Building boutique residences in Dubai

Built on the last available waterfront plot in Dubai Marina, LIV Residence is a contemporary apartment development that is set to be completed next year. The project promises a distinctly personalised experience for homebuyers looking to live in one of the most sought-after waterfront communities in Dubai.

LIV Residence features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, offering a “boutique-style luxury” in Dubai Marina. LIV Developers director Ishan Khwaja and CEO Latif Habib tell us more about the project.

Is everything going as scheduled?

Khwaja: The project is on track. The structure of the building is nearing completion and will soon top out, and we have been simultaneously working on all other components, such as MEP, internal walls, exterior façade and finishes.

You launched the project with prices around Dh1,550 per square foot. Has this got you a good response?

Khwaja: There is always a market for quality and location. We took our time to find the right balance. We wanted to complement design with location, which meant carefully selecting a design team to materialise our concept, while doing justice to the last waterfront location in the heart of the Marina. Then, coming up with the right price was strategic.

 There is always a market for quality and location. We took our time to find the right balance.

 - Ishan Khwaja 

LIV is a contemporary, boutique-style luxury waterfront tower. We took a different approach in the market by pricing it at Dh1,550 per square foot compared to our competitors’ rates that range between Dh1,800 and Dh2,000 per square foot.

The response has been positive and our typical buyer is someone who has been looking for this sort of a boutique-style luxury in Dubai Marina to call home. With over 75 per cent of units sold within the first few months of launch, clearly the market has responded well. Very special to us has been the word-of-mouth referrals; a large portion of our buyers were referred by either those who purchased property from us or brokers who realised the high value of this project.

Tell us about the LIV homes.

Habib: LIV instinctively attracts a wide range audience because of its location. The Dubai Marina is considered as one of the best locations in the city. The layouts and finishes of this project have been designed keeping space efficiency in mind, so that floor plans provide flexible options attractive to couples, families or even those looking for holiday homes. For example, our decision to add a maid’s room to a majority of our two-bedroom units, along with offering higher ceiling heights than other builders, has really made our clients realise that we as a developer are taking a different approach. We want to cater to those who appreciate detail, those who value maximum functionality without compromising the feel of luxury. This is what any Marina shopper wants. This sets us apart from our competitors.

What perks are you offering?

Habib: Our payment plan is 40 per cent during construction and 60 per cent on completion, which is expected in July 2019. The biggest perk we offer is that buyers don’t have to wait for three to four years before their handover, as with most off-plan properties. A buyer can book their favourite apartment today and move in mid 2019.

 The biggest perk we offer is that buyers don’t have to wait for three to four years before their handover, as with most off-plan properties. A buyer can book their favourite apartment today and move in mid 2019.

 - Latif Habib 

The LIV Lounge was created to boost buyer experience? How have you achieved that?

Habib: The customer journey at LIV Lounge has been an extraordinary experience for both our customers and for us getting to know them better; hence catering with a special, personalised service for their needs has really paid off. It has made the process of buying not only convenient but fun.

Our show apartment in LIV Lounge is just steps away from the actual project site. It has added visual comfort and truly made decision-making easier. Buyers get to touch and feel interior finishings as well as explore floor plans and space planning through our state of the art visual app.

What do buyers expect from developers in Dubai?

Habib: Buying a home is a big decision. It’s important to have clear communication right from the beginning to bring comfort to a buyer and the entire buying experience. We take pride in servicing our clients with transparency that gains their trust. Our commitment with LIV Residence is to provide tangible results so that our buyers retain our trust.