New year, new home? After all, prices have been slipping across the UAE, so this could be the time to make the move from renting to buying, or simply upgrading.
If it's upgrading that you're after and have a taste for the upper end of the market then the eye will naturally gravitate towards Emirates Hills and its cluster of uniquely-designed mansions where opulence meets tranquility.
It all sounds ideal - when can you move in, you ask? The answer is when you have Dh63 million in the case of this villa which has just come on the market in Sector E.
Located along the southern border of the community, this area enjoys an ideal position with views of the Address Montgomerie golf course and the skyline of Dubai Marina.
The villa, being marketed by LuxuryProperty.com, is spread over 18,000 sq ft and has a plot of 24,000 sq ft, so you have plenty of options for entertainment indoors and outdoors.
The stately exterior gives a hint of what is to be found inside - and that is marble imported from Italy which has been used for floors, work tops and walls, while the 2.8m doors are made of American cherry wood.
A domed ceiling with a chandelier in the entry foyer and a stained glass skylight in a reception room are the kind of features which confirm you are shopping among the elite.
There's six bedrooms including a master suite which comes with its own sitting room, a walk-in dressing room and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom.
Aside from the regular living areas, there's home gym and pool with further Jacuzzi and a pool-side bar.
What makes a home in Emirates Hills stand out from the rest in such an exclusive estate?
This home, designed and constructed by the current owners, enjoys the finest of both design and indeed materials. It has the rare commodity of looking and feeling like a true family home. What I mean by that is that there is an abundance of formal entertaining space but a mausoleum it is not.
The family kitchen with adjacent living area provides for a comfortable place to enjoy a coffee overlooking the Address Montgomerie golf course. Homes that achieve that fine fusion of abundant luxury coupled with comfortable family living are a rarity.
Do you expect much price fluctuation in 2019?
Prices of prime properties of this nature dropped by 8 per cent in 2018. This is statistical data based on Dubai Land Department transactions. I am always reminded of the phrase "statistics can be made to prove anything" - with that in mind, I do wonder if these perceived price drops have a basis in fact or merely reflect what was historically unsubstantiated valuations.
The fundamentals of the Dubai market remain incredibly strong and when compared to other cosmopolitan cities our real estate on a per sq ft analysis is very well-priced. My view is that prices across the city will stabilise in 2019 with a return to modest growth in Q4 2019 once the government's new five and 10-year visa policy begins to take hold.
Besides Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Hills, which other areas of Dubai would a buyer look to with Dh50m+ to spend?
They can expect to acquire super prime real estate in a) Downtown Dubai, for example at Burj Khalifa; b) District One, where you can buy a seven or eight-bedroom mansion in close proximity to Downtown; c) Dubai Hills where you can acquire a spectacular turnkey mansion overlooking the golf course and enjoy city skyline views; d) Al Barari, where there's a wonderful oasis of greenery. Or a personal favourite of mine, a mansion at Bulgari Residences on Jumeira Bay Island.