Dubai: Talk about selling at a high – the Jumeira Bay land that just sold for Dh125 million came to Dh5,115 per square foot. And that’s a whopping 242 per cent increase on the previous price point for this prized untouched plot at one of the most in-demand waterfront locations in Dubai.

In fact, plots and properties on Jumeira Bay have been delivering some outsized gains for the developer or owner, as the case may be. Earlier this month, a two-bedroom apartment at the island’s Bulgari Residences drew a Dh21 million deal – but what has to rate as an eye-popping Dh10,155 a square foot, according to the portal DXBInteract.com.

The gain for the seller on this deal? A straight out 147 per cent, according to the portal.

It doesn’t end there, also this month, Jumeira Bay oversaw two other property transactions valued at Dh11,000 plus per square foot. “Sellers who waited patiently to close their deals on their plots/properties on Jumeira Bay are clearly getting what they wanted,” said a property consultant. “No other location in Dubai is fetching these kinds of returns for now. Even other prime waterfront destinations.

“Jumeira Bay kept the number of properties and plots steady right through – that’s why buyers are willing to pay these sorts of premiums to buy a home. Or build one themselves.”

April sure has been a good month for Jumeira Bay – and where, in February, a penthouse at the Bulgari Lighthouse landed a Dh410 million sale.

Palm’s ‘affordable’

According to DXBInteract.com data, Palm psf is averaging Dh2,600 these days, while the selling price tends to be around Dh3.7 million. The per square foot rate is up 16 per cent from a year ago.

The other location that’s doing consistently well from a psf basis is the City Walk, where the average is pushing past Dh2,300, up 28 per cent, and the selling price is at a neat Dh3 million. In fact, City Walk is holding the top spot among Dubai’s best-performing areas based on sales volume.

“What’s clear from the first four months’ data is that there is no drop in demand for Dubai’s priciest spots,” the consultant said.

Inland ‘island’

Another upscale location in Dubai recording sizeable big-ticket deals is Tilal Al Ghaf from Majid Al Futtaim. Closer to the Eid holidays, there were purchases of ready plots, of 7,220 square feet and going up to 15,581 square feet, with price tags of Dh11.3 million to Dh31 million plus, based on DXBInteract numbers.

In the recent past, Dubai Hills was one location that benefitted immensely from plot sales, something that was visible early into the property market bounce back starting late 2020. Then came Jumeira Bay and now Tilal Al Ghaf has tapped into a rich vein of buyers wanting to build their own homes.

More to follow…