I'm looking at buying a luxury home in Dubai for myself and my family, but I still haven't decided what type of property makes the most sense. Part of me likes the privacy of a villa, but a large apartment or penthouse in a good building could be easier to live with day to day. We want plenty of space, a good area, and something that still feels comfortable as a permanent home rather than a place we'd only use on vacation. What would you guys look at in Dubai?
I wouldn't rule out the top floors though, because you can still get a lot of space without dealing with a standalone house. Some larger layouts give you separate bedroom areas, big terraces, and enough room that it doesn't feel like a regular apartment at all. You can look through penthouses in Dubai here: https://atvir.com/uae/residential-complexes/penthouses . Compare a few with the villas you're considering and see which way your family leans. The difference becomes a lot clearer when you're looking at actual layouts and not just deciding between property types in your head.
For a family, I'd put everyday comfort ahead of having the most impressive address. Extra bedrooms, storage, parking, and some space where everyone isn't on top of each other start to matter pretty quickly. For more privacy, start with villas around Dubai Hills or Arabian Ranches and see whether that kind of setup feels right. You may find that having your own entrance and more room around the house wins over being high up in a tower.