You Can Now Live Underwater In Dubai's Amazing Floating Villas

If you’ve always wondered what it would be like to live under the sea, check out these incredible floating villas, which are part of the incredible Heart of Europe resort in Dubai. Unlike anything that you’ve seen before, these breathtaking homes are an amazing architectural feat, setting a new benchmark in the luxury lifestyle market that offers an alternative to sky-high living.

Designed as part of the Heart of Europe resort – a group of six islands that join hundreds of others to make up ‘The World’ in Dubai – around 130 Flying Seahorse villas are expected to be built by the end of this year, with the original Floating Seahorse and the Tzar Edition already sold out.

The latest Signature Edition interior design is totally customisable and can be personalised to suit the owners’ tastes. It was created by the biggest European property development company in Dubai – Kleindienst.

While the villas are anchored like a traditional boat around 1.5m (5 ft.) off the seabed, the three-storey dwellings have been cleverly designed so that it doesn’t feel like they’re moving, even in stormy weather. Project architect Gianfranco Rasile worked with his team for months and did many test runs to get the neutral buoyancy spot-on.

Kleindienst’s CEO Josef Kleindienst said at The Floating Seahorse’s first launch: ‘Many months of research, design and planning have gone into The Floating Seahorse – we are confident that it will set a new benchmark in the luxury lifestyle market worldwide for outstanding innovation, contemporary design and underwater living at its best.’

The jewel in the crown of each villa is the lower-ground floor, where the bedrooms and master bathroom are located, which is submerged beneath sea level. Here, enormous windows measuring 25m² (269 ft.²), yet only 9.5cm (3.7 in.) thick, offer spectacular front-row views of the richly diverse marine life that surround the resort.

‘This is an original idea, to have a boat villa with a submerged floor where you can experience the feeling of stepping down into the master bedroom, be in contact directly with the walls, and see the reef, the marine life all around you – you’re surrounded by it,’ says Rasile.

Upstairs at sea level, floor-to-ceiling windows can be opened up to connect the generous open-plan living space (complete with fully fitted kitchen and dining area) to the sun deck, which offers amazing sea views to the Arabian Gulf beyond.

For ultimate al-fresco dining and entertainment, the upper deck is the party pad of the villa, which features an informal daybed, mini bar for evening cocktails and a glass-bottomed jacuzzi. In addition, the deck can be transformed into a unique winter bedroom, which can be hidden away by retractable curtains.

While the Heart of Europe project is a luxury venture, sustainability and innovation are at the centre of its design, incorporating green features, solar power and cutting-edge technology. To discover more about the resort, click here.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.