Key Highlights

  • Floating Seahorse villas are a timeless innovation and offer breath-taking views of marine life and beautiful coral reefs from underwater bedroom. 
  • More than 1,200 construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are working full time with a healthy and safe environment. 
  • The value of the Floating Seahorse villas has quadrupled from Dh5 million to Dh20 million in the last few years, as the developer builds these ‘underwater suites’ for tourists.

Kleindienst Group, developer of The Heart of Europe – the US$5 billion (Dh18.3 billion) master-planned leisure tourism island destination – has started rolling out Floating Seahorse villas, the world’s first underwater hotel suites and is getting ready to welcome UAE residents and tourists later this year.

The Heart of Europe will host 131 Floating Seahorse villas of which 78 will be completed as part of the Phase I that will be delivered in the last quarter of 2020.

The Floating Seahorse villas are delightful and innovative three-storied real estate units that float on the water while their lower floor is completely submerged under water. A UAE’s home-grown innovation, its three levels have a built-up area of 4,004 square feet that can accommodate up to 8 people.

Sustainable living spaces and engineering prowess

The underwater level is spacious with two rooms and en-suite bathrooms, and is equipped with two panoramic floor to ceiling glass windows that offer captivating views of the colorful coral reefs teeming with marine life from the Arabian Gulf - including the bright striped clown fish, the stylish deep blue angel fish, the majestic purple Tang, the shy Toad fish, tranquil seahorses, graceful pink anemones and ink black sea urchins.

The sea level deck offers a large living room with privacy windows allowing for natural light to flow in, panoramic sliding doors opening up to the lounge deck, a ladder to access the sea water, and a clever and sustainable recreational area – a mesh hammock that doubles up as a trampoline and skylit to ensure the corals reef gardens underneath can thrive.

The sky deck boasts panoramic views of the Dubai skyline and the seascape, an outdoor dining area with privacy shades, a jacuzzi and a sun lounge area. The deck is wrapped with a transparent fence, allowing for unobstructed views of the outdoors.

The structure of the Floating Seahorse comprises a marine-grade concrete below the surface level and a super-light aluminum skeleton above water and a Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) cladding with a high-end glossy yacht finish.

The Floating Seahorse villas also have a 100 years warranty, thanks to the robust waterproof concrete mix by developer Kleindienst Group. This exclusive and proprietary concrete also allows corals to grow on it which will eventually populate the submerged area with marine life.

“A feat of innovation achieved by a marriage of engineering and imagination, the Floating Seahorse villas are an epitome of timeless design and craftsmanship spread across three levels including a spectacular underwater floor,” Josef Kleindienst, Chairman of Kleindienst Group, says.

“As well as providing the world’s first floating underwater experience the Floating Seahorse villas will be home to unique special features, state-of-the-art technology and outdoor climate-controlled areas.”

The project is part of the vision of Mr Josef Kleindienst who wanted to see underwater treasures, marine life sightings and the captivating underwater landscape without getting wet in the ocean. The passion for creating the unimagined experience drove him to travel and study underwater projects globally.

A rewarding investment and an enriching lifestyle

Initially, the Floating Seahorse villas were sold at Dh5 million apiece. Its price has appreciated four times over the last few years. The Floating Seahorse villa prototype was approved and licensed by the authorities last year, following which Kleindienst Group has started to build them on-site.

“The same Floating Seahorses are now sold at Dh20 million. We have already sold 80 of the 130 units,” Josef Kleindienst says. “These Floating Seahorses will be operated as luxury suites by us, as part of the lease-back agreements with the buyers, and then put on short-term rental as full-serviced luxury suites.

“Owners will get their investment back in 12 years at a rate of 8-10 percent annual rental yield, in addition to living in them for two weeks per year. Since the units will be offered to as a premium product to leisure tourists on a short-term rent as hotel suites, we expect a very high return. This makes the Floating Seahorses one of the best assets for higher and faster return on investment.”

The Floating Seahorses villas come in two editions, the Signature Edition whose interiors are designed by The Heart of Europe which allows the client to customise the floorplans and interior design. The Bentley Edition interiors are designed by A++ (the Swiss architectural studio licensed by Bentley home) and furnished with items from Bentley Home collection.

Both editions will benefit from high level empathic hospitality services, stunning facilities across the destination, ease of access, sustainable transportation, a reception desk allowing for 24/7 check-in, room service with organic food from diverse and authentic cuisines from Europe, and mesmerizing sunset and sunrise views.

The Floating Seahorse villas will be strategically placed across 4 destinations in the masterplan and connected via walkways to the festive heart-shaped Honeymoon Island, the vibrant Main Europe island, the colourful and picturesque Portofino inspired hotel, and the scenic Germany Island with its blue sea water lagoon and white sandy beaches.

About The Heart of Europe

The Heart of Europe is a sustainable island destination in Dubai comprising of 7 islands, highly differentiated 15 hotels and resorts, 4,000 holiday homes, boutique hotel suites, in addition to the iconic Floating Seahorse Villas, white sandy beaches, lush landscapes, mesmerising seascapes and views of the Dubai skyline, and the word’s first climate controlled rainy street and snow plaza as well as rare and authentic entertainment options, in Maldives-like settings.

Sustainability and the protection of marine life have been pivotal in the development of the Heart of Europe. The project is home to the Coral Institute which spearheads a pioneering coral reef programme that aims at developing marine life in the surrounding waters. The Heart of Europe also has a zero-discharge policy and zero micro-plastics policy to ensure the protection of the Arabian Gulf and species of marine life that reside around the seven islands. Other sustainable initiatives include clean energy powered by solar panels and hydro fuels, pesticide and fungicide free landscaping, car free environment, recycling of waters to irrigate the gardens and the use of organic food in the hotels.

The Heart of Europe is committed to deliver exceptional experiential journeys through innovative services, events, entertainment, design and technology.

About Kleindienst Group

The Kleindienst Group is committed to pushing the boundaries of what have been achieved, pioneering new concepts in real estate and hospitality to deliver authentic, ethical and enriching experiences.

Established over 30 years ago in Austria and Hungary and present in Dubai since 2003, The Kleindienst Group is the largest European real estate company in Dubai with more than 1,200 employees over its diverse portfolio of businesses which include property development, construction, hospitality, property brokerage, and corporate business centres.

The Heart of Europe is the flagship masterplan of the developer in Dubai, in The World islands, 4 kilometres from the Dubai coastline. 

Kleindienst is the only developer with backward integration capabilities from design to construction in the Middle East. This business model enables it to build and deliver according to the vision in the most innovative environments while also offering a lifetime warranty.

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2020

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.