Armani Beach Residences

Tadao Ando and Giorgio Armani team up on a residential building for the first time

Twenty years after working together on Armani/Teatro in Milan, Japanese architect Tadao Ando and the Armani house are joining forces again. This time it's their first residential project, and it's located on Palm Jumeirah. Arada Properties, a developer based in Sharjah, handles the construction, while Armani/Casa designs the interiors. The building keeps a low profile: two basement parking levels, a ground floor, nine residential storeys and a rooftop terrace. Completion is set for December 31, 2027, under freehold status open to foreign buyers.

Ando's concrete meets the Arabian Gulf

Tadao Ando built his name on raw concrete, grazing light and water, and all three show up here. The entrance sits on an elevated level, opening up sea views as soon as visitors arrive. An overhanging arch shapes the facade, and reflecting pools cover both the ground floor and the first level. The lobby runs double height, with concierge, security and valet service around the clock. For buyers, the architect's name matters most at resale time: Ando buildings are rare, and his residential work outside Japan is rarer still.

On the outer breakwater, views stretch to Burj Al Arab and World Islands

The building sits on the outer breakwater of Palm Jumeirah. Every window runs floor to ceiling. Depending on which way a unit faces, views take in the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Harbour, the Marina, or, to the north, Burj Al Arab and the World Islands archipelago, with the skyline and Burj Khalifa in the background. The developer quotes 15 minutes to Dubai Marina, 20 minutes to Downtown and Dubai Mall, and 35 minutes to DXB airport. Those driving times assume smooth traffic on the trunk road, which isn't always the case during rush hour.

Bridge or Checkers: two palettes, owner's choice

Every buyer picks between two Armani/Casa collections. The Bridge collection, on the darker side, pairs natural stone countertops with sucupira and oak structures, plus glass, lacquer or woven textured bronze doors. The Checkers collection, lighter in tone, leans on fine woods, lacquers and multiline reverse-painted glass. Bathrooms come fitted with the brand's Island line. Apartments also feature a circular or linear foyer, an Armani design concept that separates the entrance from the private living areas, along with ceiling heights of at least 3 meters in the living rooms.

246 sqm for a type A two-bedroom

Units range from two to five bedrooms, penthouses included. The type A two-bedroom layout (units B-202, B-302 and B-402) measures 213.08 sqm inside plus a 33.72 sqm balcony, for 246.80 sqm in total. The living room spans 7.3 by 6 meters, the balcony runs 16.7 meters long, and each bedroom comes with its own walk-in closet. Every unit includes a maid's room and a guest bathroom, alongside an open show kitchen and a separate fully equipped kitchen. Parking follows a simple rule, one space per bedroom, with EV charging points. Two-bedroom buyers receive a 25,000 euro voucher toward Armani/Casa furniture.

8,400 sqm of shared spaces designed by Armani/Casa

Amenities reserved for residents cover 90,000 square feet, or roughly 8,400 sqm. The private spa includes a gym, sauna, cold plunge pool and an indoor pool. On the landscaped deck, a large infinity pool sits next to a dedicated children's pool. The cigar lounge is set up like a library, furnished with limited edition pieces designed by Giorgio Armani. The private beach comes with food service and beach attendants. Less visible but useful day to day, acoustic insulation between apartments, smartphone-controlled home automation and private elevators running at 1.6 meters per second round out the offering. For Arada, better known for Aljada in Sharjah, this project marks a clear step into a higher market tier.