Whether you arrive by road or by sea, the transition is deliberate. Set on Jumeirah Bay Island, this gated enclave softens the boundary between the outside world and what lies beyond. You’re greeted by the sea upon entry, revealed through a full-height glass façade and the sense of Dubai as a bustling city begins to fade.

This is the environment Jana Zapletalová chose to introduce to her client — without photographs, without price and without preamble. The result was an AED 340 million transaction, the fourth largest villa transaction ever recorded in Dubai history.

Letting the property speak for itself

In a market shaped by previews, renderings and early price anchoring, Zapletalová says “understanding the client requirements is the only thing that matters.” Zapletalová knew her client valued privacy above all else, along with direct beach access and contemporary architecture.

“I didn’t show him any pictures or disclose the price,” she says. “I simply said, I have something to show you.”

Designed by internationally acclaimed architects SAOTA, the custom built, one of a kind, six bedroom beachfront residence spans 24,692 sq.ft, set on a 26,274 sq.ft plot at the most private tip of Jumeirah Bay Island. The architecture is low and horizontal, favouring flow over formality. Water features, reflecting pools and shallow channels are woven throughout the design, creating a continuous dialogue between architecture and landscape.

The villa includes a private gym with Burj Khalifa views, sauna and ice bath, a bespoke wine cellar, smart home systems throughout and concealed basement parking accessed via a hydraulic lift for up to eight vehicles. “The staff quarters,” Zapletalová notes “are nicer than some apartments in downtown” and a private home office with sweeping sea views allow the home to function as a self-contained retreat.

“At this level,” Zapletalová explains, “it’s about more than features. It’s about recognising when a space truly fits someone’s life, understanding what the client won’t compromise on and then knowing which homes genuinely meet that standard.”

Once inside, the response was immediate, a rare request for a second viewing, the same day, timed for sunset. On the return visit that evening, Zapletalová recalls “the client removed his shoes and walked barefoot through the villa. That’s when I knew this was it. Not because of the views or the price, but because I could tell he felt at home.”

The buyer was represented by Jana Zapletalová while the seller was represented by Lyndsey Redstone of Excelsior Real Estate.

Market context

The sale comes amid a structural shift in Dubai’s ultra-prime residential market. In 2025, transactions above AED 100 million more than doubled, rising from 42 sales in 2024 to 86. The combined value of those homes increased from AED 5.97 billion to AED 13.81 billion, signalling a market that is deepening rather than peaking.

This momentum is being driven in part by continued wealth migration into the UAE, with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices relocating to Dubai in search of long-term residency, political stability and access to a maturing ultra-prime housing market.

According to Simon Baker, Managing Director at haus & haus, buyer behaviour at this level has become more intentional. “This is no longer about one-off trophy homes,” he says. “Buyers are making long-term commitments to Dubai. That requires advisers who understand discretion, timing and how lifestyle and value intersect.”

As Dubai’s ultra-prime market matures, access alone is no longer enough. Insight, restraint and trust have become the true currency.