three, and four bedroom apartments, each providing fabulous views. This unique urban community also includes retail outlets, restaurants, cineplexes, sports and health clubs, schools, medical facilities, hotels and offices. Beach living Jumeirah Beach Residence is a project that gives both GCC nationals and expatriates in the UAE the chance to invest in their future in Dubai.

It gives them the security of freehold ownership and the opportunity to enjoy a resort lifestyle in a vibrant residential community with a range of facilities on their doorstep. It also gives frequent visitors to Dubai the opportunity to own their own home here. Another development is the AED 40 billion, 73 million square feet Mudon, the largest residential project to be located in Dubailand. It was unveiled at CityScape Dubai 2007, Mudon, meaning 'cities' in Arabic, will incorporate five historic Arab cities - Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Cairo, and Marrakech - within one large city. The architecture of each of the cities will resemble its real-life counterpart, providing 50,000 residents with an authentic living experience and a modern and luxurious lifestyle. It will feature a total of 3,200 villas and town houses and 8,500 apartment units, which will be master planned and developed by Dubai Properties. Residents will have a choice of traditional townhouses with shared, landscaped courtyards, stand alone villas and high end 'signature' villas and apartments overlooking the golf course.

Offices will be interspersed within Mudon, integrating a unique business hub into a thriving community. Communal areas and local amenities will include supermarkets, clinics, launderettes, and various other shared services. Offering residents another opportunity to live next to Dubailand, the region's largest and most comprehensive tourism, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle complex, Dubai Properties has launched its signature development - The Villa. The residential community is spread over 35 million square feet and offers Spanish-style villas surrounded by a mystical desert landscape, ideal for those looking for tranquility close to the city. Spanish style The Villa is divided intro four distinct clusters, The Haciendas, The Ponderosa, The Aldea and The Centro. The Haciendas comprises exclusive villas with manicured exterior spaces, creating an attractive garden environment in a landscape of meandering water channels.

The Ponderosa offers ranch style living with private courtyards, stable buildings, central pools and fountains punctured by rocky outcrops and waterfalls. The Aldea is an intimately planned town and courtyard residential complex with beautifully patterned streets, pathways, pools and fountains. The focus of the entire development is The Centro, where shaded arcades fringe the cobbled square with its celebratory fountains and a vibrant mix of club house, cafes, restaurants, shops and community facilities. In addition to the Villas, Dubai Properties has also offered prospective buyers Al Waha Villas, an AED 745 million freehold Mediterranean style residential community located in Dubailand. The project consists of 260 Mediterranean style townhouses within a luxurious enclave.

Culture village
The Waha Villas project made its worldwide debut during Dubai Properties' two-month long summer promotion at Harrods, London's prestigious department store, where it generated AED 150 million in investments and sales. The project was also showcased at the elegant Ritz Hotel in Paris, as part of Dubai Properties' European initiative to extend the reach of its global presence, promote its signature projects to an international audience, and raise the profile of Dubai among international investors. Dubai Properties' Culture Village is distinctively different from other master developments in Dubai. The launch of Culture Village in 2006 matched Dubai Properties' vision of conceiving unique communities that contribute to the growth of Dubai and add diversity to the market. Located in Jadaf, along the historical and cultural centre of Dubai, the Creek, Culture Village is a unique development offering an elite lifestyle in an intellectually stimulating environment, with year-round world-class cultural events. It will be located on an area of 40 million square feet, and feature a residential, commercial and retail district. Dubai evolves around the Creek, a centre of commerce and trade since the 1800s.

The area of Jadaf was a strong part of Dubai's heritage as it was where the traditional dhows and abras were built. Dubai Properties will expand Dubai's cultural horizons through the Culture Village as a melting pot of diverse traditions, representing the 150 nationalities that call Dubai their home, at the very place where it all began - the Creek. The architectural design of Culture Village includes wide open spaces, traditional wind towers, cobble stone walkways, unique sculptures, waterways topped with bridges, creek side souks, restaurants and cafes, an amphitheatre for live performances and cultural festivals, a public library, exhibition hall and museums, and a dockyard where the tradition of how building can continue unhindered. Culture Village will celebrate Dubai's own heritage and culture alongside a contemporary international milieu.