Expo City Dubai completes major construction milestones

Access Consult, a Dubai-based architectural and engineering consultancy, is marking a new phase of growth after delivering more than 800 projects across the UAE over the past 27 years. The firm has evolved into a full-service design and engineering consultancy supporting developers and public sector clients with end-to-end delivery, from concept design and authority approvals through to construction supervision and handover.

Access Consult provides fully integrated architectural, structural, MEP, interior design, quantity surveying, project management, and supervision services, all delivered through in-house teams. This one-stop model allows the company to manage projects from A to Z while maintaining direct control over quality, timelines, and regulatory compliance. With a strong footprint across the UAE and a focus on Dubai,  Access Consult has signed 10 new projects, completed three major developments, and grown its team by approximately 30 to 35% in the past year alone. This momentum supports the nation’s We the UAE 2031 vision for future-ready development, as 400,000+ units are under construction or planned for the next four years in Dubai alone.

The company’s portfolio features developers across residential, commercial, retail, healthcare, and mixed-use projects, serving private and public sectors. The firm works closely with government stakeholders, including Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Landmark developments across Dubai include the Edition Hotel Dubai, DSO Radison Blu Hotel, ALTA Tower, Guzel Towers, the Famous Marina Mosque and many more. Access Consult also supports major organisations such as National Bonds and regional developers across residential and commercial real estate, while also working on selected international projects across the EMEA region.

Arch. Mohamed Salah Seguen, CEO at Access Consult member of Excellence Consortium, said: “At Access Consult, we are very deliberate about how we grow. As a mid-sized consultancy, every project and every client relationship matters. Our focus is to deliver quality design, practical engineering, and dependable supervision from the first concept through to handover. Clients choose Access Consult for our fully in-house delivery, strong regulatory expertise, and speed without compromising standards. Looking ahead, our vision is to strengthen our position as a trusted UAE consultancy while expanding our capabilities to support more complex, design-led developments across the region.”

A core differentiator for Access Consult is its fully digital approach to design coordination and project delivery. By managing architectural and engineering workflows through integrated digital systems and overlapping design phases, the company typically reduces design and approval timelines by 30 to 50%. During construction, its structured supervision processes and on-site engineering teams help shorten delivery schedules by a further 20 to 30%, depending on project scope and contractor performance. This approach is reinforced by Access Consult’s position within a wider group of specialist companies, giving clients access to additional expertise across project management, façade engineering, and technical consultancy when required.

Building on nearly three decades of operation in the UAE, Access Consult continues to position itself as a trusted partner for developers seeking streamlined project delivery, regulatory expertise, and integrated design services under one roof. Looking ahead, Access Consult is prioritising continued investment in digital delivery processes while strengthening its presence across high-growth residential and commercial developments. Longer term, the company will broaden its business model to include project development and management services, building on its technical foundation and market experience.

With more than 800 projects completed and a growing multidisciplinary team, the firm remains focused on shaping practical, high-quality built environments that support the region’s evolving development landscape.

Dubai-based real estate developer TownX has partnered with Regeny, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging solution provider, to operate 29 state-of-the-art EV charging spots at Luma Park Views, Jumeirah Village Circle.

With this partnership, Luma Park Views will now feature the highest number of EV charging slots in the city, reflecting TownX’s commitment to sustainability and the future of transportation. This expansion is a significant step towards promoting a greener and more sustainable urban environment.

TownX has also appointed Green Parking, the industry’s leader in retail parking management, to oversee the parking operations for over 20,000 square feet of retail space within the development. The partnership ensures efficient and innovative management of parking facilities while enhancing the overall retail experience for visitors.

Haider Abduljabbar, Executive Director at TownX stated: “Today’s announcement is a monumental step for both TownX and the city of Dubai. With the highest number of EV charging spots at Luma Park Views, we’re taking bold strides in supporting the future of clean transportation. This move underscores our dedication to sustainability and the reduction of our carbon footprint, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a green and innovative future.”

Anish Racherla, CEO, Regeny commented: “We are thrilled to collaborate with TownX to install and operate EV charging spots at Luma Park Views. This partnership not only supports the growing demand for EVs in Dubai but also aligns with our mission to provide reliable and eco-friendly charging solutions. Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable Dubai.”

Cement sales volumes across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fell in February on both an annual (10.5% decline) and monthly basis (16.3%) to 4.28 metric tonnes, thus reflecting softer demand mainly due to Ramadan season, said a report by Al Rajhi Capital, a leading financial services provider in the kingdom.

Yamama Cement recorded 11.6% y-o-y growth, commanding 15.2% market share in the month of February, it stated.

Al Rajhi Capital said the clinker inventory too fell by 0.3% m-o-m to 42.7MT with Southern cement holding the highest inventory (20 months of LTM avg. sales).

This is mainly driven by Ramadan related seasonality which is expected to persist for the majority of the March month. Last year, the impact was largely absorbed in the month of March.

Among the coverage companies of Al Rajhi Capital Research, only the Yamama Cement recorded y-o-y growth of 11.6%. while all other companies posted y-o-y decline.

Geographically, the Eastern region was the sole gainer that reported growth of 1.5% y-o-y, mainly driven by Eastern Cement (+16.7% y-o-y). While the Northern and Southern region sales plunged 21.8% and 16.1%, respectively, it stated.

On its clinker inventory, Al Rajhi Capital said it fell by 0.3% m-o-m to 42.7 MT as of February 2026. Among its coverage companies, Riyadh Cement holds the lowest inventory levels (4 months of LTM average sales vs. industry average of 11 months), followed by Saudi Cement as well as Yamama Cement at 6 months, and Qassim Cement at 9 months, said the financial powerhouse in its report.

Najran Cement has an inventory of 13 months, followed by Arabian Cement and Yanbu Cement at 14 and 15 months, respectively. Southern Cement had the highest inventory level of 20 months, it added.

The local real estate market witnessed remarkable quantitative and qualitative growth in February, with 20.4 percent increase in the number of deals, equivalent to 98 transactions, and 69.64 percent increase in value, amounting to KD252.82 million year-on-year compared to February 2025.

The newspaper obtained a copy of the monthly report from the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Departments at the Ministry of Justice, revealing the registration of 577 real estate transactions worth KD615.83 million in February this year, compared to 479 transactions worth KD363.01 million within the same period last year.

This growth is attributed to the increased transactions in the commercial, investment, residential and nursery sectors, while transactions in the crafts and retail sectors declined.

The residential sector ranked first in terms of the number of transactions, accounting for 61.8 percent of total monthly trading with 357 deals valued at KD169.32 million, compared to 334 deals valued at KD138.04 million within the same period last year.

This is 6.9 percent increase in volume (23 additional deals) and 22.6 percent increase in value (KD31.28 million), reflecting the growing value of private transactions year-on-year amidst regulatory developments in the sector.

The investment sector also recorded significant annual growth, with 158 transactions valued at KD164.31 million.

This is 27.4 percent increase in the number of transactions (34 additional deals) and 12.8 percent increase in value (KD18.76 million), compared to 124 transactions valued at KD145.55 million in February last year, indicating the sector’s continuous attractiveness to investors.

The commercial sector achieved outstanding annual performance, registering 255 percent quantitative growth (23 additional transactions) and 224 percent qualitative increase (KD127.25 million).

The total number of commercial transactions reached 32, valued at KD183.94 million, compared to nine transactions worth KD56.7 million in February 2025.

This shows the rising demand for commercial real estate since the beginning of the year. On the other hand, the industrial real estate sector experienced a remarkable decline, with 77.7 percent decrease in the number of transactions (seven fewer transactions) and 92.4 percent decrease in value (KD19.85 million). Only two transactions were recorded, valued at KD1.63 million, compared to nine transactions worth KD21.48 million in February last year.

The retail sector witnessed a decline of 66.6 percent and a qualitative decline of 20.9 percent, recording only one transaction worth KD1.5 million, compared to three transactions worth KD1.24 million during the same period last year. The nurseries sector recorded 21 transactions worth KD79.28 million, and the warehouses sector recorded six transactions worth KD 15.85 million, compared to no transactions recorded in both sectors in February last year.

Dubai’s real estate market is moving away from the speculation-led dynamics that characterized 2014’s high, toward a more regulated, capital-driven environment in 2026. 

According to new data from Dubai-based real estate advisory VVS Estate, strategic capital now drives approximately 40% of the city’s real estate market. This shift, based on the firm’s proprietary data, including customer insights, sales trends, and market analysis, is reshaping how risk, liquidity, and long-term value are evaluated across the market.

“While property cycles are often described in terms of volatility and momentum, Dubai’s current evolution is structural in nature, shaped by regulatory depth, improved transparency, and increasingly disciplined capital participation,” said Valentina Rusu, Founder of VVS Estate.

This trend is further highlighted in Savills Middle East’s Dubai Residential Market Report 2025, which highlights a notable change in transaction composition. According to data, the proportion of residential transactions priced above AED 5 million (USD 1.36 million) has risen to 9%, reflecting sustained appetite for higher-value residential assets.

VVS Estate believes growth at the top end of the market typically indicates strategic capital deployment rather than short-term speculative activity, reinforcing the market’s transition toward long-term investment behavior.

This up-market trend is supported by capital-flow data. According to JLL, investor-led activity continues to dominate Dubai’s residential sector. JLL’s Middle East and Africa Market Review and Outlook 2025 shows that off-plan transactions, widely viewed as a proxy for strategic capital allocation, account for over 60% of total residential transaction value, equivalent to approximately AED 223 billion (USD 60.72 billion).

Taken together, Savills’ pricing data and JLL’s capital-flow analysis point to a market increasingly shaped by deliberate allocation decisions rather than momentum-driven participation.

Insights from Property Finder further show that premium and branded residences now represent a growing share of overall transactions. With a higher proportion of deals occurring above AED 2,500 (USD 681) per sq ft, citywide averages have naturally moved higher.

“This is not inflation,” said Rusu. “It reflects a segmentation shift. Comparing today’s market directly with 2014 without adjusting for product mix oversimplifies the analysis.”

Dubai reached its previous market peak in September 2014. A decade later, prices have not only recovered but surpassed those levels.

According to the Dynamic Price Index published by Property Monitor, average apartment prices reached approximately AED 1,484 (USD 404) per sq ft in early 2025, more than 20% above the 2014 high, before exceeding AED 1,600 (USD 436) per sq ft by mid-2025.

However, VVS Estate notes that price recovery alone does not define market quality. “In 2014, growth was largely momentum-driven,” Rusu explained. “Today, performance is supported by regulatory reinforcement, escrow discipline, standardized registration, and improved execution transparency. The difference is structural.”

One of the most consequential changes since the previous cycle has been the strengthening of regulatory frameworks under the oversight of the Dubai Land Department.

Contract registration now operates within defined timelines through centralized systems, while escrow accounts follow milestone-based release mechanisms aligned with construction progress. These measures do not eliminate market risk, but they significantly reduce procedural uncertainty and execution risk.

“This regulatory depth has materially reshaped Dubai’s risk profile and increased its appeal to institutional and long-horizon capital,” Rusu said.

Market depth further reinforces this transition. Data from DXB Interact shows sustained secondary-market liquidity across prime communities, even at elevated price points, which is a hallmark of mature property markets.

Investor behavior increasingly reflects disciplined capital allocation, with buyers focusing on net yields after service charges, resale comparable, supply-pipeline concentration, and developer delivery consistency.

“Speculative markets depend on entry enthusiasm,” Rusu noted. “Structured markets depend on exit depth.”

According to VVS Estate, the most significant change underway in Dubai’s property market is behavioral rather than price-driven. Participation is shifting from excitement-led entry to allocation-driven decision-making, where capital is deployed strategically rather than reactively.

Investors are increasingly viewing Dubai as a structured capital environment, defined by regulatory clarity, liquidity depth, and global positioning, rather than a purely high-growth trade. That shift may be quiet, but it is what underpins durability.

The first phase of Keturah Ardh, Dubai’s first heritage-wellness integrated luxury community, has sold out, with all 558 luxury townhouse plots acquired in just six months for AED1 billion.

fäm Properties, the exclusive master agency for master developer MAG Group, today confirmed the milestone, which reflects solid demand for premium residential land in Dubai, particularly freehold townhouse plots, one of the most limited and sought-after asset classes in the city’s luxury market.

“The sellout speaks for itself,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties. “Residential plots with approvals for luxury townhouses are among the scarcest product types in Dubai, and buyers and investors responded accordingly.”

“True heritage-wellness communities are rare, and over the past four years, this segment has consistently led the market in both performance and investor interest.”

Located in the Al Rowaiyah First District, Keturah Ardh brings together traditional Arabic architectural principles with a fully integrated modern wellness approach. The 558 luxury townhouse plots are spread across 93 meticulously planned clusters, and phase one was brought to market with attractive payment plans.

The broader master plan blends Arabic heritage with advanced wellness concepts to create a self-contained lifestyle community. The name ‘Ardh,’ meaning ‘earth’ or ‘land’ in Arabic, reflects its ties to culture and nature.

The project reflects MAG Group’s 45-year dedication to quality and innovation, with amenities including spa and sauna facilities, yoga and pilates areas, running and cycling tracks, and extensive green spaces. Mature landscaping includes trees sourced from Italy, Spain, Thailand, and Africa.

Infrastructure is being delivered in Q1 2026, with construction starting in Q4 2026, and full completion expected by 2030.

Keturah Ardh is the fourth major project in the Keturah luxury portfolio, following Keturah Reserve, Keturah Resort: The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Al Jaddaf, and Keturah Bahar.

Commercial real-estate firms have a bruising fight on their hands: convincing investors that you need humans to sell stores, warehouses and offices.

Executives also play down the risks of disruption. They say most property deals remain complex negotiations grounded in proprietary market intelligence and longstanding relationships that technology can’t replicate.

“We don’t get our brokerage leads online somewhere,” CBRE Chief Executive Robert Sulentic said on his company’s earnings call.

Real estate shares recently regained some of the ground they lost. But numerous AI startups pouring into real estate are also stoking fears.

“The threat is the 28-year-old broker with AI who can deliver in two hours what used to take you two weeks,” said Francis Huang, co-founder of Apers AI, a startup that designs AI systems for allocating capital in commercial real estate.

Real estate is the latest industry where investors are assessing whether AI will hollow out labor-intensive business models and compress margins at companies that sell expertise at high prices.

The biggest threat to commercial real-estate services firms, however, may not be that bots replace brokers. It is that AI quietly shrinks the office-using economy itself.

If companies can do the same work with fewer employees, they may need fewer desks, fewer floors and fewer leases, putting a long shadow over one of the industry’s largest fee pools. Big office real-estate investment trusts are all down. SL Green Realty shares have fallen more than 15% this year.

CBRE’s Sulentic acknowledged the risk, saying that “if there are less office workers in the long run as a result of AI, there will be less demand for office space.” But any such shift, he added, would take time and wouldn’t be an imminent threat to his business.

Commercial real-estate companies generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue each year with a formula built on relationships, local market intelligence and the human touch in negotiating complex deals. Top brokers walk the floors of countless buildings, swap insights over bad coffee, and turn years of schmoozing into multimillion-dollar commissions.

Still, new technologies have blindsided these firms before. CoStar Group pushed into the data business, creating dominance over information on building size, age, tenants and sale prices—data that the established firms once controlled and now pay CoStar dearly to access.

CoStar’s rise was “one of the biggest failures of our industry,” JLL CEO Christian Ulbrich said in a 2019 interview with The Wall Street Journal. “It describes the arrogance of the successful incumbent.”

JLL has since invested in AI and other new technologies. The firm and others have also managed to keep technology challengers from pushing them out of brokerage, the industry’s prize business. Repeated attempts by startups to digitize leasing and sales have struggled to gain traction, especially at the top end of the market where relationships are critical and pricing information is closely guarded.

Consider office leasing, one of the core businesses. Asking rents offer tenants only a narrow glimpse of the real economics buried in the deal, said Stephen Sheldon, an analyst with William Blair.

Blue Square Real Estate Developments may be new to the UAE residential market, but the team behind the brand is anything but new to building, operating, and scaling successful businesses across the GCC and the wider Middle East.

Founded by a group of highly respected real estate and business leaders with more than 30 years of cross-regional experience, Blue Square brings together expertise spanning real estate, construction, hospitality, food and beverage, and mixed-use development. Their combined track record reflects a legacy of delivery, operational excellence, and long-term value creation across multiple industries.

Now headquartered in Dubai, Blue Square Real Estate Developments is focused on creating thoughtfully designed communities in the UAE’s most dynamic locations. Their first residential launch, Vayla Residences on Dubai Islands, marks the formal entry of this experienced group into the UAE property market.

While Vayla is Blue Square’s first official UAE development, the founders’ history of successful projects extends across Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, and the wider GCC, including:

• Albergo Suites, Beirut – serviced residences connected to the iconic Hotel Albergo, offering full five-star hospitality services.
• Danny Residences, Lebanon – a boutique mountain development, fully sold out.
• Qatameya Coast Villa, Egypt – a luxury beachfront villa in one of Sahel’s most exclusive compounds.
• Furjan Townhouses, Dubai – a boutique cluster of ten contemporary homes in Jebel Ali.

Beyond real estate, the group’s expertise is reinforced through Future Scaffolding & Aluminium Industries, a Dubai-based industrial firm supplying and installing formwork systems and aluminium structures for major residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across the region. The company’s commitment to safety, precision, and quality craftsmanship has supported some of the Middle East’s most prominent developments.

The founders are also co-creators of some of the region’s most recognised consumer brands through Kout Food Group and Al Homaizi Food Industries. Their portfolio includes Pizza Hut, Burger King, Applebee’s, Taco Bell, IHOP, Subway, and the prestigious Al Rifai Roastery, now present across the GCC and North Africa.

This cross-industry experience has shaped Blue Square’s development philosophy: build with operational discipline, design with purpose, and deliver with long-term value in mind.

With Vayla Residences on Dubai Islands, Blue Square is bringing this proven mindset to the UAE’s next generation of residential communities.

In 2020, a house hunter in Boise, Idaho, could peruse over 20 properties for sale before encountering one listed for $1 million or more. Today, it would only take about five.

Take Nashville, he says, where $1 million listings grew from 8.1% of all listings to just under 18% according to the website’s data. “It was almost like two different eras.”

The pandemic’s housing rush—followed by its deep freeze caused by rising prices and mortgage rates—also played a part. Home price nationally have increased more than 50% since before the pandemic, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller index measuring price changes nationally. Higher mortgage rates cooled the surge, but didn’t reverse pandemic-era gains.

Buyers wading into the market this spring should keep their eye on local supply, which will likely determine price changes from here. More options will absorb more buyers and soften increases, while fewer could lead to bidding wars.

“Unless housing supply increases, these additional potential buyers becoming active in the market could simply push up home prices,” Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors’ chief economist, said recently.

Commercial real estate investors have a debt problem. And after years of pretending otherwise, lenders are now getting tired of acting like they don’t. The delinquency rate for office loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities climbed to a record 12.34% in January. As Peter Grant explains, the winding down of that extended period of forbearance reflects two factors. One, lenders are betting that mortgage rates aren’t going back to the historic low levels seen during the pandemic. And second, creditors increasingly believe that structural changes around the workplace and hybrid work have permanently reduced demand for most office space.

The House and Senate recently passed their first significant bills in decades aimed at solving America’s housing shortage. Rebecca Picciotto offers a handy scorecard summing up what these two bills hope to achieve, from streamlining environmental reviews to making it easier to build manufactured housing. Both housing packages also include efforts to help Americans secure mortgages.

Lenders to Commercial Real Estate Owners: Pay Up Now

Refinancing property debt has become difficult since interest rates started to soar in 2022. Many lenders initially extended maturing loans they made when borrowing costs were far lower, hoping that either interest rates would fall or that cash flows would grow. It is a strategy known as “extend and pretend.”

The delinquency rate for office loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities in January, the highest level since Trepp began tracking in 2000. The surge in defaults reflects lenders’ views that mortgage rates won’t go back to historic-low levels and that demand for most office space has been permanently reduced.

The House and Senate recently passed their first significant bills in decades aimed at solving America’s housing shortage. Now, the two chambers will work on fine-tuning and reconciling both bills into one proposal and sending it to President Trump’s desk.

Data Points

• 7.6%: The average residential-rental vacancy rate across the 50 largest U.S. metro areas in 2025, up from 7.2% the year before, according to the U.S. Census’s Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Survey and Realtor.com. Markets with vacancy rates above 7% generally favor renters, and January marked the 29th straight month of year-over-year rent decline for rental properties of up to two bedrooms.
• 1%: The vacancy rate for U.S. data centers at the end of 2025, according to JLL. Despite robust construction levels, 92% of the development pipeline has secured commitments from future tenants, lowering concerns that the sector is overbuilding.

BEYOND Developments unveiled EVERMORE, its first fully masterplanned destination on Marjan Beach in Ras Al Khaimah, marking the opening chapter of BEYOND’s 2026 growth strategy and a bold expansion beyond Dubai.

Strategically located opposite Wynn Al Marjan Island, EVERMORE is a long-term lifestyle and residential waterfront district framed by the sea and Marjan’s future botanical garden. The masterplan blends French classical elegance with contemporary architecture, integrated nature, and lifestyle-focused placemaking, creating a distinctive setting where architecture, hospitality, and public spaces harmonize with water and greenery.

Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of BEYOND Developments, said: “Ras Al Khaimah is witnessing a new phase of development, underpinned by disciplined planning, rising global relevance and the long-term vision of its leadership whose support has been instrumental in enabling our entry into the emirate.”

“The new masterplan, EVERMORE, spans more than 7 million square feet of gross floor area with a projected gross development value exceeding AED 25 billion. It brings together an exceptional coastal destination with world-class design, hospitality, and community-led placemaking. It stands as a defining milestone in our journey, marking our first expansion outside Dubai and first destination in Ras Al Khaimah, and reflecting our commitment to contributing meaningfully to the Emirate’s urban, tourism, and economic evolution,” added Amjad.

Abdulla Al Abdouli, the Group CEO of Marjan, said: “EVERMORE represents a significant milestone for Marjan Beach and Ras Al Khaimah. As the second-largest masterplan within our portfolio, it strengthens Marjan Beach’s evolution as a destination where lifestyle, hospitality, and nature come together to shape the future of the emirate.”

“We are proud to partner with BEYOND on this transformative development, which will serve as a defining anchor for Marjan Beach and a key chapter in Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate and tourism growth story. This masterplan adds a meaningful new layer to the beach’s evolution and strengthens its positioning as a global lifestyle and investment destination,” added Al Abdouli.

Anchored by 250,000 sq. meters of landscaped open spaces, including a central botanical garden, EVERMORE is designed as a fully pedestrian masterplan. Shaded walkways and green connections link the botanical garden to 3.5 kilometers of accessible beachfront, reinforcing walkability, wellbeing and human-centric living. The destination integrates residential, hospitality and retail components, including 1 million sq. ft. of hospitality and branded residential offerings, alongside a festival and events plaza, botanical souks, an F&B village and a continuous beachfront promenade, together forming a self-sustained cultural and leisure district.

The design draws on French classical architecture, reimagining proportion, symmetry, and spatial order through a contemporary lens. Cascading buildings maximize sea and landscape views, while landscaped greenery, shaded pathways, and pedestrian bridges ensure comfort, privacy, and seamless connectivity.

EVERMORE is designed to endure across generations, contributing meaningfully to the Ras Al Khaimah Vision 2030 and the emirate’s evolving urban and economic narrative.

Dubai’s next generation of luxury real estate developments will set new benchmarks in health-conscious construction by creating homes built for the Gulf region’s unique climate conditions.

Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand, says a growing focus on health-conscious design will become a primary competitive differentiator for developers as they look to stand out and attract wealthy investors and buyers.

The brand committed AED200 million to proprietary antimicrobial tiling, breathable wall systems, and zero-VOC (harmful airborne chemicals) finishes at Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion bio-living community under development at Mohammed Bin Rashid City’s District 7.

“This investment has established a new standard for Dubai’s premium residential sector, where construction quality is now being measured in health outcomes rather than aesthetic appeal alone, and it reflects a broader market evolution” says Talal.

“Dubai’s luxury sector has reached the point where discerning buyers expect materials engineered for our climate, not imported standards designed for temperate environments. We’re building homes where every surface contributes to healthier indoor living.”

Serious investment in antimicrobial tiling actively inhibits the growth and spread of harmful bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew, reducing the potential for infections and allergic reactions.

Breathable wall systems overcome health risks associated with dampness, specifically respiratory issues such as asthma, allergies and skin irritation, by preventing moisture accumulation.

Antimicrobial tiles reduce the risk of moisture within walls, roofs, or floors to guard against the growth bacteria that can also trigger asthma and respiratory infections.

The scale and scope of the investment at Keturah Reserve gains added significance in light of peer-reviewed research published in 2025 examining how conventional building materials perform in Dubai’s hot, humid climate.

A study of new Dubai homes found that formaldehyde (HCHO) emissions from standard construction materials, which can have harmful effects on health, increase in hot and humid conditions.

Meanwhile, a Building and Environment study demonstrated that innovative low-emission finishes are 200% more effective at balancing humidity when compared with standard products, and reduce VOCs by up to 63%.

“The science confirms what forward-thinking developers already know – that the Gulf region requires engineering solutions specific to our environmental conditions,” said Talal. “These materials aren’t add-ons or upgrades. They’re fundamental to construction quality today.”

He expects the investment at Keturah Reserve to influence industry standards, as buyer awareness of indoor environmental quality continues to grow across Dubai’s premium residential sector.

Leading sustainability and wellbeing lifestyle developer Fakhruddin Properties has announced the launch of Treppan Living Privé, an exclusive collection of luxury branded residences on Dubai Islands, designed around vitality, longevity, and future-focused living.

Treppan Living Privé is the developer’s third residential launch on Dubai Islands, following the successful delivery of Treppan Living Hatimi and Treppan Living Serenique, further reinforcing Fakhruddin Properties’ position as one of the principal landowners and most active lifestyle developers within the islands masterplan.

Comprising just 65 fully furnished, low-density residences, Treppan Living Privé has been intentionally designed to preserve privacy, calm, and long-term wellbeing. The limited collection includes one-bedroom Privé Executive Suites with a generous footprint starting at 1,028 square feet; two-bedroom Privé Family Suites from 1,617 square feet; and a duo of four-bedroom Privé Signature Penthouses offering an exceptional 3,592-plus square feet of living and entertaining space.

Located just minutes’ walk from the shoreline, all residences enjoy a combination of sea, beach and golf course views, located within a tranquil beachside setting and supported by an  intelligent living environment designed to support better sleep, cleaner air, ease of movement, and optimized comfort.

Treppan Living Privé is also the first project introduced following Treppan Living’s recent unveiling of Bollywood actor, producer and entrepreneur John Abraham as the brand’s Wellness Ambassador; whose personal philosophy of discipline, balance, and longevity aligns closely with the wellness-led ethos underpinning the development.

Setting a new benchmark for holistic residential wellness, Treppan Living Privé features a comprehensive suite of biohacking therapies integrated directly into the residential experience. These include red light therapy, cryotherapy, floatation therapy, and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, alongside hot and cold plunge pools, steam and sauna facilities, and dedicated recovery spaces. Together, these clinically supported therapies are designed to enhance energy levels, improve sleep quality, accelerate recovery, and promote long-term vitality as part of everyday living.

Commenting on the launch, Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO and Managing Partner of Fakhruddin Properties, said: “Treppan Living Privé represents the next evolution of our wellness-driven residential vision on Dubai Islands. This is a deliberately limited, high-privacy community where vitality is supported daily and longevity is considered by design. From advanced recovery therapies and intelligent home systems to curated lifestyle and social spaces, every element has been thoughtfully integrated to support balance, comfort, and quality of life over time.”

Homes at Treppan Living Privé are supported by intelligent systems that quietly manage indoor comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency. Residents benefit from NASA-grade air purification technology, cleaner indoor air, and pure mineralized hydrogenated drinking water available directly within the home, which significantly reduces reliance on plastic bottled water. Intelligent robot delivery systems further enhance convenience, reinforcing the seamless, future-ready living experience.

A carefully curated lifestyle podium anchors the community, featuring The Azure, a water-led destination for movement and restoration with an aqua gym and endless pool, and The Social Pavilion, which includes a stylish clubhouse, working pods, misting majlis, and the signature Greenhouse Café. The Wellness Centre provides indoor and outdoor gyms, yoga and fitness studios, massage rooms, and access to personal training, health, and nutrition consultations, supported by a structured calendar of wellness programming and in-home services.

Family-focused amenities include the Explorer Garden and Kids’ Zone, offering a children’s pool, zip lines, adventure wall, play areas, and sand pit playground, while the rooftop level is designed for relaxation and social connection, with an infinity pool, water loungers, open-air showers, sunbeds, and panoramic roof deck.

Residents of Treppan Living Privé also enjoy a fully serviced living experience, with professional concierge services, valet-style parking, on-site bellboy support, resident housekeeping, Rolls-Royce chauffeur drive services, private motorboat excursions and inter-island transfers, as well as child and pet care assistance. Complimentary coffee for residents and guests further enhances the hospitality-led lifestyle offering.

The Dubai real estate market recorded the highest single-day real estate transaction value in its history of AED15.6 billion ($4.25 billion), data released by the Dubai Land Department said.

This value was achieved through 1,501 real estate transactions on the day, highlighting strong demand and deep market liquidity.

The data further showed that sales alone reached AED11.4 billion, covering land, residential units, and buildings, in addition to mortgages and gifts of significant value. This reflects broad-based activity across multiple real estate segments and underscores the expansion and diversification of the investor base.

Badar Rashid AlBlooshi, Chairman of Arabian Gulf Properties, said the record-breaking figures reflect an advanced stage of market maturity and stability, reaffirming the emirate’s growing position as one of the world’s leading real estate and investment destinations.

AlBlooshi said: “Recording real estate transactions worth AED15.6 billion in one day represents an unprecedented milestone and reflects strong confidence from both local and international investors in Dubai’s real estate market, as well as its ability to absorb large-scale investments within an attractive and globally competitive environment.”

He added that this record performance is closely linked to the wider economic landscape, coinciding with continued business growth, corporate expansion, and Dubai’s strengthening role as a regional and global business hub, factors that directly support real demand for real estate assets.

AlBlooshi explained that the figures point to genuine investment activity driven by long-term economic fundamentals, noting that the scale and value of transactions confirm the market’s transition toward a more sustainable growth phase.

He continued: “At Arabian Gulf Properties, we closely monitor these market indicators and respond to this momentum by developing well-planned real estate projects that address both current and future market requirements, combining strategic locations, quality execution, and long-term investment value.”

AlBlooshi concluded that achieving these record transaction levels further strengthens Dubai’s appeal as a primary destination for real estate investment and lays the groundwork for a new phase of balanced growth, supported by clear regulations, advanced infrastructure, and sustained investor confidence.

Rove has entered the Omani market through a strategic partnership with LEO Developments, marked by the signing of Rove Home Muscat Expressway — the brand’s first branded residences project in the Sultanate.

Born in Dubai, Rove is a joint venture between Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding, and has recorded strong regional growth, with over 8,000 keys open or under development. An award-winning leader in contemporary travel, Rove manages a diverse portfolio of hotels and branded living spaces. Every property is positioned for maximum connectivity and crafted for those who seek efficiency and sustainability alongside a vibrant, local personality – all without the usual complications.

The first of several planned developments, Rove Home Muscat Expressway, is set in a central and well-connected area near Muscat Hills and key road links. The location offers convenient access to the city’s main business districts and urban destinations, as well as to the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) and Muscat International Airport.

The project will feature fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments and lofts, complemented by key lifestyle amenities including a lap pool with jacuzzi, roof garden, and co-working spaces designed for modern urban living, alongside the brand’s signature Rove Café.

Commenting on the announcement, Viktor Serenkov, Chairman of LEO Developments, said: “We are proud to announce our partnership with Rove, bringing a fresh and highly relevant approach to branded residential living in Oman. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to respond to evolving lifestyle expectations and deliver developments defined by intention, cultural sensitivity, and long-term value. Rove Home Muscat Expressway is the first step in a broader pipeline that we believe will redefine urban living in the Sultanate.”

Paul Bridger, Chief Operating Officer at Rove Hotels, added: “We are incredibly proud to partner with LEO Developments to bring Rove to Oman. LEO’s deep understanding of the local market, combined with Rove’s lifestyle-led design philosophy, creates a powerful platform for long-term growth. This project signals our commitment to Oman’s future and sets the stage for multiple developments across the country.”

As part of the long-term partnership, LEO Developments and Rove are aligned on expanding the Rove portfolio across city hubs, leisure destinations, ITCs and free zones in Oman, reinforcing the Sultanate’s position as an emerging destination for contemporary lifestyle hospitality in the GCC.