Benzema and Medhi Amine Add to Dubai’s Celebrity Property Map

Dubai's ultra-luxury residential market has attracted two more high-profile names from the world of football.

French star Karim Benzema has acquired several residential units in Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City, including a luxury residence at Vision Iconic Tower the largest tower in the masterplan.

Former Morocco captain Medhi Amine, who played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has purchased an apartment at Eywa Tree of Life as he prepares to relocate to Dubai permanently.

Why Dubai Keeps Attracting Sports Celebrities

Igor Karpikov, Chief Commercial Officer at R.Evolution, described Dubai as particularly attractive to international celebrities because it combines global connectivity, privacy and quality of life.

For individuals constantly in the public eye, he said, that balance is especially valuable. The structural attractions of Dubai's property market reinforce the lifestyle appeal:

• No annual property tax or capital gains tax
• Rental yields typically between 6 and 8%, outperforming many global cities
• Freehold ownership available to foreign nationals in designated areas
• Golden Visa eligibility for qualifying property purchases
• World-class infrastructure, strong safety record and cosmopolitan lifestyle

Also Read: Dubai Hosts First Future of Construction Legathon Event

The Binghatti Dimension

Muhammad Binghatti, chairman of Binghatti, said Benzema's decision to invest reflects the position the company has built and its ability to attract a broad segment of international investors and prominent celebrities.

He described the company's ambition as introducing a distinctive approach to real estate development that originates in Dubai and reaches a global audience.

The Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City masterplan, with its Vision Iconic Tower as the centrepiece, has clearly established itself as a destination address for the global sporting elite Benzema adds to a list that already includes major names from entertainment and sport.

Also Read: DHG Begins Handover of $200M Helvetia Residences in JVC

The Broader Market Backing the Trend

The celebrity purchases sit inside a market performing strongly at the top end. Citing Knight Frank data, Karpikov noted that 296 homes priced above $10 million were sold in Dubai in H1 2026, with a combined value of $5.1 billion.

That is a volume and value that few global cities can match at that price tier.

He also pointed to the Dubai Longevity Authority's establishment and the growing presence of wellness-focused real estate as adding a new dimension to the city's residential offering one that appeals to globally mobile individuals seeking a long-term home rather than a secondary asset.

The celebrity buyer trend is, in this reading, not a vanity signal but a market indicator: when high-net-worth individuals who can buy anywhere choose Dubai, they are making a statement about the city's long-term trajectory as a place to live, not just to invest.

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