Though the penthouse at Raffles the Palm is not the most expensive apartment in Dubai, it is certainly among the most lavish. Upon walking in, a sinuous glass and marble staircase greets visitors from within the expansive entrance foyer. One this level, buyers will also find the living and dining room, a front terrace, wet kitchen, two guest bedrooms, and the master suite (which comes with its own private terrace and jacuzzi).
Sitting across three floors at the top of the luxury hotel, the pinnacle for the six-bedroom unit is the circular rooftop terrace. In addition to offering 360-degree views of the Arabian Gulf, you’ll also find a private pool and sun beds. “Purchasing a Raffles residence is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in a highly desirable and prestigious community,” reads the property’s listing.
Branded residences are of increasing popularity in Dubai, where the market is expected to grow by 72% until 2030. At Raffles the Palm, residents have access to an outdoor swimming pol, the city’s largest indoor hotel swimming pool, fitness facilities, the Cinqe Monde spa, a Raffles-only beach, movie theater, ballroom, kids club, and library. The penthouse is for sale for just over $41 million.
London, England
The “best address in London,” is up for grabs if you’ve got €36 million, or about $39.6 million. Located on Eaton Square, a residential garden square in London’s Belgravia district, the home is one of only 12 properties that face the greenery. According to the listing, the property is also unusually wide for a townhome in the area, offering a full-width reception hall of 24 feet.
The home’s current state is a tale of patience and lucky timing. “Our client acquired this magnificent Grade II-listed building in the 1990s when it was sub-divided into flats,” Noel De Keyzer, the listing agent, tells AD. “Many of these elegant houses had been converted after World War II.” Later, the sellers were able to purchase a mews house in the rear, and restore both buildings into a single-family house. However, for those also interested in royal history, the property has perhaps an even more compelling background.
Beauchamp Estates, who also holds the listing, had previously shared the home’s connection to HRH Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and daughter of HM King Constantine I of Greece and Princess Sophie of Prussia. Princess Katherine and her husband, Major Richard Brandram, MC, moved into the estate in 1947 and used the impressive abode as their primary residence for years. “With its fascinating royal history, this magnificent townhouse-mansion provides the opportunity to acquire one of the finest houses on Eaton Square, on the market for the first time in a generation,” Gary Hersham, founding director of Beauchamp Estates, said in a statement at the time.
The town home counts a formal reception hall, conservatory, gym, patio, elevator, and wine cellar among its impressive amenities. The former royal residence was artfully restored in 1995 with its interiors designed by Nicky Haslam.
