Dubai Dream: Tour chic, arty and quirky Victory Heights villa with queen of re-invention Dalia El Ali

Gulf News

25-04-2025

Fashion designer, art collector, and entrepreneur Dalia El Ali's home isn't your usual Dubai villa. It isn't flashy, overly styled, or dripping in gold. Instead, it's a whitewashed Mediterranean paradise—a serene space that reminds you of Mykonos, with clean lines, curated textures, and a sense of ease that feels more holiday than home. And that's no accident.
'I did get inspired a lot with Mykonos! I remember just having bought this house and I was in Mykonos just before renovating it and working on it,' says Dalia.
'That's why there's a lot of white. Everything is white, whether interior and exterior… even the cactus and choices in the garden and the landscaping was very Mykonos-inspired.'
Take a full video tour of the incredible home here:
Situated in Dubai's leafy Victory Heights, the 10,800 square foot villa is the definition of aspirational. It offers generous outdoor space, a pool ("Unfortunately, I'm maybe the only one who uses it—to tan," she laughs), and interiors that reflect both a strong design identity and a warm, lived-in spirit.
Step inside and you're met with a zen vibe. No heavy decor, no cluttered corners—just breezy minimalism.
'I wanted everything to be light,' says Dalia. Her entryway gives a teaser into a space where minimalism isn't sterile, but soothing.
It's clear this is a designer's home, but also a collector's canvas. Dalia has a thing for 3D art—pieces that feel tactile and textured.
"Most of my attention comes to 3D pieces because of my passion for fabric," she says. She gravitates toward beaded, embroidered, and resin works. Her favorite? A resin artwork shaped like a Polaroid sunset. 'I fell in love with it... it was just a nice meaning.'
Around every corner is evidence of her creative spirit. From Murano glass lights sourced in Italy to a coffee tray picked up in Cape Town, every piece has a passport and a story. "Every piece in this house has a story to tell," Dalia says. "I like to be asked, 'Where is that from?'"
Colour, too, plays a starring role. Even in a house built on white, pops of mustard, blush, and emerald bring joy and personality. 'Colours make my eyes happy. They open up my brain,' says Dalia.
Morning walks through her neighborhood double as creative warm-ups, where she soaks in the sky's gradients and the everyday buzz of kids and dogs. 'I just enjoy the colour of the sky, the nature,' she adds.
Dalia's kitchen, much like her personality, is open. 'We have one kitchen. We don't have a dirty kitchen,' she laughs. It's not just pretty—think lemons in bowls and pretzels in glass jars—it's used. 'Everyone can eat in the kitchen. It's open. It's real.'
The home is a key part of Dalia's reinvention story. Once an investment banker, she pivoted to fashion after becoming a mother. That journey eventually led her into interiors, art, and entrepreneurship. 'Your house needs to be you. It can't be copied from a magazine,' she says. Her home is exactly that—original, warm, and full of character.
This space isn't a showroom; it's a mood. One where every piece matters, every wall has something to say, and nothing is there just for the sake of it. White Lotus vibes? Definitely. But without the murder.
'It's like being on a holiday without being on a holiday,' says Dalia with a smile. And that's the charm of it all.