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The real estate market witnessed a decline in trading activity from Dec 21- 25, with 136 transactions valued at KD69.85 million, compared to 149 transactions worth KD156.3 million in the previous week — a qualitative decrease of 55.3 percent and a quantitative decrease of 8.7 percent.

The newspaper obtained a copy of the weekly report from the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Departments at the Ministry of Justice, indicating that the private sector accounted for 83.2 percent of the total number of transactions, with 114 transactions valued at KD48.7 million.

This marks a significant decrease in transaction value of 53.7 percent (KD56.6 million) compared to 113 transactions worth KD105.3 million in the previous week.

Investment properties witnessed a significant decline as well, with 19 transactions totaling KD15.2 million or 48.6 percent decrease in value (KD14.4 million) and 36.6 percent decrease in the number of transactions (11 transactions).

This indicates that investors are awaiting stability in the real estate market, following the implementation of the new real estate legislation.

Commercial properties also experienced a downward trend, with only two transactions totaling KD5.3 million, compared to five transactions totaling KD20.1 million in the previous week.

This entails 60 percent decrease in the number of transactions (three transactions) and 73.6 percent decrease in value (KD14.8 million). The coastal strip sector recorded only one transaction during the week, valued at KD650,000, while other sectors such as warehouses, crafts, shops, showrooms and banks remained unchanged.

Lazura Developments has announced the launch of its latest real estate project, Lazura New Cairo, in New Cairo, marking the first project to be officially introduced to Egypt’s real estate market at the start of 2026, with total investments exceeding EGP 8bn.

Ahmed Abdel Hakim, Board Member at Lazura Developments, said the launch represents a key milestone in the company’s more than 20-year track record and reflects its confidence in the resilience and growth prospects of Egypt’s real estate sector. He added that the timing of the launch, coinciding with the beginning of 2026, sends positive signals for the sector’s outlook.

Abdel Hakim noted that Lazura New Cairo embodies the company’s commitment to delivering fully integrated real estate solutions that cater to both homeowners and investors, while aligning with the state’s vision for sustainable urban development. The project will comprise a diverse range of residential units, supported by integrated services and modern urban planning concepts.

He also highlighted the project’s strategic location in New Cairo, with close proximity to major road networks and key services, giving it a strong competitive advantage. The development is expected to generate new job opportunities, stimulate economic activity, and enhance real estate value in the surrounding area.

In the same context, Ramadan El-Seddik, Board Member at Lazura Developments, said the project reflects a clear strategic vision built on long-term planning and a deep understanding of market shifts and future demand, particularly as it is the first project to be launched at the start of 2026.

El-Seddik added that Lazura New Cairo has been designed to serve as a model for integrating architectural quality, sustainability, and operational efficiency, ensuring long-term investment value and reinforcing customer confidence.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Fouad, CEO of Lazura Developments, said the company has established a detailed execution plan to ensure adherence to construction timelines and the application of the highest quality standards, supported by the latest project management and implementation technologies.

Fouad added that the project is based on comprehensive market studies and will offer flexible payment plans alongside fully integrated services to meet evolving market needs.

Palace Group, a pioneering force in the UAE’s luxury real estate sector, announces the launch of AYA, an exclusive new residential development in Jumeirah Garden City. Offering a contemporary, design-driven sanctuary in the heart of Dubai, AYA responds to a growing demand for residences that pair intentional luxury with balance, convenience and purposeful living.

Designed by award-winning architects John McAslan + Partners and guided by the philosophy of “less to show, more to live,” AYA by Palace Group brings together refined architecture and thoughtful spatial planning to create homes rooted in quiet, sophisticated authenticity. With just 70 one- to two-bedroom residences across 12 elegantly designed floors, AYA offers an intimate living experience centered around open-air terraces and calm landscaped pockets of green. Every detail supports holistic wellbeing, shaping a lifestyle without compromise where exquisite architecture becomes a vessel for modern, mindful living. 

This commitment to intentional design carries through every residence. Natural materials, organic curves and generous light create intuitive, effortless living spaces, that offer balance and acoustic comfort. Open-plan layouts shift seamlessly from private retreat to social gathering, and extended balconies provide quiet moments of privacy, maintaining a continuous dialogue between inner calm and the world outside. 

AYA sits at the heart of Jumeirah Garden City, one of Dubai’s most desirable emerging districts, shaped by a masterplan of mid-rise buildings, landscaped corridors and abundant open space. This future-focused walkable community offers the convenience of central living with the calm of a private sanctuary. With immediate access to the city’s key business and leisure hubs and just moments from DIFC and Dubai Downtown, it positions early buyers advantageously within Dubai’s evolving residential landscape.

“AYA is a boutique residence envisioned for a mindful, human-centered lifestyle, where quality and long-term wellbeing shape every detail,” said Wissam Damaa, Founder and Owner of Palace Group, on announcement of the exclusive residences. “With our proven track record in high-quality developments, AYA reflects our commitment to create distinctive living spaces in prime locations that go beyond conventional ultra-luxury. AYA is designed to stand out, deliver long-term value and offer an elevated living experience. We take pride in crafting homes people genuinely love, enriching the neighborhoods they belong to and setting a new benchmark for modern luxury living in Dubai.”

Reflecting its commitment to elevated living, AYA’s amenities are designed to enrich daily life with intention and ease. Effortless arrival begins at the elegant reception that flows into a unique art gallery, while exclusive retail boutiques add moments of discovery. Wellness and social connection sit at the heart of the experience, expressed on the rooftop through a serene pool, a state-of-the-art gym, a calming spa, and an inviting lounge designed for meaningful connection against panoramic city views. Outdoor spaces balance privacy and community, from an elegant al fresco dining terrace to lush gardens shaped by organic curves and soft planting. Each amenity supports both solitude and togetherness, creating a living environment where residents can feel centered, connected, and completely at home. 

More than residences, AYA offers space that adapts to life’s changing rhythms, creating the foundation for solitude and longevity. As a boutique community shaped with enduring consideration, AYA delivers an exclusive living experience defined by sophistication and an instinctive sense of belonging. AYA is where you come home to who you are. 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

⦁ Total property income for the three quarters increased by 22% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis, reaching USD 60m.
⦁ Occupancy increased to 94% (Q3 2024: 92%).
⦁ Finance to Value (LTV) has been reduced by 16% to a stable 20% (Q3 2024: 36%).
⦁ Net Finance costs decreased by 57% to USD 17m (Q3 2024: USD 40m).
⦁ Fund From Operations (FFO) reached USD 14m (Q3 2024: USD -0.5m, inclusive of divested investment properties in FY 2024)
⦁ Revaluation gains of USD 171m bringing total assets value to USD 1.22b, higher than the USD 1.17b in Q3 2024, despite the sale of properties in 2024.
⦁ Net Asset Value reached a historic high with an increase of 37% year-on-year to USD 886m or USD 2.78 per share from USD 648m (USD2.03 per share) in Q3 2024.

OPERATIONS

Equitativa’s asset management team continued to deliver steady operating performance across the Emirates REIT portfolio, with occupancy increasing to 94% as at 30 September 2025. The improvement reflects sustained tenant demand across the portfolio, and the continued focus on proactive asset and lease management.
The net property income closed at USD 52m, remaining broadly stable year-on-year, despite the disposal of investment properties in 2024, and underlining the resilience of the portfolio’s income generation.

FINANCE

Emirates REIT maintained its conservative capital structure during the period, with the Finance-to-Value reduced to 20%, compared to 36% a year earlier. This reduction reflects proactive deleveraging and disciplined balance sheet management.

Combined with refinancing initiatives and a reduced debt profile, net finance costs decreased by 57% year-on-year to USD 17m, supporting the improvement in Funds From Operations to USD 14m for the period.
Revaluation gains of USD 171m were recorded during the period.

Commenting on Emirates REIT’s performance, Thierry Delvaux, CEO of Equitativa Dubai, said: “Emirates REIT’s continued strong performance underscores the resilience of our portfolio and the disciplined execution of our strategy. We have delivered higher property income while materially reducing finance costs, with Net Asset Value reaching a record USD 886 million. At the same time, LTV has been reduced to 20% and net finance costs lowered by 57% to USD 17 million, strengthening the REIT’s balance sheet and positioning us well for sustainable growth and attractive returns for our shareholders.”

Abu Dhabi’s Modon Holding PSC has formed a new joint venture with US developer Related Companies and Jersey City firm Panepinto Properties to develop Harborside 4, a 54-storey residential tower in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey.

Modon will hold a majority equity stake in the JV, which the company said was part of its strategy to expand its global portfolio and enhance its long-term recurring income.

Construction is set to begin in Q1 2026, with completion targeted in Q1 2029.

Financial details of the project have not been disclosed.

The JV will jointly oversee the development, with Related leading development and construction management, leasing and operations.

A consortium of banks led by JP Morgan will provide construction financing for the development scheme overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Dubai is entering a decisive new phase in its luxury property cycle, with branded residences expanding at a rate unmatched anywhere in the world. 

The city’s branded-residence pipeline is set to grow by 80%, reaching nearly 250 projects by 2030, according to fresh market data from Dubai-based real estate consultancy VVS Estate.

According to Savills’ Branded Residences 2024/25 Report, the global sector has recorded more than 180% growth over the past decade, with over 700 completed schemes and another 790 in the pipeline.

The Savills report confirms nearly 140 branded-residence projects already active in Dubai, the highest concentration worldwide. Meanwhile, the EMEA region has emerged as a global hub for branded residences, accounting for nearly 30% of total supply. Within this landscape, the Middle East stands out, representing around 12% of global inventory and boasting the strongest growth outlook worldwide, with supply projected to expand by approximately 120% by 2030.

Valentina Rusu, Founder of VVS Estate said: “Cross referencing these findings with Property Finder’s 2,300+ off-plan developments across the UAE further indicates that Dubai’s branded residences are projected to increase by 80%, potentially reaching 250 projects by 2030.”

The next stage of Dubai’s branded-residence evolution is being driven by private-access launches and early intelligence shared only with top-tier brokerages. One of the most anticipated forthcoming developments, Palace Hillside in Dubai Hills Estate, has been quietly previewed to a select circle of industry leaders prior to public announcement. This trend reflects a broader market shift, which is that luxury buyers increasingly rely on agencies with privileged access, transforming traditional brokerage into strategic advisory.

Property Finder data highlights several significant branded schemes with confirmed delivery timelines. These include the Address Residences The Bay (2026), the St. Regis Residences Downtown (2026), the Vida Residences Dubai Hills (2027), and the Palace Residences Dubai Hills (2028), as well as the Six Senses Dubai Marina (2028) and the Address Residences Dubai Hills (2029). 

Each project publicly shares construction progress and payment structures, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation for market transparency and investor confidence.

The next boom in Dubai property extends beyond residences alone. Projects such as Lumena Alta by Omniyat, which is a 380-metre tower combining a five-star sky hotel, wellness components, and commercial space, signal the rise of integrated lifestyle ecosystems. This progression marks Dubai’s shift from ‘branded residences’ to ‘branded life’, where hospitality, living, wellness, and workspace merge into cohesive premium districts.

“Branded residences go beyond luxury and sales; they represent value. Buyers are not just interested in purchasing a home, but investing in a lifestyle. The brand embodies a unique vision that leaves a lasting impact,” Rusu concluded. Her perspective captures the sentiment driving new investor behavior across the region and the desire for long-term assurance, strong brand stewardship, and lifestyle-driven returns.

With almost 250 branded and hybrid projects projected by 2030, and the potential to approach 400 schemes by 2035, Dubai is poised to remain the world’s most influential branded-living market. Its future pipeline is expected to strengthen high-end inbound investment, deepen international demand, and continue redefining how luxury real estate is conceived and delivered across the MENA region.

Dubai’s shift from a temporary base to a long-term home is becoming increasingly clear. According to betterhomes’ Future Living Report 2025, the average length of stay across the city has risen to 10.5 years, up from 7.5 years in 2024, underscoring a clear shift in how residents view life in Dubai.

This increase reflects a growing sense of permanence across both tenants and homeowners, as more people commit to building their lives in the city for the long term. In 2024, tenants reported an average residency of 6.7 years. By 2025, that figure has climbed significantly to 9.9 years. Looking ahead, tenants now expect to remain in Dubai for an average of 10.7 years, compared to just 7 years the previous year. Nearly 60% of residents now plan to stay in the city for more than a decade, signaling a broader shift toward long-term living, stability, and confidence in Dubai’s future.

Commenting on these findings, Louis Harding, CEO of betterhomes, said, “With 59% of tenants committing to Dubai for the long term, it’s evident that people are planning their lives here with far greater confidence and clarity than we’ve seen before. This shift reflects Dubai’s continued appeal as a stable, livable city for both families and professionals.”

From Short-Term Plans to Long-Term Commitment

The rise in both actual and expected length of stay points to a deeper sense of belonging taking hold. Tenants are planning further ahead, setting roots, and aligning their lives around the city with greater certainty than in previous years.

Rupert Simmonds, Director of Leasing at betterhomes, added, “The growth in tenant residency is one of the clearest indicators of Dubai’s evolution. People are choosing to stay longer, not out of necessity, but because the city supports long-term living, stability, and progression.”

Together, the findings underline a clear narrative: Dubai is no longer seen as a temporary chapter for tenants, but as a long-term destination where people are choosing to settle, plan, and grow.

Nabni Developments has officially begun construction on Nabni Avenue 7, its newest premium residential development located in Dubai’s Al Furjan district, one of the city’s fastest-growing communities.

The latest release in Nabni’s Avenue-branded series of residences – and its flagship, is designed as a showcase for elevated urban living while presenting a contemporary, sophisticated aesthetic with discreet Emirati design accents. It joins the developer’s Avenue 1–6 buildings and brings total investment in Al Furjan to AED 800 million.

Due for handover in August 2027, the 12-storey mid-rise building (ground + podium + 10) offers a total of 166 one, two and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 950 to 2,050 square feet – the largest in the area.

Grounded in minimalist Art Deco design with distinctive architectural elements drawn from traditional UAE homes, the light-filled interior layouts feature high-quality Italian fixtures and fittings, and premium European kitchen appliances. Smart home technology is integrated across the luxury residential experience, and a range of lifestyle-driven amenities tailored to young professionals and families are on offer including separate adult and kids’ swimming pools, a Technogym-equipped workout space, a resident’s lounge, ghaf tree garden, kids’ play area, jogging track, and barbecue area.

Commenting on the announcement, Abdulrahman Abdulla Alhelo Alsuwaidi, Co-founder and Chairman, Nabni Developments, said: “Following the sold-out success of our first six Avenue-branded residences, and 65% of Nabni Avenue 7 already sold out, we are continuing with a proven residential model that has consistently attracted quality-driven couples and families to both the Nabni reputation and the appeal of the Al Furjan community lifestyle.

“We remain focused on delivering high-quality living spaces that meet the high expectations of both investors and end users looking for standout projects that deliver on the off-plan promise. Our approach is backed by two decades of local market experience and a solid commitment to quality across construction, fit-out, and functionality – all aligned with international standards while honoring local design influences.”

Nabni Developments follows a considered development approach that balances refined luxury with commercial viability supported by direct global sourcing and smart cost management to ensure a consistently quality-centric product. As of December 2025, the company has delivered five buildings generating more than AED 1.2 billion in sales, with three further buildings in development in Al Furjan.

This new milestone for Nabni Avenue 7 follows the May 2025 launch of the developer’s Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Business Bay, the crown in its growing portfolio – and Waldorf Astoria’s first standalone residences outside of the US.

BEYOND Developments, the bold and design-led real estate developer shaping next-generation waterfront destinations in the UAE, today unveiled SIORA, its first beachfront masterplan on Dubai Islands and the company’s second large-scale community within a year. The launch underscores BEYOND’s accelerated growth and strong alignment with Dubai’s future urban vision.

Spanning over 2M square feet, SIORA is conceived as a coastal sanctuary inspired by Japanese garden philosophies, including the pursuit of Ikigai, the Japanese concept of finding purpose and fulfilment in everyday life. In this context, it reflects a philosophy of creating spaces that bring clarity, balance, and a sense of meaning, where architecture nurtures wellbeing and restores harmony between people, nature, and place.

Commenting on the launch, Adil Taqi, CEO of BEYOND Developments, said: “Since its inception in 2024, BEYOND had an exceptional journey with nine launches in 2025 that delivered opportunities for a wider audience to experience a richer and more meaningful life. Today, I am thrilled to announce the launch of SIORA, the company’s second cluster masterplan and bold new expansion into beachfront destinations, spanning over 2 million sqft with 2.7 million sqft of GFA on the beautiful Dubai Islands.”

“This masterplan aims to define the next generation of urban coastal living, in line with Dubai’s inspirational 2040 Urban Master Plan that puts wellbeing, walkability, and nature at the heart of community life. It embodies our vision for future waterfront living environments where where design excellence, natural beauty, and emotional connection come together to empower people to live balanced experiences and connect purposefully with nature and the community.” added Taqi.

Over the past year, BEYOND has delivered nine launches, welcomed residents and investors from over 40 countries, and exceeded AED 10 billion in sales, a trajectory that reflects the company’s momentum and the market’s trust in its design-led approach.

Taqi emphasised: “SIORA represents the next phase of BEYOND’s expansion across Dubai’s coastline. It reflects our commitment to creating thoughtfully designed communities that carry lasting value and deeper meaning for a global audience. SIORA will introduce a new benchmark for waterfront living on Dubai Islands, a complete coastal ecosystem of homes, hospitality, and lifestyle experiences.”

SIORA is planned as a pedestrian coastal district where nature shapes the rhythm of daily life. More than 70 percent of the masterplan is dedicated to open green spaces, creating over 1.5M sqft of landscapes that enhance comfort and bring people closer to the coastline. Along 6 km of continuous beachfront, the sea becomes an integral part of community living and outdoor wellbeing.

Shaded routes and landscaped terraces encourage effortless movement and social connection throughout the day. These pathways introduce cooler microclimates and frame calming outlooks toward the water and the horizon, enabling a lifestyle that feels active, grounded, and human. As a defining layer of placemaking, curated cultural and artistic expressions enrich SIORA’s public realm, introducing sculptural installations influenced by Japanese aesthetics to enhance identity and transform every journey into an inspiring cultural experience.

Sustainability is embedded into SIORA’s design through wind, water, and light. Inspired by Japanese garden philosophy, these natural forces shape ventilation, comfort, and climate balance, elevating Dubai Islands living through thoughtful design and a purpose-driven coastal vision. This begins BEYOND’s multi-phase presence on Dubai Islands, elevating design-led waterfront living and shaping the future of Dubai’s coastline.

 TownX, one of Dubai’s fastest-growing real estate developers with an AED 4 billion project portfolio, has announced a significant milestone in the construction of its AED 662 million Ashley Hills project. In just four months since the project launch, the development has reached 40% construction progress, demonstrating the company’s efficiency and commitment to delivering high-quality residential communities.

Located in the heart of Arjan, Ashley Hills is a flagship development that will feature 616 residential units across 400,000 square feet of sellable area. The project is designed to offer a mix of spacious apartments that cater to families and investors seeking modern, sustainable living spaces in one of Dubai’s fastest-growing districts.

The project’s progress includes several key milestones. Site mobilization, enabling works, piling and foundations, and substructure works have all seen notable progress, with significant advancement made on the superstructure and internal works. The external envelope and building services are also underway, while internal finishes are in progress. External works and infrastructure are set to begin in the coming months.

In August 2025, TownX appointed Ocean Stone as the main contractor for the project. Ocean Stone, known for their extensive experience in large-scale residential developments, has been instrumental in driving the project forward and ensuring timely progress.

Haider Abduljabbar, Executive Director of TownX, commented: “We are extremely proud of the remarkable progress made in just four months of construction. Achieving 40% completion is a testament to the hard work of our team and our contractors, whose collaboration has been instrumental in reaching this milestone. We are excited about the future of this project and remain focused on delivering Ashley Hills on time while maintaining the high standards TownX is known for.”

The rapid progress reflects TownX’s dedication to meeting the growing demand for high-quality residential options in Dubai. The strategic location of Ashley Hills in Arjan offers excellent connectivity to major roads such as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, along with access to schools, retail centers, parks, and recreational facilities, making it an ideal living destination.

Since its inception in 2017, TownX has focused on delivering projects ahead of schedule and with attention to detail. With over 1,567 units delivered and 1,174 apartments currently in development, the company continues to expand its footprint in Dubai’s real estate market. Ashley Hills is another milestone in TownX’s efforts to create residential communities that meet the needs of modern families while delivering long-term value.

Other key developments delivered by TownX include Easy18, Easy19, Luma21, Luma22 and Luma Park Views in JVC. Ongoing projects include 11 Hills Park at Dubai Science Park and Ashley Hills in Arjan.

Dubai Land Department, in collaboration with Dubai Holding Community Management, has approved the first-ever three-year fixed service fees for the Palm Jumeirah Master community. The new mechanism enables the management companies of jointly owned properties (JOPs) to submit and secure approval for a three-year service fees budget via the ‘Mollak’ system, while also maintaining the option for entities that wish to continue adopting a one-year budgeting model.

The new mechanism aims to stabilize service fees and enhance the efficiency of long-term financial planning by enabling management companies to enter into three-year operational contracts with service providers. This approach enhances clarity and certainty for owners and investors, while contributing to greater transparency in the management of buildings and communities.

This adoption marks a strategic milestone led by the Jointly Owned Property Management Department to advance the ‘Mollak’ system and usher in a more mature phase of community management. It strengthens market stability and transparency while enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of Dubai’s real estate sector. This development enables DLD’s partners, the community management companies to manage their financial and operational obligations across jointly owned properties with greater efficiency, improved planning confidence, and more sustainable decision-making supported by accurate and reliable data.
The enhancements to the ‘Mollak’ system also include strengthened digital data integration and streamlined documentation and verification processes, reducing time and effort, improving oversight, and elevating service quality for all stakeholders in the real estate ecosystem.

In this context, Eng. Abdullah Ahmed Al Shehhi, CEO of the Real Estate Regulatory Agency at Dubai Land Department, stated that the new three-year budgeting mechanism was implemented for the first time in collaboration with Dubai Holding Community Management, with the main Palm Jumeirah Master community being the first project to have its budget approved under this advanced model.

He added: “All community management companies across Dubai can use this new mechanism, which supporting long-term financial planning and enhancing the stability of service fees. This step forms part of RERA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, improve the efficiency of community management, and elevate the quality of services provided to residents, owners, and investors across the emirate.

The announcement of this implementation was made during a recent collaborative workshop, organized in partnership with Dubai Holding Community Management, during which key updates supporting multi-year financial planning and the development of community management mechanisms in the emirate were presented. During the workshop, Francis Gianni, Chief Community Management Officer, also highlighted the organization’s milestones across Dubai Holding Community Management’s residential portfolio.

Francis Giani, Chief Community Management Officer at Dubai Holding Community Management, said: “This milestone will significantly enhance our strategic planning capabilities, allowing us to approach future initiatives with greater foresight and clarity. Anchored in this renewed framework, we are committed to implementing meaningful, long-term enhancements that enrich the community experience and deliver enduring value to our residents at the Palm Jumeirah and beyond.”

This step reaffirms Dubai Land Department’s commitment to advancing modern systems that meet the evolving needs of the sector, strengthen customer trust, and support Dubai’s vision of delivering world-class living experiences through a more efficient and innovative real estate ecosystem.

Jayasom, the global integrative wellness hospitality brand, has announced its inaugural flagship property at AMAALA on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Set to open in 2026, Jayasom Wellness Resort, AMAALA will unite evidence-based medicine, holistic healing traditions, and mindful living philosophies to inspire sustainable wellbeing across generations and cultures. True to its name, Jayasom – derived from ‘Jay’, meaning heart, and ‘Asom’, meaning place – embodies “a place for the heart”, a sanctuary created to help guests feel deeply connected to themselves, their surroundings and the spirit of AMAALA.

The resort will set a new benchmark in integrated wellbeing, offering tailored, multidisciplinary wellness journeys that draw upon Western evidence-based practices together with holistic remedies rooted in Arabic traditions, yielding tangible, sustainable results in a best-in-class luxury environment. Key pillars available for guests to immerse themselves in will include – detox and nutrition; mindfulness and emotional wellbeing; women’s health and hormone balance; fitness and movement; immune resilience; integrative sleep recovery; men’s longevity and vitality; as well as stress recovery and mental clarity.

Rooted in its purpose to inspire wellness, Jayasom, AMAALA will offer guests the rare gift of time, stillness, and space – space to breathe, to recalibrate, to reconnect with inner quiet, and to build new habits that last a lifetime. As an adults-focused wellness retreat destination  as well as a family wellness resort (including infant, toddler, tween and teen zones), Jayasom, AMAALA will offer a refined, nature-immersed escape at the pristine Triple Bay, designed to support both personal transformation and meaningful connection.

At Jayasom, wellness is multifaceted. Functional assessment and physical activity combine with foods that heal and holistic experiences that together breathe life into all levels of our health and happiness. Guests will access over 7,000 sqm of world-class facilities dedicated to health, physiotherapy, fitness, mindfulness and energy work, nutrition and conscious cuisine, therapeutic spa treatments, and minimally invasive aesthetic medicine supported by U.S. FDA-approved technologies. Two distinct zones – a serene adults-only enclave and a family-focused area – will support both private retreat and intergenerational wellbeing, with programs led by medically certified specialists, holistic practitioners, therapists, and movement experts. Tailored retreats are set to encompass couple’s reconnection, women’s-only retreats, leadership, wellness and wellbeing experiences with horses, marine activities, physical performance, detox, and healing powers of sound. Alongside specialized programs inspired by the wisdom of TAIM (Traditional Arab and Islamic Medicine), an integrative healing tradition that emphasizes balance, prevention, and harmony across body, mind, and spirit. These evidence-informed protocols draw on centuries of regional knowledge – from herbal practices and nutritional principles to emotional and spiritual wellbeing – reimagined thoughtfully for the modern traveler. This culturally rooted approach complements the resort’s broader medical and holistic expertise, offering guests a deeper appreciation of a holistic tradition that complements their personalized wellbeing journey.

“Jayasom was born from a belief that wellness is a practice – grounded in presence, learning, and the quiet courage to be still,” said Karen Campbell, CEO of Jayasom. “At AMAALA, we will provide the space and support to restore balance, breathe deeply, and reconnect with wisdom – ancient and modern, personal and shared. Our commitment is to deliver wellness with integrity and compassion, empowering guests to carry forward habits that enrich their lives long after they return home.”

A symbiotic relationship between personal and planetary health runs through all that Jayasom does. Led by the ethos – tread lightly, live well – Jayasom is a destination dedicated to supporting future generations. In line with this commitment to a light resource footprint and meaningful community contribution, the resort will feature a signature organic farm – a cornerstone of the brand’s approach to nutrition, nature immersion, and regenerative practice. The farm will provide fresh organic produce for optimal nutritional wellbeing, serve as a learning hub for adults and children, support biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, and supply an early-phase nursery to nurture the resort landscape. This interplay of nourishment, education, and environmental stewardship underscores Jayasom’s belief that wellbeing is all-encompassing – spanning body, mind, spirit, and planet.

Celebrating the culture of local communities connects Jayasom to indigenous wellness traditions and honors the vibrancy of our world. This sensibility, combined with the brand’s ethos for luxury hospitality, lies at the heart of its design and guest experience philosophy at AMAALA – where global wisdom meets local authenticity to create a truly transformative sense of place.

As Jayasom’s flagship, AMAALA represents the future of purposeful luxury – where depth replaces excess, clarity replaces noise, and wellbeing becomes a way of living, not an escape. Here, wellness is not a pause from life – it is a pathway back to it.

Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has issued a tender seeking consultancy services for the masterplan and detailed design of the New City Sohar, a major urban development planned in Sohar, located in Al Batinah North Governorate.

The tender was published on 24 November 2025, with bid submissions due by 19 January 2026, according to the ministry’s procurement notice. Priced bids will be opened on the same day as submission.

The sale of tender documents will close on 15 December 2025. Pre-bid clarifications will run until 29 December.

To date, 31 companies have purchased the tender documents including 12 international firms, according to Oman’s tender board.

The project, referred to as NCSo, is envisaged as a green, smart, sustainable and vibrant city fully aligned with Oman Vision 2040, according to the tender notice. Its strategic location on historic farmlands in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque and the Palace and its high-level government backing position provides an opportunity to introduce innovative solutions across key urban elements.

In May 2024, UK-based architectural news portal e-Architect reported that Global architecture and design studio Hassell released ‘New City in Sohar’ master plan, after being commissioned by the Ministry with a mandate to position the Northern Oman city as a center of trade, commerce and innovation by 2040.

The report said the master plan capitalizes on Sohar’s free port and the forthcoming international rail link with Abu Dhabi to transform more than 700 hectares of degraded agricultural land into a major new urban center. The development is designed to deliver over 20,000 homes, 520,000 square meters of office space, schools, mosques, hospitals, cultural venues such as an opera house and museums, and a new library.

It said Hassell’s master plan applies the five-minute city principle emphasizing micro-mobility and walkable neighborhoods centered around amenity clusters within a short distance of homes and workplaces.

Development will be phased over the next two decades, with the earliest completions expected around 2040.

CASHIERS, N. C.—Shortly before 4 p.m. on a recent November afternoon, Buck’s Coffee Cafe was buzzing with a steady stream of customers that included a local chef, the scion of a hot-sauce empire, a real-estate developer and others.

Two Porsches and a pickup truck were parked in front of the shop, which serves as a de facto town hall at the intersection of North Carolina Highway 107 and U.S. Route 64.

If Cashiers had a town centre, this would be it: a crossroads surrounded by a smattering of retail.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, the unincorporated village has no mayor, no local police force and no central public water supply. There is a limited public sewer system, just a handful of sidewalks and one Ingles supermarket, affectionately known as “Mingles” because it is where locals tend to socialise.

But what Cashiers does have is lots of uber-wealthy homeowners who have been coming to the area for more than a century.

With a full-time population of just 825—and at least four billionaires with homes—Cashiers has one of the highest concentrations of wealth in the country, according to data from Altrata, a wealth-intelligence firm.

Drawn to the area’s climate and natural beauty, most deep-pocketed homeowners, including billionaires like Ken Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot, and members of Nashville’s Ingram family, own property in a half-dozen private golf communities fanning out from the main intersection.

Even as real-estate values in Cashiers (pronounced Cash-ERS) nearly doubled over the past five years, locals have resisted overdevelopment in favour of retaining its small-town character, which provides relative anonymity to its wealthiest residents.

A September article in The Wall Street Journal, disclosing the presence of four billionaire families, got the community talking.

“People said, ‘Four? What an insult. We’ve got more than that,’” said Ann McKee Austin, who summered in Cashiers as a child and who co-developed, with her brother William McKee, the Wade Hampton Golf Club in the 1980s. “It attracts low-key people, not jet-set people,” said Austin.

South Carolina politician Wade Hampton III, a Confederate general, was among the first to build a summer lodge in Cashiers in the 1800s.

By the 1980s, golf communities with courses designed by Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer and others began sprouting up in the area.

Today, there are at least 15 clubs on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, a roughly 25-mile area that includes Cashiers and its sister town of Highlands, a quaint tourist destination with high-end shops, restaurants and hotels.

By contrast, Cashiers has no Main Street and is “no frills,” said real-estate agent Kati Miller of Caliber Fine Property, comparing it to the fictional town of Mayberry. “You’re not going to see Prada or any sort of chain. It’s hard to get to—the closest airport is 45 minutes away on windy one-lane roads.”

Life in both places largely revolves around the clubs, where the average home-sale price was roughly $5.4 million over the past three months, said Ali Moody of Caliber.

Owning property is often a prerequisite to membership, which costs upward of $100,000 plus annual dues. Besides amenities like golf, tennis, croquet and dining, clubs also provide infrastructure like roads, water and sewer systems, making construction of luxury homes possible.

“Clubs are like mini-cities, quite frankly,” said Jody Lovell of Highlands-Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty. Some clubs even provide workforce housing.

Over the years, the ranks of wealthy residents have swelled to include Langone, who paid less than $1 million combined to buy 5.77 acres at Wade Hampton in the 1990s, records show. (For many years, the late Bernie Marcus, another co-founder of Home Depot, also had a place there.) Martha Ingram, who succeeded her late husband as chairman of the billionaire family’s conglomerate Ingram Industries ,bought at the Chattooga Club more than three decades ago.

Langone said he was visiting a friend for the weekend when he toured Wade Hampton and was “blown away” by the newly-built golf course. He bought land before he left and built a four-bedroom home that he has added to over the years.

He said people in Cashiers are civic-minded, hard-working, and kind. “I go there, and they treat me like I’m just anybody else,” he said, “which is the way it should be. ”

Martha’s son, David Ingram, and his wife, Sarah, own several properties at Chattooga—and they recently purchased the club from his uncle (and Martha’s brother) John Rivers, who developed it in the 1980s.

Members of the McIlhenny family, which has been making Tabasco in Louisiana since the 1800s, also own in Cashiers, as does billionaire Scott Hardman Ward, a scion of Russell Stover candies, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent , who spent $4.6 million in 2022. He is now looking to sell his property for $5.25 million.

Billionaire energy mogul William Doré owns two homes in Wade Hampton, which he purchased for about $3 million combined in 2016 and 2019. And Ric Elias, the billionaire CEO of Red Ventures, recently sold a roughly 2.6-acre lot at the Club at High Hampton for $2.5 million, after paying $2.25 million in 2023. Elias and Bessent didn’t comment. Ward, Doré and the McIlhenny family didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Year-round residents say wealthy “summer people” don’t get any special attention. Pro golfers with homes in the area regularly grab a slice at Slab Town Pizza, said restaurant manager Scott Mulchay. No one bats an eye.

Langone said one of his favourite events is a July Fourth get-together hosted by a family at High Hampton, who serve barbecue; people dress in Americana, sing patriotic songs and fire off a mini-cannon, he said.

“We don’t need to prove what we have or show what we have,” he said. “We just enjoy everyone’s company.”

It’s been discovered

Despite its unpretentiousness, a turning point for the Cashiers luxury market came in the early 2000s, when Discovery Land Co., the developer behind Montana’s Yellowstone Club, opened Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club, drawing more well-heeled buyers not just from the Southeast, but other parts of the country. The McKee family’s sale of the High Hampton Inn in 2017 to the operator of Tennessee’s popular Blackberry Farm, which renovated the historic property, had a similar effect. undefined

Rob Palumbo, who works in the financial services industry in Atlanta, fell in love with Cashiers’ tranquillity 25 years ago, and for years he owned a log cabin on the Tuckasegee River. In 2013, he and his wife, Melanie Palumbo, paid $800,000 for a 2.3-acre lot at Mountaintop and built a six-bedroom house.

Like other resort areas, Cashiers experienced a Covid boom that turbocharged home prices.

Between 2020 and 2024, the average home sale price jumped 88.8% from $1.05 million to $1.98 million, according to data from the multiple listing service. Despite economic uncertainty that has slowed the luxury market nationwide, Cashiers recently had a string of sales above $7 million—a once-untouchable price point.

“For the longest time, $6 million was the ceiling,” said Caliber’s Miller, who said prices are rising as new homes sell for the first time.

The record in Cashiers was set in July, when a house at Mountaintop with a glass-and-steel facade sold for $11.11 million, said listing agent Liz Harris of Cashiers Sotheby’s International Realty. The prior owner paid $600,000 for the 1.85-acre lot in 2020, records show. “What kept [the market] down before, honestly, was people didn’t know about it,” Harris said. The buyer couldn’t be determined.

Chasing higher prices

Earlier this month, a 6.5-acre estate at Cullasaja Club—halfway between Cashiers and Highlands—sold for $12 million.

Some real-estate insiders say the market, as it currently exists, can only grow so much.

Cashiers has six months’ worth of world-class golf between May and October, but there is less to draw people there during the “shoulder” seasons, said developer Sam Lupas.

A bigger issue is inventory. Many of the clubs have waiting lists, Miller said, even Mountaintop, where the initiation fee will be $275,000 starting January 1. “I hate to say it, but we need another club up here,” she said. “They’re all full.”

Growing pains

In 2003, locals voted against incorporation out of fear of paying higher taxes or ceding autonomy to government bureaucracy. Instead, local philanthropists have supported a local charter school, library, boys and girls club and volunteer fire department.

Two decades ago, when a hotel developer tried to build an Econo Lodge near the main intersection, residents swooped in to purchase the land. They designed a Village Green that is encircled with a low stone wall, and a hard-to-find entrance in the rear. “It was meant to be for the people that live here, and you access it from behind the scenes, rather than ‘Stop here and have a picnic lunch,’” said Austin.

Over the past few years, Cashiers has experienced growing pains amid its newfound popularity. During the summer months, traffic can back up for miles, said the Rev. Steve Hines, a retired clergyman who is a member of the Chattooga Club. “There were wealthy people here before, but not at this level,” he said. The growth “has gotten a little out of hand.”

Affordable housing is also an issue, said Jackie Hooper Hernandez, a clerk at Lulu & You clothing boutique, who said she is lucky to live with a relative about 8 miles from the shop. Other family members drive more than 30 minutes to work. But she puts up with the inconveniences of the summer influx because her livelihood depends on it. “We might hate the traffic,” she said, “but you know, if we didn’t have that, I wouldn’t have a job,” she said.

Some people think Cashiers would be better off incorporating, so that it could benefit from having its own tax base and public infrastructure.

But others believe there is reason to fear overdevelopment. “I’ve witnessed an overbuilding [at other clubs], where going to dinner or getting a tee time for golf almost became a lottery system,” said Hufstetler, who just bought the $12 million house in Cullasaja. He previously owned homes in Destin, Fla., and on Lake Oconee, Ga., that he sold when those areas became too crowded.

Lupas said he and his partners are working on an effort to bring hospitality, retail and housing to Cashiers in a way that is both appropriate and “authentic” to the community. “Some people think I’m an evil developer,” but he said the opposite is true. He believes a certain amount of growth is good for Cashiers, if not necessary. “Everybody wants it to stay like it was in 1950, but it’s not possible.”

Dubai’s ultra-luxury villa market has moved past a post-COVID boom to become a stable global asset class, with record-breaking sales of AED40+ million properties and demand for elite ‘trophy’ homes on the rise.

Analysis by fäm Properties highlights AED 70M-AED100M deals climbing sharply, resales overtaking new sales, and the emergence of a ‘golden triangle’ of wealth between Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills and MBR City.

Data from DXBinteract also identifies Palm Jebel Ali, Tilal Al Ghaf and The Oasis as the next frontiers for ultra-luxury villas worth AED100M+ after handover in the next three years.

“Dubai’s AED 40M+ villa market is now a sustained global wealth segment, not a post-COVID anomaly, with strong resale demand and a limited supply of trophy homes driving prices higher,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties.

“Over the last five years, there has been explosive growth in this sector, with transactions increasing more than ninefold, from 27 in 2020 to 210 in 2023, 242 in 2024, and a projected 199 in 2025.”

Transaction value jumped from AED 0.89B in 2020 to AED 15.98B in 2024, a 1,700% rise that effectively created Dubai’s ultra-prime villa market. The growth is fueled by global UHNW migration and limited trophy homes in Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay, and MBR City.

Al Msaddi reacted to the surge by creating fäm Luxe, a new ultra-super-prime arm for Dubai’s UHNW buyers, making it the fäm Group’s 17th division.

Resales overtook new sales from 2022 onward, accounting for 58% of all AED 40M+ villa deals in 2024. Value-wise, resales jumped from AED 2.0 B in 2021 to AED 10.8 B in 2024, surpassing developer sales which stood at AED 5.96 B the same year.

“This confirms a mature investor cycle, where delivered ultra-prime stock – mainly on Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay, and Emirates Hills – now trades at liquidity levels once limited to off-plan,” said Al Msaddi, who 

Meanwhile, Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, and MBR City have emerged as Dubai’s ‘Golden Triangle of Wealth,’ accounting for 56% of AED 40M+ villa transactions.

• Palm Jumeirah: AED 19.38 B total since 2015 (31% of total value)
• Emirates Hills: AED 9.04 B (15%)
• MBR City: AED 6.40 B (10%)

Dubai has also seen the rise of AED 70M+ to AED 100M villa deals, which grew from negligible between 2015–2019 to over 170 villas between 2023–2025. 

In addition, AED 100M–200M transactions totaled 83, and AED 200M+ deals reached 25 since 2021. Dubai now consistently records AED 200M–600M trophy sales, a category that barely existed before 2021, signaling institutional-grade global demand.

Data from DXBinteract also identifies Palm Jebel Ali, Tilal Al Ghaf, and The Oasis as the next frontiers for ultra-luxury villas worth AED 100M+ after handover between 2026–2028. It follows their entry into the sector for AED 40M+ villas as follows:

• Palm Jebel Ali: has seen AED 2.23 B worth of sales in this category, mostly between 2024–2025.
• Tilal Al Ghaf: has witnessed rapid resale momentum with AED 3.6 B worth of deals since 2023.
• The Oasis: recorded AED 0.99 B in its first cycle following a developer launch last year.