WATCH: Floating underwater villas in Dubai

Dubai is not only home to the world's tallest tower or the largest shopping mall or man-made islands in the shape of a palm tree. When it comes to luxury living, the city will not only reach for the skies but also go under the sea.

A UAE-based real estate developer is building "floating villas" where one can sleep underwater, enjoying the tranquillity of the sea.

So, imagine the next time you can't sleep, instead of counting sheep in your mind, you can count a school of fish swimming around you. Or instead of taking a bath with a rubber ducky, enjoy the company of Nemo and his band of marine friends.

GALLERY: Dubai's underwater house - The Floating Seahorse

"Every minute of the day you will be surprised with the many colourful fishes you see," said Josef Kleindienst, chairman of Kleindienst, as he showed Khaleej Times the master bedroom of The Floating Seahorse, one of the many "floating villas" to be stationed at the Heart of Europe in The World Islands.

The floating villa, installed with stabilisation system underneath, has three floors: sea-level, an upper deck, and underwater where the master bedroom is located with floor-to-ceiling windows offering an "uninterrupted view of the marine life."

"You will have your own big aquarium in your bed room," said Kleindienst as he pointed to artificial and natural coral reefs attracting different species of marine life.

The floating villa is not actually a villa but more of a moored boat without an engine. It has a fully-fitted kitchen and a glass-bottomed jacuzzi on its upper deck which is also perfect for al fresco dining and sunbathing. The bathroom on the lower deck also boasts of an open view of the sea.

"We call it a luxury marine-style retreat," Kleindienst Group Marketing and PR Manager Charlotte Ferrey told Khaleej Times.

The villas are a part of the company's Heart of Europe development, a group of artificial islands modeled after European design and heritage.

Each signature edition of the Floating Seahorse is currently priced at Dh12 million and spans 4,004 square feet, boasting of four flexi living/sleeping rooms.

Ferrey said over 60 units were sold last year after The Floating Seahorse was unveiled in February 2015. Most of the buyers are from the UAE, GCC, the Asian subcontinent and Europe.

The first 50 units will be handed over in October this year with the first residents ready to move in by early 2017.

Ferrey said the owners have the option to rent out the villas with an estimated cost per night pegged between Dh10,000 to Dh25,000 depending on seasonal demand.

angel@khaleejtimes.com