Parisian Hôtel Particulier Revamped Into Dream Home
Alexandre de Betak and his wife are focusing on their most personal project yet.
13 min
Alexandre de Betak, the 52-year-old designer behind some of the most viral fashion shows of the past 25 years, has staged runway spectacles in audacious locales. Through his Bureau Betak creative agency, he’s conceptualised shows from Dior runways in Moscow’s Red Square and under an 18-metre mountain of blue delphiniums custom built in the courtyard of the Louvre to a blue diamond catwalk inserted for Tiffany into Beijing’s Forbidden City.
After a day at the office conjuring another rapidly vanishing show for a client, de Betak wants nothing more than to design space for his family’s personal use. “I’ve spent my life designing for others,” he says, “so in a way designing for us and designing permanent homes is incredibly relaxing, just by the nature of being the same yet the opposite of what I do every day.”
By the time he finished his last home design project in 2016, a playful loft in downtown New York with a stripper pole in a hidden party room, he was already at work on a new place to live, a fixer-upper across the Atlantic on the Left Bank of the Seine.
Four years ago, he began to shift his centre
\of gravity to Paris, returning to the city he grew up in after more than two decades based primarily in New York. (Bureau Betak has offices in both cities, along with Shanghai and Los Angeles.) Alex arrived with his partner in life, his pregnant wife, Sofía, the 36-year-old Argentine creative director, graphic designer and boho-chic style influencer known to her friends and 350,000-plus Instagram followers as Chufy (a childhood nickname). They spent their first 18 months in the city glamping indoors, squatting, essentially, in the beautiful ruin that would become their new home, former offices stripped to the bone—four separate units on three floors of a 17th-century hôtel particulier. “We were sleeping with six hot-water bottles,” says Sofía. “We would get pieces of ceiling just falling on us, holes in the wall.” Adds Alex: “We were cooking in the fireplace, heating by the fireplace. It was very, very fun.”
While inhabiting the space, Alex mapped out plans for what it might soon become, imagining the sculptural staircase, in white gesso, that would wind down through three floors, the secret party room—all of his homes have one—he’d excavate in the basement. “I have to say it was great to design it from the inside,” he says. After Airbnb-hopping during the two years of construction, early last year, Alex, Sofía and their toddler daughter, Sakura, finally moved into the finished space.
Though Alex and Sofía were on the road constantly pre-pandemic, individually and as a unit, they filled their free time—there was rarely much of it—travelling for pleasure, too. Sofía grew up travelling—her mother ran a high-end travel agency in Buenos Aires. The couple named Sakura for the cherry blossoms that were blooming on a trip to Kyoto when they found out they were expecting a girl.
They were just back from a family vacation in Myanmar, and recently moved into their new home, when the first pandemic lockdowns started in autumn of last year. Alex was bedridden in those first uncertain weeks. He thinks it was Covid-19, though reliable tests were hard to come by back then. “I mean, we were lucky—we were in luxury confinement,” says Sofía, “but most people had it really, really tough.”
After spring Fashion Week in Paris wrapped on March 4, Bureau Betak saw its planned roster of shows heading into the summer vanish overnight. “Everything got cancelled,” says Alex.
Sofía launched Chufy, her eponymous line of travel-themed women’s clothing, in 2017, each collection inspired by a new destination, from the Pampas of Argentina to the savannas of Kenya. At the start of the pandemic, her business also came to a halt as the factory in India producing her flouncy blouses and flowy dresses shuttered.
Feeling restless stuck at home, she organized a charity auction online for Doctors Without Borders in April of last year, enlisting her friends to donate objects, expertise and experiences: a private polo class from Nacho Figueras, an online consulting session with Colette founder Sarah Andelman, a signed tennis racket from Maria Sharapova. Getting the auction going “kind of helped me get out of the darker cloud,” she says.
Alex is often dubbed the Fellini of fashion. In a good year, when his business hasn’t been crippled by a global pandemic, Bureau Betak might stage as many as 100 productions, working with young designers and veterans, avant-garde and legacy brands, on blowout presentations and smaller, more cerebral shows. “He’s always thinking about how to make it feel special; it doesn’t always mean it has to be the biggest and the brashest…not just the big extravaganza, although he is great at doing that; you could also have an intimate show,” says Michael Kors, one of Alex’s earliest clients, going back to the mid-’90s when he first set up shop in New York.
In spring of last year, as his health and the weather in Paris both improved, Alex got back to work from a laptop by a window with a view of the Seine. He began to devise a path forward for clients eager to start showing again. “After a couple of months you realize it’s going to be there for a while,” Alex says of the pandemic. “That’s when we started to really rethink the calendars and the format and everything.”
He had plenty of tools in his arsenal ready to go, having launched a creative agency, Bureau Future, a few years earlier, focused on the digital future of the live fashion show. “I believed for a long time that in order to give those great, live, in-person shows a reason to continue to exist, we needed to augment them digitally better, to film them better, to design them with the filming in mind and to transmit that better when we stream them,” he says. “And then, obviously, with Covid we accelerated the process quite drastically.”
Though many designers decided not to show at all last year, a few signed on for virtual shows, filmed with no audience. In July, French label Jacquemus, taking advantage of a moment of relaxed restrictions, opted to invite spectators to its live show outside Paris, shuttling 110 socially distanced VIPs to the winding catwalk Bureau Betak cut through a wheat field. “We bet together that we could do a show with a live audience,” says Alex. “We were very lucky. We caught a very small window.”
Filmed or live-streamed shows with no editors or influencers in attendance followed for Dior in Puglia, for Fendi in Milan and for Gabriela Hearst in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. As France began to open back up last summer, Sofía also got her business going again. From her home office in the apartment’s sun-drenched winter garden, with ivy climbing up lattice walls, she began sketching ideas for a new Chufy collection, inspired by her paternal grandparents’ Romanian heritage. “I just wanted to go through memories, old things from my grandparents; I travelled introspectively,” she says.
Evenings were spent at home, the family gathered around a custom-built kitchen island, Alex at the stove working through his rotation of pastas (“variations of vongole, bottarga and pesto,” as Sofía describes them). His two sons, Amaël, 20, and Aidyn, 17, from an earlier relationship with actress and model Audrey Marnay, would drop in from their mom’s place for a week at a time. At lunch there were picnics outside in the courtyard garden, chatting, socially distanced, with new neighbours in the hôtel particulier.
There were plenty of reminders, throughout the apartment, of Alex and Sofía’s old travelling life, mismatched accents—a pair of Moroccan candelabras here, a black lacquered Burmese pot there—brought home in suitcases or picked up online in hotel rooms in bleary-eyed bidding sprees.
“I can be in Shanghai or Tokyo and I’m jet-lagged and I’m online at an auction that’s in Italy or Eastern Europe and I’ll buy a piece from Japan,” says Alex. “I kind of see no boundaries.”
The building’s last tenants, offices of the museum of the Paris hospital system, stripped it of its historic character. As he planned his gut renovation, Alex imagined the space as it might have been when aristocrats lived there. He laid down new flooring to bring the place back in time, installing black-and-white pierre de Bourgogne stone on the ground floor, wooden parquet de Versailles upstairs above that. A golden hall of mirrors en route to his daughter’s bedroom brought a more theatrical 17th-century touch.
He filled the place with an eclectic mix of contemporary furniture and flea market antiques, pieces of Mario Bellini’s modular Camaleonda sofa across from a leopard-print chair from the 1940s. The seats in the living room, including his favourite Minotaure armchair from Pierre Augustin Rose by the window, were all reupholstered in the same rough-textured white fabric. Next to the master bedroom, antique panels on a Japanese theme, picked up at the Paul Bert Serpette market on the edge of Paris, became the closet doors inside a new dressing room. Much of the contents—mostly in monochrome black and white—were acquired with the new place in mind, after Alex auctioned off almost everything from his last Paris apartment back in 2018: 188 lots of kinetic art, toy robots and Star Wars memorabilia, among other collecting obsessions. “It was a brand-new time in our life,” he says. “I wanted to start from scratch.”
Though there’s some gravitas to the new space—“I wanted to do something very feminine and very romantic in a way and a lot softer than what I used to have,” says Alex—there’s still plenty of his signature whimsy throughout.
The basement nightclub space, hidden behind a mirror, features a night-sky mural inspired by 17th-century star maps with each family member’s zodiac constellation. (They’ve been watching movies there during the pandemic.) Upstairs, an archangel painting in the master bedroom opens into a projection TV screen. A bookcase in the library opens to reveal a secret passage down to the street. “We always have secret doors and secret escapes in every place we design,” he says. “Don’t ask me why.”
Alex lined the walls in his daughter’s bedroom in a classic Japanese motif, a collage of his own creation featuring bamboo, cherry blossom trees and kimono-clad figures that, upon close inspection, turn out to be miniature versions of her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. The French fabric firm Pierre Frey has added the design to their 2022 wallpaper collection, launching in January.
By midsummer of last year, the de Betaks had traded the city for their vacation home by the sea, a villa on Mallorca, which was built and completed by Alex in 2010. And they spent a few weeks of their summer holiday visiting friends on the island of Panarea, north of Sicily. Over an alfresco meal there, Sofía came up with an idea for another Chufy collection, a collaboration with André Saraiva, the graffiti artist known as Mr. A, who sat beside her sketching doodles inspired by their time together in the Aeolian Islands. “I [drew] a little volcano, a pasta—Alex is the king of the pasta with bottarga, so I did a pasta with bottarga—did all those little things we enjoyed during our summer,” says Saraiva, who was one of three best men at Alex and Sofía’s weeklong wedding in Patagonia in 2014. This summer Chufy debuts a capsule collection of caftan dresses featuring those Mr. A sketches on Sofía’s Italian island–inspired prints.
Saraiva, one of Alex’s oldest friends, says he has been to every home he’s designed. “I’m an expert on Betak design,” he says. “[Alex] has got a great sense of décor and space that designers have, but he has something that I really appreciate…there are always details that come from playing around, not everything is serious. He’s a big fan of Star Wars. There’s always little details that remind me of the Star Wars saga—in the new place, the blacks, the whites, the round stairs.”
Alex, who has no formal design training, was just 17 and still finishing high school when he fell into fashion in 1986. That year, on a family trip to Spain, he met a young clothing designer named Sybilla Sorondo who’d been building a cult following from her atelier in Madrid. Taken by her edgy work and the freewheeling scene around her, and by the creative spirit of La Movida that gripped Madrid in the post-Franco years, he found himself drawn to the city and into Sorondo’s orbit.
“At that time my workshop was a place where people would hang out; there was lots of movement,” recalls Sorondo. “All of a sudden [Alex] was the kid who was always there—‘Oh, he’s still here.’ ”
Eventually, Alex got a few fashion editors in Paris to take a look at Sorondo’s pleated frocks. “And that’s how my international expansion started,” she says. He became her official press agent and art director while still studying for his baccalaureate exam. They travelled to Tokyo and Milan together. And after graduation he launched Bureau Betak, still ill-defined as an enterprise, out of a home office, with Sorondo’s eponymous line, Sybilla, as its first official client. He added a Japanese modelling agency, L’Homme et La Femme, to his roster, scouting talent for them in Paris and also hunting for classic cars for the agency’s owner. “There was no name to a lot of what I was doing back then,” he says. The big bash Alex organized for the launch of Sorondo’s Paris boutique in 1991, featuring jugglers, acrobats and a live orchestra along with models showcasing the clothes, set the stage for his future fashion show work.
Shortly afterward Sorondo took a long break from the fashion world to focus on raising a family. Alex decided to move to New York.
With his first clients there, he started to challenge the status quo. In an early show under the tents at Bryant Park he suspended designer John Bartlett in a hammock above the catwalk, instead of dangling the brand logo as everyone else did. “Many creative decisions came to me spontaneously like that,” says Alex.
Very quickly he began to organize shows in offbeat locales, ramping up the spectacle in the process. His first collaboration with Kors, staged in a cavernous loft space in SoHo, featured a travel theme. “We had a train that took models through the Swiss Alps, we had a helicopter landing,” recalls Kors. “It was a really interesting way to present it, to get the feeling behind the collection, rather than doing the traditional fashion show.”
“I mean, nothing is impossible,” says Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, who staged her first show with Bureau Betak just as her and her sister Kate’s label took off in 2007, of de Betak’s approach. “You can have an idea and then you translate it into a live theatrical experience.”
Many of Alex’s working relationships with designers have endured for decades, following the careers of John Galliano, Raf Simons and Kors, among others. In April Kors unveiled his 40th-anniversary show online, a filmed tribute to Broadway, directed by Alex, in New York’s theatre district. “I try to always have very long and deep relationships,” he says.
In the late ’90s, as Alex’s career was taking off in New York, in Buenos Aires his future wife, Sofía Sanchez Barrenechea, was getting an early start in the fashion world. In 1999, when she was 14 years old, Sofía was approached by a modelling scout while in church for her confirmation. Cast in a national campaign for John L. Cook, a big Argentine clothing brand, she was soon on billboards and shopping bags across the country.
“My picture was everywhere,” she says. “It was quite a shock—I mean, an ego boost but also very hard to handle.”
Sofía went on to study graphic design at the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires before moving to New York on an IMG Models visa in 2008. In between the occasional shoot, she pursued a career in design, working with beauty clients at branding agency Lloyd & Co. Sofía was back in Buenos Aires for the winter holidays in 2009 when Alex showed up at her family home—invited by her older sister, Lucia, a fashion journalist he knew from Paris. Though Alex’s estranged father, whom he didn’t grow up with, is from Argentina, this was his first time in the country.
“He spent Christmas with my family even before we started dating,” says Sofía. “I think first he liked the family and there was only one sister single, and it was lucky me.” They began seeing each other back in New York and were married five years later, surrounded by fashion royalty, the bride in Valentino couture, custom-embroidered in crystal and pearls.
This past March, as Paris prepared to go on lockdown again, Alex got his first AstraZeneca shot. Despite the slow vaccine rollout and surging virus cases in Europe, tentative plans were underway for bringing live audiences back to runway shows.
“Until the last minute everything I’m designing and everything I’m thinking of now has a plan B, with no audience, of course,” he says.
Even when the world finally opens back up, Alex would prefer that fashion didn’t fully return to its pre-pandemic ways. Early last year, just weeks before international borders began closing, Bureau Betak announced a new sustainability pledge, “Ten Commandments” intended to transform the business from the inside, vowing to reuse materials, sort and recycle, reduce nonessential flying and minimize fossil-fuel use.
“I’ve dedicated most of my life to ephemeral events that spend a lot of energy, a lot of carbon and a lot of money for a very short time and for, I hate to say, a useless topic, which is helping luxury brands sell more product,” says Alex. “So, considering all of this, it’s been forever that I’ve wanted to try to use what I can, which is basically the influence we have over our clients and their brands…to create a strong sustainability program within Bureau Betak and use it as a platform.”
And after a year mostly confined to his new Paris apartment, Alex is already thinking about his family’s next permanent home-design project—maybe a country house outside the city or a vacation spot in Patagonia. “I already have a design in mind for Patagonia,” he says.
Reprinted by permission of WSJ. Magazine. Copyright 2021 Dow Jones & Company. Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Original date of publication: May 29, 2021
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New Murabba has appointed Sabah Barakat as acting CEO, replacing Michael Dyke as Saudi Arabia reassesses major real estate projects under Vision 2030.
Georgetown agent Jamie Peva blends history and real estate on Instagram, turning local stories into a powerful sales strategy.
Dubai Land Department will showcase its latest smart services and initiatives at IPS 2026, supporting a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly real estate market.
Al Reem Island captured nearly half of Abu Dhabi’s off-plan apartment transactions in Summer 2026, driven by waterfront living, expanding amenities and proximity to the capital’s financial center.
2 min
Al Reem Island is increasingly offering the mix homebuyers look for in an established neighbourhood – waterfront living, proximity to Abu Dhabi’s financial district, parks, schools, retail, dining and everyday services alongside a rapidly expanding off-plan residential market. That evolution is being matched by strong buyer activity, with 1,291 of Abu Dhabi’s 2,658 off-plan apartment transactions during Summer 2026 recorded on the island, according to proprietary market analysis by MERED, an award-winning international real estate developer.
Residential activity has accelerated sharply over the past two years. Approximately 139,000 sqm of off-plan apartments were sold on Al Reem Island during Summer 2026, compared with 34,000 sqm in Summer 2024, representing a more than fourfold increase.
Across Abu Dhabi, approximately 308,000 sqm of off-plan apartments were sold during Summer 2026, 2.4 times the volume recorded in Summer 2024. Al Reem Island alone accounted for approximately 45% of the total area sold during the period.
Prices have risen alongside transaction activity. MERED’s analysis found that the average transacted price for off-plan apartments across Abu Dhabi increased by 28% between Summer 2024 and Summer 2026, reaching approximately US$7,070 per sqm.
For buyers looking beyond the apartment itself, Al Reem has steadily added many of the features associated with an established residential community. Reem Central Park brings a waterfront setting, beach and outdoor sports facilities together with a four-kilometre promenade, while the wider island includes schools, restaurants, shopping and everyday services. Reem Mall and Shams Boutik add to the retail and leisure offering, while Al Maryah Island and central Abu Dhabi are within easy reach. Zayed International Airport is approximately a 25- to 30-minute drive away.
“Al Reem Island has also taken on a larger role within Abu Dhabi’s business landscape since its inclusion within the jurisdiction of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The UAE Cabinet expanded ADGM’s jurisdiction to include Al Reem Island in 2023, alongside Al Maryah Island. ADGM completed the integration of Al Reem at the end of 2024, with more than 1,100 businesses on the island operating under its jurisdiction by February 2025.”
Artemiy Marinin, Project Director at MERED, said, “As Al Reem matures, the benchmark for successful residential projects is changing. Buyers are becoming more selective, looking closely at how well a home is planned, how it functions day to day, the quality of construction, the amenities it offers and its long-term relevance. For developers, that means creating homes that respond to how people actually want to live, while giving projects a clear sense of distinction in an increasingly competitive market. The projects that stand out will be those that combine thoughtful design and genuine quality with a clear understanding of what residents value, and that can remain relevant as the neighbourhood continues to evolve. That is the direction we see Al Reem moving in, and it is the standard we are applying to Riviera Residences.”
The findings come amid wider growth in Abu Dhabi’s off-plan residential market. Data published by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) for H1 2026 shows that off-plan transactions accounted for 82% of residential deals and 89% of residential sales value across the emirate. The combination of rising residential demand, increasing transaction volumes, an expanding lifestyle offering and deeper integration into Abu Dhabi’s financial centre is strengthening Al Reem Island’s position as a key mixed-use district within the capital.
MERED is developing Riviera Residences on the waterfront of Al Reem Island. Designed by Swiss architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron, the development will include apartments, villas, duplexes and a penthouse and is scheduled for completion in Q3 2029.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Two coming 2027 models – the first of the “Neue Klasse” cars coming to the U.S. early next year – have been revealed.
ICC MENA will join two major Dubai construction forums this September to explore how modular building and other innovations can move beyond pilot projects and achieve industry-wide adoption.
2 min
The International Code Council (ICC) MENA is set to contribute to two key construction industry forums in Dubai this September, bringing its expertise to discussions around one of the sector’s most pressing themes: how to move construction innovation beyond pilot projects and into practical, scalable application.
ICC MENA’s Managing Director, Mohamed Amer, will participate in Construction Technology ConFex 2026, taking place on September 9–10, as part of a panel titled “Beyond Pilots: Scaling Modular and Off-Site Construction.” The discussion will examine why modular and off-site construction, despite demonstrating technical viability, has yet to achieve mass adoption, and what is needed to move these solutions from individual projects to commercially viable models at scale.
It will address the barriers limiting wider deployment, including how the value of modular construction is assessed. A key focus will be the shift from upfront cost comparisons toward a total cost of ownership approach, highlighting the longer-term value of modular and off-site solutions and how this could support wider industry adoption.
Mohamed Amer will be joined by Ajay Venu, Director Project Controls at Modon Real Estate; Mohammed Azzam, Division Head Modular Construction at ECC; and Iman Abi Saab, Buildings Lead Middle East at Mott MacDonald, for a discussion focused on the commercial, technical and project considerations shaping the future of modular construction.
Later in the month, ICC MENA will continue the conversation at Construction Week’s Leaders in Construction Conference on September 30, where Mohamed Amer will participate in a panel titled “The Innovation Bottleneck.” The session will examine why promising construction innovations so often remain in pilot mode and what it takes to translate new ideas into solutions that can be successfully implemented across live projects and at scale.
With the construction industry across the region continuing to embrace new technologies, delivery models and approaches to project execution, the ability to scale innovation will be increasingly important. From modular construction and off-site manufacturing to new technologies and processes, successful adoption requires more than proving that an idea works, it requires the right commercial models, industry alignment, standards and practical pathways for implementation.
Commenting on ICC MENA’s participation, Mohamed Amer, Managing Director – MENA, International Code Council, said: “The construction industry has no shortage of innovative ideas, technologies and solutions. The bigger challenge is creating the conditions that allow those innovations to move beyond individual pilots and become part of how projects are delivered at scale. These discussions provide an opportunity to look closely at what is holding adoption back, while exploring the commercial, technical and practical considerations that can help turn proven concepts into repeatable solutions.”
Through its participation in both forums, ICC MENA will contribute to the wider industry dialogue around creating a construction sector that is not only innovative, but also equipped to implement and scale new approaches effectively across the region.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
New research suggests that bonuses make employees feel more like a mere cog in a wheel.
Abu Dhabi has opened bookings and sales for 1,500 homes in the West Baniyas Housing Project, allowing eligible citizens to select their preferred properties digitally.
< 1 min
The Abu Dhabi Housing Authority Wednesday announced the commencement of the booking and sales process for 1,500 residential units in the West Baniyas Housing Project, marking a strategic shift in how citizens acquire housing benefits in the emirate by allowing beneficiaries to directly select their preferred homes within the development.
Developed by Modon Properties, the West Baniyas Housing Project offers an integrated community ecosystem designed to meet the long-term needs of UAE nationals, with overall construction scheduled for completion during the second quarter of 2027. All housing units in the development have been designed to accommodate future physical expansions to support evolving family sizes over time.
The authority has adopted a phased digital booking mechanism based on citizenship benefit types, family size, and financial capacity, while incorporating first- and second-degree family data to allow eligible relatives to secure neighboring properties in line with the objectives of the Year of the Family initiative.
The initial phase opens exclusively to housing grant beneficiaries and their eligible family members, followed by a second phase dedicated to deferred housing purchase loan recipients, who may select homes matching their loan allocation or opt for higher-tier units by paying the difference.
The final phase will open to standard housing purchase loan recipients under established regulatory guidelines, with eligible citizens receiving personalized access links via direct SMS text messaging.
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Parts for iPhones to cost more owing to surging demand from AI companies.
New Murabba has appointed Sabah Barakat as acting CEO, replacing Michael Dyke as Saudi Arabia reassesses major real estate projects under Vision 2030.
2 minNew Murabba, the developer behind one of Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects, has replaced its chief executive in a further sign of changes across flagship real estate investments in the kingdom amid a retooling of the Gulf country’s economic transformation plan.
New Murabba, owned by the country’s wealth fund PIF, has appointed Sabah Barakat as acting chief executive, according to the company’s website and was mentioned in that role in a company statement this week about an investment partnership. He replaces British manager Michael Dyke, chief executive since 2024.
Barakat is a senior executive within the PIF and is also acting group CEO of state-backed developer ROSHN Group.
It was not immediately clear whether Dyke would remain at New Murabba.
The PIF redirected questions around the management changes and the project to New Murabba, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dyke could not be reached for comment.
The company’s major projects include construction of a colossal cube-shaped skyscraper at the centre of a downtown development in Riyadh, and the shake-up comes months after Reuters reported the project was facing difficulties.
Saudi Arabia has been investing hundreds of billions of dollars to transform its economy and cut reliance on hydrocarbon revenues under an ambitious agenda called “Vision 2030” spearheaded by the PIF. It aims to create new industries with investment in various sector including tourism, technology and with massive real estate projects.
However, overspending and lower-than-anticipated global oil prices in recent years hit state revenues and left Riyadh struggling to deliver some of the projects, which were omitted or largely scaled back under the wealth fund’s 2026-2030 strategy, released in April.
Real estate consultancy Knight Frank estimated the New Murabba district would cost about $50 billion. Initial plans for the project called for completion by 2030, but it is now slated to be completed by 2040.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Many of the most-important events have slipped from our collective memories. But their impacts live on.
Georgetown agent Jamie Peva blends history and real estate on Instagram, turning local stories into a powerful sales strategy.
5 minOn a recent morning in Georgetown—Washington, D.C.’s oldest neighborhood—real-estate agent Jamie Peva strode down leafy N Street, brimming with historical tidbits.
Jackie Kennedy once lived on the street, he said. So did Ben Bradlee, former executive editor of the Washington Post, along with a former Miss America and a powerful U.S. Senator. Bradlee’s widow, author Sally Quinn, and Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, own stately homes there.
“I’ve seen a picture of Lyndon Johnson coming out of this house,” said Peva, passing a Federal-style brick mansion. “Also, the Beatles went to a lawn party here.”
Peva, a 60-year-old agent with Washington Fine Properties, has sold Georgetown real estate for over three decades, often traversing the neighborhood by bicycle. Of the roughly 2,500 houses in the historic neighborhood, he has been involved in the sale of 460, he estimated. A self-styled historian of the neighborhood, he knows stories behind its houses and their owners going back generations.
With a knack for lively storytelling, he shares his knowledge with some 37,500 Instagram followers, who have made Peva—sporting the bow ties he has worn since boarding school—an unlikely social-media influencer. Many of his followers are locals, and most have no plans to buy or sell real estate—until they do. It is then, according to Peva, that his spirited reels bring him to mind.
“It’s the digital version of a refrigerator magnet,” he said.
After Peva’s first video in November 2023, his eponymous Instagram account sparked a 10% increase in sales volume in the first year, and another 20% the next, he estimated. “It’s been very good for business, there is no question about it,” he said.
But Peva’s posts have also made him a local celebrity. As he walked down N street, the driver of a Mercedes station wagon slowed down to honk and wave. A lady walking a large dark gray dog stopped to ask what he was filming that day (a reel about a Colonial-era bottling plant.) Peva knew the dog from walking his two springers, Jumpy and Peggy-O, in the neighborhood.
“I need to make a video about the pooches of Georgetown,” he mused.
A growing number of real-estate agents now use social media to sell, and some have millions of followers with reels featuring ultraluxury pads, selling tips or reality TV-style reports on their daily lives. While Peva posts about his listings—and sometimes those of other agents—he mostly focuses on Georgetown history, local businesses and community events, saying his goal is to benefit both his business and the neighborhood.
“If we don’t find something genuinely interesting and worth sharing, we won’t do it,” said Peva’s daughter, Violet Peva, a New York social-media strategist who films, edits and posts his reels. “We cover many topics, not just real-estate information.”
Peva is originally from Connecticut, but has lived in Georgetown for over 30 years, currently in a cottage-style house with a white picket fence. Over the years, Georgetown has changed. The Georgetown Set, a powerful group of Cold War-era residents whose Sunday-night potluck dinners are said to have swayed U.S. policy, has long faded away. The community is still home to high-profile Washingtonians, including a Republican senator and several cabinet members. But it increasingly also attracts technology and finance executives, according to Peva. He now routinely signs nondisclosure agreements, ensuring privacy for wealthy clients. The shift has made him rethink his marketing approach.
“For years, a big part of our Georgetown business was made up of people who maintained a low profile,” he said. Real-estate agents were similarly low-key. Today, curb appeal is more important, he said, and agents are promoting themselves more. “As this change was underfoot, I was thinking that I needed to evolve myself too,” he said.
Though his own social-media use is mostly limited to following sailing accounts, he asked his daughter to help him post his listings online. Violet, now 26, started coming to D.C. once a month to film his reels. After an early video, on a condominium building called the Elliott, her sister Fern called her to report: “Daddy’s blowing up on Instagram,” Violet recalled. The reel got over 50,000 views. The next two each drew over 300,000. Peva’s most popular post ever, with over 838,000 views, was about the Grateful Dead playing in Georgetown. Sometimes, Peva interviews Georgetowners such as Quinn, the author, or Jamie Stachowski, the owner of a local butcher shop.
Peva, who majored in history in college, now spends up to two hours a day on research, usually in the morning while on his stationery bike. Online, he pores over old newspapers or the Library of Congress website, and he has a collection of articles and books—in and out of print—about Georgetown.
Companies often approach Peva for promotional posts, he said, but he turns them down, feeling that followers would lose interest in constant commercials. One exception is a recent paid post on Mount Vernon, the former home of George Washington. Peva wanted to share its history, he said, and didn’t want to lose the opportunity to another Instagrammer.
Anthony Arend, a professor at Georgetown University, has lived in his current home for 19 years without any plans to sell or buy real estate. But he follows Peva and often likes his posts.
“He is very charismatic, he is energetic, and he obviously knows a lot about the community,” said Arend, who has referred house-hunting friends to Peva.
One of Peva’s biggest deals—the $10.5 million sale of a 19th-century Italianate mansion—came after he made two 2024 reels featuring the property. In March, he sold the longtime O Street home of Tim and Jane Matz for $5.8 million after featuring it on his Instagram. Peva had showed them the home 25 years earlier, with Violet in a baby carrier on his back.
Last year, Kate Watts, 49, a digital consultant, called Peva to sell her late father’s three-bedroom house on Q Street; her husband had seen Peva on Instagram. In an October reel, Peva praised the architecture of the house, designed by modernist Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Halfway through, he mentioned an open house the next day, ending with an upbeat: “Did I also mention this house is for sale? $3.75 million!” The reel got 27,000 views, the open house was packed, and the buyers made an offer at the list price on the same day.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Paine Schwartz joins BERO as a new investor as the year-old company seeks to triple sales.
Dubai Land Department will showcase its latest smart services and initiatives at IPS 2026, supporting a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly real estate market.
2 minDubai Land Department (DLD), in its capacity as Strategic Partner, is participating in the 22nd edition of IPS, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 7 to 9 September. During the event, DLD will showcase a range of smart initiatives and services that reflect the continued advancement of Dubai’s real estate ecosystem and the diversity of solutions available to investors, customers, and industry professionals.
DLD’s participation brings together a range of solutions spanning homeownership facilitation and access to real estate data, through to digital services, brokerage services, and enhanced customer experience. These solutions contribute to greater ease of doing business, market efficiency, and transparency, while supporting the objectives of the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
To support homeownership, DLD will showcase the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, which facilitates the first step toward property ownership for UAE nationals and residents through a range of benefits and incentives offered in collaboration with participating developers and financial institutions. The program helps expand the base of property owners and supports sustainable demand in the market.
As part of its digital services offering, DLD will highlight the Dubai REST app as a unified platform providing access to a wide range of real estate services and data. The app helps accelerate transaction completion and facilitates access to services through a more integrated digital experience. DLD will also showcase its ‘DLD Services’ display, enabling visitors to explore the range of services offered by Dubai Land Department to its customers.
Data also forms a key part of DLD’s participation through the ‘Real Estate Transactions’ and ‘Real Estate Data’ displays, which provide visitors with access to market and transaction-related information. These tools enable investors and customers to monitor market activity and trends while supporting more informed decision-making based on clear, accessible data.
DLD will also spotlight its brokerage services through a dedicated display for real estate brokers within the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). As part of its customer experience offering, DLD will showcase ‘Malik’, its omnichannel customer service assistant, which provides round-the-clock support and responds to inquiries across integrated channels, facilitating access to information and services while enhancing response efficiency.
These solutions reflect an integrated approach through which DLD continues to enhance the experience of all stakeholders across the real estate market, from expanding opportunities for property ownership and providing data that supports informed decision-making, to strengthening brokerage services, advancing service digitalization, and simplifying the customer journey.
DLD’s participation in IPS 2026 comes amid the event’s strong international presence, bringing together developers, investors, financial institutions, decision-makers, and experts from across global markets. This provides an opportunity to showcase the continued evolution of Dubai’s real estate ecosystem to an international audience, while strengthening engagement with investors and key stakeholders across the sector.
Through this participation, Dubai Land Department continues to support the emirate’s objectives of building a more efficient, transparent, and competitive real estate market, while leveraging technology, data, and partnerships to enhance services and expand opportunities, further strengthening Dubai’s attractiveness as a destination for real estate investment and ownership.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
The sports-car maker delivered 279,449 cars last year, down from 310,718 in 2024.
Oman’s public revenues rose 13% to OMR6.6 billion in Q2 2026, driven by higher oil and gas revenues.
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The Sultanate of Oman’s public revenues recorded a 13 % increase by the end of the second quarter of 2026, reaching approximately OMR6.602 billion, compared to approximately OMR5.839 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year. This growth is primarily attributable to higher oil revenues.
According to the Fiscal Performance Bulletin issued by the Omani Ministry of Finance, total public expenditure stood at approximately OMR6.619 billion by the end of Q2 2026, marking an increase of OMR521 million, or 9 %, relative to the OMR6.098 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. This rise reflects higher development and current expenditures compared to the equivalent period last year.
The Bulletin further indicated that net oil revenues rose by 10 % by the end of Q2 2026, reaching approximately OMR3.332 billion, compared to OMR3.018 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.
Net gas revenues also increased by 32 % to OMR1.164 billion, up from OMR884 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
The Bulletin noted that total public debt amounted to OMR14.16 billion by the end of Q2 2026, relative to OMR14.12 billion recorded at the same period in 2025, representing a marginal increase of approximately 0.3 %.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex strengthens sustainable hospitality through recognized certifications and measurable reductions in energy use and waste.
3 min
Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex has been recognized for its continued progress in sustainable hospitality, with its properties achieving Green Key, Travelife and Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) recognition for their ongoing commitment to responsible hotel operations. Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel has achieved Green Key Certification and the DST Silver Award, while Arabian Park and Park Apartments have achieved Travelife Certification and the DST Bronze Award.
The milestones form part of the Complex’s ongoing sustainability journey, with Travelife Certification achieved by Arabian Park and Park Apartments in 2025, followed by their DST Bronze Award, while Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel received its Green Key Certification and DST Silver Award in 2026. Across the properties, these achievements are supported by measurable action spanning energy and water conservation, waste management, sustainable procurement, guest amenities, food and beverage practices and colleague engagement.
In 2025, Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel recorded a 9.2% reduction in total energy consumption, while Arabian Park achieved a 5.4% reduction, compared with the previous year. Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel has also achieved 100% diversion of waste from landfill, with food and general waste processed through a Waste-to-Energy facility.
Stefan Schmid, Complex General Manager, Al Jaddaf Rotana Complex, commented on this recognition saying, “Sustainability is an important part of how we operate and how we contribute to the future of tourism in Dubai and the UAE. These recognitions are a meaningful validation of the progress our teams have made, but more importantly, they reinforce our responsibility to turn sustainable practices into measurable action. From reducing energy consumption and diverting waste from landfill to engaging our colleagues and communities, we are focused on making responsible hospitality part of our everyday operations. We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision for a more sustainable tourism sector while continuing to deliver the standards of hospitality our guests expect.”
AL JADDAF ROTANA SUITE HOTEL
At Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel, sustainability has been integrated across multiple areas of the operation, with a focus on resource management, waste reduction, guest amenities and food and beverage practices.
The hotel has continued to reduce its reliance on conventional single-use plastics, with in-room amenities transitioned to more sustainable alternatives, including FSC-certified kraft paper packaging, corn starch-based products and wheat straw fiber items. The entire in-room dispenser set has also been transitioned to wheat straw fiber, replacing conventional plastic dispensers. Other initiatives include wooden pencils and reusable metal pens as alternatives to plastic products.
Across food and beverage operations, takeaway containers and packaging have moved towards paper-based and other more sustainable alternatives, complemented by wood-dust straws. The hotel also offers Green Meeting options to support more environmentally conscious events.
The hotel’s waste management program supports its wider resource efficiency efforts, with food and general waste processed through a Waste-to-Energy facility, supporting resource recovery and eliminating the need for landfill disposal.
These initiatives complement the hotel’s Green Key Certification and DST Silver Award, recognizing its continued commitment to environmental management and sustainable hospitality.
ARABIAN PARK, EDGE BY ROTANA
At Arabian Park, Edge by Rotana, sustainability efforts have focused on strengthening responsible environmental and social practices across the hotel’s operations. The property achieved Travelife Certification in 2025, followed by the DST Bronze Award in 2026, recognizing its continued progress in sustainable hospitality.
The hotel’s sustainability program includes initiatives focused on energy and water conservation, waste management, food waste reduction, sustainable procurement and reducing reliance on single-use plastics, supporting a more resource-efficient approach to day-to-day operations.
PARK APARTMENTS, EDGE BY ROTANA
Park Apartments, Edge by Rotana has similarly strengthened its approach to responsible hospitality, achieving Travelife Certification in 2025 and the DST Bronze Award in 2026.
Its sustainability efforts span resource conservation, waste management, sustainable procurement and reduced reliance on single-use plastics, alongside community-focused initiatives that support a more responsible approach to hospitality.
A SHARED COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY
Across the properties, sustainability is supported by continued colleague engagement, with 100% of colleagues completing the required sustainability training through Rotana’s RISE platform, complemented by ongoing awareness and refresher initiatives.
Community-focused efforts also form part of the properties’ approach, including donation drives, linen repurposing, charitable campaigns and employee volunteering. Together with ongoing work around energy and water conservation, food waste reduction, sustainable procurement and waste management, these initiatives help make sustainability part of everyday hotel operations rather than a standalone program.
The certifications and awards mark an important step in the properties’ ongoing sustainability journeys, reinforcing their commitment to measurable environmental progress, responsible operations and the continued development of sustainable hospitality in Dubai and the UAE.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
Cityscape Global returns to Riyadh from 16–19 November 2026, connecting global investors and developers with real estate opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
3 min
Cityscape Global 2026 – The Capital of Real Estate is set to return to Riyadh, convening property investors, developers, architects, banks, and government representatives to expand real estate investment opportunities. The event will be held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre (Malham) from 16-19 November, sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) in partnership with the Real Estate General Authority (REGA), Vision 2030, the Housing Program, and organized by Tahaluf.
A platform aligned with national priorities
Saudi Arabia continues to prioritize investment across key sectors such as urban development, infrastructure, and entertainment as part of its long-term economic transformation. Cityscape Global brings together the stakeholders, projects, and capital shaping this next phase of growth.
His Excellency Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Saudi Arabia, said:
“Cityscape Global supports our efforts to expand homeownership and improve access to real estate investment across Saudi Arabia. The scale of last year’s edition, which saw $63 billion in deals signed and over 164,000+ visits, reflects the strength of the market and the role this platform plays in connecting stakeholders. By bringing together developers, investors, and government entities, Cityscape Global helps accelerate delivery and supports our long-term development goals.”
Global participation, local impact
Cityscape Global stands is a leading international platform for the real estate industry, attracting top-tier developers and investors from around the world. In 2025, the event welcomed over 164,000+ visits from 120+ countries, demonstrating true global reach. More than 35,000 investors and professionals formed a powerful international network, and 82 international developers showcased their projects, highlighting Cityscape Global’s unmatched international presence. With 600+ exhibitors expected in 2026, Cityscape Global is set to further expand its global footprint.
For investors, Cityscape Global is an unparalleled gateway to lucrative opportunities, offering direct access to a diverse portfolio of Saudi and international projects under one roof. Attending institutional investors represent over $6 trillion in assets under management across real estate and infrastructure, underlining the scale of opportunity.
Fahad Al Jahrami, Chief Development and Asset Management Officer at Qatari Diar, said:
“We were honored and pleased to have participated in Cityscape Global 2025. This is our third engagement with this fantastic event, and we are grateful for the opportunities Cityscape Global provides to connect with major real estate development companies. The event offers excellent opportunities for our company to showcase our projects and products. We view Cityscape Global as the ideal platform to connect with investors and business leaders from around the world, which aligns with our ambitions for expansion and growth.”
In a strong endorsement of this year’s event, a distinguished roster of industry leaders has been confirmed among the Strategic, Diamond, and Platinum Partners.
The Strategic Partners include Ajdan, Ajlan & Bros, Al Basateen, Arabian Dyar, Ajlan Riviera, Dar Wa Emaar, Kaden, Al Majdiah, Mohammad Al Habib, Osus, Osool, Al Rashid Properties, Retal, TMG and Zood reflecting broad support from across the region’s real estate sector.
Meanwhile, Diamond Sponsors comprise Abyatona, Mobtakeron Realty, Mountain View, Rafal, Saudi Downtown, Thakher Development and Al Woroud Real Estate. Platinum Sponsors include Knowledge Economic City (KEC), Liwan and Tazayud further underscoring the event’s growing prominence within the industry.
Programmes launched to support investors in 2026:
This year Cityscape Global will showcase targeted initiatives to enhance investor relations.
Real Estate Leaders Club
A dedicated programme for senior international investors, developers, and hospitality operators, featuring:
- Pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with local developers, investors, officials, and partners
- Private networking, site visits, and curated introductions
- Access to expert-led sessions on market trends and investment strategies
G2G Co-Lab
A government focused platform for Ministers, Mayors and Ambassadors designed to strengthen international collaboration through:
- Private roundtables and policy discussions
- Expert panels on urban development and infrastructure
- Curated networking between public and private sector leaders
- A dedicated VIP programme and site tours
Looking ahead to 2026
Rachel Sturgess, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, said:
“In 2025, Cityscape Global brought together capital and funds representing $6.1 trillion in real estate and infrastructure assets under management, including global leaders such as BlackRock, Brookfield, UBS, PGIM, King Street, and Hines. The event reflects its continued scale and relevance as a global meeting point for the real estate industry. In 2026, we will introduce new initiatives to streamline property access, foster strategic partnerships with investors, and create new opportunities for engagement across the real estate ecosystem. Cityscape Global continues to serve as a leading platform connecting global capital with real estate opportunities.”
Registration for Cityscape Global 2026 is now open.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Interior designer Thomas Hamel on where it goes wrong in so many homes.
R.Evolution is expanding EYWA into a global regenerative real estate brand focused on longevity, wellbeing and sustainable living.
2 min
R.Evolution, the European real estate developer, is expanding EYWA from a collection of flagship developments into a global longevity-led regenerative real estate brand.
Following the launch of EYWA Tree of Life and EYWA Way of Water in Dubai, and of EYWA Bac de Roda and EYWA 22 Palms in Barcelona, the company is establishing EYWA as a platform that can be applied across residential, commercial, and future hospitality developments in multiple international markets.
“The global luxury real estate market is evolving. Buyers are no longer interested only in architecture, square footage, and location. They are increasingly looking for homes that support healthier, longer, and more fulfilling lives,” says Igor Karpikov, Chief Commercial Officer at R.Evolution, “Wellness real estate is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global wellness economy and is forecast to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030. Our Dubai developments demonstrate how the EYWA philosophy translates into exceptional real estate, aligning with the emirate’s focus on quality of life, sustainability, and wellbeing.”
Homes as Wellbeing Ecosystems. Research suggests that genetics account for around 50% of the factors influencing lifespan. The remaining half is shaped by environment and lifestyle. Since people spend around 90% of their time indoors, the buildings they live in play a significant role in supporting health and wellbeing.
Inspired by the vision of R.Evolution founder Alex Zagrebelny, EYWA – short for Energy, Youthfulness, Wellbeing, and Ancient Knowledge – introduces the concept of regenerative real estate – an approach that views buildings as living ecosystems. It combines thoughtful spatial design, modern technology, natural elements, and ancestral wisdom to support everyday living and health.
Building a Broader Longevity Ecosystem. As EYWA continues to expand, R.Evolution is developing strategic collaborations with leading players across the wellness and longevity ecosystem. These collaborations span health and longevity programming, nature-focused initiatives, educational programs, next-generation sustainable technologies, and premium lifestyle offerings.
Together, these partnerships extend the EYWA experience beyond the physical building, creating a broader ecosystem centered on wellbeing that supports residents in their daily lives.
The Next Chapter. EYWA’s expansion into hospitality in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations marks the next phase of the brand’s evolution, with additional initiatives in the longevity and wellbeing space also in progress.
R.Evolution will share details of new projects, partnerships, and locations as they reach the appropriate stage of development.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Following the devastation of recent flooding, experts are urging government intervention to drive the cessation of building in areas at risk.
ALTA brings Italian craftsmanship to Dubai through its Mr. C Residences collection, combining bespoke interiors, premium materials and enduring quality.
2 min
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Al Rehab Developments plans to expand in Egypt’s Sadat City, growing its EGP 5 billion portfolio of commercial, residential, medical and administrative projects.
2 min
Al Rehab Developments is preparing an expansion plan for the Egyptian real estate market, with a focus on Sadat City, as the company seeks to grow its investment portfolio, which currently stands at around EGP 5bn.
With more than nine years of experience in the market, the company currently has seven projects under development covering approximately 33,000 sqm across commercial, administrative, medical, and residential uses.
Ahmed Tablaya, Chairperson of Al Rehab Developments, said the company sees continued opportunities in Egypt’s real estate market, particularly in Sadat City, which he described as an area with growing demand driven by urban and industrial expansion.
He noted that the city’s development is generating demand for commercial, administrative, and medical services serving both residential communities and industrial areas. The company has consequently focused its projects on locations it considers strategically positioned to serve investors, businesses, and professionals.
Ahmed Mohamed, Executive Director of Al Rehab Developments, said the company’s current portfolio includes seven projects across different locations in Sadat City.
The portfolio includes Troval Mall, the company’s first project, which has been fully delivered. It also includes Marseilia Plaza, located in the city’s Third District on approximately 7,000 sqm, offering commercial and entertainment spaces; Taj Plaza, which combines commercial, medical, and administrative uses; and JZOOR, a mixed-use development combining residential and commercial components across 12,000 sqm.
The company’s portfolio also includes Al Noor Plaza Mall, Point 1 Plaza, and Point 2 Plaza, which are designed to provide commercial and service facilities for surrounding residential and industrial areas.
Mohamed said the company’s strategy extends beyond construction and delivery to include project operations, maintenance, security, and after-sales services. It also plans to work with specialized operators to manage completed developments.
He added that the company’s upcoming expansion will be based on assessments of market demand and the needs of target areas, with a focus on developing a diversified portfolio across different real estate uses.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Ajman registered 73,472 rental contracts worth AED2.91 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting sustained demand from residents and investors.
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The Ajman Municipality and Planning Department announced that the total value of rental contracts registered during the first half of 2026 reached approximately AED2.91 billion, across a total of 73,472 contracts.
The figures reflect the emirate’s sustained activity and underscore its growing appeal as a preferred destination for living, investment and doing business, in line with Ajman Vision 2030, which aims to create a competitive business environment and an investment climate that drives economic growth and enhances investment promotion and attraction programs.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, said the emirate continues to consolidate its position as an integrated and ideal destination, supported by flexible legislation, advanced infrastructure and smart services that facilitate customer journeys and enhance quality of life and community wellbeing.
He added that Ajman continues to meet the needs of residents and investors, supporting the emirate’s comprehensive and sustainable development.
Al Nuaimi said the results clearly demonstrate growing confidence in Ajman and reflect the success of integrated efforts to provide a supportive and enabling environment for individuals and business owners, meeting their aspirations and keeping pace with the emirate’s continued growth across sectors that contribute to sustainable economic development.
Yousef Mohammed Al Sheiba Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Rental Regulation Sector at the department, outlined the indicators, saying they confirm continued activity in rental contracts and sustained demand for housing and investment.
He stressed that the department remains committed to developing the rental regulation ecosystem and harnessing the latest smart technologies and advanced systems.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Qatar’s residential real estate market remained stable in Q2 2026, while sales volumes rose 23.6% quarter-on-quarter and 15.8% year-on-year, according to ValuStrat. Median transaction values reached around QR3 million, while residential yields held steady at 5.6%, with apartments continuing to outperform villas.
2 min
Qatar’s residential real estate market demonstrated notable stability and a sharp rebound in sales activity during the second quarter of 2026, stated ValuStrat in its recent report.
“The ValuStrat Price Index (VPI) showed apartment and villa capital values remain stable”, said Anum Hasan, Head of Research at ValuStrat Qatar. “Sales volumes increased by 23.6 percent QoQ and 15.8 percent YoY, while the median ticket size rose by 4.5 percent quarterly and 8.2 percent annually.
The VPI for Qatar’s residential sector stood at 97.8 points against its Q1 2021 baseline of 100, reflecting broadly unchanged capital values over the past year.
The market analysis shows that median transaction values expanded by 4.5 percent quarterly and 8.2 percent annually to approximately QR3m, signaling a shift toward higher-value residential assets.
Al Wukair led overall transaction activity, followed closely by premium locations including The Pearl Qatar and Lusail.
In The Pearl Qatar and Legtaifiya, sales volume rose 6.3 percent QoQ despite a 42 percent annual drop, while transaction values in those areas surged 23.3 percent quarterly and 8 percent yearly.
Apartment capital values maintained full stability on both a quarterly and annual basis, averaging QR10,460 per square metre across the country. Rates averaged QR10,570 per sq m in The Pearl, QR10,365 per sq m in Lusail, and QR9,460 per sq m in West Bay Lagoon.
Villa capital values similarly held steady year-on-year at an average of QR5,675 per sq m, with minimal price changes recorded during the quarter. Old Airport saw the largest quarterly price adjustment, down 1.3 percent.
Across villa communities, annual performance varied significantly as Muaither and Al Dafna recorded gains of up to 3 percent, while locations such as Al Kharaitiyat, Ain Khaled/ Abu Hamour, and Old Airport experienced declines ranging from 1 percent to 6 percent.
Meanwhile, villa values in prime destinations like The Pearl and West Bay Lagoon remained stable quarter-on-quarter, though they posted annual declines of up to 12.5 percent.
The report noted, “Residential gross yields also held steady at 5.6 percent, with apartments continuing to offer stronger returns, averaging 8 percent, compared with 4.4 percent for villas.
Meanwhile, total residential inventory in Qatar reached 406,097 units in Q2 2026, comprising 257,271 apartments and 148,826 villas.
New deliveries during the quarter remained modest at approximately 355 apartments. “Residential completions remained limited during the quarter, led by a 100-unit mixed-use development in Fereej Al Soudan, followed by 70 homes in Fereej Bin Mahmoud and 65 units in Fox Hills,” the report said.
The data indicates that an estimated 4,600 residential units are scheduled for completion during the second half of 2026. However, developers have deferred more than 600 units into 2027, primarily within Lusail, pointing toward a more measured and strategic delivery pace.
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The US housing market remains under pressure as high mortgage rates continue to weigh on affordability and demand. Industry leaders say 2026 has been one of the toughest years for home sales, with slower price growth, weaker mortgage activity, and fewer buyers entering the market. However, experts say reduced competition and more price cuts could create opportunities for well-prepared buyers.
2 min
The typically busy spring season for the housing market was a dud, and the summer isn’t looking much brighter.
Housing services companies like Zillow Group and Rocket RKT +3.78% were loud and clear last week on earnings calls: Rocket CEO Varun Krishna called the quarter through June “one of the toughest spring housing markets in years.”
Jeremy Hofmann, Zillow’s chief financial officer, said on a conference call that the company predicted earlier this year that the market for mortgages would be flat. “We actually now think it’s going to be down low-to-mid-single digits,” he said.
The rest of 2026 will remain challenging for mortgage origination volume, says KBW analyst Bose George. The question now is what happens in 2027. “If mortgage rates remain [around] 6.75%, I think that’s going to be challenging even for next year,” he says.
But what’s bad news for mortgage companies could be a positive for bargain hunters. Buyers can expect prices to grow more slowly—or mildly decline—with less competition as long as mortgage rates remain unpredictable.
Mortgage rates at the beginning of the year were solidly below year-ago levels, notes Zillow senior economist Kara Ng. But they surpassed last year’s levels recently, she adds, referencing Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of 30-year fixed mortgage rates. Last week’s reading, at 6.69%, was higher than year-ago levels for the first time in 2026.
“From the affordability point of view, it’s going to get more challenging in the second half of the year,” she says. “And when affordability gets more challenging, that impacts sales and home price appreciation.”
Mortgage application data tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association has cooled since the beginning of the year. The trade group expects that the number of mortgage originations in the remaining two quarters will lag behind last year’s levels, after exceeding 2025 levels in the first half.
Rocket’s early-stage data—which the company told Barron’s it derives from its brokerage Redfin, demand for its mortgage products, and signs in its servicing portfolio that a homeowner is preparing to refinance or move—“leads us to expect the third quarter mortgage market to be smaller than the second,” Chief Financial Officer Brian Brown, said on the company’s call. He added that such an occurrence is “something the industry has not seen since 2022.”
Prices will be about flat nationally, Ng says. Zillow’s most recent forecast, which shows how values are expected to change in the year ending June 2027, show them dropping in roughly half of the 100 largest U.S. metros for which data is available.
Buyers aren’t rushing in at a time when mortgage costs are rising and unpredictable. But those with the right combination of patience and cash could stand to benefit. “If you are financially qualified to buy a starter home, you are facing less competition and you’re more likely to get a price cut,” Ng says.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
