Dubai: Nestled between Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Park is the lush green Jumeirah Islands. Its flora fauna and easy access to key locations of Dubai has ensured a loyal base of residents in the community, some of whom bought their homes when developer Nakheel launched it way back in 2005/2006.
Italian expat Massimo Vidoni feels very lucky to live in Jumeirah Islands. He says the value of his property has shot up making it a highly viable investment, “I bought my Entertainer villa in the Spanish cluster last May. We moved in during August. My wife Sarah and daughter love it here,” he says.
Vidoni, who bought his four-bedroom unit for Dh9.1million, has seen his property value double already. “The asking price on my villa is currently around Dh18 million. This is very much my retirement home,” said Vidoni, who is fondly called the ‘Truffleman’ of Dubai.
Vidoni, “a passionate purveyor of fine food”, said his successful business prompted him to upgrade his living and a home in Jumeirah Islands was a perfect fit.
According to Karim Amir Ali, CEO, Al Mir Real Estate, the Jumeirah Islands community has given huge returns to home owners. He said entry points for a four-bedroom villa are pegged around Dh16million. The asking rent for a similar property is Dh450,000 per annum and upwards.
“Prices for the Master Views properties are going at a minimum of Dh20 million, with a rent of a minimum Dh650,000 per annum. Upgraded villas are fetching Dh22 million upwards.”
There are many amenities within Jumeirah Islands, including supermarkets, clinics, restaurants and cafes. The development has a club house with a gym and pool, and a beauty salon. There are six schools and three nurseries as well in the vicinity of the area.
Emirates International, Dubai British School in Meadows and Jumeirah Park, Amity School, Raffles Nursery, Dubai International Academy, Regents school all serve the community.
Choithrams is in the community, as are Spinneys, Waitrose, Carrefour, which are all in the vicinity.
Blessed home
Indian expat Manjari Krishnamurthy could not agree more. She and her husband Venkatesh Srikantan bought their sprawling four-bedroom villa for Dh3.3 million back in 2005. The villa spanning 5,000 square feet built up area across a 11,000 square feet plot are getting offers for Dh15 million now. “Back then, Dh3.3 million was a lot of money. But we knew we had invested well and today, we have been proven right,” said Krishnamurthy.
Manjari recalled she was pregnant with her first child Netra when she and her husband moved into the unit in 2006. Seventeen years on, the couple, who live with Netra and their second daughter in the house, say they feel safe, secure and lucky in their blessed home.
“When we first moved, the surrounding area was not as developed. We had just shifted from Bur Dubai where home delivery for groceries was the norm. There was not enough shopping options close by here. There was a supermarket in Jebel Ali Village which did home delivery in Jumeirah Islands. But the minimum order had to be Dh50. When the delivery man once came to my door step and he saw my pregnant state, he said I could call him anytime for delivery even if it was for an order less than Dh50. I was very touched,” says Manjari.
She added: “The Meadows Town Centre was also close by. But there was no proper road connecting Emirates Living and Jumeirah Islands. I had to go all the way to Sheikh Zayed Road and then enter Meadows just to shop. Today, it is a different picture all together.”
‘We love the greenery’
American expat Amir Emam, who bought his four-bedroom villa spanning 10,000 square feet in 2017, has also seen a huge appreciation in the price of his property. His wife Asmar and three children (two girls and a boy - Tarlaan, Terma and Tiam) all love it at Jumeirah Islands.
“We bought the house for Dh6.2 million. Today it can fetch us Dh14 million,” says Emam. “We love living here because of the greenery, the large plot sizes, safety and overall quality of life. Strolling along the green pathways and by the lake is something we treasure as a family.”
Cherished memories
British expat Sheelah Odedra, owner of Shanti Collective, a kid’s yoga business which she launched in the community, said she and her American husband Dimitri Metaxas, also an entrepreneur, have many cherished memories in Jumeirah Islands. The couple and their children Maia (4) and Lola (3) have been living in the community for the last five years in a four-bedroom villa on a plot of 11,000 square feet. The couple bought the villa for Dh6 million back in 2018 and today, the asking price for the villa is around Dh16 million.
Odedra says, “There are people from so many cultures and nationalities living in Jumeirah islands that it truly feels like the melting pot of the world. We are blessed to be raising children in a neighborhood that has a strong sense of community. Something is always happening here. You can book a tennis coach, watch a movie under the stars or enjoy a Sunday roast with your neighbours - a British tradition that I love,” he says.
“The diversity of activities in the community actually inspired me to launch my own business here: A children’s yoga group which teaches kids as young as three years of age to do yoga, meditation and breath work. The JI Clubhouse, where I hold classes, is an amazing space,” he adds.
Ali of Al Mir Real Estate says that in recent months, it has become a trend to buy a villa at the community, upgrade it and sell it for a huge return.
“JI is a very sought after community by investors and end-users,” he claims.
