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Real estate, property, construction and infrastructure news from the Middle East. All the important stories, exclusive interviews, plus authoritative opinion and analysis

The Austrian unit of Spain's Cellnex, which owns 4,500 towers, has an estimated value of €800 million

STC and PIF to bid for Austrian telco tower operator 

Saudi Arabia’s STC Group and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom’s sovereign fund, are likely to jointly bid for the Austrian unit of Cellnex, Spain’s mobile phone tower operator, El Economista newspaper reported. The Austrian unit, owning 4,500 towers, is estimated to be valued at €800 million ($857 million), the newspaper said, quoting unnamed sources. Cellnex’s […]

Cenomi executives hope to attract shoppers who might otherwise spend abroad by offering a 'world class' experience Young muslim couple shopping and having fun

Saudi mall operator takes aim at Dubai’s retail crown

Saudi Arabia’s leading mall operator is looking to challenge Dubai for the title of the top retail location in the Gulf, with plans to add five more locations by 2027. Bruno Wehbe, chief operating officer of Cenomi Centers, said the Jawharat Riyadh would include new elements such as 3D holographic projections, food halls with live […]

Diriyah Gate encompasses the Al-Turaif Unesco World Heritage Site

Saudi giga-project Diriyah Gate targets 2027 completion

Diriyah Gate, one of the first Saudi giga-projects, said this week that it was on target for completion by late 2027. The opening of the project’s first hotel is now rescheduled for later this year.  “We’re looking forward to the conclusion of our project, probably toward the end of 2027,” said Andrew Tonnor, Diriyah Gate’s […]

Sodic general manager Ayman Amer and Robert De Niro, Nobu Hospitality Co-Founder, at the launch of their third venture in Egypt

Aldar-owned Sodic to build third Nobu hotel in Egypt

Sodic, the Egyptian real estate subsidiary of the UAE’s Aldar Properties and Nobu, the US-headquartered luxury lifestyle brand, have signed up to develop their third hospitality project in Egypt. The Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, which will come up in east Cairo, will open next year, the developer said in a statement. The cost of the […]

UAE puts up 2 billion dirhams to pay for flood-damaged homes

The UAE has pledged AED2 billion ($545 million) to help rebuild homes of citizens that were damaged in this month’s floods. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the UAE’s cabinet of ministers had also formed a committee to assess the flood […]

The signing ceremony for AD Ports Group's Luanda Port agreement. The 20-year deal is extendable by another 10 years

AD Ports commits $250m to Angola port upgrade

Abu Dhabi Ports Group is investing more than $250 million in a project to upgrade the port terminal at Luanda in Angola.  The company said it hd secured a 20-year concession agreement, extendable by another 10 years, with the Luanda Port Authority for operating and modernising the terminal. In agreements with the Angolan logistics companies […]

Plenary founder and director Paul Oppenheim, Plenary CEO David Lamming and Ahmed Ali AlShamsi, director of energy and utilities at ADQ

ADQ buys stake in Australian investment company

The UAE’s investment fund ADQ has acquired a 49 percent stake in Australian infrastructure investor Plenary Group as part of its expansion drive. The Abu Dhabi state-backed company will acquire all shares currently owned by Canadian pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which will continue to invest in a range of Plenary’s […]

Garden, Nature, Outdoors

UAE commits $50m to development fund

The UAE has committed $50 million to the second phase of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund 2.0 (LLF 2.0), a multi-donor initiative targeting sustainable economic development in the Islamic Development Bank’s (ISDB) 57 member countries. The funding will be deployed by LLF 2.0 to support critical projects in health and infectious diseases, agriculture, and social infrastructure in low […]

UAE flood insurers

UAE insurers face ‘very severe’ impact from floods

UAE insurers have been “badly hit” following April’s freak rains, a veteran industry executive warned on Tuesday, but the scale of companies’ losses from the floods will depend on their own reinsurance cover. The UAE experienced its heaviest rains in 75 years last week. The downpour turned main roads, particularly in Dubai, into waterways, leaving […]

A flooded residential area in Dubai. New drainage infrastructure should be nature-based, say experts

Concrete or sponge? Dubai’s post-flooding options

In the wake of last week’s floods, retrofitting Dubai with traditional, concrete-based drainage systems would be expensive, time-consuming and complicated. As an alternative, authorities should look to nature-based solutions, industry professionals told AGBI. “Dubai should not repeat the mistakes that have been made in most of the Western world,” said Ronny Berndtsson, professor in water […]

Emaar dividend Dubai mall

Emaar doubles dividend to $1.2bn after $11bn in sales

Shareholders of Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest listed developer, have approved a dividend of AED4.4 billion ($1.2 billion) for 2023, up from AED2.2 billion the year before. The dividend payout reflects the company’s “robust profitability and solid financial health”, the developer said in a statement.  Shareholders also voted to appoint new board members “to drive the […]

Abandoned cars on a flooded road in Dubai

UAE offers loan relief in response to flood damage

The UAE central bank has instructed banks to defer personal and car loan installments for six months for customers affected by last week’s flooding.  The deferral will come without additional fees, interest or profits, and won’t increase the principal amount of the loan for the deferral of the repayment of installments, the UAE state-run Wam […]

Executives from Dar Global, Marjan, Aston Martin and Aarvees Group at the signing ceremony

UAE launches Aston Martin-branded residential tower

The global development arm of Saudi-listed Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development will launch a $250 million luxury beachfront residential project in Ras Al Khaimah with interiors designed by British luxury carmaker Aston Martin. The residential project, located on Al Marjan Island, will be launched in May, London-listed Dar Global said in a statement. The project is […]

Dubai flooding clean-up

Crown Prince tells developers to pay for Dubai flood clean-up 

Dubai property developers have been ordered by the emirate’s Crown Prince to bring “normalcy” back to communities devastated by last week’s flooding – at no additional charge to tenants. The UAE experienced its heaviest rains in 75 years last Tuesday. The downpour turned main roads, particularly in Dubai, into waterways, leaving motorists stranded and causing […]

Flooding in Dubai affected many people's homes. Emaar has promised .free repairs for its residents, and an upgraded sewerage system is planned

Emaar promises free repairs as Dubai launches sewerage system

Emaar Properties is offering free repairs to residents whose homes were damaged during this week’s extreme flooding, as Dubai also announced an AED80 billion ($22 billion) sewerage system. The developer announced on Friday that it would repair all homes in its communities affected by the historic levels of rain, “at no cost to residents”. Emaar’s […]

Construction work in Kuwait. Nurseries, schools and shops are being built for the new residential district of Al Metlaa

Kuwait signs $140m contracts for Al Metlaa development

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has signed two contracts worth KD42 million ($140 million) to construct public buildings in Al Metlaa, a new residential district north of Kuwait City. Nurseries, stores, schools and shops will be included, state news agency Kuna reported. Electricity connections have been provided for 109 buildings in the district, […]

A man wades through a flooded street in Dubai. Some areas of the UAE received more than a year's worth of rain in one day Video length: 03:08

UAE president orders review after flooding

The UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has ordered an urgent review of the country’s infrastructure after historic levels of rainfall brought the Gulf state to a standstill, with some areas seeing more than a year’s worth of rain in one day. The president has contacted authorities “to quickly work on studying the […]

Emirates' REIT's portfolio includes the Index Tower (centre). Its profit rose 55 percent year on year

Emirates REIT in profit after revaluation gain

Dubai’s Emirates REIT reported a 55 percent rise in annual profit after making a nine-figure revaluation gain on its property portfolio. A REIT – a real estate investment trust – is a company that owns income-producing assets related to real estate such as buildings, land and real estate securities.  Through REITs investors can have fractional […]

Dubai was hit by the heaviest rainfall in 75 years on Tuesday, leaving motorists stranded floods rain weather UAE Gulf

Gulf’s record floods highlight ‘balance between risk and investment’

Historic rainfall this week in the Gulf, particularly in the UAE, has raised serious questions about investment in infrastructure to prevent the widespread flooding that brought much of the region to a standstill. On Tuesday the UAE was hit by its heaviest rains in 75 years. The downpour turned main roads into waterways, particularly in […]

Prices for apartments in Dubai – with or without enviable views – have risen by as much as 30% year on year

Rising prices risk making Dubai homes ‘unattainable’

Escalating home prices in Dubai’s affordable communities are making it even more difficult for residents to get on the property ladder, real estate experts have warned. February data from property consultancy ValuStrat shows the highest annual growth in apartment values was recorded in the emirate’s more budget-friendly neighbourhoods.  Prices in Discovery Gardens and The Greens […]