Dubai Investment Real Estate has made significant progress on Asayel Avenue, the newest residential cluster within the Mirdif Hills master development in Mirdif, Dubai.

Following the groundbreaking in June 2025, the project is steadily taking shape, reflecting Dubai Investments’ commitment to delivering premium, designed communities that combine modern living with strong community values, said a statement.

Construction on Asayel Avenue has reached several important milestones – site mobilisation has been fully completed, enabling the start of construction activities. Works are nearly finalised at 99%, setting the stage for structural development, the developer noted.

Piling and foundation works have advanced to 40%, ensuring a strong and durable base for the residential structures. Substructure works have begun and stand at five percent completion. Collectively, these early-stage achievements mark an overall construction progress of 10%, a promising start that signals the project is on track to deliver high-quality residential units within the projected timeline.

Obaid Salami, General Manager of Dubai Investment Real Estate (DIR) said, “The timely progress at Asayel Avenue reflects our strategic commitment to delivering high-quality, thoughtfully designed communities. Completing site mobilisation and enabling works while advancing foundational construction on schedule is a crucial step toward bringing these homes and communal spaces to life. Our teams remain focused on precision, efficiency, and excellence at every stage, ensuring that Asayel Avenue not only meets but sets new standards in modern urban living.”

Asayel Avenue will offer 191 units contemporary residential apartments, including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The development emphasises smart-living technologies, wellness and fitness facilities, and landscaped communal areas, complementing the neighborhoods of Janayen, Nasayem, and Al Multaqa Avenues.

Construction began in Q2 2025 and handover is expected in Q2 2027. With its strategic location within Mirdif, Asayel Avenue is designed to offer easy access to major highways, schools, retail, and leisure amenities, while preserving a sense of community and privacy. The project continues Dubai Investments’ legacy of delivering thoughtfully designed residential developments that balance lifestyle, convenience, and investment value, the statement concluded.

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Centurion Properties has launched a new premium office tower in Business Bay, Dubai. Burj Capital Business Bay is taking shape in close proximity to the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Design District and DIFC, and is said to reflect the spirit of Dubai as a global hub of innovation and enterprise.

The launch took place on 29 September at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, and is said to have marked the official opening of Phase 2 of the project, positioning the tower as one of the most prestigious commercial developments in the region.

Guided by its brand line an ‘Address that Matters’, Centurion Properties says the development provides a new benchmark for premium grade A+ office spaces in the region.

Burj Capital Business Bay represents one of the most significant commercial launches in Business Bay in recent years. With a façade that speaks power, precision-crafted interiors and a premium address, it delivers a rare opportunity for global businesses, entrepreneurs and forward-thinking enterprises to establish themselves at the heart of Dubai, said the company.

The tower will boast more than 238 office units, five curated retail outlets, a full-service gym and an exclusive rooftop viewing lounge. The project spans over one million sqft of built-up area with office spaces ranging from 750sqft to entire floor plates of up to 14,000sqft across 26 floors, ensuring flexible layouts and efficient workplace planning for businesses of all sizes, the developer outlined.

“Burj Capital Business Bay is more than an office tower. It is a landmark that combines prestige, prime location and thoughtfully designed amenities to power productivity and growth. This is a future-ready address for leaders who want to stand at the center of Dubai’s progress,” said Anshika Garg, the co-founder of Centurion Properties.

Sharing the company’s broader vision, Moksh Garg, Managing Director of Centurion Properties added, “Burj means tower — a symbol of strength and ambition. That’s exactly what Centurion stands for: bold, elegant, visionary. We see ourselves evolving into one of the top five developers in the GCC, Inshallah. The UAE is just the beginning — our vision is regional leadership.”

The developer also said that the commercial tower will feature world-class lifestyle amenities that elevate the workplace experience with facilities that inspire balance, creativity and productivity. The office tower will feature a swimming pool, yoga deck, co-working spaces, amphitheatre-style seating, a running track, pickleball courts, diverse food and beverage zones and a panoramic viewing deck overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Water Canal. Each element has been carefully designed to meet the lifestyle needs of today’s professionals, while maintaining exceptional architectural and interior standards, the developer said.

The project’s lead architect and consultant are HKS and Datum Engineering Consultants respectively, and the tower is expected to be completed in March 2029.

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AESG has appointed Kez Taylor and Roger Nickells as Non-Executive Directors to the business. The move is said to mark an important milestone with the company’s international growth strategy.

The establishment of the board marks a pivotal step in AESG’s global expansion, coinciding with the opening of its new office in Cape Town, following the recent launch of operations in Cairo and Melbourne earlier this year, the firm said in a statement.

According to the firm, its Board of Directors comprises Saeed Al Abbar (CEO of AESG), Scott Coombes (Managing Partner of AESG), Adam Muggleton (CTO of AESG), Kez Taylor (former CEO of ALEC Engineering & Contracting) and Roger Nickells (former Head of Design and Construction at Neom and CEO of Buro Happold).

Each member of the board brings unprecedented expertise, offering deep industry insight, strategic leadership, and a proven track record in guiding high-growth, global businesses through complex market expansions, the statement outlined.

“The appointment of the Non-Executive Directors reflects AESG’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and delivering meaningful impact as we grow our presence worldwide. The new members will provide independent oversight and strategic guidance, helping us navigate the complexities of rapid expansion while remaining true to our core purpose-driven mission. For our clients, this enhanced oversight means they can have even greater confidence in AESG’s ability to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and future-proof solutions. We believe in balancing bold ambition with a measured approach, and these seasoned leaders are perfectly placed to help us navigate that path,” said Al Abbar.

Taylor boasts more than thirty-five years of experience, including two decades leading ALEC Engineering & Contracting as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, ALEC expanded beyond traditional contracting to establish new business lines such as ALEC Energy, ALEC Fitout and LINQ Modular, transforming the company into a diversified powerhouse delivering complex multi-billion-dollar projects across multiple sectors, the statement confirmed.

Sharing his thoughts on joining AESG’s board, Taylor stated, “I am honoured to join AESG’s inaugural board, especially at such a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. AESG has established itself as a global leader in delivering innovative and sustainable solutions, and I look forward to supporting its continued growth and international expansion. Having worked closely with AESG over the years, I’ve seen firsthand the firm’s ability to deliver complex, high-impact projects, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. I am excited to contribute to its strategic vision as it enters new markets and scales globally,”

Nickells is a globally recognised leader in engineering and design, with over three decades of experience shaping some of the world’s most ambitious projects and giga-developments. As CEO of Buro Happold, he helped expand the firm into a global consultancy. At NEOM, he served as Sector Head of Design & Construction, leading one of the largest and most innovative professional teams in the world. Throughout his career, Nickells has been instrumental in delivering projects that transformed cities and societies, from the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and the London 2012 Olympic Park to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Battersea Power Station, Dubai Metro, The High Line in New York, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, according to AESG.

Nickells commented, “AESG’s ambition, expertise, and commitment to excellence are truly impressive. I’m excited to contribute to the board as the company scales new markets and drives impactful change across the built environment. With the increasing global demand for sustainable, future-ready solutions, AESG is uniquely positioned to lead the way. I look forward to working alongside such a dynamic leadership team to help shape the company’s continued success and long-term value creation.”

The board’s first initiative has been to inaugurate AESG’s new office in Cape Town, South Africa, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and networking event with local industry stakeholders, where the board also held their inaugural board meeting.

This comes just a few weeks after the opening of AESG’s Cairo and Melbourne offices, reflecting the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in high-potential markets. These new locations not only position AESG closer to key clients but also provide access to exceptionally large and rich talent pools, the statement concluded.

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Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a historic infrastructure revolution, a cornerstone of its visionary journey toward Vision 2030. The Kingdom’s bold ambition is to build not just new cities and economic hubs, but to create truly future-ready, intelligent urban environments that will stand as global benchmarks. This monumental undertaking demands a fundamental shift away from traditional, fragmented construction methods toward an integrated, data-driven approach. It is not just about building smarter; it’s about building with foresight, efficiency, and sustainability.

For decades, the global architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AEC/O) industry has relied on static blueprints – two-dimensional plans that, while essential, offer a limited, siloed view of a project. They represent a single moment in time, a snapshot that quickly becomes outdated as changes, unforeseen challenges, and new data emerge. This traditional approach creates friction and inefficiencies across the project lifecycle, leading to costly delays, budget overruns, and a lack of transparency.

The future of infrastructure in Saudi Arabia cannot be constrained by these limitations. The scale and complexity of megaprojects like NEOM, The Red Sea, and Qiddiya require a dynamic, living model that reflects the asset’s reality in real time. This is where the concept of the digital twin becomes not just a buzzword, but an absolute necessity. They allow decision-makers to visualise outcomes before construction begins, anticipate challenges, and manage operations with unmatched precision.

The scale of transformation

The numbers tell a remarkable story. According to Knight Frank, the value of total contracts awarded for the construction, industrial, and transport sectors between 2020 and 2025 has reached a staggering $215.4bn.Riyadh alone accounted for $135.2bn of awarded contracts since 2020, representing 63% of the Kingdom’s total.

This phenomenal pace of development is being powered by Vision 2030, which is reshaping the Kingdom into a global hub for tourism, commerce, and trade.This transformation aims to deliver over one million homes, more than 362,000 hotel keys, over 7.4m sqm of retail space, and more than 7.7m sqm of new office space by the end of the decade. In total, more than $1.3tn is set to be invested in real estate and infrastructure projects.

These figures highlight the sheer scale of opportunity, as well as the pressing need for digital-first approaches that ensure efficiency, accountability, and long-term value creation.

Enter the AI-powered digital twin

A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, be it a building, a bridge, or an entire city. It is built upon a foundation of rich, multidisciplinary data from a Building Information Modeling (BIM) framework and is continuously fed with real-time data from sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This creates a live, interconnected ecosystem that provides a single source of truth for all stakeholders, from initial design and construction through to a project’s long-term operations and maintenance.

This isn’t just about visualisation; it’s about intelligence. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into the digital twin, we can transform raw data into actionable insights. AI can analyse vast datasets to predict maintenance needs, optimise energy consumption, and simulate various scenarios to improve performance. Most importantly, it elevates operational excellence, allowing city managers and operators to make data-backed decisions that ensure the safety, security, and seamless functioning of a community.

For a project like The Line, which will rely on a seamless, interconnected system, AI-driven digital twins are the only way to ensure optimal operation and a world-class quality of life for its residents. This convergence of technologies allows us to build with a lifecycle approach, ensuring that decisions made in the design phase have positive, long-term impacts on a project’s efficiency and sustainability.

Embracing digital innovation to power the future

As Saudi Arabia forges ahead with its ambitious megaprojects, it is clear that the blueprint for success lies in embracing digital innovation. The Kingdom is not just building infrastructure; it is crafting a new paradigm for urban living. It falls to digital transformation enablers to empower the industry to move from static blueprints to dynamic, intelligent, and sustainable digital twins. This isn’t just the future of infrastructure – it is the future of a smarter, more resilient Saudi Arabia.

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New regulations have been announced for Riyadh’s rental market, with rent increases being frozen for residential and commercial properties for the next five years. The move aims to stabilise housing costs and ensure fairness between landlords and tenants, said a report.

The measures were approved by the Council of Ministers and enacted through a royal decree, follow directives from Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, who earlier ordered reforms to address sharp rent hikes in the capital.

As per the new rules which came into effect on 25 September, the total rental value of properties – whether in existing or new contracts – cannot be increased for five years within Riyadh’s urban boundary. The framework could be extended to other cities and governorates if deemed necessary by the Real Estate General Authority with the approval of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the report added.

The initiative will see vacant properties in Riyadh have their rent fixed at the value of the most recent registered contract. For units that have never been rented, landlords and tenants may agree on the initial rent freely. All contracts must be registered through the Ejar platform, either by landlords or tenants, with a 60-day window for objections. If no objection is raised, the contract data will be deemed valid.

Automatic renewals will also be regulated, the report added. Lease agreements nationwide will be renewed unless one party notifies the other at least 60 days before expiry. In Riyadh specifically, landlords cannot refuse renewal if tenants wish to extend, except in three cases: non-payment, structural defects affecting safety, or the landlord’s intent to use the property personally or for a first-degree relative.

The report also said that under the new regulations, landlords can appeal the fixed rents in limited circumstances, such as after significant renovations or if the last contract was signed before 2024.

Fines for violations can be up to the equivalent of 12 months’ rent, alongside compensation for affected tenants. Whistleblowers can receive up to 20% of the fine as a reward for reporting violations. The Real Estate General Authority will oversee enforcement in cooperation with other agencies, monitor rent levels, and submit regular reports to the Crown Prince, the report stated.

Officials said the measures mark a turning point in Riyadh’s rental market, aiming to restore balance, increase transparency, and provide a safe and fair environment that supports sustainable urban development and quality of life.

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Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) has signed a concession agreement with Al Reef Cooling Company, which holds the exclusive district cooling concession for Al Reef Downtown in Abu Dhabi. The agreement marks Emicool’s entry into the Abu Dhabi market and reinforces its strategy of expanding its presence across the UAE through long-term concessional models.

The Al Reef district cooling plant boasts installed capacity of 8,005 TR (tons of refrigeration) and a connected capacity of 9,629 TR. Currently, it serves a diverse clientele of 46 buildings, over 1,800 residential customers, and 36 retail units. Emicool assumed operational management of the plant in July 2025 and has set its sights on implementing efficiency upgrades in line with its Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) business model, said a statement.

Adib El Moubadder, CEO of Emicool said, “The concession agreement for Al Reef Cooling Company marks a defining milestone in Emicool’s growth journey. Securing the exclusive district cooling concession for Al Reef Downtown not only establishes Emicool’s presence in Abu Dhabi but also significantly strengthens the company’s national portfolio of district cooling assets. This breakthrough reflects Emicool’s strategic focus on long-term concessional models, operational excellence, and sustainable expansion, enabling it to deliver reliable, efficient, and scalable cooling solutions to a growing customer base across the UAE.”

Mohamed Al Qubaisi, Chairman of Manazel Real Estate added, “District cooling is a critical component of sustainable urban development, and Emicool has established itself as a leading provider in the region. This agreement ensures that the Al Reef community will continue to benefit from reliable and efficient cooling solutions. We are confident that Emicool’s expertise and operational excellence will support the long-term needs of residents and businesses at Al Reef Downtown while contributing to the growth and modernization of Abu Dhabi’s district cooling infrastructure.”

The Al Reef plant, primarily serving residential buildings with some retail clients, is a strategic addition to Emicool’s expanding portfolio of district cooling facilities across the UAE. This concession agreement reflects Emicool’s dedication to expanding its national presence, optimising operational efficiency, and providing scalable and reliable cooling solutions to key urban developments, the statement concluded.

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The Middle East Consultant (MEC) editorial team has unveiled the partial shortlist of categories and nominees for the 2025 Women in Construction ED&I Summit + Awards. The MEC team added that the full shortlist will only be disclosed during the awards ceremony and in the post event announcement and report.

Both the summit and awards will take place at the Habtoor Grand Resort JBR, Dubai on 1 October 2025. The day begins with in-depth panel discussions, fireside chats and presentations, following which the ceremonial component will take place. The summit segment is expected to conclude at 3.30pm, with the awards ceremony due to kick off at 4.30pm.

“The 2025 edition of the Women in Construction ED&I Summit + Awards is poised to be an incredible day of discussion and a celebration of vision, talent and impact. The MEC team has been hard at work on the award’s segment of the day and is pleased to announce the partial shortlist of categories and their respective nominees,” said Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant.

“Due to the diversity of the nominations we received and to ensure a balanced judging process where entries could be fairly judged, we made the decision to merge and split certain categories, which is reflected in the shortlist below. I look forward to celebrating all the nominees and winners on 1 October,” Godfrey added.

The partial shortlist for the Women in Construction ED&I Summit + Awards is as follows:

Women’s Team-Building Champion of the Year

• GHD UAE, Jincy Mariam Rinu
• Trowers & Hamlins, Cheryl Cairns

Women’s Executive Empowerment Champion

• Dubai Holding Entertainment
• Godwin Austen Johnson
• Serco

Enterprise Champion of the Year – Female Leadership

• 9E Global Engineering Consultants, Arshana Fathima
• Climatize, part of +impact, Engi Jaber
• SharpMinds Consulting Engineers, Katherine Borge

Women’s Lobbying Champion of the Year

• HKA, Iryna Akulenka
• GHD UAE, April Martinez

Woman Lifetime Achievement Award

• GHD UAE, Stephanie Kinnick
• KEO, Donna Sultan
• Valcarce Architects, Alina Valcarce

Gender Empowerment Champion of the Year

• Dubai Holding Entertainment
• GHD UAE
• McLaren Construction

Human Capital Manager of the Year

• AECOM
• McLaren Construction

Youth Mentoring Champion of the Year

• Godwin Austen Johnson, Esraa Abdellah
• KOJ INTERIORS, Amy Duck
• TBH, Emrah Uluverdi

Mentoring Champion of the Year

• AECOM, Asif Shafi
• Johnson Arabia, Ankita Rao
• Trowers & Hamlins, Cheryl Cairns

Workspace Inclusiveness Champion of the Year

• AECOM
• HKA
• McLaren Construction

ED&I Programme of the Year

• AECOM
• Godwin Austen Johnson
• LWK + Partners
• TBH

To learn more about the Women in Construction ED&I Summit + Awards, click here.

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