Dubai by design

From a sleepy port town on the edge of Arabia to a global metropolis that’s home to some of the most desirable real estate in the world, Dubai has come of age. Twenty years ago, it was still a fledgling city: a new Wild West in the scorching Middle East. Today, Dubai attracts residents from all over the world, lured by the prospect of life in a sun-soaked land of opportunity.

Building a city for the future

BY JOE MORTIMER*

Business titans and intrepid entrepreneurs alike are tuned into the beat of Dubai 2.0, where wellness, sustainability and forward-thinking technology are shaping future development, and a virtually limitless supply of dining and entertainment options make life exceptionally comfortable for those who live there. Dubai set out to transform itself into a world-class travel destination in the 1990s. When I first visited in 1996, the skeletal outline of Burj Al Arab was beginning to take shape, soon to become the symbol of ‘Brand Dubai’. Its completion just before the dawn of the millennium marked the beginning of a new era in more ways than one.

Dubai started life as a busy port where traders selling gold, spices and textiles gathered. Al Fahidi Fort (bottom left of the image) is the oldest building in Dubai.

Twenty years later, things look very different. The ensuing decades saw a wave of construction, new openings and innovation. Free trade zones dedicated to finance, media, IT and healthcare were established, glamorous sporting and cultural events were born, and projects like Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali reshaped the city’s coast. Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai opened in 2005, followed a year later by Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. By 2010, Dubai Metro and Al Maktoum International Airport were up and running, and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, had once again drawn the world’s imagination to unstoppable Dubai, where anything was possible.

In a city as dynamic and fast-paced as Dubai, 'work hard, play hard' will always be the guiding philosophy. But today, the city has a much gentler side that’s increasingly sensitive to the wants and needs of its residents.

Tireless growth and investment has seen Dubai develop into a futuristic metropolis.

Much greater emphasis is placed on personal wellbeing and holistic wellness than it was 20 years ago, and people spend more time doing the things they love as well as the things they must. Dubai has kept up with the shifting priorities. As well as world-class hospitals, the city’s spas and wellness centres cater to residents’ physical, mental and nutritional wellbeing, and the year-round sunshine means Dubai’s beaches, parks and the inviting waters of the Arabian Gulf provide a playground for sports and outdoor activities.

Active expats spend their weekends under the stars amid the rolling desert dunes, hiking in the sublime Hajar Mountains or sending golf balls down the driving range, while the ever-growing collection of spas, beaches and yacht clubs provide plenty of opportunities for luxury-laced wellness.

Emirates Golf Club is a green expanse in the heart of the city.

From the recently minted selection of Michelin-starred restaurants in the region’s first Michelin Guide, to food trucks, pop-ups and casual beachfront dining, the city offers a smorgasbord of delectable dining offerings. Dubai’s shopping malls are filled with everything from independent designers and emerging regional labels to stores bearing the names of the world’s leading fashion houses.

Art aficionados will find a wealth of galleries and studios in Dubai International Financial Centre and the Al Serkal Avenue cultural district, and unsurprisingly for a city with an affluent population, there’s a huge choice of boutiques specialising in bespoke home furnishings and decor.

The spectacular Museum of the Future is a unique addition to the Dubai skyline.

Dubai’s location makes it an incredibly convenient hub for travel to Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and Europe, served by the multiple award-winning Emirates airline, which has played a crucial role in Dubai’s meteoric growth.

For foreign residents, it is the more subtle changes of the last 20 years that have made the biggest impact. New rules introduced in 2006 meant non-nationals were permitted to own real estate on a freehold basis, providing investment opportunities for long-term residents for the first time. Special economic zones created to lure foreign enterprises have made the process of starting a business much more straightforward and affordable in the last few years, and as of 2021, companies can be incorporated without any local ownership.

The Golden Visa and Green Residency programmes designed to attract more skilled workers to the UAE have made it possible to live and work in Dubai without a corporate sponsor, making

The buildings of Dubai Marina, seen from Palm Jumeirah.

it easier for entrepreneurs and the self-employed to do business, while the Job Exploration Visa means skilled workers can enjoy residency without a local host while looking for employment.

Worldwide, the way we live and work has evolved significantly in the last two decades: changes accelerated by the recent pandemic and the worldwide lockdowns that ensued. We’re all digital nomads now, in one form or another. Doing business remotely is easier than ever, and whether you’re the CEO of a global brand or the founder of a fledgling start-up, the world is your workplace. Transforming our homes into workplaces caused many to reassess the importance of indoor and outdoor space, and the need to juggle private and professional lives in a single location saw the invention of concepts like flexible working hours. Mindful of the shifting priorities of discerning investors,

developers are also changing the way they look at residential real estate and borrowing elements from the luxury hospitality industry to make homes where residents and their families can live to their full potential. Intentional and sustainable design and architecture is also finding its place in the city, with a growing collection of buildings and mixed-use projects being developed with these principles in mind.

As new ways of working unshackle us from offices, more professionals are looking at the world map and wondering where to write the next chapter of their lives. After years of whirlwind growth, Dubai is rolling out the red carpet for those prepared to take the leap.

Five minutes with: Karim Adi, Chief Executive Officer, Swiss Property Development, developer of Kempinski Residences The Creek Dubai, and Dubai resident since 2014.

What has changed in Dubai since you relocated there?

The quality of life has really improved. There’s a lot of emphasis on outdoor lifestyle, things like cycle routes, places to walk and sports like padel tennis, which is extremely popular.

Has it become easier to set up a business?

A lot of processes have been digitised, so setting up a business is easier and more affordable today than a few years ago. And now you can be the 100% owner of your business. The UAE government has also introduced the Golden Visa, which grants residency to investors and skilled professionals.

Are you seeing more start-ups and new arrivals appearing?

There are plenty of start-ups and various incubators for certain fields like fintech. Events in Europe are also encouraging people to look at alternatives. If you want to relocate and have a good quality of life, and set up a business, where do you go? There aren’t many places with this dynamic or so many opportunities.

Why is it a good place for families to thrive?

Firstly, it’s a very safe city – in fact, the whole UAE is very safe. Education for kids is good. Also, you have all the help that you may need, for example if you need a nanny or someone to help you on a daily basis. We’re quite spoiled here to be honest with you!

Feeling inspired?

Kempinski Residences The Creek Dubai are designed for owners who want to balance luxury living with a healthy lifestyle.

Designed to reflect the status and aspirations of owners, Kempinski Residences The Creek Dubai is a collection of 274 elegant apartments overlooking some of the most spectacular natural scenery in Dubai. Interiors of the generously proportioned residences reflect the desire of developer Swiss Property to create a sanctuary where residents find the space and time to balance life, work and wellbeing, with soaring ceilings and expansive views. Surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens dotted with intimate corners, shaded pavilions and meandering walkways, residents also have access to a fitness centre overlooking the green gardens, a private cinema and a clubhouse that will act as a hub for the community.

Get to know the city

If you're planning a shorter break, these two havens can provide the perfect base.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL MALL OF THE EMIRATES DUBAI

Unique in every way, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers European elegance in one of the world’s most famous retail emporiums.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL & RESIDENCES PALM JUMEIRAH

Nestled amid five acres of manicured gardens on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, this beachfront escape invites you to linger longer over dreamy sunsets and indolent afternoons.