Oman-based developer Muriya has unveiled a new waterfront residential resort project. Located within its flagship destination, Hawana Salalah, Amazi will be developed over an area of one million sqm and will feature luxury villas and residences that offer an “exquisite waterfront living proposition”.

According to the developer, which a joint venture between Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) and Orascom Development Holding (ODH), Amazi will offer spectacular vistas juxtaposing turquoise waters and white sand beaches with breathtaking landscapes.

Each thoughtfully designed residence will capitalise on its prime location with access to an array of hotel resort-like amenities and personalised services that will make future residents feel like they are on a vacation, Muriya noted. The developer said it has appointed SB Architects to design the project.

Oman’s largest and fastest growing tourism destination, Hawana Salalah, boasts freehold homes, marinas, hotels, dining activities and more spread across 7km of beautiful sandy white beaches, it added.

In April 2022, Oman authorities announced $3.8bn worth of investment opportunities.

Tamer Dewidar at Orascom Development Holding pointed out that Amazi at Hawana Salalah was expected to deliver an effortless waterfront lifestyle. He explained, “The residences and villas will be ideal for holiday homeowners who want to celebrate the art of living, as well as visitors from the GCC and Europe looking for amazing curated experiences.”

Inspired by the natural beauty of Wadi Darbat in Salalah, Amazi will be reflective of its unique settings, Dewidar added.

He continued, “As part of our thoughtful, careful and imaginative planning and development, the world-class international architecture, our longstanding partner SB Architects led the conception of the superb collection of Amazi waterfront residences. The resort-style community will constitute multiple residential districts: Amazi Rise, situated on a natural hill; Amazi Cove, with canals surrounding all units; Amazi Islands, allowing for waterfront living on a ribbon of smaller connected islands; and Amazi Beach, offering oceanfront living just steps from the white sand beach,” stated Dewidar.

“In addition, the residences are particularly appealing to investors and buyers expecting long-term and high-yield returns while acquiring Oman’s residency,” he remarked.

In mid July 2022, Muriya launched a residential development in Hawana Salalah.

Seif El Khouly, Chief Development Officer, at Muriya said the developer’s main focus is to develop low density properties and openness for all units, allowing the best experience possible, while keeping an eye out for complete privacy and connectivity.

He concluded, “Our designers used the natural beauty and elements of Oman to blend handcrafted designs that combine both contemporary and traditional architecture into a timeless functional design, integrating indoor and outdoor living using wrap around pools and elegant arches to accentuate that experience.”

In mid August 2022, it was announced that Oman’s $175mn Botanic Garden was on track for completion in 2023.

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Bahrain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) has invited three tenders from leading developers to provide design and construction services for a total of 771 residential units under the Government Land Development Programme.

In a statement, the ministry said that the majority of the homes – 491 – will be developed under the Madinat Salman Project, with the first tender issued for a set of 360 residential units, and the second for 131 units. Each will be developed on a 25,000sqm area, it added.

The third tender was floated for the construction of a total of 280 housing units under the Madinat Khalifa Project, which will be built on a 50,000sqm area.

In mid November 2022, the Four Seasons and Bayside Developments launched the Four Seasons Private Residences Bahrain Bay.

As per the tender notification, the winning bidders will be responsible for the design, construction, and funding of all residential units, as well as the hard and soft landscaping services within the project and related secondary infrastructure works.

Once the project has been completed, the developer will pay MoHUP an agreed land value, while MoHUP will provide a buy-back arrangement for units unsold after a sale period of 24 months. The project company will sell these units commercially to Mazaya and social housing loan-eligible beneficiaries, the statement continued.

Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, confirmed that her ministry had allocated three land plots for the development of 771 housing units and apartments in partnership with the private sector.

In late November 2022, Bahrain said it would invest $312mn into new education facilities by 2030.

The minister indicated that last date for submitting the bids for the development of lands allocated for residential apartments will end on 1 March 2023, while the date for submitting bids for the development of lands allocated for residential units ends on 5 March.

“These projects represent the first phase of the government land rights development programme, which includes in its master plan a timetable for the development of 19,000 housing units in partnership with the private sector, at a total investment value of US $2.67bn, noting that all units of these projects will be at competitive prices,” stated Al Rumaihi.

She pointed out that with the launch of the first package of the government land development rights programme projects, the ministry would have started a new phase in the path of strengthening partnership with the private sector to develop social housing projects in the Kingdom.

In late December 2021, it was announced that work on the $185mn expansion of the King Faisal Corniche and The Avenues project in Bahrain set for early 2024 completion.

This is in line with the approach of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, she concluded.

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The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has said that it plans to re-tender two independent power projects in Saudi Arabia. The state-owned entity is responsible for planning and putting forward projects to generate electricity in the Kingdom.

In a statement, SPPC said that the projects – Taiba and Qassim IPP – will each have a 3.6GW capacity. It added that all previously qualified developers will automatically be included for the new projects, while other interested participants can submit their bids. The requests for proposals (RFPs) will be issued to qualified applicants on January 20, 2023, it noted.

The statement highlighted that both facilities will feature carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) readiness mechanisms, in alignment with KSA’s Saudi Green Initiative and its stated greenhouse gases (GHGs) Net Zero ambition by 2060. This will be achieved through the deployment of technologies for a circular carbon economy approach, it continued.

In early March 2022, Acwa Power and SPPC inked a deal to develop 700MW solar project.

The projects will introduce the developer’s ability to implement CCS or other potential solutions to address GHGs emissions when deemed feasible, allowing for greater participation of developers, EPCs, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and will drive further local content and value-added to the Kingdom, it explained.

As per the deal, SPPC will be re-tendering the two projects into four smaller combined cycle power projects of 1,800MW capacity, each with provision for CCS readiness.

The Saudi Power Procurement Company was fully nationalised in August 2022, by the Saudi Ministries of Finance and Energy, after they bought up shares in one of the firm’s subsidiaries. The Ministries said that the Kingdom’s government had bought up Saudi Electricity Company, which meant that SPPC is now wholly owned by the state.

In early June 2022, Acwa Power inked a PPA with SPPC for a new $107mn solar PV plant.

The move comes as part of the country’s plans to restructure its electricity sector and introduce financial and organisational reforms. SPPC will be responsible for planning and putting forward projects to generate the Kingdom’s required electric power.

It will also be responsible for concluding electric power purchase and wholesale agreements, developing energy trading markets and purchasing fuel for the company. Furthermore, the company will contribute to achieving the objectives of an optimal energy mix, displacement of liquid fuels and raising of the level of environmental compliance.

Finally, it will also encourage internal and external investments, increase the percentage of localisation, and ensure the security and reliability of supplies at lower costs.

In late September 2022, SPPC revealed plans for five renewable energy projects across Saudi Arabia.

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Dubai’s real estate sector is set for further success this year, with a projected growth of 46% according to new research data from Realiste.

The company’s findings showed that property prices in Dubai grew by 20-40% over the last 12 months. Some areas saw even a bigger upturn – the Palm Jumeirah grew by 59%, and Trade Center First by 210%, the firm revealed.

Realiste is a proptech company based in Dubai; it was launched in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as part of its Middle East North Africa expansion in May 2022. It developed an AI-powered tool that enables investing in real estate in major capital cities, including New York, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and London. The system also notifies the asset owners when it is the optimum time to buy or sell their properties, the statement explained.

In mid December 2022, the Dubai Land Department said the emirate’s real estate deals exceeded $2.5bn in a week.

This year, Dubai became one of the few beneficiaries of the massive geopolitical crises impacting the globe. It saw the biggest inflow of private wealth this year, as Russian entrepreneurs, investors, and top level professionals were seeking new homes. According to the analytics agency Dsight, more than 16% of Russian companies and entrepreneurs relocated to the UAE and Dubai, in particular, in the first half of the year.

The local real estate market also profited from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Dubai became the main beneficiary outside of Qatar, due to its status as a tourist attraction and financial hub of the region, the firm said.

“Dubai will remain attractive to foreign buyers who are seeking to shield their assets. It will strengthen its position as the geopolitical instability and energy crisis grow. As a result, there will be a further boost in demand for local property and the market in 2023,” Alex Galtsev, CEO of Realiste told Khaleej Times.

Later in December 2022, Unique Properties said Dubai’s real estate market would grow by 2% in 2023.

Realiste conducted research based on data collected over 12 months between December 2021 and December 2022. Analytics includes the trends of Dubai’s real estate market: the areas of the city showing the most significant increase, the average cost of properties across the city, and the most high-priced or low-priced locations. The analysis is based on Realiste artificial intelligence technology and provides forecasts for the development of Dubai’s housing market in 2023, it concluded.

Late in December 2022, the Dubai Land Department unveiled its new strategic plan for the 2023-2026 period.

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UAE-based Azizi Developments has said that by the end of 2022, it sold more than 6,000 units, worth US $1.52bn, and is now set for the handover of 11,000 units across 45 projects in Dubai later this year. The handovers will include homes in the first, second and third phases of Riviera, Park Avenue I, II and III in MBR City and Berton in Al Furjan.

With 28.4mn manhours of construction and over 167,000cu/m of concrete having been poured, the developer constructed more than 152 floors across 3.51mn sqft of built-up area in 2022, it said.

During the year, Azizi completed the first seven buildings in Riviera, its French Mediterranean-inspired waterfront lifestyle community in MBR City, as well as the 634-residence condominium, Creek Views I, in Dubai Healthcare City.

In mid June 2022, Azizi began handing over homes in Creek Views I in Dubai Healthcare City and, in early August 2022, it said it was making rapid progress on its Park Avenue residential community.

Commenting on the year’s accomplishments, CEO Farhad Azizi stated, “With our record-breaking sales and construction speed, this year has been an exciting one for us at Azizi. As a catalyst to the UAE’s real estate landscape, vision, and growth, we will continue to add value, developing distinctive homes that set the standards in contemporary building design and quality, and that grant investors and end-users unparalleled, enriched lifestyles.”

With Riviera said to be selling out rapidly, Azizi launched Park Avenue III in MBR City, Rêve, its fourth, most distinguished and luxurious phase of Riviera, and Beach Oasis, two residential commercial buildings with a total of 712 units nestled around a beach-like swimming pool.

The developer said a major achievement for the group in 2022 was the acquisition of a ‘highly coveted plot of land on Sheikh Zayed Road’, on which it will soon be launching the second tallest tower in the UAE.

In mid August 2022, the developer said it had chosen ‘best in class’ suppliers for its Park Avenue project.

Azizi has also signed a deal with Dubai South, acquiring a prominent 15mn sqft plot with 24mn sqft of GFA, for which it will be the master developer, with plans to launch an entire ‘city’, comprising villas, townhouses, residences and other key amenities, the developer concluded.

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The number of smart metres in Dubai has significantly increased from 200,000 in the first phase (completed in 2016) to approximately 2.1mn at present, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has stated.

Smart metres enable customers to benefit from the Smart Living initiative launched by DEWA, which helps them monitor their consumption independently, the statement from DEWA noted.

In early December 2022, the utility firm said it had completed 93% of fourth phase of its H-Station and, later in the month, it said it began construction of $12.5m Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project.

“With the directives of the wise leadership, DEWA is working to provide an advanced infrastructure to manage facilities and services through smart and interconnected systems that use technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), block chain, and the Internet of Things (IoT), among others,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Through smart metres customers can log onto their DEWA accounts through the website or smart app, and view their dashboard to monitor their consumption, and learn about tariff slabs in the residential sector. Customers can also benefit from the initiative by comparing their consumption with similar homes, to help them manage their consumption, DEWA noted.

Al Tayer remarked, “Smart metres provide many advantages for customers to control their consumption proactively and digitally without contacting DEWA, in addition to transforming Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world.”

In early January 2023, Digital DEWA subsidiary – Moro Hub – in association with EY launched its first AI driven managed services for Operation Technology (OT) in its Cyber Defense Centre (CDC) in the UAE.

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Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (PJSC) in association with EY, has launched its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven managed services for Operation Technology (OT) in Cyber Defense Centre (CDC) in the UAE.

Hosted in Dubai, Moro OT CDC is powered with next generation technologies such as, Data Lake, Artificial Intelligence, and staffed with real-world experienced data scientists, OT and IoT experts, Threat Intelligent and cyber defense experts, said Moro Hub: “Demonstrating its commitment to enhance the cyber security of UAE’s Critical National Infrastructure, Moro OT CDC continuously monitors the ever-evolving threat landscape and provide appropriate response.”

“We are pleased to launch UAE’s first in-country OT CDC as a fully Managed Service model in collaboration with EY. Cyber threats targeting Critical Infrastructure are growing at an alarming rate, which may pose threat to human life, environment and operational assets,” added Dr Ahmed Alketbi, Chief Information Security Officer of Moro Hub.

“The launch of this service will assist organizations dealing with OT/IoT systems to protect from cyber threats and manage cybersecurity incidents through timely threat detection and swift incident response. We are confident that this new OT Cyber Defense Centre will not only strengthen the region’s cybersecurity resiliency and response capability, but its cutting-edge services and its team expertise, will offer better business efficiency and streamline critical infrastructure safety, reliability, and productivity.”

Operational technologies are increasingly getting connected to business systems to support ever demanding operational efficiency requirements. This trend has further increased the existing cyber risks faced due to Industry 4.0 migration, Digital transformation, and IT/OT convergence, which increased the exposure of traditionally air-gapped systems to cyber-attack, making it clear that asset owners need to take a stronger, more integrated approach to security.

“EY is excited to bring advanced cybersecurity monitoring for critical OT and IoT infrastructure to the region through the partnership with MORO Hub.  Cybersecurity monitoring on operational networks and IoT is more paramount than ever as the region continues to see a surge of cybersecurity attacks, along with the advancement in digital disruption and integration of OT and IoT systems.  Together, EY and MORO Hub will provide world class cybersecurity monitoring services to clients to address this critical gap in the market,” said Clinton Firth, Global Energy Cybersecurity Leader, EY.

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Arada has announced the completion of Nest, a premium purpose-built housing cluster in Aljada, the Sharjah-based lifestyle community.

In a statement, Arada said that Nest will allow students to live, study and relax all within the confines of a community with world-class facilities that have carefully been designed to allow learning to flourish.

Located just five minutes’ drive from one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing education hubs, Sharjah’s University City, the US$190.5 million Nest complex features 2,473 fully furnished dormitories (both individual and shared) spread over 12 apartment blocks.

Situated on a 380,000 square foot plot located next to Aljada’s business district, Nest is a smart technology-enabled cluster that sets a new standard for student housing regionally, the developer said.

Each Nest block contains laundry rooms, shared TV rooms and study areas, while different parts of the community have been allocated for men and women, ensuring comfort and privacy for every tenant. Nest’s lengthy list of facilities includes an art studio, a music hall, a library, a state-of-the-art running track that surrounds the complex, an amphitheatre, and a central dining hall, while tenants also have access to male- and female-only swimming pools, gyms and study areas.

Arada has also committed to providing Nest residents with a number of part-time employment opportunities at local retail and food and beverage outlets, both in the complex and in Aljada as a whole, the statement continued.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “Nest is an impeccably designed community that allows students an engaging and inspiring environment within the surroundings of Sharjah’s most exciting lifestyle community. So much more than a place to sleep and study, Nest residents benefit not only from incredible amenities within the complex, but from the facilities in the rest of the Aljada master plan as well.”

He added that Nest will benefit from Aljada’s location adjacent to University City, which contains two of the region’s largest higher education institutions – University of Sharjah and American University of Sharjah (AUS), which between them host some 20,000 students alone, plus an additional eight other colleges and institutions.

The project is also ideally located to serve the more than 60,000-strong student body in nearby Dubai. The complex is a 20-minute drive from Dubai International Academic City, the largest higher education free zone in the world, which has 27,500 students enrolled at its universities during the current academic year.

The completion of Nest means that Arada has now completed 3,955 units in Aljada as a whole, following the completion of the first residential phase of the master community in April this year. Around 4,500 homes are currently under construction at Aljada, where the East Village residential phase and the second Sarab villa complex are both just weeks away from completion.

Spread over a 24 million square foot area and valued at US$6.5 billion, Aljada is Sharjah’s largest ever project and a transformational destination for the Emirate. As well as its numerous residential districts, Aljada also contains extensive retail, hospitality, entertainment, sporting, educational, healthcare components and a business park, all set within a green, walkable master plan.

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Modon Properties, the UAE-based master developer of sustainable communities, has announced the opening of its new desert project, Bab Al Nojoum – Bateen Liwa Resort, which is located at its eco-tourism campsite destination in Liwa, Abu Dhabi emirate.

In a statement, the developer said that the project has been designed for families and individuals looking to reconnect with nature in comfort and luxury. The resort is located in the Al Dhafra region and offers guests an immersive desert experience, with a choice of private one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas that blend luxury with eco-friendly elements and the desert.

Bab Al Nojoum – Bateen Liwa Resort offers guests amenities and services such as accommodations with private plunge pools, deck loungers, patios, and a fire pit, along with views of the sand dunes, a statement said. it added that a 50sqm one-bedroom villa can accommodate up to three campers, while the 86sqm two-bedroom villas can host up to five people. Three-bedroom villas are also available, which can accommodate up to seven people.

The development was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, in the presence of Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman, Department of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Modon Properties, CEO Bill O’Regan and other officials.

Sheikh Hamdan said that the project will help enhance the region’s eco-tourism sector and enrich Al Dhafra’s portfolio of projects and elevate it as a destination on the UAE’s tourism landscape.

“The opening of Bab Al Nojoum – Bateen Liwa Resort comes at a time when Al Dhafra region is witnessing significant momentum in the construction of exceptional touristic and residential destinations, in line with the growth strategies and expansion plans of the government,” he stated.

He added that the resort will also offer a range of cultural and wellness experiences to cater to the needs of both adults and children.

Jassem Mohamed highlighted that the launch underscores Modon Properties commitment to developing destinations that elevate Abu Dhabi’s position on the world stage.

“Our world-class projects and attractions will continue to help build the emirate’s tourism infrastructure while adhering to strict environmental standards through our zero-waste, carbon- and plastic-free policy.

“The opening of Bab Al Nojoum – Bateen Liwa Resort marks our fifth destination opened in Abu Dhabi this year, a strong testament to our commitment to meeting the leisure and entertainment needs of residents and visitors,” he concluded.

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Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has announced that it has successfully completed the re-certifications of three key ISO certifications: ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems; ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety; and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management systems.

Announcing these key milestones, Empower said it achieved these re-certifications through the successful completion of audits conducted by Bureau Veritas across various sites and protocols, including the group’s integrated management systems, district cooling plants, new project sites and customer service centres.

CEO Ahmad bin Shafar said: “Our success in the re-certification of ISO is a confirmation of the sustainability of our work, and the continued development of our organisation. It confirms our strong performance indicators which were reflected in the integrated administrative systems audit. Moreover, it stresses our commitment to international standards: the re-certification for the Quality management systems, ISO 9001:2015, accredited by the UKAS Management System, is the result of the continuous improvement in the efficiency of our quality management system to ensure provision of comprehensive quality services to customers and promoting their happiness.”

As for the re-certification for the environmental management systems, ISO 14001:2015, Ahmad bin Shafar emphasised that Empower continues its efforts to preserve the environment, according to the most relevant international standards.

This is based on its social and economic responsibility to protect natural resources and preserve them for future generations, as well as constantly developing its services in an environmentally friendly manner, he added.

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