Visitors to the Burj Khalifa are usually content with a latte at Atmosphere on the 122nd floor and a view of Dubai from the observation deck. But last week I took a different lift – or rather three – for a peek inside what is billed as the world’s highest penthouse, which is now on sale. The sprawling Sky Palace is perched on the 107th and 108th floors of the world’s tallest building, some 700 metres above the ground. A monument to both altitude and attitude, it feels far removed from the metropolis that it overlooks. The penthouse inspires a sense of awe but there’s also a whiff of absurdity: from here, even popping to the shops is a 15-minute logistical exercise.
The first lift takes you up to the 73rd floor, where you’ll find a slick lounge with polished parquet floors and panoramic windows. From there, another whisks you to the 107th floor. One final ascent on the penthouse’s internal elevator brings you up to a vast space with double-height windows that allow you to look down on helicopters hovering below.
Want to nip out for dinner? Maybe you should consider investing in a parachute. Left something in the car? Then prepare for three lift journeys and a protracted chat with the valet. Even seasoned staff might find it exhausting. My ears are still popping.
We’re told that there’s interest in the Sky Palace among the usual suspects: a member of the UAE’s royal family has viewed it, as have several Emirati billionaires. A steady flow of prospective buyers has come from the US, Russia and China. But for all its height and hype, the Sky Palace enters a market that – dare we say it – is slowly coming down to Earth.
Luxury in Dubai is turning low-rise. Developers are shifting their focus to waterfront villas and low-slung hideaways, particularly in ritzy enclaves such as Jumeirah Bay, where homes are being sold for as much as $90m (€79m). Some 9,000 villas were completed in Dubai last year, with almost 20,000 more in the pipeline for 2025. Part of this shift is practical. Many people want to build to spec and avoid the awkwardness of sharing a lift (or several). But it’s also a sign of a maturing market. Demand remains high but supply is catching up. Sure, if you’re into brag-worthy views that stretch to the horizon, the Sky Palace delivers. Just don’t expect everyone in Dubai to be impressed, as tastes are clearly changing. And try not to drop your keys outside: it’s a long way down if you lose them.
Rashid is a Dubai-based journalist and a Monocle contributor.
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