From Golf Courses to Lagoons: The Amenities Defining Luxury Real Estate in Dubai

What makes one Dubai community more desirable than the other? Lifestyle. What defines lifestyle? Amenities.

Luxury real estate in Dubai is now about more than just plot size and built up area. What truly creates desirability isn’t just square footage or who your neighbours are, it’s the lifestyle the community offers. New communities distinguish themselves not only by location and connectivity, but by the experiences they offer on your doorstep. The definition of luxury living has shifted, with amenities playing a bigger role than ever in how buyers measure a property's worth.

Golf: The Original Lifestyle Anchor

Golf course communities remain some of the most sought-after addresses in Dubai. Places like Jumeirah Golf Estates, Emirates Hills, Dubai Hills Estate, and Damac Hills have built entire ecosystems around the appeal of waking up to rolling fairways and world-class clubs.

For many buyers, golf isn’t about the sport (in fact many don't even play golf), it’s about the exclusivity. The landscaped views, the waiting lists for membership, the sense of space in a city where density is rising. Villas overlooking fairways consistently command premiums, and for international buyers, the word “golf” signals a global lifestyle they already understand.

The Lagoon Effect

The past few years have seen the rise of a new anchor amenity, crystal lagoons. Projects like District One, The Oasis by Emaar and Damac Lagoons (particularly the lagoon mansions) have redefined waterfront living by bringing swimmable turquoise waters to inland communities. For families, lagoons offer the lifestyle of a beach club without leaving home: kayaking, paddle boarding, or simply relaxing by the water.

Lagoons also tap into Dubai’s global image, blue water sells. For buyers from colder climates or landlocked countries, the visual of a home by the water is desirable, and this demand has translated into strong price growth for lagoon-front properties.

Equestrian Living: The Upper Level of Prestige

If golf and lagoons are lifestyle amenities, equestrian facilities are about heritage, tradition, and exclusivity. Very few developments can offer it, which makes it all the more valuable.

• The Habtoor Polo Villas place homeowners directly within the city’s premier polo community, a level of prestige that can’t be replicated.

• Other polo communities include the Dubai Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club and the Desert Palm Polo Club.

• Grand Polo Community by Emaar is set to add another layer of luxury to an already sought-after masterplan, combining polo culture with modern fieldside villas.

• And most recently, Jumeirah Golf Estates Chapter 2 has introduced equestrian living alongside its next phase of development, creating an ecosystem where golf and horse culture sit side by side. This is notably the first community in Dubai to offer equestrianism but not with polo.

Equestrian communities attract a niche buyer segment, combining luxury real estate with the heritage and prestige of polo and horse culture, which makes them exclusive and highly sought after.

Wellness as an Amenity

Wellness has become one of the strongest differentiators in Dubai real estate. A simple gym and pool are no longer enough, buyers are seeking communities that place health and balance at the centre of daily life. We're now also seeing the growth of wellness in the apartment space but thats an article for a different day.

Today’s luxury developments integrate dedicated wellness spaces: private treatment rooms, outdoor yoga decks, and walking or cycling tracks that turn movement into part of the environment. Tennis courts are another rising expectation, offering both fitness and lifestyle appeal, especially to families and younger residents who view sport as social and lifestyle as much as physical.

Beyond exercise, recovery and relaxation are now considered essential. Communities with steam rooms and saunas give residents spa-level facilities at home, features once limited to five-star resorts. These details are no longer “extras”; they are part of what defines modern luxury living.

Developments that combine physical activity, restorative facilities, and everyday access to wellness are now consistently outperforming those that rely only on the standard gym-and-pool model.

Retail, Dining, and Everyday Access

Convenience has climbed the ladder of priorities in Dubai and real estate is no different. Where luxury once meant seclusion and distance, today’s buyers want the best of both worlds: prestige and privacy without sacrificing easy access to everyday essentials.

Communities are now measured by more than their villas and views, they are judged by the quality of the ecosystem that surrounds them. Schools, dining, and retail are no longer “nice to have”; they are expected. The ability to walk or drive a few minutes to high quality restaurants, a grocery store, usually Waitrose or Spinneys, or a wellness studio (often pilates) adds immense value to a property, especially for families and long-term residents.

Jumeirah Golf Estates is steadily building its retail and F&B presence, ensuring residents don’t need to leave the community for quality dining or everyday shopping. Damac Hills has integrated convenience directly into its leisure-driven masterplan, blending community retail with schools, sports facilities, and open green spaces.

In Emirates Hills, exclusivity has always been the selling point, but its proximity to The Meadows and The Lakes retail hubs means residents enjoy both privacy and access. For buyers at this level, being minutes from fine dining, international schools, and boutique retail adds to the appeal of an already prestigious address.

Meanwhile, communities like Habtoor Polo combine equestrian prestige with convenience. The villas sit alongside stables, polo fields, and riding academies, but also enjoy quick access to shopping, dining, and schools. This balance of lifestyle and practicality is a key reason why such developments are commanding strong buyer interest.

Buyers today expect homes to be part of a complete living experience, not an isolated asset. A villa with views is valuable; a villa with views and walkable access to coffee shops, groceries, and a school run under ten minutes away is invaluable.

The New Equation of Value

Value in Dubai real estate is increasingly defined by the amenities offered. Buyers are no longer just choosing a villa or apartment, they are choosing the life that comes with it. Golf courses continue to hold prestige and will remain so, lagoons are the new symbol of aspirational waterfront living, whilst equestrian facilities introduce heritage and exclusivity, wellness spaces are rising in demand, and community convenience has become non-negotiable.

For buyers, the key is to look beyond the walls of the property. For sellers, it’s about showcasing not just the home, but the lifestyle orbiting it. Because in Dubai, luxury has always been more than space.