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In the spotlight. Tim Boswell has put up his Palm Jumeirah villa, for sale Image Credit: GN Archives

Dubai: Dubai may be home to A-listers David Beckham and Shah Rukh Khan already but it seems US President Barack Obama isn’t buying an address in the emirate just yet.

On Monday social media went abuzz with news of Barack Obama buying a Dh18 million Palm Jumeirah mansion. However, the property owner and CEO of the Ocean View Real Estate Tim Boswell clarified that no such deal ever took place.

An article floating in various media claimed Obama had “purchased” a six-bedroom beach front property in Frond A, Palm Jumeirah.

The sprawling 7,000 sqft, Riviera style villa – listed for sale by Ocean View Real Estate – is said to have floor to ceiling windows offering fabulous views of the Palm.

With well-lit dining rooms, fully fitted kitchen, family lounge and a guest cloakroom on the ground floor and five en-suite bedrooms with stunning sea views on the first floor, the villa comes with a private swimming pool, lawns and an archway terrace.

No deal

However, Boswell said the property hasn’t changed hands yet. “I haven’t had that many Americans viewing my property, but I would definitely recognise this American in my house.

“On a serious note, I know that a man of Obama’s stature will send his ‘people’ to view the villa before buying it, but we are not aware of any such leads. My villa has been up for sale since the last six weeks and I can assure you no presidents have viewed it so far,” he said.

Earlier, media reports said that one of the US Navy’s top commanders, Rear Admiral Rick Williams, was relieved of his post after he queried why Navy forces had been sent to Dubai on a “Obama house hunting mission”.

US officials, however, said the Admiral was fired due to misuse of his work computer.