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.

Deyaar’s growth profile has been nothing but great. Now, following its successful IPO in May 2007, Deyaar’s share capital ballooned to a whopping AED 5.78 billion, making the company one of the largest real estate developers in Dubai. The fast-paced growth here is undoubtedly just an affirmation of the forward thinking vision of Deyaar and commitment to quality developments in some of the most premium locations in the city.

The Deyaar portfolio reveals a very resourceful and ambitious image of the company. Its developments are strategically positioned within the major growth corridors and prime locations of Dubai. From Business Bay-the thriving commercial hub to Dubai Marina, where luxury waterfront living awaits, Deyaar’s projects are very skillfully curated to meet all the expectations of the diverse cross-section of clients. Other strategic locations in the company’s extensive inventory include Al Barsha, Dubai International Financial Centre, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Production City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Al Barsha South and Al Barsha Heights. All of these head-quarters have expanded dramatically over the years, making Deyaar’s developments of massive interest to investors, residents and businesses alike. Whether it is a high-rise residential tower or a cutting-edge commercial development, Deyaar’s ventures are designed to meet the needs of a dynamic and ever-evolving city.

Behind Deyaar’s growth lies a well-structured set of operations, divided into four main business units. At the very heart of this is Property Development, in which Deyaar focuses its efforts on creating residential and commercial properties that consistently outperform the expectations of investors and residents alike. Iconic projects such as The Atria and Midtown represent landmarks in Dubai’s real estate landscape. Property Management is key to ensuring that the properties Deyaar constructs are well maintained and their long-term value is maximized. The division offers end-to-end management services that help investors maximize their returns. Aside from the property management service, its facility management also ensures safe, secure, and operationally sound properties that make up the quality and functionality of each development.

The Management services that Deyaar offers related to the Owners’ Association allow for support offered to property owners dealing with the intricacies related to the management of common spaces. Its divisions here assist in improving the living experience for Deyaar’s clients by streamlining operations and evoking the sense of community.

Deyaar is now entering the hospitality sector, further diversifying its offerings. The company has a number of hospitality-related projects up its sleeve, which would help cement its ground as one of the leading real estate development houses in the region. Such developments are well aligned with Dubai’s becoming one of the pre-eminent tourist destinations in the world and probably will lead to the increasing demand for world-class hospitality experiences.

Deyaar aims to serve the goals of its investors by maximizing returns while building towards the provision of excellent service at an industry level. In terms of cutting-edge designs, superior property management or strategic investments in growth areas of Dubai, Deyaar continues to look for real solutions that add value to the portfolios of investors.

In fact, Deyaar has been at the forefront and is even better positioned for leading Dubai in innovative real estate development. With a strong financial foundation, diversified portfolio, and commitment to excellence, Deyaar’s future shines as bright as the sky line of Dubai, which the company helped create in its earlier days. The expansion of Deyaar into hospitality coupled with continuous investment in strategic locations goes on to ensure that Deyaar will remain one of the major players in shaping the future of Dubai’s real estate market.

The journey from a modest capital base to today’s multi-billion-dirham powerhouse reflects Deyaar’s resilience, innovation, and commitment to excellence. It will forever make a mark in the contribution to the developments of Dubai as it continues to build iconic structures and redefine urban living in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

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.