Dubai’s rapid journey into a global hub of real estate would be largely dependent on a few major players within the market, and of those, Tamweel is indeed one first amongst equals for innovative Sharia-compliant financing solutions. This relatively small institution until its establishment in 2004 had very quickly become synonymous with innovative property financing that specifically reached out to both residential and commercial markets. But beyond being a provider of great financial services, the legacy of Tamweel lies in its forward-looking approach to real estate that eventually moved into Islamic banking standards, reflecting a new benchmark for property finance across the UAE.

Tamweel’s history began in March 2004 when it was constituted as a limited liability company. The whole idea was simple: to provide financing solutions Sharia compliant by the principles of Islam, therefore offering an ethical option to orthodox banking for property investor and owner alike. From the day of its establishment, Tamweel was one of the pioneer real estate financiers in Dubai, as well as basking on the booming population and property market. Come July 2006, Tamweel went public as a public joint-stock company, two years from the time it started operations. This led to a major milestone – Tamweel getting listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), which further increased its visibility and enabled more investors to be part of its growth story. Going public marked a landmark for the company: its growth was accelerated, and it reached more customers in the UAE with such facilitation.

What made Tamweel distinctly different from all other financiers in the region was the alignment with Islamic finance. This company specialized in providing Sharia-based solutions, with most emphasis on fair, transparent property financing that is more so ethical in sharing profits. Generally, Tamweel’s financing solutions were categorized into two major groups: home financing and commercial financing. For home financing, Tamweel provided financing options such as Murabaha (cost-plus financing), Ijara (leasing), Forward Ijara, Istisna (construction finance), amongst many others. These products were tailored to meet the concepts of home ownership for personal and investment in commercial property for business enterprises. Baiti, which is one of the flagship services, was a home finance product that grants no ownership until payments, if permitted by Islamic laws, are made.

The growth of property development and trading businesses also facilitated the company’s ability not only to finance but also to be involved in developing real estate projects for owners. This further consolidated its role in the booming property sector as an advocate in Dubai. Tamweel therefore established a synergistic model between financing and development for the mutual benefit of investors and developers by aligning the project’s financial sustainability with all requirements of Islamic law.

Tamweel’s journey was certainly not facile. The 2008 global financial crisis was felt in real estate markets of the UAE, which seriously negated real estate prices and finance activities on a highly dramatic scale. As such, on 1 November 2008, to this effect, as part of crisis-driven measures that were announced by the federal government of the UAE, Tamweel was going to be merged with Amlak – another significant operator in the Sharia-compliant finance industry. This marked the strategic step in stabilizing the real estate finance market, which would protect the interests of the investors and homeowners. Tamweel and Amlak by the early months of 2010 were incorporated into an Islamic bank, marking the end of Tamweel run as an independent financier of real estate. This then set the beginning of a new life for the organization and evolved to be more of a complete financial institution, with its own capabilities in offering a varied type of Islamic banking products and services.

The contribution of Tamweel to Dubai’s real estate finance will undoubtedly never be questioned. Indeed, Tamweel was the first firm that introduced a specific manner of Islamic Sharia-compliant financial products. Its launch became a benchmark for ethical financing in the region. It opened the door for future market players, pushing further innovation with more Islamic finance solutions to bring the region towards becoming a global Islamic banking hub in Dubai.

The entire journey for Tamweel, from the property financier to being an integral part of Islamic banking in Dubai, actually reflects such resilience, ability, and forward-thinking approach by the company. Its contribution to the real estate market in the UAE leaves an enduring legacy and its influence continues to be felt in this growing landscape of Sharia-compliant finance.

Union Properties has emerged as a pathfinder in the UAE property development sector, establishing a name with commitment to excellence and innovation. With its headquarters located in Dubai, the company listed on the bourse has given much to shape the skyline of one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. With over 6,000 employees, Union Properties has delivered more than 10,000 residential, commercial, and retail units, changing the face of the real estate territory of Dubai.

Union Properties was started as Union Property Private Limited in the year 1987 as a Company to be the real estate leader in UAE. The company went on the list of Dubai Financial Market in 1993 and has become a popular destination, marking a big milestone in its journey. Over the past few years, Union Properties has built a comprehensive portfolio that features some of the most iconic and recognizable structures within Dubai city, like UP Tower, Index Tower, Limestone House, and the internationally known Dubai Autodrome. The successful completion of these projects has not only enhanced the architectural beauty of Dubai but has also contributed to the economic growth and development of this city.

Portfolio and Subsidiary Diversity

Union Properties’ portfolio is rather variant due to its diversified nature in the real estate industry. The flagship projects developed by Union Properties are:

• UP Tower: Luxury mixed-used development, as it is so called, living defines modern architecture.
• Index Tower: Iconic building, both living and commercial spaces plus great views over the city.
• Limestone House: Luxurious residential, as it has received the name, classy and high quality in design.
• Dubai Autodrome: A multi-purpose facility for motorsport events.

It has also established five subsidiaries including Serveu, Dubai Autodrome, EDACOM, The FITOUT, and GMAMCO. These subsidiaries have complemented the capabilities of the company in carrying out its operations with a versatile set of services, capable of fitting as many market needs as possible.

Union Properties was also the subject of news lately when it sold its 50 percent stake in Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) to Dubai Investments for 500 million Dirhams in 2018. This tactical move was also aimed at the restructuring of the debts of this company and maintaining significant emphasis on its core business. Last year, Union Properties extended its reach further as it took a stake in Egypt’s Palm Hills Company, which is the underpinning of its diversification plans from the United Arab Emirates’ platform. Apart from quality projects, Union Properties also focuses on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. The company is active in its pursuit of environmental sustainability and community welfare. Using innovative practices and sustainable building techniques will help Union Properties significantly reduce its footprint on the environment but contribute to the welfare of the communities it services.

Union Properties is well set for that wider share of the gradually ever-increasing pie in high-quality real estate. As a company currently focused on innovation, sustainability, and high standards for customers, Union Properties will play a very central role in shaping the future of the United Arab Emirates’ real estate market. Through new projects and partnerships that they come up with, Union Properties continues to live up to its vision of building iconic developments that really enhance the lifestyle of residents and visitors alike.

Emirates Islamic was founded on the mission of providing banking services that comply with Shari’a principles to revolutionize a new path in the financial landscape of the UAE. Fast-forward to today, and the bank is leading the way in Islamic finance, offering a wide range of products and services to cater to both the individual small business and major corporates. So it comes as no surprise that Emirates Islamic recently snatched the titles of “Best Islamic Bank in the UAE” and “Most Innovative Islamic Bank.”. Let’s see how Emirates Islamic has become a vital player in the financial setup of UAE.

Emirates Islamic was established as Emirates Islamic Bank in 2004. It came into inception with the focus of providing Shari’a compliant financial products and services to meet the increasing demand for Islamic banking in the region. Combining the values of Islamic finance with modern banking solutions quickly positioned the bank as trustworthy and innovative in the UAE. Emirates Islamic has developed into one of the biggest Islamic financial institutions in the UAE. Today, the bank has a wide reach to 40 branches and over 221 ATMs and CDMs spread across the United Arab Emirates in order to reach out to the customers across the UAE.

What, however, distinguishes Emirates Islamic from all the other Islamic banks in the field is that the bank does indeed boast of innovation. The bank was one of the pioneers to adopt the most advanced technology in customer experience. Emirates Islamic was the first Islamic bank offering mobile banking application in the UAE, and it enabled its customers to have a full control of their accounts from anywhere and at any given time. The bank also launched Apple Pay and became the first Islamic bank in the world with direct offerings of services with Chat Banking via WhatsApp. Below are some of the milestones showing the bank’s continued drive towards pushing past the boundaries and offering services that not only provide convenience but adhere strictly to Shari’a compliance.

No doubt these new initiatives by Emirates Islamic have gone unnoticed. It has won numerous awards based on its performance as well as its contribution towards Islamic finance. For the year 2024, it emerged as ‘Best Overall Islamic Bank’ and as ‘Most Innovative Islamic Bank’ at the just concluded Islamic Finance News Awards. Further in the same year, it clinched the title of ‘Most Innovative Islamic Bank’ at the prestigious Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards. The series of accolades also speaks to the commitment and dedication of the bank to excellence and its excellence in excelling in the face of the rapid changes in the financial world.

Emirates Islamic is an organisation committed to the community of the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Islamic Charity Fund was initiated to provide the needy with financial support. Included are food, shelter, health, education, and social welfare that go in keeping with how the bank espouses and embodies making a meaningful difference for society-at-large as it operates in it. The initiative merely serves to affirm this larger ambition by banks toward promoting greater social responsibility and contributing to the general welfare of the community, principles that are also consonant with Islam.

Founded on solid Islamic finance principles and cutting-edge technology, combined with a firm commitment to social responsibility, the bank is definitely off to a great start. With innovative products and extensions of services to all parts of the UAE, Emirates Islamic will remain the bedrock of the UAE’s financial landscape for decades ahead.