Tour the most outlandish mansion on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah: Solid gold and Shah Rukh Khan as neighbour

What happens when a Dallas-based interior designer with a love for tech and a flair for gold lands in Dubai? You get an 8,000-square-foot Palm Jumeirah mansion with zero light switches, 24-karat gilded ceilings, and a TV that rises from the floor at the tap of a phone. Meet Anita Surani — a woman who transformed her home into a maximalist-meets-minimalist marvel that’s as high-function as it is high-drama. From Barbie-pink G-Wagons to blush-lit pillars that change colour during cricket matches, this is luxury — Dubai style. Step inside and prepare to be dazzled.

“In Dallas, we lived in a traditional French château with acres of land,” Anita recalls. “Dubai was a shift. But I didn’t want just glam — I wanted it to be functional.” Her redesigned Palm mansion marries elegance with purpose. “This house works for our family.”

“That G-Wagon? My daughter’s 16th birthday gift,” Anita smiles. “She can’t drive yet, so I drive it — or we send her with a female driver.” In Barbie-pink, the car turns heads even in Dubai. Parked beside it? A Tiffany blue Lamborghini and a black Rolls-Royce. “It’s the kind of thing Dubai lets you do — live luxuriously, safely,” she adds.

The foyer sets the tone for everything to come — opulence with restraint, drama with discipline. “It was important to make a statement right at the entry,” Anita says. The soft lighting, controlled entirely by phone, glows gently from a ceiling edged with 24-karat gold. No harsh lights, no visible switches, just sleek surfaces and geometric precision. “My husband didn’t want any direct lights, so I worked around that with soft, ambient mood lighting,” she adds. The effect? A warm welcome wrapped in understated glamour

“When I moved to Dubai, I felt the city’s vibrant energy. I started with just a little gold… but then I couldn’t stop,” says Anita. Her ceilings are gilded in real 24-karat gold, lending a warm, opulent glow to every room. “Gold is synonymous with Dubai — it felt right. I wanted that touch of luxury that also reflects my personality.” The geometrical design with gold accents was born from her husband’s single request — no direct light. The result? Pure grandeur with soft lighting that stuns without ever glaring.

 “There’s not a single switch in this house,” says Anita. “Everything is controlled through my phone — from the blinds to the lights to the massive TV.” This Palm Jumeirah home embraces full automation. “Even my hot plate and water filters are hidden. I like things clean and concealed.” Step into the future — or what she calls her ‘tech paradise’ — where even the TV rises silently from the floor.

Anita is passionate about clean, seamless aesthetics. “Even my hot plate, the water filters, the storage — all are concealed with cladding or texture,” she says. “I didn’t want anything to be visible.” Her Dubai mansion is a masterclass in modern minimalism — wrapped in maximalist opulence.

Anita's home boasts not one but two living rooms — each with its own vibe and purpose. One, tucked slightly away in a cozy nook, is a serene space where Anita and her husband unwind after meals or share a quiet moment. “We enjoy dining there together — it’s our little spot,” she smiles. They play chess or decompress. “It was important to have zones where we could both connect and recharge,” she says.

“In the closet, I feel calm. I feel grateful,” she says. “It’s my space. It reflects my journey.” Surrounded by fashion, symmetry, and silence, Anita’s private walk-in isn’t just storage — it’s self-expression.

“We thought of moving. But I love this view — the skyline, the sea,” Anita says. “No other place made me feel the same.” The living room’s sliding glass walls open straight to the ocean, while her master bedroom overlooks the sea. It’s why she broke the house down and rebuilt it from scratch. She wanted uninterrupted views.

While Anita's home is boldly opulent, her chandeliers strike a delicate balance — minimal in structure, yet reflective of her personality. “I didn’t want anything too flashy,” she said. “But I also wanted the lighting to say something about me.” The result is a collection of sleek, sculptural pieces that blend seamlessly with the gold-dipped ceilings and indirect lighting concept. “My husband didn’t want direct light at all,” she added, “so I used chandeliers more like art — warm, soft, and expressive.” Each fixture quietly commands attention without overpowering the space, echoing Anita’s design ethos of restraint wrapped in luxury.

The master bathroom is a lush sanctuary wrapped in gold and marble, with one indulgence that doesn’t get much use: the jacuzzi. “It’s probably the least used space in the house,” Anita admits. “It felt a bit indulgent in hindsight, but it looked too beautiful not to include.” Surrounded by marble walls, golden accents, and soft ambient lighting, the bathroom is a study in glamour-meets-function — even if the jacuzzi mostly remains a visual treat.

While Anita orchestrated the mansion’s opulent vision, her husband claimed one small but mighty space to unleash his creativity — the bathroom. “That’s all he got,” she laughed. But what a space it is. There's even a mini gym in his walk-in closet filled with suits and sneakers.

“He had fun designing it,” she admitted. It’s the only corner where Anita handed over the reins, letting him blend his personal flair. Proof that even in a house designed for maximalist beauty, there’s room for his quiet, refined expression.

Check out this family’s favourite place to unwind. With two children and a love for socialising, the Surani Khojas have created a space where the entire family can gather to relax, entertain, and soak in Dubai’s skyline. “We love sitting out there to watch cricket matches,” Anita said. “The kids play, we have friends over… it’s our go-to space when we want to breathe and connect.” Whether it’s a quiet moment or a celebratory evening, the patio is an extension of their vibrant, hospitable lifestyle — chic, open, and family-first.

“This house started as a renovation project,” Anita says. “But it became a full reimagination.” With gold ceilings, smart tech, and every corner customised, the Surani Khoja home redefines what ‘luxury’ means in Dubai — one smart switch (or lack thereof) at a time.