The Heart of Europe - Honeymoon Island and The Floating Seahorse

Situated within the World Islands archipelago off the Dubai coast, The Floating Seahorse is a two-bedroom semi-submerged villa developed by THOE as part of The Heart of Europe project, occupying Honeymoon Island and offering three distinct living levels: above water, at the surface, and fully underwater.

# A structure built across three floors, one of which sits beneath the Arabian Gulf

The Floating Seahorse is not a conventional residence in any architectural sense. The villa spans approximately 4,004 square feet across its three levels, with the defining feature being a complete underwater floor: a bedroom, bathroom and observation space submerged beneath the Gulf's surface and surrounded by a cultivated coral garden. THOE developed the concept as part of a six-island development collectively called The Heart of Europe, itself occupying a section of The World Islands, the manmade archipelago visible in its entirety only from the air.

Honeymoon Island, the specific island on which these villas sit, was conceived as a Maldivian-influenced destination. It connects to the broader Heart of Europe development, including the main Europe island, via floating jetties. Arrival to the island is by boat, seaplane or helicopter, with a shuttle service operating from the Dubai mainland.

Construction stood at 50 per cent completion at time of listing, with handover targeted for Q4 2024.

# The residence: layouts, specification and the Bentley Home interior

Only two units exist within this particular offering, both two-bedroom configurations at a fixed 4,004 square feet. The distinction between them is price: the range runs from AED 21,078,060 to AED 21,981,963.

The villas are semi-furnished, with interiors by Bentley Home. Kitchens arrive fully fitted. The underwater bathroom is finished in marble. Furniture across the residence is hand-finished and carries the Bentley emblem. The specification draws directly from the material language of Bentley's automotive interiors, with bespoke fabric and surface selections made to complement the form of each piece.

Each villa includes a private jacuzzi and a sunbathing deck. The outdoor spaces are designed to function across different moods: active, social and contemplative.

# Amenities on the island: beaches, pools and what lies beneath the water line

# What the island provides

Honeymoon Island includes white sandy beaches, infinity-edged lagoon pools, and landscaped grounds with water features. The surrounding Gulf waters are home to coral reefs and active marine life, which the underwater floor of each villa is positioned to face directly.

Sport activities are available on the island, along with access to the broader Heart of Europe programme of events and dining. The service charge is set at AED 18 per square foot annually.

# Connectivity and the logic of an offshore address

The World Islands sit offshore from the Dubai coastline, placing them outside the rhythms of the mainland city by design. The fifteen-minute shuttle boat service provides the most routine connection to Dubai, while helicopter and seaplane transfers serve faster or more ceremonial arrivals.

The surrounding Arabian Gulf waters bring consistent marine life throughout the year, a function of the island's geographic exposure rather than any engineered attraction. For buyers accustomed to destinations such as the Maldives or Bora Bora, the proposition is comparable in physical character while carrying a Dubai property title and the legal infrastructure that comes with it.

# Who buys a floating villa with an underwater bedroom

The buyer profile here is narrow by any measure. At a price point north of AED 21 million for a two-bedroom residence, with only two units available and no immediate land neighbours, this is a purchase driven by singularity rather than portfolio logic.

The obvious candidate is a buyer who already holds primary and secondary residences elsewhere and is acquiring something that functions as a private retreat with trophy characteristics. The Bentley Home furnishing and the underwater specification position it firmly in the experiential luxury category, where the asset's memorability is part of its value. Dubai's broader property market has deepened considerably in the AED 20 million-plus segment since 2022, with international buyers from Europe, the GCC and Asia active at this tier. Within that market, The Floating Seahorse occupies a position that has no direct comparable.