Business
Sneak peek into Dubai villa sold for Dh102.8m in Emirates Hills
Headline staff
Dubai: Phoenix Homes has brokered a deal for a villa in the Emirates Hills community for a price of Dh102.8 million – the highest value deal in the community this year. It is also the second highest ever sale value for the area.
Myles Bush, a founding partner in the company and an experienced property expert, sealed the deal between the seller from Malta and the buyer, an Indian.
The villa is on a plot of some 38,000 square feet, typical of the prestigious, exclusive gated community’s property
offerings. Emirates Hills is one of the city’s most well-established and upmarket neighbourhoods, featuring an array of unique, mansion-esque villas situated on leafy streets surrounding the Montgomerie Golf Club.
The sprawling mansion has a built-up area of more than 20,000 square feet, and backs onto the golf course. The property features floor-to-ceiling windows, five huge bedrooms, a private cinema, a swimming pool and a gym.
“This sale underlines the positive growth trajectory we are seeing in local real estate – and also serves to cement Phoenix Homes’ reputation as one of the top agencies in the city’s vibrant luxury segment.”
It also helped that Bush has a track record for big deals in the community as well as familiarity with the seller. “This is another notch in my career progression. I was behind the largest villa sale of 2017, the largest lease ever recorded in 2018, and the largest land sale of 2019. I’ve worked with the seller before, and both parties were wonderful people to deal with. We have no doubt that future business will be done with both parties.”
Myles and the team have another reason to celebrate as the sale was concluded on the company’s first anniversary. Phoenix Homes claims to give its team of 18 experienced brokers complete freedom to work how and where they like, with an 80% commission model.
This extraordinary model goes against the regional norm – splitting commission 50/50 between the agent and the agency. Myles will receive a hefty 7-figure commission for his latest sale deal. And while some US models charge brokers for desks and marketing, Phoenix offers workspace for those who want it, and leaves each broker to decide if they want to contribute to marketing of their property portfolio.
Operating from a 3,000 square feet office in Barsha Heights with an admin team, the company carries clout in the local markets – underlined by this record-breaking deal.
Brokers joining the agency can choose to spend some of their commission on promoting their portfolio on Phoenix Homes’ channels if they wish. They can also promote their properties via whichever methods they know work best for them, without paying money into the firm.
Phoenix Homes offers sales and lettings of both residential and commercial properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and plans to swiftly open a UK office to assist in international property negotiations.
Announcements
UAE’s first-ever Woman Grandmaster Rouda Essa Alserkal to play the Norway Chess Open 2025
In a bid to encourage chess players in the Middle East and provide a platform at the global stage, the organisers of Norway Chess – one of the most prestigious tournaments in the FIDE chess calendar – has invited Emirate’s first-ever female grandmaster Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 which will see participation from 31 countries.
The 15-year-old Rouda was formally presented with the invitation by Kjell Madland, Managing Director and visionary behind Norway Chess, today at a press event in Seven Seas Hotel in Dubai. Also present at the grand occasion was Dr Mansoor Al Tamimi, Vice Technical Committee Chair, the Technical Director from the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and Mind Games. Koneru Humpy, two-time women’s world rapid chess champion, also joined virtually and wished Rouda ahead of her upcoming events.
Kjell Madland, Managing Director of Norway Chess, presents the official invitation to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 to Rouda Al Serkal, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster, as Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess, looks on during the official press conference held at the Seven Seas Hotel in Dubai on Wednesday. Photo Credit: Joy Dasgupta/Norway chess
The Norway Chess Open 2025 will be held from May 26 to June 1 at the IMI Forum in Stavanger, attracting both grandmasters and ambitious chess players seeking title norms and valuable competitive experience. With previous participants like reigning World Champion Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa, and Vaishali, who participated in the Norway Chess Open as budding players before their meteoric rise in the sport, has established itself as an essential arena for players seeking high-level competition.
Speaking about providing this unique opportunity for Rouda, Kjell Madland expressed, “Norway Chess is delighted to invite Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in this year’s Norway Chess Open 2025. I congratulate Rouda on the remarkable feat to become the first woman Chess Grandmaster from the UAE and she stands tall as an inspiration for women in this region to achieve. The Norway Chess Open provides a great opportunity for Grandmasters and chess players to hone their skills and gain competitive exposure. We hope to find and encourage many future chess stars from the Middle East to play in the Norway Chess Open.”
Madland further highlighted the importance of growing chess as a competitive sport in the Middle East and expressed interest in creating further synergies with potential partners in the UAE. “We are exploring the possibility of hosting Norway Chess tournament in the Middle East and potential partners are welcome to connect with us. We are also working to broadcast Norway Chess live to the fans in the Middle East,” he said.
In the Norway Chess Open category, leading the list of participants is Rinat Jumbayev (KAZ), followed by strong contenders such as Gergely Kantor (HUN), Valentin Dragnev (AUT), Vitaly Kunin (GER), Norwegian Frode Urkedal (NOR), and Chinese grandmaster Jiner Zhu (CHN).
Expressing her excitement to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025, Rouda said, “I am looking forward to the competition as I know Norway Chess is the strongest grooming ground for future chess superstars. When I first heard that I am getting invited for the Norway Chess Open, I could not believe it and I was so thrilled, I told my coach immediately – that I need to start preparing. This is the most prestigious tournament in the world and I am sure this experience will help me improve my game further.”
“I am also greatly looking forward to meet Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, also some of the Indian players like the new World Champion Gukesh who will be participating in the Norway Chess 2025,” she added.
The Norway Chess Open features double rounds on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30, providing excellent opportunities for title norms in the top group. In the Grandmaster Group, which Rouda has been invited to participate, will have nine rounds, opportunity for title norms and a prize fund of €13,000.
Please see attached images from the event.
About Norway Chess 2025:
The Norway Chess Open is held simultaneously along with the marquee Norway Chess 2025 which will see a star-studded line-up featuring world no.1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Gukesh D (India), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Arjun Erigaisi (India), and Wei Yi (China) among the men while the Norway Chess Women will feature Ju Wenjun (China), Lei Tingjie (China), Humpy Koneru (India), Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), Vaishali Rameshbabu (India), and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Spain).
Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women, feature the same format, same prize money, and take place in the same playing hall. Both tournaments follow a 6-player double round-robin format.
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