Owning and renting villas in Dubai has become a realistic option

Phase one of Dubai's Victory Heights is nearing full completion with 685 of the 784 villas already handed over to residents who have taken up home in the development's five villages that surround The Els Club golf course. To celebrate the full handover of three of the five villages, Victory Heights recently held a celebratory lunch for Al Jaber Group who were charged with the construction of the villages of Oliva, Estella and Esmeralda.

With a mix of homes that range from grand villas to distinctive townhouses, Victory Heights offers a range of Spanish Andalusian, bold Mediterranean and classic European architectural styles across its varied inventory. Depending on the location amid its 25 million square feet, Victory Heights affords residents both natural privacy and views across the landscaped grounds, and/or the manicured fairways of its verdant golf course. The centrepiece of Victory Heights is The Els Club at Dubai Sports City, the first golf course in the Middle East designed by two-time US Open Champion, Ernie Els. The course was named Best New International Course by Links Magazine and selected as a finalist in the International Courses category of the 2008 Golf Inc Development of the Year contest, among other accolades.

Designed with a sense of drama in the topography of the fairways, The Els Club is a course that has been described as visually stunning and exciting to play. At 7,538 yards, it offers four sets of tees, thus allowing several differing lengths from which to play, and perhaps contributing to its sterling reputation among the golfing community. At a time when many projects have slowed their pace of development, or gone on hold entirely, the completion of phase one of Victory Heights is worth acknowledging. In that spirit, we got Yasser Abdul Rahman Al Raee, general manager of Victory Heights, talking about this ambitious development in the heart of Dubai Sports City.

You've recently announced completion of three of the five villages that make up phase one. What has helped keep the project moving along?

The Victory Heights development is a unique endeavour and choosing the right contractor has been an integral part of our success in delivering high quality villas to our homeowners.

Al Jaber has consistently met our stringent requirements throughout the construction process of Oliva, Estella and Esmeralda villages and has worked alongside us to create one of the most sought-after residential developments in Dubai.

Why do you think this particular time might be a good one to consider buying or leasing in Victory Heights?

Owning and renting villas in Dubai has become a more realistic option for many families since last year's real estate downturn, which means that instead of making do with apartments, families can enjoy all the perks of villa living.

Victory Heights has seen growing interest from both potential buyers and rental clients in the second half of this year, from people who are looking for more space and privacy, as well as a place where they can feel part of a larger community with easy access to parks and community amenities.

How do you think the development distinguishes itself in a market that features more and more options?

Other villa developments in Dubai consider themselves to be competitors of Victory Heights. However, when you come here you'll see that the spaciousness and high-quality finish of our luxury homes sets us apart from the rest. The fact that we are already an established development, with the infrastructure and facilities to match, is also a huge advantage for prospective residents, as it means that they can move in without worrying about whether the utilities, for example, have been connected.

The development is also very green and pleasant, with landscaped gardens and parks, and many of the villas look out onto the fairways and lakes of The Els Club golf course. The landscaping has been set up in a sustainable manner which will appeal to the environmentally conscious.

We are also proud of the strong community spirit, which we have fostered since the first families moved in last year, which we facilitate by hosting regular resident get-togethers, such as evening barbecues, children's fun events and local market days.

Tell us about your residents, what type of residents areyou attracting?

Victory Heights is a luxury golfing residential community which has been designed primarily to attract families who are drawn to the spaciousness of the villas, which come with good-sized gardens and plenty of living space and storage.

To date we have more than 600 families living in the community and have handed over 685 villas out of 784 properties that make up the first phase of the development. Our residents come from all over the world, some of whom have moved from other developments in Dubai to Victory Heights, while others are totally new to the emirate.

Generally speaking, our homeowners are the kind of people who enjoy living in a place that has a green and tranquil atmosphere and where there is a strong community spirit, which means they are happy to get to know their neighbours but also respect other people's privacy.

Of course, being located on the edge of The Els Club golf course and in the heart of Dubai Sports City, most of Victory Heights' residents are also keen sports people. The development itself has a number of parks and a jogging track.

Victory Heights is slated to have two community centres. When do you think the community centres will be completed, and what will this mean for the residents?

We are pleased to announce that work has commenced on the second community centre in Estella village and construction is moving ahead on the first centre which should be ready for use by the end of December. We anticipate that both community centres will become focal parts of life in Victory Heights with residents using the space and facilities during their free time and as a place to enjoy time with family and friends.

The vision of Victory Heights is nearing full completion, we are delivering our final villas and our recreational facilities are coming online; ensuring that our unique luxury golfing residential community fully meets the needs of homeowners, their families and friends. Both centres will offer residents high-end facilities, including swimming pools, children's play areas, basketball courts and barbecue areas and will play key roles in fostering a strong community spirit within the development.

With regards to hosting events helping to shape a sense of community at Victory Heights, can you tell us about past events and what you have coming up?

Victory Heights holds regular community events which this year have included family barbecues with kids' activities, a tree-planting event as part of our commitment to developing a sustainable community, community market days, where residents and retailers are invited to set up stalls and sell their goods, and our annual Ramadan Suhour which is a magical evening of food and entertainment overlooking the greens of The Els Club golf course. The response is always fantastic with hundreds of residents joining in with their families and friends.

Our second community market day was held on November 11 where 20 vendors sold arts and crafts, jewellery, fashion and homeware items to residents while the kids enjoyed games anda magic show.

Tell us about the golf course and its relationship to the development — is that a key attraction for residents?

Many of Victory Heights' residents decided to buy inthe development because of its close proximity to the award-winning golf course. Designed by world champion golfer, Ernie Els, The Els Club has been touted by golfers as one of the best courses in the UAE. Ernie himself comes to play on the course when he's in town.

The Butch Harman School of Golf stands next to the golf course where players of all abilities can brush up on their swing.

The location of Victory Heights gives residents direct access to all the sporting facilities of Dubai Sports City, which is home to the international cricket stadium where national and international cricket and football matches are played.

Dubai Sports City also boasts a sporting-focused school called the Bradenton Preparatory Academy Dubai and is soon to open five sporting academies offering world-class coaching to children of all ages in football, hockey, rugby, swimming and cricket.

linelson@alnisrmedia.com