The sale of ultra-premium penthouses in Dubai has been on the rise over the past few years.

Two of the most expensive units were sold last year — a 29,800-sq-ft penthouse at One Palm by Omniyat for Dh102 million and a 14,000-sq-ft, full-floor penthouse at the Bvlgari Resorts and Residences for Dh60 million.

There is certainly market activity, with unit prices ranging from Dh10 million to over Dh100 million, says Lewis Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp. He notes that there are now a good number of premium options as developers see a rise in interest from new buyers. “In Marina Gate there are beautiful penthouse apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows with views over the Marina & Emirates Golf Course,” says Allsopp.

An emerging strategy is to add “ultra-premium penthouses” within hotel developments. “With a hotel development, you get the spas, private beach access for those on the Palm, restaurants, cafés, bars etc., offering the best of a luxury lifestyle within your own home,” says Allsopp.

“Also, owners can let the hotel know about their arrival beforehand so the hotel prepares the apartment and the owners just have to turn up and enjoy their stay.”

Statement of luxury

Kunal Puri, group CEO and managing director of La Capitale Real Estate, considers penthouses as the Rolls Royce of luxury residences: regardless of market condition, there will always be buyers.

“In past three to four years, the demand for penthouses has surged so high that it has pushed most of the developers to make penthouse levels rather than traditional one or two penthouses on the highest floor,” says Puri. “Penthouses are a statement of luxury that offer a very exclusive lifestyle. Apart from the best views on the highest floor of the building, the resident can also enjoy the ample space and unique privacy it offers in the sky. The limited availability of penthouses in a building also works as a unique investment proposition.”

Additions

Penthouse buyers generally request all sorts of additions or changes to a unit, from repositioning the kitchen sink to adding a sizable swimming pool on the roof terrace.

These buyers typically purchase a unit in the early stage of construction. At One Palm, which already has three swimming pools, the penthouse buyer had requested a 20m private lap pool on the rooftop of the penthouse. Omniyat accommodated the request as it continued the project build.

“The sooner buyers show their interest in an off-plan penthouse/luxury building, the more likely it is for the developer to accommodate changes in the unit,” says Lewis Knollman, a luxury property specialist and global property consultant at Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty. “Closer to the handover date, there is a smaller chance of fulfilling any changes to a unit.”

New buyers

While the penthouse market was traditionally dominated by well-established business owners and high-level executives, the past two years have seen a lot of interest from young ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNI). “With the constant increase in the number of UHNI in society, this new trend would keep its momentum,” says Puri.

“Therefore, over the past two to three years, most of the penthouses offered by developers are in premium buildings that are the perfect host to the right clientele.”

Knollman agrees the luxury penthouse market is on the rise, with most buyers preferring to live in a luxury building. “The preference is to live in a building where every apartment is of a certain size and value and all the units within that building can be considered penthouses that cater for people with similar budgets, wants and needs,” says Knollman. “This is why Le Reve is the premier luxury building in Dubai for so long. They discovered this idea back in 2006 and only recently developers have caught on.”

Accordingly, Knollman says many projects are now being conceptualised and executed differently. “In the past developers would think more about how they could fit as many units in a building as possible, and whatever room was left at the top would become the penthouse,” he says. “This meant that the space, layout and design of the penthouses were very inefficient. However, in the last couple of years, a few developers seem to be eliminating these mistakes. They are providing luxury to the people who want it. This means spending more and bringing in the European brands and materials that everyone loves.”

Life at the top

Here are some of our top picks for premium penthouses in the market

Burj Khalifa — five-bedroom penthouse

 The buyer will have the freedom to design and furnish the shell-and-core unit

Location: Downtown Dubai

Price: Dh102 million

USP: The 21,000-sq-ft apartment is spread over two floors and is sold shell and core without any internal finishing.

Source: Luxhabitat

One Palm — five-bedroom penthouse

 The penthouse is spread over two levels

Location: Palm Jumeirah

Price: Dh93.33 million

USP: Spread over two levels, this 21,294-sq-ft duplex has a unique ambience enhanced by natural stone, wood and leather finishes. This is the next most expensive unit available on the property.

Source: LuxuryProperty.com

Cayan Tower — five-bedroom penthouse

 The penthouse has its own cinema and private club

Location: Dubai Marina

Price: Dh45 million

USP: The 11,000-sq-ft single-floor penthouse features floor-to-ceiling windows, a cinema, steam/sauna, gym, private nightclub and bedrooms with views.

Source: Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty