A record AED 3.5M lease on the Palm and the story behind it

A recent done deal marked a record-breaking leasing contract for haus & haus, and Jessica Eaton, Senior Palm Jumeirah Consultant, was the force behind it.

As a Palm consultant, Jessica isn’t a stranger to high-stake rental deals. But even with years of experience on the island, this one demanded every skill she had, including navigating an entire transaction through Google Translate.

High-stakes renting on the Palm

Dubai continues to attract entrepreneurs and high-net-worth families from all over the world - people searching for stability, structure and opportunity that their home countries no longer offer.

When families arrive in Dubai with strong budgets and a clear idea of the lifestyle they want, Palm Jumeirah becomes an obvious place to start. It’s waterfront, it’s established and it’s the version of Dubai people picture when they imagine what “living here” looks like.

“Most people don’t know Dubai inside out yet,” Jessica says, “but they know the Palm and that’s usually where the search begins.”

The brief: Palm Jumeirah. The outcome: six weeks of curveballs.

The deal that tested every skill except luck

The only luck involved in this six week transaction was that the family were referred to Jessica through previous clients. But even that isn’t really luck. It’s the long term nurturing and quiet relationship-building that happens behind the scenes. Everything else in this deal required networks you only earn through experience.

Relocating to Dubai for stronger schooling, safety and better opportunities for their children, the family arrived knowing exactly what they wanted and they expected to move in quickly.

At first, they signed a one year lease on a villa they liked or at least thought they liked. It wasn’t ready for handover so Jessica placed them in a short term rental for the month.

Within days, they realised they preferred the short term villa far more than the long term one they had committed to and asked whether it could become their full year home instead. But it was a holiday rental booked back-to-back, meaning there was no way to extend their stay.

Which meant Jessica now had to get them out of the contract they’d already signed and find a long term villa that matched the one they didn’t want to leave.

A change of plans doesn’t faze a great agent

Getting out of a signed lease isn’t something most tenants attempt and it’s not something most agents can manage smoothly. But Jessica’s experience on the Palm made all the difference. She worked her magic using her understanding on how to approach landlords, how to communicate expectations clearly and how to find fair solutions for everyone involved to make it work.

“At this price point, everyone deserves clarity,” Jessica says. “It’s never about pushing a landlord or a tenant, but more so about finding the outcome that makes sense for both.”

When the family no longer wanted the original villa, Jessica revisited the agreement and worked with the landlord to reach a mutual resolution. That solved the first hurdle.  

The second was finding a long term home that matched the short term villa they now loved. Five years on the Palm proved their value here. Jessica worked through her contact book to see what might be available before it ever hit the market.

Within a short window, she found a freshly renovated villa, never listed, almost a twin of the short term home and available within 48 hours.

That left Jessica with furniture to worry about. The family loved the cosy look of their short  term villa and wanted to recreate it. Jessica coordinated with the short term landlord, arranged for the pieces they wanted to be sold and moved across and ensured the new home felt familiar.

A high-ticket deal paid in crypto

Crypto payments have been growing in popularity in Dubai, especially in high-ticket transactions and this deal was one of them. The family held their funds in a dollar-pegged cryptocurrency and needed to convert it into cash to complete the lease.

Jessica guided them through the process, connecting them with trusted conversion services and allowing them to choose the provider they felt most comfortable with.

Once selected, she managed the logistics, coordinating multiple instalments due to conversion limits and ensuring each payment reached the landlord without delay.

Six weeks, three villas and a AED 3.5M lease later

Real estate is patience in its highest form. And for us, a reason to celebrate.

This deal highlighted the important of having the patience to manage moving parts, the commitment to follow through and the willingness to adapt when the brief shifts without warning. It also reflected the strength of our training and the tenacity of our team with Jessica being a perfect example.

And whether your brief stays the same or changes overnight, whether you’re paying in bank transfers or crypto or whether the conversation happens in English, Spanish or through Google Translate, we keep the process moving without letting the pressure reach you.

No matter how quickly your decisions change, our agents are trained and genuinely committed to move with you. Connect with an area expert today.