Founded by CEO Gemma Contrino, the female-led brokerage goes beyond property transactions to help relocating families understand communities, schools, and the true cost of living in Dubai
Nuvello Real Estate has opened for business in Dubai. The female-led brokerage, founded by Gemma Contrino, focuses on UK families relocating to the UAE. Where most brokerages centre their services on completing transactions, Nuvello builds its offer around helping families understand the full picture of life in Dubai before they commit to a property.
Gemma Contrino set up Nuvello after relocating to Dubai herself with her four children. The experience left her with a clear view of what the market was missing: practical, honest guidance for families navigating an unfamiliar city, rather than support designed around the needs of property investors.
“When my family moved to Dubai, nobody was upfront about the real costs, the practical realities, or the lifestyle fit of different communities,” said Gemma. “We were hit with astronomical bills we hadn’t budgeted for, and we’ve moved three times in one year trying to find the right fit. That experience showed me there’s a massive gap in the market for honest, comprehensive support, particularly for families making this life-changing move.”
Dubai is seeing a steady increase in families relocating from the UK, with concerns about taxation, safety, and quality of life among the common reasons cited. Most brokerages operating in Dubai are set up to serve high-net-worth investors in the luxury segment. Nuvello has taken a different direction, treating UK families as a distinct client group with their own specific requirements.
Gemma has a background in accounting and business and has structured Nuvello around three core values: transparency, integrity, and empathy. As a female-led brokerage in a sector where men hold most senior roles, Nuvello brings a perspective that Gemma sees as both different and commercially relevant.
“Being a female CEO in Dubai real estate has its challenges, but being female also gives us a competitive advantage,” Gemma noted. “I understand how hard it is to move with children. I know that finding the right school matters just as much as finding the right property. That empathy and relatability is what sets Nuvello apart.”
The brokerage offers property sales, rentals, and investment advisory. Beyond these standard services, it works with relocation specialists, schools, and community organisations to give clients a fuller picture of what life in different parts of Dubai actually looks like. This includes commute times, local amenities, school options, and the kind of local knowledge that rarely features in a property listing. The goal is to help families choose the right community before they sign a contract, not after.
Nuvello measures success by the quality of long-term client relationships rather than the speed of individual transactions. The company aims to remain a resource for clients as their families grow and their property needs change.
“It’s not just creating a one-time purchase transaction,” Gemma explained. “It’s creating something that becomes a family rather than just a number. I would personally rather a sale took us six weeks longer to find the right property than getting it signed today and getting somebody into the wrong investment or the wrong community.”
The company currently has a team of 15, including 10 brokers. A new office set to open within six weeks will have capacity for more than 50 brokers. Gemma has been clear that expansion will be paced to ensure new hires reflect the company’s values and approach to client service.
Nuvello’s longer-term ambition is to become a recognised name for family property services in Dubai and to serve as a practical connection point between the UK and UAE markets.
“In five years, I want Nuvello to be ingrained into people,” said Gemma. “In the same way you want a coffee and reach for Starbucks, you want a property transaction and you reach for Nuvello. We’re building something that becomes a real part of the Dubai framework and a dependable family of people.”
