Brazilian soccer star Neymar has snapped up an AED 200 million (US$54.45 million) penthouse in Dubai’s Bugatti Residences, according to the building’s developer Binghatti.
Neymar, whose full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, acquired one of the building’s so-called Sky Mansions during an official signing ceremony posted to the developer’s Instagram account on Monday. The unit is equipped with a private car elevator capable of transporting vehicles directly to the penthouse, and a private swimming pool with panoramic views of Downtown Dubai.
After spending a decade in Europe with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer moved to the Middle East on a transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in 2023. His two-year contract with Al-Hilal expires in June 2025.
The news of his penthouse purchase comes amid speculation that Neymar, 32, would be returning to Santos—the club in São Paulo where he made his professional debut—rumors which his agent reportedly squashed.
Meanwhile, the penthouse purchase isn’t Neymar’s only big-ticket real estate investment recently. Last month he bought a piece of waterfront land in Miami for $26 million, which also fed relocation rumors.
Located in Dubai’s Business Bay, the under construction Bugatti Residences—the only branded residential project from the luxury automaker—will have 182 residences and a plethora of amenities including a French Riviera-inspired beach, a private pool, a fitness club and a members-only club.
Dubai has ranked as the world’s hot spot for branded developments, with more completed and pipeline projects than anywhere else globally, according to data released Monday from the U.K.-based real estate firm Savills.
Meanwhile, the number of branded residences schemes globally is set to double over the next seven years.
“As well as an increasing number of projects, the geographies have also expanded with operators and brands looking to new destinations,” said Rico Picenoni, head of Savills Global Residential Development Consultancy. “Over the next five years, we forecast that 60 new brands will enter the space and the industry will reach five new geographies including Romania and Tanzania.”
