Mashable: A Dubai bungalow, similar to Palace Versailles in France, is up for sale at 750 million dirhams ($204 million). The price makes it one of the 'most expensive' houses in the city, located in Emirates Hills.

The house has 60,000 sq ft carpet, with five bedrooms, the main one having 4000 sq ft of space. The second bedroom is 2500 sq ft large, with guest rooms being 1000 sq ft, but is used to store wine. The ground floor has a dining room and an entertainment room. There is also a 15-car garage, 19 bathrooms, pools (indoor and outdoor), and two domes. Other features are an 80,000-liter aquarium, 12 staff rooms, two bank vaults, a power substation, and panic rooms. On the whole, the entire mansion will be about 70,000 sq ft and a golf course nearby.

Known as the "Marble Palace", it cost 80 to 100 million dirhams to build it. It is constructed using marble Italian stone and took nearly 12 years. According to Luxhabitat Sotheby's International Realty, who is selling the house, say 7,00,000 sheets of gold leaf were added by 70 workers, which took nine months. The mansion was completed in 2018.

A $204 million mansion is Dubai’s most expensive house for sale https://t.co/KpSRg0XxcF pic.twitter.com/QcxeXKB7sF

— Bloomberg Middle East (@middleeast) June 15, 2023
The mansion also has varied paintings and statutes, which are in the personal collection of the owner, a local property developer, who declined to be named. If the buyer is interested, the owner is ready to negotiate the price of the decor too. Reports say he build the mansion following a divorce, and lives by himself since then.

Kunal Singh, Luxhabitat Sotheby's broker, said, "It's not everybody's taste or style." Moreover, how the city handled the pandemic is also helping it to get more ex-pats from Singapore or Hong Kong. However, Russians are moving to Dubai after their country invaded Ukraine.

The only rival the mansion has is Bugatti by Binghatti, which is also up for sale at 750 million dirhams, but it has not been constructed yet. The difference is that the Bugatto mansion will feature a car elevator, and will be completed in three years' time.

The home is currently decorated with about 400 pieces from the owner’s personal art collection, primarily 19th century and 20th century statues and paintings; the owner is prepared to negotiate about including them and furnishings in the purchase. https://t.co/OWQj7XE8VF pic.twitter.com/B6uTfONzvq

— Lisa Fleisher (@lisafleisher) June 14, 2023
According to Singh, only ten people are wealthy enough to purchase the Marble Palace. The two people who have seen the house are a Russian, while the second is an Indian. The latter also owns a house in Emirates Hills, but he is more keen on a contemporary architect.

Kerry Michael, marketing director for Luxhabitat Sotheby's, notes the house is perfect to bring influential people. "The person who buys it definitely is in politics, is in leadership. They want to entertain people. You can't do that on the Palm (Jumeriah) without getting noticed, without getting media."

inequality: not acceptable, billions live around poverty! #inequality #Capitalism https://t.co/hd1jhLXTua

— Nagy Iskander (@nagy_iskander) June 14, 2023
She further adds, "In Emirates Hills, you can invite the Obamas, you can invite the sheikhs into this palace and entertain."

The house is located minutes from Palm Jumeirah, and 25 minutes by car from the Dubai International Financial Center business district, making it the best location for its price.

Emirates Hills, which is also known as Dubai's Beverly Hills, is a gated community that features a golf course. Another 6000 sq ft plot, adjacent to Marble Palace, was leased or purchased, which the brokers believe is for a tennis or padel ball court.