The Secret to Selling a $100 Million Mansion
They’ve dealt with billionaires, signed NDAs and fielded bizarre requests. Four real-estate power brokers dish on how they got the deal done.
11 min
The first $100 million home sale in the U.S. happened in 2011, when Russian-born billionaire Yuri Milner purchased a lavish mansion in Silicon Valley in a nine-figure deal. Back then, Milner’s buy was an outlier and set an ambitious benchmark for the luxury market. Nowadays, as the ranks of ultra wealthy individuals swell globally, $100 million-plus transactions barely cause ripples in markets like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Fla., and Aspen, Colo. More than 40 transactions have closed nationally at or above that benchmark in the intervening years, according to appraiser Jonathan Miller .
Behind those deals are a small group of real-estate power brokers responsible for marketing and selling the homes to the billionaire class. We talked to four agents whose deals have crossed the nine-figure threshold about how the biggest transactions really unfold. The interviews have been edited for clarity.
For real-estate agents, landing a high-profile or billionaire client is a painstaking and competitive process, and often means pitching against rival agents. Each agent has their own secret for getting an advantage.
JILL HERTZBERG : “You’ve got to read the paper and watch the news. I remember when Shaquille O’Neal was coming to the Miami Heat, each person on my team probably called 100 people, asking ‘Do you know Shaq?’ One person would give us the name of another person and then another person. We were lunatics.
We finally got to him and he said, ‘No, I have an agent already.’ But we convinced him to give us a couple of hours, and that no one knew Miami like we did. The first house we took him to was the one he eventually bought, a beautiful estate on Star Island.
RYAN SERHANT: For the buyers we know who are trophy-home hunters, we keep our eyes on the homes in Palm Beach, Miami, Texas, Colorado and California that could go at these price points. We keep tabs on whether the owners would be willing to sell.
HERTZBERG: We went on a really big listing appointment on La Gorce Island in Miami Beach once. They asked us to come Tuesday at 10 a.m. When we showed up, there was another top agent already sitting on the patio. Another one arrived soon after. They had lined us all up at half-hour intervals. There was a little smile there to each other, like maybe we should just all do it together.
For $100 million homes, the prospective buyer pool is relatively small. That often means dealing with the same people over and over.
RAYNI WILLIAMS: It’s a very elite group of people. A lot of times they are collectors of trophy homes. Even if they don’t want to buy the property, they often will call because they want to come see it. It’s just a vanity showing. For me, it’s kind of like being a docent in an art gallery. They are coming in to admire the art. They’ll say, ‘please tell me about this architecturally significant property,’ and ask me what I know about Tadao Ando, the Japanese architect whose work is really in vogue. You’re cultivating relationships. Wealthy people love to educate themselves on all the latest and greatest.
Pricing homes at the highest end of the market is more art than science. Frequently, luxury homes come on the market for big-ticket prices, but later sell for significantly less .
WILLIAMS: It starts with the seller and what their expectation is. It’s about replacement cost, location and then data. You have to take into account how much it’s going to take to get them out of there without losing money, and the brain damage that it would take for somebody to re-create the property. People at this level are willing to pay a premium when they find something they love, because maybe they are getting older and they only have 20 good summers left, or their grandchildren are getting older. What is the value of your life if you’re under construction and you’re taking daily and weekly construction and design meetings? It’s a headache and a lot of clients tell me it can be hard on their marriage.
HERTZBERG: We’re going to go to the highest number we can possibly get without tipping over, then see how the market responds. If you tip over, that’s when you have price reductions, or you lose the listing or people get unhappy. Sometimes, you advise the seller to price at $100 million and then he speaks to other agents and they say $200 million. The seller will say, ‘We’re going to go with them, because they believe in the property more.’
RILEY WARWICK: Some agents have a strategy I don’t particularly subscribe to, which is to take a listing at all costs or at any price, then use it to market themselves. They say, ‘Well, who knows, maybe someone will pay this. Or if I can get the fish in the boat, then I can lower the price until eventually someone buys it.’
SERHANT: Sometimes the best marketing plan is to have no price, and not go officially on the market at all. Oftentimes, especially with super luxury homes, people want what other people can’t have. We’ve had buyers pay a premium because they don’t want the seller to put the property on the market. They don’t want anyone else to have it, and they don’t want anyone talking about it ever.
In 2017, a Los Angeles spec house became the highest priced home in the country when it listed with Williams for $250 million. It was the creation of Bruce Makowsky, who made a fortune selling handbags on QVC. It sold in 2019 for $94 million, plus $10 million of furniture.
WILLIAMS: I think his strategy was just to get it on everyone’s radar. It worked. We touched hands with every single extraordinarily wealthy person that came to L.A. at that time. They all wanted to see it. At one point, he had a $150 million offer from a local that really wanted it and Bruce didn’t take it. I think he wanted it to be the most expensive house in the world and he wanted the price to have a 2 in front of it. Years later, he ended up selling it for $104 million to one of the first people who ever saw it. (The purchase was tied to Saudi real-estate magnate Fawaz Al-Hokair. )
These houses either sell in three months, or they sell in three years. They are hard to sell quickly because it’s a discretionary purchase. It’s emotional. This isn’t a family that’s relocating from New York City and has to get here to get their kids into school in Bel-Air. This isn’t a family that needs a house. If you’re buying a $100 million-plus dollar house, you already have a really nice home somewhere.
Even the most expensive homes often need to be staged .
WARWICK: That means removing potentially offensive items. We’ve had animal mounts replaced with contemporary art and political flags or signs removed. People get very offended. I’ve had people walk into an ultra luxury home, see an animal mount and turn around and walk right out. More than once.
Many brokers approach finding a buyer for a mega-listing systematically, but sometimes it comes down to chance.
SERHANT: You’re mass marketing and you’re also target marketing. We draw up a list of names from the Forbes list, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, all the global wealth lists. We look at which companies went public over the last 24 months, which companies are about to go public. Who recently had or is about to have a liquidity event? Have there been major marriages or engagements? Sometimes, I think I know exactly who the buyer is going to be for a New York apartment, and then it’s a fracking billionaire from Texas. I’m like, really?
I once went to Masa, the expensive sushi restaurant in New York, with my wife. The couple next to us recognises me. He recognised me from TV. She recognised me from TikTok. I saw that she had a really big rock on her finger, so I asked if they were engaged. I suggested they needed a new place. Two weeks later, I sold them a full-floor apartment at Central Park Tower for $50 million.
Listings for trophy homes inevitably draw millions of eyeballs. Agents must determine whether interested parties are qualified buyers before they let them in the door.
SERHANT: To see a $100 million house, you need to show the ability to close in cash or that your net worth is over $1 billion.
WILLIAMS: Nobody gets into my properties unless I can prove who they are. Ninety-nine percent of people can be googled, except Asian buyers. If they can’t be googled, then we require proof of funds, usually in the form of a letter from a bank or private wealth manager on professional letterhead. It’s usually not hard to verify if somebody is real or not. If you are a mega-buyer, you have a footprint. You’ve donated money, you’ve been photographed.
SERHANT: There are con artists everywhere, there are people that want to waste your time everywhere. Even billionaires. Sometimes they are just in New York or they are in Florida and they fancy seeing something nice. They have no intention to buy.
HERTZBERG: If they say they are under the radar, we don’t take them. Nowadays, no one’s under the radar who has money.
Dealing with the global elite often requires being flexible for showings.
SERHANT: I’ve done showings in the middle of the night and early in the morning when the streets are totally empty. I had a very prominent and recognizable guy in finance who asked to see a New York property at 4:30 a.m. I understood why he did it. He knew that no one would see us. I’ve also had people wear disguises. I had somebody pre-Covid, a celebrity, who wore a baseball hat with a long black wig underneath and sunglasses. Post-Covid, everyone just wears masks.
WILLIAMS: Sometimes, a really high-profile person will register the name under their CFO or under an alias of another prominent person that would still be approved for the showing. And then when they turn up, you know who they are, and you play along.
And it can require pulling out all the stops.
WILLIAMS: I once had a guy who had just had a ton of success and he told me during the first showing that he was soon headed to Miami with his friends to celebrate. He wanted to bring them to see the house before they headed to the airport. I tried to get into the psyche of this guy and what he was into. I did some research and I found out that he loved gaming, so in the movie theatre, I put an Xbox. He had told me that he loved Japanese food, so I had catered sushi with servers throughout the property. Then, I got these gorgeous Ralph Lauren leather satchel bags as carry-ons he could take on the plane and filled them with chocolate from all the best spots in L.A., as well as marketing materials for the home. He texted me from the plane to say how incredible the experience was. And he bought the house. For $70 million.”
WARWICK: You think that these incredibly successful people are so busy, but I actually find them to be interested in every little detail of the properties we show them. One of my clients wanted to walk the entire property line of a 40- or 50-acre property, which took about an hour. They wanted to understand the land they are buying. One client was very fixated on the picture frames in the house and they wanted the seller to leave them behind, over 100 of them. The seller had to take their own family photos out of every single frame. I had another client who came in with their own water-testing kit to test the drinkability of the water and make sure the PH level wasn’t too high. They wanted the water in the kitchen to have a higher mineral content for their espresso machine.
Sometimes agents field unusual requests from sellers and buyers
WARWICK: I’ve seen more than once where a buyer will allow the seller to stay in the property or rent the property back for sometimes up to a year, or return for a holiday. I’ve had a seller want just one more Christmas in the house with their family, and the buyer allowed them that. I’ve also had deals where people trade additional houses as part of the transaction. The buyer has a property in another state, so they’ll give the seller X dollars plus their house in another state.
SERHANT: We had one very well known mega-billionaire come through a $250 million penthouse listing in New York. That apartment has the highest private residential ballroom on the planet. We’re standing in that empty room and he beckons me over with his finger. He says, ‘If I put a ping pong table in this room, will it be the highest ping-pong table on earth?’ I was like, ‘I’ll have to check, but I think it’s definitely up there.’
WILLIAMS : We had somebody that wanted to test out the house, and use it for a weekend. I wasn’t convinced but the seller wanted to do it. The person probably wanted to do their own thing, but I couldn’t help myself. I went full on to make their experience as pleasurable as possible. I had a masseuse and a private chef come to the house to cater to them. If they wanted freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies at 3.30 in the morning, they could have them.
The typical commission for an average real-estate sale is 6%, split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. For nine-figure luxury homes, agents often settle for a lower fee.
WILLIAMS: Taking on these big listings is expensive, and you have to have a big book of business to afford it. You can spend $100,000 out of your own pocket to market these. The commission is usually a 2% fee, but they might ask if you would do it for a little less, like 1.75%. But generally speaking, the most successful people I’ve worked with are very happy to pay the full commission. They want you to do an amazing job.
WARWICK: We fly videographers in from all over the country to film our properties, we have architects design renderings of what could be built on these properties, we do all-day photoshoots from sunup to sundown.
Any out-of-pocket expenses aren’t reimbursed or paid back should an agent lose the listing before it sells.
WARWICK: It’s a huge financial commitment and sometimes you carry these properties for a year or two. It’s a risk and that’s why sometimes we don’t take listings. If the seller is unrealistic, it’s an investment not worth making.
It’s very common for buyers and sellers at the top end of the market to ask agents to sign nondisclosure agreements, preventing them from speaking about the parties involved in the deal. However, news of the transaction often leaks regardless.
SERHANT: It’s tough to keep the deals private because of everyone that touches the transaction. Your buyer is coming in contact with door staff, the seller, the other real-estate agents that might be involved and their teams, the driver. There are points of contact everywhere. I spend a lot of time making sure that everybody in the transaction is aware of the confidentiality.
HERTZBERG: I would love for people to know that I work with these types of people, but it’s more important to work with the people. It’s funny because I’m married to a litigator and he has so many confidential relationships that I don’t know about. If I have a big deal with an NDA, I can’t tell him the name either. We just don’t go there.
Negotiations often require creativity.
WILLIAMS: I was doing a deal close to $100 million and there was a $5 million delta between what the buyer was offering and the seller was willing to accept. It’s all relative; at that price point, $5 million is not a big difference. I normally wouldn’t do this, but I decided to get them together. I had them meet in a private room at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We ordered them some food, set them up and then left. By about four or five hours later— maybe some cocktails were involved— they bridged the gap and split the difference. Sometimes, you have to be smart enough to know to get out of the way. The two of them are still friends.
Dealing with the wealthiest clients comes with perks.
WILLIAMS: After I sold the Bruce Makowsky house, he called and said, ‘Meet me in your office in 20 minutes.’ He walks in with this huge, white box and plops it on my desk. Inside, there’s a coffee-table book all about his megayacht. “It’s yours,” he said. He gifted us 12 days on his yacht, which was docked in St. Barts. I took my whole family and best friends.
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Ras Al Khaimah is set to add 25,600 new homes by 2030, with apartments accounting for 97% of future supply, as population growth, rising foreign investment and major infrastructure projects continue to drive demand and strengthen the emirate’s property market.
Arada has launched Arada Capital, a new investment platform targeting real estate opportunities across the GCC and selected international markets, with a goal of managing US$5 billion in assets over the next four years.
The sector posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, driven by robust investor demand, economic resilience, and business-friendly policies. With record property sales and continued foreign investment, experts expect the momentum to carry through the rest of the year.
The Dubai property market is the most watched in the world.
The professionals guiding it deserve to be named.
Licensed brokers. Agency founders. Market analysts. AED billions in transactions between them.
6 min
Dubai’s property market does not operate like any other on earth. Off-plan transaction volumes in 2025 alone exceeded the total deal flow of property markets that have spent centuries building their ecosystems. The Palm Jumeirah is now a global postcode. Lusail City in Doha has become the most significant new urban address to emerge from the Gulf in a generation. And the international capital flowing into both cities — from London, Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney — is being guided, in no small part, by the ten people on this list.
This is not a ranking by follower count. Follower count measures distribution. What follows is built on substance: licensed credentials, professional track record, and the quality of what an audience genuinely learns from following these accounts. The distinction matters when a single transaction can move tens of millions of dirhams.
Dubai and Doha’s property creators are not influencers who learned real estate. They are real estate professionals who learned content. That order is everything.
1. Firas Al Msaddi – @firas_al_msaddi · Founder & CEO, fäm Properties
There are property influencers who talk about the Dubai market, and there are those who run it. Firas Al Msaddi belongs firmly in the second category. As Founder and CEO of fäm Properties — Dubai’s largest real estate brokerage by transaction volume — he oversees an investment portfolio exceeding AED 2 billion and has earned annual recognition from Emaar, Dubai Holding, MERAAS and Meydan as their highest-performing brokerage partner since 2009.
His 146,000 Instagram followers reflect a career built long before social media existed as a marketing channel, which is precisely what gives the content its authority. Where most Dubai property creators offer market opinion, Al Msaddi offers market data — transaction volumes, absorption rates, off-plan versus ready comparisons — grounded in the actual performance of a firm processing thousands of deals each year. He is also the author of a book on UAE real estate investment, and a committed educator of the next generation of regional professionals.
2. Farooq Syed – @farooq_syd · CEO, Springfield UAE
Farooq Syed arrived in Dubai’s real estate market in 2008 and has spent the intervening years building Springfield UAE into one of the emirate’s most recognised luxury agencies — awarded by six of Dubai’s leading developers as their top-performing partner. His YouTube channel, the largest dedicated to Dubai real estate, has become the primary reference point for international investors trying to understand the market before they land.
With 272,000 Instagram followers and a growing YouTube subscriber base, his reach into the international investor community is the kind that most Dubai developers spend significant marketing budgets trying to replicate. The content is practical in the extreme: property tours of listings he is actively selling, market analysis drawn from his own transaction data, and guidance on the buying process that bridges the gap between aspiration and acquisition.
3. Lewis Allsopp – @lewisallsopp · CEO, Allsopp & Allsopp
Lewis Allsopp did not just build a brokerage in Dubai — he built a different standard of practice. Allsopp & Allsopp, which he leads as CEO, was among the first firms in the UAE to apply British estate agency principles — client-first service, transparent process, professional accountability — to a market where those standards were not yet the norm. The firm now employs more than 200 staff across UAE and UK operations and has accumulated recognition few Dubai agencies can match.
His social media presence reflects the same approachable professionalism that built the business: agency updates, market insights, and real estate interviews delivered with the kind of energy that makes his audience consistently worth following. For international buyers considering the Dubai market, Lewis Allsopp is frequently the first credible voice they encounter.
4. Zeina Khoury – @thezeinakhoury · CEO, Zed Capital Real Estate
There are property creators who show you Dubai’s luxury market, and there are those who take you inside it. Zeina Khoury, CEO of Zed Capital Real Estate and a recognised figure from Netflix’s Dubai Bling, has built an audience that extends well beyond conventional property followers into the aspirational luxury space — the precise international buyer profile that drives Dubai’s ultra-premium residential transactions.
Her content showcases Palazzo Versace residences, D1 Tower listings and other landmark Dubai addresses in a format that sells the lifestyle as fluently as it presents the investment case. With 204,000 followers and the cultural visibility that Netflix delivered, she reaches a demographic that most Dubai property platforms spend significant budgets trying to access.
5. Alona Lurdes – @alona_lurdes · Dubai Chairman’s Club Broker
The market’s own recognition structures have spoken consistently about Alona Lurdes: multiple Sales Excellence Awards and membership of the Chairman’s Club, reserved for Dubai’s highest-performing brokers. Her Instagram content translates that professional standing into accessible property education — ultra-luxury listing tours, post-construction handovers, market updates — delivered with the authority of someone who closes the deals she describes.
The audience that follows her is the right one for serious property media: active investors and committed buyers using her feed as due diligence on the Dubai market, not as passive entertainment.
6. Alessia Sheglova – @alessia_sheglova · CEO, Dacha Real Estate
Alessia Sheglova is the CEO of Dacha Real Estate and one of Dubai’s most prominent luxury property content creators — 204,000 followers, a career spanning residential sales, leasing, off-plan transactions and complex multi-party deals since 2008, and fluency in English and Russian that gives her direct access to a buyer community representing a substantial share of Dubai’s premium residential market.
Her content covers Palm Jumeirah penthouses, Burj Khalifa residences, and Dubai’s property laws, tenancy regulations and buying procedures in a format that serves an international investor audience needing both the aspirational showcase and the practical guidance to commit to a decision. For Kanebridge News ME, she represents access to a community of buyers who consume property content with genuine seriousness.
7. Sarah Aboutaleb – @sarah_aboutaleb · Dubai Real Estate
Eight years in Dubai’s real estate market is enough time to have seen every cycle, every regulatory shift, and every category of international buyer. Sarah Aboutaleb has spent that time building a social media presence that reflects the full diversity of Dubai’s investor base — addressing the practical concerns of buyers from dozens of nationalities who need to understand DLD fees, payment plan structures, off-plan risk, and the mechanics of acquiring property in the UAE.
The audience she has built knows that Dubai property investment requires market-specific knowledge that cannot simply be transferred from elsewhere. Her consistent provision of that knowledge is the foundation of a following that trusts her enough to act on what she publishes.
8. Angelika Egoschin – @angelika_egoschin · Luxury Property Dubai
Angelika Egoschin brings a European methodical rigour to Dubai luxury property content — touring ultra-premium listings, documenting the purchasing process in precise detail, and communicating market dynamics to a German-speaking investor community that represents a meaningful share of Dubai’s international buyer base.
In a content landscape where most Dubai property creators operate in English and target a generic international audience, her specific cultural calibration for European investors is a genuine differentiator. Her content is visually precise, methodically informative, and exactly what serious buyers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are looking for before they commit capital to the UAE.
9. Arwa Nahhas – @arwanahhas · Luxury Property Dubai
Arwa Nahhas brings a strategic, investor-focused perspective to Dubai luxury property content — showcasing premium residences, explaining market trends, and highlighting the opportunities shaping the emirate’s high-end real estate sector.
With a strong emphasis on education and market expertise, her content helps both regional and international buyers navigate Dubai’s evolving property landscape. Her professional approach and consistent market insights have made her a trusted voice for investors seeking informed real estate decisions.
10. Tara Sadat –@tarasadat · Luxury Property Dubai
Tara Sadat blends luxury lifestyle with high-end real estate, presenting Dubai’s most prestigious properties through polished, aspirational content that resonates with affluent regional and international audiences.
Her content goes beyond showcasing homes, capturing the lifestyle, architecture, and investment appeal that define Dubai’s luxury market. Through a refined visual style and strong digital presence, she has become an influential voice connecting premium real estate with luxury living.
Paine Schwartz joins BERO as a new investor as the year-old company seeks to triple sales.
Many of the most-important events have slipped from our collective memories. But their impacts live on.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the AED2 billion Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor Development Project, a 12 km strategic road linking major highways across the emirate. Set for completion by the end of 2028, the project will increase road capacity, cut travel time by 54%, and support Dubai’s continued urban growth and sustainable mobility goals.
4 min
In line with the directives of the wise leadership to accelerate the delivery of road infrastructure projects, expand road network capacity, enhance traffic flow across the Emirate of Dubai, support economic growth, and keep pace with the urban development and population growth witnessed by the emirate, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for the Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor Development Project.
Extending 12 km at a cost of AED2 billion, the project will form a new strategic corridor that strengthens connectivity between Dubai’s key road corridors, linking Sheikh Zayed Road, through Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, to Emirates Road.
The project includes the construction of seven bridges extending 2,300 metres and eight tunnels covering 900 metres, enhancing traffic flow and improving the efficiency of the road network. The new corridor is expected to have a capacity of around 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and accommodate more than 130,000 trips per day. It will also reduce travel time between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road from 33 minutes to 15 minutes, a 54% reduction, while supporting current and future development projects and enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, affirmed that the major infrastructure projects being implemented in Dubai embody the vision of leadership, a vision that has placed investment in roads and transport infrastructure at the heart of Dubai’s future, economy and competitiveness.
Al Tayer noted that developing the road network is one of the key pillars of keeping pace with rapid urban and economic growth, supporting sustainable development, reinforcing Dubai’s standing as an investment hub, and consolidating its position as the best city in the world to live, work and visit.
He said, “Dubai has adopted a proactive approach to infrastructure development, centred on delivering major projects ahead of growth requirements. This ensures the road network is ready to accommodate the urban, population and economic expansion witnessed by the emirate.
“RTA continues to deliver strategic projects that strengthen connectivity between different areas, enhance traffic efficiency and ensure smoother mobility. These projects have a positive impact on quality of life and support the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, both of which aim to reinforce Dubai’s leadership as a global model for sustainable urban development.”
Al Tayer added, “Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor Development Project forms part of RTA’s efforts to support strategic road corridors experiencing rising traffic volumes, such as Al Khail Road, Dubai–Al Ain Road, Umm Suqeim Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The project will contribute to distributing traffic flow and managing demand.
“The new corridor also aims to serve development projects by providing entry and exit points that facilitate access to them and enhance their economic competitiveness. Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor is a new strategic corridor that strengthens integration across the main road network, provides advanced infrastructure to serve current and future urban projects, and improves connectivity between the eastern and western parts of the emirate. It will support economic growth, facilitate the movement of residents and visitors, and enhance the capacity of the road network in line with the highest international standards.”
Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor is one of the strategic projects being implemented by RTA to enhance connectivity between Dubai’s key road corridors. Extending approximately 12 km, it links Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Emirates Road, forming an integrated traffic corridor that adds 12% capacity to east-west corridors across the emirate.
The corridor will serve many existing and future residential and development areas, most notably Nad Al Sheba, Al Barari, Dubai Hills, Dubai District One, Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, Living Legends, Majan and Global Village, in addition to residential, commercial and industrial areas along Latifa bint Hamdan Street and Al Meydan Street, as well as areas between Al Khail Road and Emirates Road. The new corridor is expected to serve around 650,000 residents and visitors.
The project includes expanding Latifa bint Hamdan Street to four lanes in each direction and constructing an integrated system of multi-level free-flow interchanges, bridges and loop ramps that provide all traffic movements. It also includes the construction of seven bridges extending 2,300 metres and eight tunnels covering 900 metres, in addition to a new road linking Al Khail Road with the extension of Latifa bint Hamdan Street.
The project further includes developing parts of Al Meydan Street and constructing a new interchange to serve development projects in the area, enhancing traffic flow and improving the efficiency of the road network.
It also includes the construction of 12.5 km of cycling tracks, linking them with the existing network to form an integrated route from Al Qudra to Jumeirah. This supports the sustainable mobility system and enhances mobility options across the emirate.
Traffic Benefits
Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor is estimated to have a capacity of around 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, with total trips expected to exceed 130,000 per day. The corridor will also increase the capacity of the overall road network, particularly the surrounding key corridors, most notably Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Dubai–Al Ain Road and Umm Suqeim Street.
It will improve service levels and ensure smoother traffic flow, with travel time between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road expected to drop from 33 minutes to 15 minutes, a 54% reduction. The project will also enhance traffic safety through multi-level interchanges, strengthen connectivity between key corridors, and support urban growth and future development projects.
RTA had previously completed the development of the western section of Latifa bint Hamdan Street as part of the Latifa bint Hamdan and Umm Al Sheif Streets Development Project. That project marked a major shift in improving connectivity between Jumeirah, Al Khail Road and the parallel roads through implementing an integrated network of multi-level bridges, which provided free-flow traffic movement, improved traffic flow, and reduced travel time from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road from 12 minutes to four minutes. It also facilitated truck movement to and from Al Quoz Industrial Area.
The previous project also contributed to supporting urban and economic development in the areas it serves, connecting several development projects and residential areas to the main road network. The current project will complete the development of this vital corridor and further strengthen its role as one of Dubai’s key strategic corridors. It forms part of RTA’s integrated vision to develop a world-class road network that drives future growth, boosts the economy, elevates quality of life, and meets Dubai’s ambitions for global leadership in infrastructure and sustainable mobility.
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.
Dubai Land Department has won the 2025 Hamdan Flag for its Tamallak+ initiative, recognizing its leadership in digital transformation and customer-centric government services. The AI-powered platform has streamlined property transactions, cutting service completion time by 88% while further strengthening Dubai’s position as a global real estate investment destination.
2 min
Dubai Land Department (DLD) has been awarded the 2025 Hamdan Flag, part of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Programme for Government Services, in recognition of its Tamallak+ initiative in the pioneering category, marking a major milestone in DLD’s digital transformation journey. It also reflects its success in redesigning the real estate transaction registration journey, in line with the Dubai Government Services 360 policy, through an integrated, data-driven digital ecosystem that places customer needs at the center of service design.
The recognition reflects DLD’s commitment to developing proactive, seamless, and efficient government services in line with the vision of Dubai’s leadership. It also supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033, contributing to the emirate’s ambition to become the world’s best city to live, work, and invest in.
The initiative integrates a range of advanced smart services, including AI-driven property valuation, instant sales registration, developer self-registration, support for the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, and new opportunities for fractional ownership through real estate asset tokenization, contributing to the development of a more flexible, innovative, and future-ready real estate ecosystem.
Tamallak+ is built on the principles of Dubai’s Government Services 360 policy, focusing on re-engineering processes, simplifying customer journeys, automating services, and strengthening real-time data integration between government entities and strategic partners. This enables transactions to be completed within a unified One Government model, eliminating redundant processes and repeated document submissions while delivering a secure, seamless experience accessible anytime, anywhere.
The initiative has delivered a significant shift in service efficiency, reducing service completion time by 88% and transforming property registration into a fully digital, end-to-end process requiring no in-person visits. It has also streamlined service requirements, improved operational efficiency, and achieved a 96.5% customer happiness rate.
DLD has further strengthened ecosystem integration by connecting its operational framework with 59 major real estate developers and 30 banks, enabling sales transactions to be completed in as little as five minutes. This reflects the advanced level of collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders and supports a more agile and efficient real estate market.
These advancements have further strengthened the competitiveness and investment appeal of Dubai’s real estate sector. In 2025, Dubai attracted more than 129,000 new investors, reflecting growing confidence in the emirate’s real estate ecosystem, advanced regulatory environment, and world-class government services.
Looking ahead, DLD will continue expanding proactive services while deepening the use of artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics across the customer journey. These efforts support the development of a smarter, more sustainable real estate ecosystem that enhances quality of life, elevates customer experience, and reinforces Dubai’s global leadership in government service excellence.
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Ras Al Khaimah is set to add 25,600 new homes by 2030, with apartments accounting for 97% of future supply, as population growth, rising foreign investment and major infrastructure projects continue to drive demand and strengthen the emirate’s property market.
2 minThe Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has 25,600 new residential units in the pipeline between now and 2030, with apartments accounting for 97% of future supply, according to new insight from leading real estate advisory group Cavendish Maxwell.
About 170 homes were delivered in Q1 2026, another 1,700 are set to come to the market this year, followed by 23,900 by the end of the decade. The busiest year for deliveries is 2029, with 9,100 set for handover, the company said.
RAK’s growing population – currently around 450,000 and projected to reach 650,000 by 2030 – combined with multi-billion AED foreign direct investment, and increasing business licences, is fuelling demand for real estate in the emirate, Cavendish Maxwell said.
Last year, RAK attracted AED39 billion ($10.62 billion) in FDI across 17 projects – more than any other emirate in the country – and, in Q1 2026, economic licence capital rose 15.5% year-on-year to reach AED11.5 billion.
Yousir Habib, Associate Director at Cavendish Maxwell Ras Al Khaimah, said: “RAK is undergoing major infrastructure investment in roads, aviation and maritime, strengthening regional connectivity and supporting the emirate’s 2030 economic diversification and competitiveness goals. As a result, the residential real estate sector secured AED12.3 billion worth of sales across 6,600 transactions last year, when sales prices and rental rates jumped considerably. The market is now undergoing a sustained period of new supply.”
Off-plan activity dominates residential sales, accounting for 85% of transactions and contributing AED11.2 billion in sales last year, according to the Cavendish Maxwell study. More than 40% of the 25,600 units coming to the market over the next four years will be delivered by RAK Properties, Al Hamra Real Estate and Ellington Properties, with ALDAR, BNW Developments and Source of Fate Properties also among the key developers fuelling the emirate’s real estate growth.
In the six-month period between October 2025 and March 2026, RAK’s residential property sales prices rose almost 5% for apartments and nearly 4% for villas. Rental rates climbed more than 6% for apartments and 5% for villas.
Key infrastructure projects in the emirate include upgrades to the E11 Sheikh Mohammed bin Salem Road and the E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, which are expected to significantly cut journey times between RAK and Dubai by 45%.
RAK International Airport, which is targeting 3 million annual passengers by 2028, is expanding with a 30,000 sq m passenger terminal, a VVIP terminal and an 8,000 sq m hangar, while Saqr Port’s upcoming deep-water, multi-purpose facility is designed to accommodate Capesize vessels, which stretch up to 290 metres and can carry up to 400,000 tons of bulk cargo.
Cavendish Maxwell also examined Ras Al Khaimah’s office market as part of the research, revealing that rental rates rose 8.6% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, and 5.3% between October 2025 and March 2026. The emirate’s future office supply is substantial: the new RAK Central urban hub will include 82,000 sqm of A-grade space, while the upcoming Erisha Smart Manufacturing Hub at Al Ghail Industrial Park is set to span 2.32 million sq m.
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Arada has launched Arada Capital, a new investment platform targeting real estate opportunities across the GCC and selected international markets, with a goal of managing US$5 billion in assets over the next four years.
2 minGlobal master developer Arada will launch Arada Capital, a new funds management platform to develop and manage institutional-grade investment opportunities across real estate asset classes in the Middle East and selected international markets.
To be based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Arada Capital has received its In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and is in the process of seeking the final licensing approvals from the FRSA to act as a fund manager. Following that approval Arada Capital’s funds will be designed to allow institutional and qualified investors to participate directly in Arada’s pipeline and broader GCC real estate opportunities. The platform’s proposed target will be US$5 billion of assets under management (AUM) to be achieved over the four years after the fund has been established.
Arada Capital will be chaired by HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Executive Vice Chairman of Arada, and governed by an independent board. The platform is being established to provide investors with a structured, governed and institutionally credible route into the GCC real estate and infrastructure markets, which Arada believes represent a compelling long-term investment story.
HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Executive Vice Chairman of Arada and Chairman of Arada Capital, said: “Arada has spent nearly a decade building one of the most complete and vertically integrated real estate platforms in the world, and Arada Capital now allows institutional investors to be part of that story directly, gaining access to deal flow, expertise and governance that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.”
To lead the platform, Arada has appointed Moustafa Fahour OAM as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Arada Capital. Moustafa brings more than two decades of international experience across banking, infrastructure investment, asset management and public-private partnerships, having held senior positions at UBS, Citigroup, Macquarie Group and CIMIC Group. Moustafa most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Plenary Middle East, where he led the delivery of landmark social infrastructure PPP projects including the UAE’s first education social infrastructure PPP programme. He will also continue to support Plenary Middle East in a strategic advisory capacity.
Moustafa is also a current board member of ALEC Holdings PJSC, the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and the founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia.
As CEO & Managing Director, Moustafa will lead the establishment and expansion of Arada Capital, including the development of investment platforms and vehicles initially focused on real estate opportunities across the GCC, before progressively expanding into infrastructure and broader private market strategies.
Moustafa Fahour OAM, CEO and Managing Director of Arada Capital, said: “Arada has built one of the region’s most respected and forward-thinking real estate platforms, underpinned by bold leadership, innovation, and a commitment to creating long-term value. Arada Capital presents a unique opportunity to build a differentiated investment platform from the region, for the region, while attracting institutional partnerships into high-quality opportunities across real estate, infrastructure, and alternative investments.”
Arada Capital will launch with a focused pipeline of investment opportunities aligned to Arada’s existing ecosystem and strategic partnerships, with plans to expand progressively across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and broader regional markets. Further announcements regarding fund structure, strategy and investment opportunities will be made in due course.
Since its establishment in 2017, the master developer has launched 11 record-breaking projects in the UAE and expanded into the UK and Australia. With a pipeline of existing and future projects across these three markets valued at AED130 billion, the company is developing approximately 55,000 units across its communities worldwide.
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The sector posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, driven by robust investor demand, economic resilience, and business-friendly policies. With record property sales and continued foreign investment, experts expect the momentum to carry through the rest of the year.
4 minThe UAE’s real estate sector continued to strengthen its position during the first half of this year as one of the world’s most dynamic and attractive economic sectors for investment.
This performance was driven by the strength of the national economy, business-friendly government policies, and the continued inflow of investors and capital, with expectations that this momentum will continue through the second half of the year.
Real estate market indicators showed that the UAE remains among the world’s leading property investment destinations.
Officials and experts told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the market’s strong performance reflects its transition to a more mature and sustainable phase following years of rapid growth, supported by solid economic fundamentals, according to reports from leading global consulting firms.
A report issued last April by CBRE, global commercial real estate services, highlighted the UAE’s strong economic foundations, backed by robust financial reserves and a stable sovereign credit rating, while forecasting a strong rebound in GDP growth by 2027.
Another report by Knight Frank, independent global real estate consultants, confirmed that Dubai has further strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for wealth migration and real estate investment. Meanwhile, the UAE continued to rank among the fastest-growing countries in terms of the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
In terms of market performance, the combined value of apartment and villa sales increased by 173.9%, surpassing AED 84.4 billion, while the number of transactions rose by 103% to reach 16,585 deals compared with the same period last year, according to an analysis by the ADXinteract platform.
In Dubai, research conducted by W Capital Real Estate Broker showed that market sales exceeded AED 286 billion during the first half of the year, marking the second-highest half-year sales volume in the emirate’s history, following the first half of 2025, when sales reached AED 326.6 billion, based on data from the Dubai Land Department.
Another report by the company revealed that the value of newly announced real estate projects launched since the beginning of 2026 exceeded AED 275 billion, reflecting continued market momentum and the largest half-year cycle of new real estate project launches in Dubai’s history.
Farhad Azizi, Group CEO of Azizi Developments, said the real estate sector has continued to reinforce its role as one of the key drivers of the national economy, supported by genuine housing demand, continued foreign investment inflows, and a growing proportion of self-financed buyers, all of which demonstrate the market’s increasing maturity.
He added that the UAE’s stable economic environment, flexible regulations, and long-term development vision have further enhanced its appeal to global capital. He expects positive performance to continue during the second half of the year, with more sustainable and balanced growth, where competition will increasingly favor projects distinguished by high-quality planning, rapid execution, strategic locations, and long-term investment value.
This outlook is also supported by population growth, expanding economic activity, and sustained demand for residential properties.
Azizi explained that these expectations are based on continued population growth driven by long-term residency programs, ongoing implementation of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, expansion of infrastructure projects—particularly in Dubai South and the area surrounding Al Maktoum International Airport—as well as anticipated improvements in mortgage financing solutions, all of which are expected to strengthen confidence among developers and investors in the coming years.
Hussein Salem, CEO of Ohana Development, said the market has entered a more mature stage, with growth now driven by long-term demand. He noted that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have continued to record record-breaking real estate transactions, reflecting the market’s strength and its ability to attract both domestic and international investment.
He expects positive performance to continue during the second half of the year at a more balanced pace, with sustained demand for well-planned residential communities, branded developments, and waterfront projects, alongside the introduction of new supply that will help maintain a healthy balance between supply and demand.
He emphasised that the market’s strength is underpinned by structural factors, including population growth, continued foreign investment inflows, long-term residency programs, government investment in infrastructure, economic diversification, and the expansion of mortgage financing, all of which contribute to market stability while favoring projects with sound planning and high-quality execution.
Thomas Wan, Founder and CEO of Refine, said the UAE real estate sector continues to demonstrate a high degree of resilience. While demand remains strong, buyers are becoming increasingly focused on project quality, location, developer reputation, and the overall living experience, reflecting greater market awareness and maturity.
He stressed that developers’ success in the coming period will depend on delivering projects that genuinely meet market needs, adopting well-considered pricing strategies, and enhancing competitiveness as new supply continues to enter the market.
Syed Mahrooz, CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Albagh Group, said the UAE real estate sector has maintained its strong performance throughout 2026, preserving its status as one of the world’s most attractive property markets.
This strength has been driven by robust demand, the success of the country’s long-term development vision, continued economic diversification, the growing number of high-net-worth individuals, progressive residency and investment policies, and ongoing infrastructure expansion, all of which have reinforced the UAE’s position as a preferred destination for long-term investment and residency for both individuals and businesses.
He added that the market is expected to remain active throughout the rest of the year, with sustained demand for premium residential communities, branded developments, waterfront destinations, and high-quality commercial assets, as investors increasingly prioritize long-term value, quality of life, and asset sustainability.
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Abu Dhabi’s construction sector is entering a new phase of growth, driven by advanced technologies, high-value projects, and stronger private sector participation, with active construction licenses surpassing 38,600.
2 min
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) has released a new report showing that the emirate’s construction sector is entering a new phase of growth — one that is increasingly driven by higher‑value systems, advanced delivery models, and stronger private‑sector participation.
Titled Abu Dhabi’s Construction Sector, the report highlights a clear shift away from volume‑driven construction toward more integrated, technology‑enabled, and performance‑focused project delivery. This evolution closely aligns Abu Dhabi with global construction trends.
As the second sectoral study released under ADCCI’s 2025–2028 Strategy, the report reflects the growing maturity of the construction ecosystem in the emirate. It points to stronger capabilities across the value chain, better export readiness, and a more connected industrial base, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for advanced construction.
The report shows that while upstream supply and midstream processing remain solid, most value creation is now happening downstream, in engineered and ready‑to‑install construction systems. These include high‑specification mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) solutions, control systems, and industrialized building methods. This trend is supported by growing adoption of modular and prefabricated construction, low‑carbon materials, AI‑enabled project controls, and fully digital delivery models.
His Excellency Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said:
“Abu Dhabi’s construction sector is clearly evolving. Value today comes from integration, quality, and certainty of delivery, not just scale. The strong growth in private‑sector participation shows that the market is responding well to these new demands.”
He added:
“This report reflects the Chamber’s commitment to providing practical, decision‑focused insights that help businesses grow, strengthen competitiveness, and support Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for high‑value construction.”
The sector’s transformation is reflected in its growth figures. By February 2026, Abu Dhabi recorded more than 38,600 active construction licenses. New business registrations rose by 66% year‑on‑year in 2025, while the total number of active construction members increased by 24.8% over the same period. From 2019 to 2025, new construction memberships grew at a compound annual rate of nearly 28%.
Today, the sector is supported by a balanced mix of strong local firms and international players, giving Abu Dhabi depth across construction services, building materials, and manufacturing.
Globally, construction activity is shifting toward fewer but more advanced projects, particularly in energy, infrastructure, utilities, and advanced industrial facilities. These projects demand higher precision, tighter integration, and reliable delivery, areas where Abu Dhabi is showing increasing strength.
This global shift is reflected locally. Abu Dhabi’s near‑term project pipeline is led by energy developments, alongside a growing number of specialized industrial projects such as data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities.
The report also highlights Abu Dhabi’s growing export potential across the construction value chain. Key strengths range from upstream materials like clay and limestone, to midstream components such as ductwork and valves, and downstream systems including UPS solutions and Distribution boards (DBs) and Switchgear (LV panels). Together, these capabilities position Abu Dhabi to compete internationally on quality, reliability, and integrated delivery.
These opportunities are supported by ADCCI’s Export Potential Index, which identifies priority products and target markets by linking global demand trends with Abu Dhabi’s competitive strengths, enabling faster and more focused export expansion.
Abu Dhabi’s geographic location, logistics efficiency, and industrial capacity further strengthen its ability to scale construction exports across both established and high‑growth regional markets.
At the same time, ongoing regulatory improvements and targeted public investment are creating a more predictable and program‑driven construction environment. Faster digital permitting, standardized government contracting, industrial land incentives, localization measures, and stronger sustainability and compliance requirements are all helping drive demand for high‑performance materials and integrated construction systems.
The report forms part of ADCCI’s broader effort to deliver data‑driven intelligence that supports private‑sector growth and advances Abu Dhabi’s long‑term economic diversification objectives.
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Dubai South maintained its position as Dubai’s top-performing property market in May, recording 1,357 sales transactions worth AED1.6 billion. According to fäm Properties, residential sales in the area have surged 36.4% since late February, driven by strong demand for off-plan developments and growing investor confidence.
2 min
The evolution of Dubai South as the emirate’s largest single urban master development is highlighted by a new market analysis today revealing sustained residential real estate growth over the last three months.
For the third consecutive month in May, Dubai South ranked as the best-performing area in the emirate’s property sector, recording 1,357 sales transactions valued at AED 1.6 billion, a 15.9% rise in volume on April and marking its seventh straight month in the top five.
A market report from fäm Properties reveals that residential property sales transactions at Dubai South have surged by 36.4% since the onset of the regional conflict at the end of February.
This growth has been largely driven by developer off-plan sales, which climbed 24.8% last month to 1,233 transactions, following a 35.71% increase in April, adding up to a cumulative rise of 57.87% since the end of February.
“The level of market activity at Dubai South underlines the strength of its fundamentals as a fully integrated, connected urban and business hub propelling growth across the emirate’s broader economy,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties.
“Growing transaction volumes reflect genuine end-user and investor confidence in the government’s long-term development vision for this dynamic aviation and logistics ecosystem, underpinned by the expansion of Dubai World Central into the world’s largest airport.”
Data from DXBinteract shows that the Dubai real estate market recorded 10,281 sales transactions worth AED28.9 billion in May. The month brought 8,772 apartment sales worth AED14.6 billion, 1,037 villa sales worth AED7.2 billion, along with 133 plot sales valued at AED4.2 billion.
The commercial sector, including offices and shops, recorded 335 sales transactions valued at AED2.9 billion. The average property price per sq ft was up by 3% YoY to AED1,650.
Primary sales again dominated in May, accounting for 7,595 sales transactions totalling AED18.5 billion, compared with 2,686 resales valued at AED10.4 billion. The most expensive villa sold in May was a luxury property at Signature Villas on Palm Jumeriah which went for AED145 million.
The most expensive apartment went for AED113 million at Solaya 5 at Jumeirah First. Other luxury apartments sold for AED106 million at Solaya 6 at La Mer and 101 million at One Casa at Al Wasl on the Dubai Water Canal.
With properties worth more than AED5 million accounting for 8.56% of sales, 8.19% were between AED3-5 million, 12.41% between AED2-3 million, 31.02% between AED1-2 million and 39.82% were below AED1 million.
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The mixed-use project will feature around 1,800 residential units, 250 commercial and office units, and hospitality components, with Al Ramz expecting the acquisition to support long-term growth and strengthen returns through 2031.
2 min
Saudi-listed Al Ramz Real Estate Company said it has signed agreements to acquire the remaining units in a private real estate investment fund that owns the Qurtuba 2 development in Riyadh, in a deal valued at SAR 133 million ($35.5 million).
The transaction will raise Al Ramz’s ownership in the Al Ahli Aleen Enbar Real Estate Fund from 23% to 100%, giving the company full control of the project as it seeks to expand its exposure to strategically located real estate developments in the Saudi capital.
In a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange, the company said it currently owns 23% of the fund’s units, representing an investment of approximately SAR 40 million. Upon completion of the acquisition, Al Ramz will become the sole owner of the fund.
The fund owns the Qurtuba 2 project, a planned mixed-use development located in Riyadh’s Qurtuba district along Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, also known as the Sports Boulevard corridor. The project spans about 130,386 square metres and is expected to include around 1,800 residential units as well as approximately 250 commercial and office units, alongside hospitality components.
Al Ramz said the project’s location in an area characterised by strong demand and limited supply enhances its investment potential and long-term prospects.
In addition to acquiring the fund units, the company said it will secure contracts related to the development, marketing, sales, operations and facilities management of the project. The value of those contracts and related fees will be disclosed at a later stage in accordance with regulatory requirements.
The acquisition will be financed through the company’s internal resources and available credit facilities.
The transaction remains subject to the completion of regulatory and contractual procedures and the execution of payments according to an agreed timetable between the parties.
Al Ramz said the acquisition aligns with its strategy of increasing ownership in high-quality real estate projects in Riyadh and strengthening long-term investment returns.
The company expects the transaction to contribute positively to its financial performance over the period from 2026 to 2031.
The agreements were signed on May 21, according to the filing.
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El Gouna has launched Marina Island by Tuban, a premium waterfront destination featuring a marina, retail, dining, and luxury island living in the heart of the town.
2 min
El Gouna Red Sea, the vibrant year-round coastal town developed by Orascom Development Egypt has announced the launch of Marina Island by Tuban El Gouna, the most premium island in Tuban. Strategically located in the heart of El Gouna’s central district, Tuban, the development introduces a fully integrated island with a beautiful marina, marking a new milestone in the town’s journey.
Commenting on the launch, Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna and Managing Director at Orascom Development Egypt, said: ” El Gouna Red Sea was always built around water. That is not a feature of the town, it is its character. Over 36 years, El Gouna has set the standard for residential living on the Red Sea, and Marina Island is the fullest expression of that yet. This isn’t just a residential launch; it is a living, breathing waterfront district with a working marina, curated dining, and architecture that earns its place in the town’s design legacy. We have been deliberating about every layer of this project, and what excites me most is that Marina Island completes Tuban as a district while opening a new chapter for El Gouna entirely.”
Marina Island by Tuban elevates the concept of island living through the introduction of a fully operational marina, alongside curated retail, and waterfront dining. These elements position the development as a fully integrated lifestyle destination that extends beyond traditional residential offerings.
Designed with a distinct architectural identity, the project reflects El Gouna’s 36-year legacy of collaborating with leading international and regional architects such as Michael Graves, Alfredo Freda, and Shehab Mazhar, shaping a unique and timeless design language across the destination. Offering open-to-sea lagoon access to the sea, Marina Island by Tuban delivers a true island living experience while remaining seamlessly connected to the vibrant center of the district.
Building on the success of previous launches such as Nuba El Gouna, Fanadir Shores and North Bay the town continues to expand its diversified portfolio of lifestyle developments with various upcoming launches, further reinforcing the destination’s commitment to delivering elevated residential experiences, strong investment value with ROI reaching 20% over two years and high rental yields ranging between 6–8%, alongside distinctive community living concepts.
Further enhancing Marina Island’s integrated living experience, El Gouna offers residents seamless experience through its two entities, Orascom Property Management (OPM) and El Gouna Plus. OPM enhances the project’s long-term value through its expertise in rental and property management services, helping homeowners maximize rental returns and achieve sustainable ROI on their units, while El Gouna Plus complements the experience through curated interior design, furniture, and lifestyle solutions, adding a refined and design-driven touch that aligns with Marina Island’s distinct architectural identity and island-inspired living experience.
Positioned within one of El Gouna’s fastest-growing districts, Marina Island presents a compelling opportunity for both investors and homeowners, combining long-term value potential with a distinctive lifestyle offering.
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United Real Estate Company secured KWD38 million ($122.8 million) in Islamic financing for Phase 3 of the Souq Sharq waterfront project in Kuwait City. The PPP development will modernize the destination with upgraded retail, a superyacht marina, and enhanced nautical facilities, with completion expected by end-2027.
< 1 min
United Real Estate Company (URC) has secured 38 million Kuwaiti dinars ($122.82 million) in Islamic banking finance for the construction and development of Waterfront Real Estate Project – Phase 3 [Souq Sharq], located in the Sharq Area of capital Kuwait City.
The real estate public-private partnership (PPP) project was awarded to URC by Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) in February 2026.
The developer said it obtained KWD 25 million in non-cash facilities for 17 years and a KWD 13 million cash facility for 10 years from a local bank, according to a statement published on Boursa Kuwait.
The statement did not include the bank’s name.
Last week, URC’s wholly owned project-dedicated subsidiary, United Marasi Company for Lands and Real Estate Development, signed an agreement with the Department of State Properties at the Finance Ministry for the project.
The contract covers upgrading, development, repair, major rehabilitation, management, operation and periodic maintenance of the waterfront market (souq), the company said.
The project will be implemented under a 15-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) usufruct arrangement with an additional one-year grace period allocated for design and refurbishment works.
The waterfront project was tendered alongside the Al Muthanna Complex Real Estate Project, which KAPP awarded to a consortium led by Real Estate House.
Originally established in 1998, Souq Sharq waterfront destination spans approximately 74,685 square meters (sqm) with a 2.7 km shoreline and total leasable area of 35,000 sqm. It features a superyacht marina, new retail experience, refined fish market, and dedicated nautical area.
The project is scheduled for completion by end-2027, according to URC’s first quarter 2026 investor presentation.
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For years, UAE real estate was defined by record-breaking growth, but 2026 is proving the market’s real strength: resilience. Despite regional uncertainty, Dubai recorded AED 252 billion in Q1 transactions, while resident investors now account for more than half of investment activity by value, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a long-term destination for both capital and living rather than short-term speculation.
2 min
For years, the story of UAE real estate was told in superlatives. Record transactions. Record prices. Record launches. It was a market that seemed to run on adrenaline, and plenty of people wondered how long that could last.
Yet, what is happening in the UAE real estate market in 2026 does not seem to be a short-lived boom with an impending expiry date, but a market finding its footing as a genuine, long-term destination for global capital and for people who simply want to live here.
According to Nagham Hassan, Market Analyst at eToro: Dubai registered AED 252 billion in transactions in Q1 2026, up 31% year-on-year, following a record AED 917 billion for the full year 2025. The price index grew 9.81% across 2025 — a step down from the double-digit surges of prior years. In 2025, the investor base grew to over 193,000 active participants, with resident investors accounting for more than half of all investment by value. Unlike speculative foreign capital, residents do not simply exit when sentiment shifts. The average time for a renter to become an owner is now just 4.8 years, demonstrating that this is a market people are committing to, not trading through.
Despite the regional turbulence of early 2026 rattling, confidence across the Gulf. According to DLD transaction data, February sales closed at AED 84 billion. March pulled back to AED 56 billion as buyers paused, but April rebounded by 23% to AED 69 billion as confidence returned. This shows that the market had not broken; it just took a breather and soon got back to work.
That same resilience showed up in the listed stocks — but with a lag. Emaar Properties (EMAAR) and Aldar Properties (ALDAR) were caught in the sentiment-driven selloff despite entering 2026 with the strongest fundamentals in their histories. Emaar’s revenue backlog stands at AED 163.4 billion — up 29% year-on-year — providing clear visibility for future earnings. Aldar reported revenue up 12%, EBITDA up 22%, and carries AED 38.2 billion in total liquidity. Yet both stocks remain well below their 52-week highs, not because the business deteriorated, but because geopolitical fear priced in a scenario the physical market never actually experienced.
That gap between price and fundamentals is what makes the medium-term case compelling. Both companies enter the second half of 2026 with record pipelines and earnings growth that have consistently outpaced expectations.
The path from here depends partly on how the geopolitical situation evolves. A resolution in the conflict would act as a catalyst — unlocking the pent-up demand that has already proven itself in the physical market and accelerating the repricing of both stocks toward their fundamental value. Further escalation, on the other hand, could trigger another round of sentiment-driven selling. But that is precisely where the distinction matters: real estate stocks like Emaar and Aldar are more insulated than most. Their revenues are backed by escrow-protected sales, long-term backlogs, and recurring income streams that do not evaporate with a news cycle.
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Major U.S. home builders including D.R. Horton and Lennar are facing mounting claims over poor construction quality as homeowners report structural defects and substandard materials. At the same time, mortgage lenders are increasingly turning to higher-risk alternative loans to stimulate activity in the stagnant housing market, highlighting growing pressure across the U.S. real estate sector.
2 min
Some of America’s biggest home builders, including D.R. Horton and Lennar, are getting buried in claims of shoddy construction. Homeowners allege complaints ranging from builders using cheaper materials to hiring unqualified and undersupervised subcontractors. Builders say the claims reflect a tiny fraction of the total homes they produce and that errors are typically the fault of subcontractors, not the companies. But mounting legal bills represent another headache for the home-building industry, which is already coping with a stagnant housing market by offering buyers significant mortgage-rate buydowns. Nicholas Miller explains how we got here.
Mortgage lenders, meanwhile, are increasingly turning to alternative loans to drum up business in a long-stalled housing market. The share of mortgages using alternative lending practices is still a small portion of the market, but it has doubled in size over the past three years. “They are riskier loans by nature,” said Cristian deRitis, deputy chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “Those borrowers are more likely to pull back or default on their loans.” Katherine Hamilton explains how these loans are different from traditional mortgages and why analysts say they have higher risk.
Home Builders Are Getting Buried in Claims of Shoddy Construction
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A Risky, Unconventional Mortgage Is on the Rise Again
Mortgage lenders are increasingly turning to alternative loans to drum up business in a housing market that has been stalled for years.
6%
The share of all home loan originations that used alternative lending practices in 2025, according to the real-estate data firm Inside Mortgage Finance. That is a small portion of the market, but it has doubled in size over the past three years as a sluggish housing market prompts mortgage lenders to turn to these more risky loans.
Data Points
- $23,400: The median down payment for a U.S. primary residence in the first quarter, a 19% year-over-year drop and the lowest level since 2021, according to Realtor.com. The decline shows that the housing market is slowly tilting toward buyers as rising inventory and easing prices reduces the amount of cash buyers need to put down.
- 3.6 million: The net amount, in square feet, of retail space 20,000 square feet or larger vacated by retailers in the first quarter compared with space newly occupied, according to Newmark. This negative net absorption was driven by cooling demand for older, less desirable properties while leasing for high-end retail space remains strong.
- $5,099: The median rent for a Manhattan apartment in April, a record high and 2% increase from the prior month, according to Corcoran. Scarcity is driving the price increase, with Manhattan vacancy falling to its lowest level in more than six years at 1.55%.
Parts for iPhones to cost more owing to surging demand from AI companies.
A renovated 18th-century estate on Switzerland’s Lake Zug now features a custom-built chef’s kitchen designed to combine Michelin-level functionality with timeless historic charm. Created by British design firm Artichoke, the space blends professional-grade performance with the warmth and elegance of a Victorian-inspired family home.
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While renovating an 18th-century estate on the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Zug, the Danish-born owner wanted a top-quality kitchen for his on-staff professional chef.
“He wanted Michelin-starred chefs to come to the house and say it’s the best kitchen they ever cooked in,” says Anthony Earle of Artichoke, the British firm hired to redo the space. But the client also wanted a beautiful kitchen that reflected the home’s long history, not a utilitarian-looking room.
The result was a three-year, roughly $1 million project to create a chef’s kitchen inspired by Victorian-era English country houses. “We like our spaces to look and feel like they have evolved over time, as these historic homes would have done,” Earle says.
Now when the chef—or a team brought in for events—starts prepping a multicourse dinner, they have easy access to every bell and whistle, such as a flushing bath that circulates hot water to clean the chefs’ tasting spoons. But the roughly 500-square-foot space also works when the owner, who has two preschool age children, is entertaining in the nearby garden, and a parent wants to pop in and make a sandwich for a toddler.
Cabinetry, $470,000
Hidden behind the custom cabinetry doors are the kitchen’s large appliances—refrigerator, wine storage, freezer and ice maker—as well as masses of storage. Restoration glass, which is molded to recreate the look of antique glass, was used for the upper cabinets.
Cook’s table, $80,000
Cook’s tables were the Victorian equivalent of today’s built-in islands. Artichoke used European oak, Taj Mahal honed quartzite, hand-turned legs and inlaid stone to create this piece.
Cooking island and hood, $326,000
Artichoke commissioned the Italian company DeManincor to build a cooking island with induction burners, a fryer, a tappanyaki plate, a bain marie and a double-sided, pass-through oven. The matching stainless and brass venting hood has LED lights.
Wall tile, $13,500
The white ceramic tile was made with a pressed method typical of the Victorian era, Earle says. Artichoke designed the floral-imprinted brass stud that rests at each corner.
Calling bells, $95,000
The ultimate British country-house detail is the servants’ calling-bell system devised by Artichoke. The firm sourced antique bells and pendulums for a ‘Downton Abbey’ look, but in a modern twist, detailed requests are received digitally.
Two coming 2027 models – the first of the “Neue Klasse” cars coming to the U.S. early next year – have been revealed.
Kuwait’s real estate market recorded a 15% rise in transactions during the second week of May, driven by strong activity in the residential sector despite a decline in overall transaction values. Residential demand continued to support market activity, while commercial real estate saw a sharp slowdown amid higher financing costs and cautious investor sentiment.
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Real estate transactions in the second week of May showed mixed performance, during which the number of transactions increased by 15 percent compared to the first week, driven by the increased activity in the residential sector, according to the weekly statistics released by the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Departments at the Ministry of Justice.
However, the total value of transactions declined by 11.86 percent due to the sharp drop in commercial real estate deals. The real estate market recorded 138 transactions from May 10-14, with a total value of KD62.63 million, compared to 120 transactions valued at KD71.06 million in the first week of the month.
The residential sector continued its positive performance, leading market activity in the second week and benefiting from sustained demand for private housing and residential properties.
The number of residential transactions increased to 103, valued at KD36.6 million, compared to 83 transactions valued at KD27.6 million in the first week — 24 percent increase in the number of transactions and 32 percent increase in value.
The aforementioned figures revealed improvement in the appetite for purchasing private housing in spite of the continued caution related to high financing costs and anticipation of new regulatory or legislative changes.
This performance indicates that the residential sector remains attractive, as it is the most closely linked to actual demand and direct use, compared to other real estate sectors that are more affected by investment and liquidity fluctuations. The investment sector witnessed a slight decline in both the number and value of transactions.
Total trading volume reached 32 deals worth KD24.78 million, compared to 34 deals worth KD28.46 million in the previous week — 5.8 percent decrease in the number of deals and 12.9 percent decrease in trading value. It reflects continuous investor caution, considering the regulatory pressure and geopolitical changes related to financing and borrowing costs.
Despite this decline, the investment sector remains resilient compared to other sectors due to its reliance on operational and rental returns, which provide more flexibility in facing market fluctuations. The commercial sector experienced the most significant decline, with its trading value plummeting by 98 percent and the number of transactions by 33.3 percent.
Only two transactions were recorded with a total value of KD266,000, compared to three transactions worth KD15 million in the first week. It indicates continuation of less activity in this sector, which is highly sensitive to economic and legislative conditions.
The decline is also attributed to the increased financing cost and decreased risk appetite among investors, particularly the large transactions, following the execution of high-value deals in the previous week.
Regarding properties located along the coastal strip, one transaction valued at KD990,000 was recorded, compared to no transaction in the first week – a manifestation of selective demand for coastal properties, considering that the number of deals is limited.
Parts for iPhones to cost more owing to surging demand from AI companies.
