New project launches in Dubai have plunged 47% compared to the same period last year, whilst half a million homes remain under construction—the largest pipeline the emirate has ever carried simultaneously. The collision between record land prices and slowing sales velocity has pushed developers into a corner. By early February 2026, the economic calculus behind launching new projects had fundamentally shifted. Firas Al Msaddi, chief executive of fäm Properties, sees the year ahead as decisive. The market faces a fork in the road: either land prices must fall to restore viability at current off-plan pricing, or off-plan prices must climb…
Author: Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock is a seasoned journalist and digital marketing expert known for his insightful reporting across business, real estate, travel and lifestyle sectors. His recent work includes high-profile Dubai coverage, such as record-breaking events by AYS Developers. With a career spanning multiple outlets. Sam delivers sharp, engaging content that bridges UK and UAE markets. His writing reflects a deep understanding of emerging trends, making him a trusted voice in regional and international business journalism. Should you need any edits please contact editor@dubaiweek.ae
While Dubai’s restaurants stock up on tiramisu and load Valentine’s menus with Italian classics, VAGA is pushing grilled Chilean seabass and wagyu beef instead. The Bluewaters Island venue rolls out its four-course Armenian-Middle Eastern fusion menu on 14 February, priced at AED 499 per couple. The setting sits directly beneath Ain Dubai, framed by the Dubai Marina skyline. Signature dishes anchor the sharing-style evening alongside the seabass and wagyu mains, building toward a dessert designed for two. Soft drinks come included in the price. A live singer performs throughout service, threading entertainment between courses from the opening toast through to…
Azizi Developments, one of the UAE’s leading private developers, has announced a strategic collaboration with Prime A/C Industries LLC, a well-established UAE-based provider of HVAC solutions, to supply LTI Singapore-branded ventilation fans. Under this partnership, Prime A/C Industries LLC will provide axial smoke fans and axial inline fans to deliver efficient ventilation and smoke-control solutions across Azizi’s residential and mixed-use projects in Dubai. Founded in the UAE, Prime A/C Industries LLC has grown into a leading regional manufacturer and supplier of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, designed specifically for large-scale construction projects. The company’s axial smoke fans and axial inline…
Dine with Purpose, Celebrate with Compassion Central Hotels & Resorts, one of the UAE’s fastest-growing homegrown hospitality groups, has launched a far-reaching Breast Cancer Awareness campaign that combines culinary innovation with a meaningful cause. Partnering with MROD Healthcare, the group is rolling out a month-long programme across its properties dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging prevention, and supporting those affected by breast cancer. Guests can look forward to a variety of experiences thoughtfully designed to unite dining and community engagement, including pink-inspired menus and expert-led health education sessions that underscore the brand’s commitment to hospitality with heart. “As a homegrown brand…
On 20 November 2025, Jaime Castañeda completed a merger that shifted control of 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant from its Spanish founders to his Abu Dhabi-based investment firm. Three months later, the brand will open its first London restaurant in Mayfair. The transaction unified operations under Ninety Nine SB Investment L.L.C., relocating headquarters from Spain to the UAE. What began in 2005 as a family project by brothers Pedro and Fernando de León has transformed into a 10-restaurant operation spanning four countries, employing roughly 400 people. The Abu Dhabi flagship at Four Seasons Al Maryah Island has held a Michelin…
The rapid expansion of the PropTech industry is set to play a crucial role in strengthening the UAE’s position as a global centre for innovation, real estate, and smart urban development. By embracing cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), the nation aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and the customer experience across the property sector. According to insights from the market research and analysis firm ‘Research and Markets’¹, the UAE’s PropTech sector, valued at AED 2.24 billion in 2024, is forecast to nearly triple and reach AED…
Six-week Sikka Platform initiative cultivated expertise in stop-motion animation and visual storytelling The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has successfully concluded the Harakat Sikka training programme, an initiative aimed at enhancing participants’ skills in short-form stop-motion animation and advancing their visual storytelling capabilities. Supported by the Sikka Platform and aligned with the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy, this six-week programme underscores the Authority’s commitment to empowering emerging talent with opportunities to experiment, learn, and produce original creative projects—further cementing Dubai’s reputation as a global centre for culture, an incubator of creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. The…
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh’s flagship destination for business and lifestyle, has announced the arrival of The Executive Centre (TEC), Asia’s foremost premium flexible workspace provider, marking its first location in Saudi Arabia. The addition of TEC introduces world-class coworking facilities that cater to multinational corporations, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and professionals seeking adaptable office solutions. This milestone further strengthens KAFD’s reputation as a centre for innovation, talent, and business in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. The launch reinforces KAFD’s standing as a growing hub for business and entrepreneurship in the region. TEC’s new coworking space, spanning approximately 36,500 sqft,…
Mahesh Shahdadpuri built TASC Group from the ground up across the Middle East. Now, after years leading the business services firm, he’s handing the chief executive role to Jayajyoti Sengupta whilst stepping into the executive chairman position. The transition comes as TASC—which operates under multiple brands including TCS, AIQU, and Future Miles—positions itself for what Shahdadpuri describes as a “pivotal stage” centred on artificial intelligence and managed services expansion. Sengupta brings experience from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, where he’s worked with senior leadership teams to shift managed services away from traditional cost-cutting outsourcing models. His focus has been value…
For nearly two decades, Mohit Gaba built his career between Citibank’s trading floors and Bloomberg TV’s studios, where he dissected market movements for a global audience. Now he’s trading the television lights for a director’s chair at Klay Capital Ltd., the Dubai-based boutique wealth firm that’s quietly expanding its multi-family office platform. The appointment, confirmed this week, places Gaba at the centre of Klay Group’s investment advisory operations. He’ll report directly to Achal Aroura, who heads the firm’s multi-family office division—a growing segment of the wealth management industry that caters to ultra-high-net-worth families seeking alternatives to traditional private banking. Gaba’s…