Lake Terrace
Adjacent to Indigo Tower, Lake Terrace is one of the buildings closest to the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) Metro station on the Red Line. Designed by WS Atkins, the architectural firm behind the Burj Al Arab, Lake Terrace is a 40-storey apartment building with 572 units ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments. Developed by Damac Properties, the handsome white tower faces the centrepiece of JLT, the Almas Tower and will ultimately overlook the man-made Lake Almas East. There are also plans for landscaping, lakeside walkways and cafés in the vicinity.
The building's facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, heath club, sauna, steam room, men's and women's gymnasiums, barbecue facilities and parking spaces. Concierge and houskeeping services are also available.
Just a few minutes walk from the Metro station, Lake Terrace is a notch above many other JLT buildings, featuring attractive common areas and well-equipped apartments with excellent finishes. As good as it is, to call it luxury living is a slight overstatement.
One-bedroom apartments for sale are currently listed at about Dh875,000; one-bedroom apartments on the rental market are from Dh60,000/annum, two-bedroom apartments are Dh85,000/annum.
Al Habtoor Tower
Although it's not the closest building to the Dubai Marina Metro station, Al Habtoor Tower has the best of both worlds. Located in the middle of Marina Walk's restaurants, the tower offers excellent facilities and well fitted-out apartments with Marina views. With public transport only a block away, this is a Metro hotspot for those who enjoy the good life.
Not only are shops, cafés and restaurants a short stroll away, Stefano's and the Bollywood Café are located at the foot of Al Habtoor Tower, offering Italian and Indian fare, respectively. The complex has an outdoor swimming pool, fountain and children's play area surrounded by palms and deck chairs. Inside there is a gymnasium, health club and a beauty salon.
The 31-storey tower complex has 169 units, with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses. The apartments are spacious and well-designed, many with balconies and views of Dubai Marina and Marina Walk. The building also has underground parking for tenants and 24-hour security.
Executive Tower
Within walking distance of the Business Bay Metro station and located in the heart of the Business Bay commercial and residential district, Executive Towers is an attractive investment option. The project, which is scheduled to be handed over in October, features studios, one- to four-bedroom apartments, garden apartments, loft apartments, penthouses and terrace apartments, ranging from 700 to 6,517ft². Developed by Dubai Properties and designed by WS Atkins, the project comprises ten residential towers, a commercial tower (Aspect Tower) and a hotel tower (Executive Hotel Tower). All the towers are connected to each other by a three-storey podium, the first two floors of which will feature the Bay Avenue shopping mall with a retail area of 175,000ft² and waterfront terraces. The third floor, The Courtyard, will have communal facilities, landscaped plazas, children's play areas, fountain yards, courtyards and covered walking arcades.
The complex will also feature a jogging track, pools, sports facilities, health clubs, clinics, private landscaped gardens for garden apartments, high speed elevators and advanced communications facilities. The sales price of a one-bedroom apartment is Dh900 to Dh1,000/ft² while rents for a one-bedroom apartment are in the range of Dh70,000, according to Provident Estate.
Liberty House
If you are a commuter looking for a fully furnished apartment in the heart of Dubai's financial district, then Liberty House is a good choice. The 42-storey tower comprises furnished residences and offices and is located on Gate Drive, the main thoroughfare of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Developed by ETA Star Property, Liberty House features studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as one- and two-bedroom duplexes. Apartments vary in size from 448 to 1,742ft².
All the units are fitted with furniture imported from Italy and Belgium. These include king-size beds with Italian leather upholstery, two-seater sofas, full length mirrors, night stands and reading desks with two chairs. The one- and two-bedroom apartments have added fittings that include TV stands, dining tables, dressers, standing lamps and night lamps. The leather and black oak furnishings and frosted glass look gives the Liberty House apartments a contemporary yet sophisticated appearance.
Liberty House has a choice of two recreation and relaxation decks, both with pools, one at the 43rd level with a sunset panorama, the other at the ninth level combined with the children's pool, play area and an extended activity deck. Apartments are currently on the market for Dh2,000/ft². Rents for studios are in the range of Dh65,000 while a one-bedroom apartment is around Dh90,000. Although its proximity to the Financial Centre Metro station provides quick and easy access to various parts of Dubai, the complex is currently surrounded by construction work.
