How much would you pay to have Aishwarya Rai as your neighbour in Dubai?

How much would you pay to have a celebrity as your neighbour in Dubai?

And by pay, we mean, pay extra. And by celebrity we mean global icon – say Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, or Roger Federer, or the Beckhams.

Property agents, on conditions of anonymity, told Emirates 24|7 that rich (high net-worth) clients often insist on having a celebrity in the vicinity, if not next door.

“We have got requests from our HNW clients to get them a house next to a celebrity,” a senior executive of a top property management company told this website.

“They are willing to pay premium for that. One of our clients has already told us to buy a villa next to Shah Rukh Khan on Palm Jumeirah whenever it comes up for sale on the market. And we get a good commission for the deal.”

Industry sources say that agents themselves will pay money to know which celebrity owns which villa or apartment in Dubai.

“Since there is demand and good money to make, we even offer gifts to company sales agents to get a tip-off,” a director of a property consultancy said, also on condition of anonymity.

According to US home appraisal experts, homes owned by the rich and famous can sell at a premium of up to 20 per cent more than homes that belong to just ‘regular millionaires’.

The premium, however, depends on the celebrity’s status.

Celeb address book

Shah Rukh Khan and David Bechkam own villas on Palm Jumeriah, while Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have bought a villa in Sanctuary Falls, Jumeirah Golf Estate

Emirates 24|7 reported that Sohail Khan, the brother of Salman Khan, has purchased a property in Pacific Burj in Business Bay.

Shilpa  Shetty owns an apartment in Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world.

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is also said to own an apartment in Burj Khalifa and a villa in Arabian Ranches.

Tennis player Roger Federer is said to own an apartment in Le Reve, Dubai Marina.

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