Regent Residences bursts into Marasi Marina like a slap of elegance in a skyline saturated with visual excess that is often empty. This is not the typical generic glass tower; Foster + Partners, the firm of the legendary Norman Foster, has sculpted two twin structures of 37 floors that seem to converse with each other, connected by a water umbilical cord at mid-height. The concept moves away from vertical massification to embrace an almost paranoid privacy: there are no neighbors on the landing here, only one residence per floor with its own private elevator lobby, ensuring that the only visual contact is with the Burj Khalifa on the other side of the canal.
The dynamic façade is a biophilic statement in the middle of the concrete desert, integrating staggered terraces that function as hanging gardens and natural thermal regulators. Gerard Evenden, studio head at Foster + Partners, describes the project not as a building, but as a “fluid living experience” where the boundaries between interior and exterior dissolve through floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the city as if it were a moving canvas.
The best-kept secret: 3,250 m² of ego in the sky
If luxury is measured in square meters, the ultra-penthouse at Regent Residences breaks the scale with its absurd dimensions of up to 3,250 m² (more than 30,000 square feet). This mansion in the clouds occupies the top of both towers, joining the structures in a habitable bridge that includes its own private infinity pool, state-of-the-art gym and exclusive spa. It is not just an apartment; it is a private complex suspended 180 meters above ground, designed to compete directly with the most exclusive villas in Palm Jumeirah, but with the strategic advantage of being in the financial center.
The 63 standard residences are no slouch when it comes to ostentation either, starting at 650 m² (7,000 square feet) for the three- and four-bedroom apartments. Each unit has its own temperature-controlled pool on the terrace, a technical feature that has forced engineers to rethink the structural loads of the building in order to support tons of cantilevered water. Sankari Properties, led by Mohammed Sankari, has sought to ensure that no resident has to share their morning dip with strangers.
Interiors that whisper money (thanks to Portia Fox)
While the exterior screams modernity, the interior designed by London studio Portia Fox aims for a tactile and quiet sophistication. Forget the loud golds typical of the region; here the palette is a symphony of earth tones, natural stones brought from Italian quarries and fine woods crafted by hand. The firm, known for its work on historic residences in Regent’s Park, has transferred that European sensibility to the Dubai context, creating spaces that feel more like inherited homes than speculative investments.
The technical details are obsessive: invisible home automation systems that anticipate the user’s needs, chef’s kitchens equipped with appliances that cost more than a sports car and walk-in closets that rival high-fashion boutiques. In addition, the collaboration with Gilles & Boissier adds an extra layer of Parisian refinement in the common areas, ensuring that the journey from the car to the sofa is a continuous aesthetic experience.
Amenities: When golf and cinema are standard
The amenities catalogue at Regent Residences seems designed so that its occupants never need to set foot on the street. In addition to the private pools, the complex houses a covered 25-meter infinity pool for the most intense summer days, surrounded by ergonomic loungers and butler service. Residents have access to a professional-grade golf simulator to perfect their swing without suffering the heat, a private cinema with studio-grade acoustics and tennis and padel courts for neighborly tournaments.
But the real luxury lies in the intangible: the “à la carte” service managed by the Regent brand. This includes everything from private chefs available 24/7 to personal trainers, as well as chauffeured limousines and priority access to a selection of gourmet restaurants located on the building’s green podium. There are also 10 floating “water villas” at canal level, offering a nautical living experience with a private mooring, something unprecedented in the dense urban fabric of Business Bay.
Business Bay: The new power postcode
The location in Marasi Marina is no coincidence; it is a strategic bet on Dubai’s fastest-appreciating area. While Downtown is starting to suffer from chronic congestion, Business Bay is reinventing itself as a premium lifestyle district, with expanded waterfront promenades and enviable waterway connectivity. Regent Residences is located at the epicenter of this transformation, surrounded by five-star hotels such as The Lana (Dorchester Collection) and Zaha Hadid’s ME Dubai, consolidating an architectural “golden triangle”.
With delivery scheduled for the end of 2027, the project promises an estimated return on investment (ROI) of 10%, outperforming the local average thanks to the scarcity of ultra-luxury product in the area. Sankari Properties, backed by the fortune of fashion conglomerate Paris Group, has injected 1 billion dollars to ensure flawless execution, knowing that in this market segment, a flaw in the finishes can cost millions. It is a high-risk bet, but in a city that thrives on selling impossible dreams, building pools in the air seems like the most sensible move in the world.
