Exclusive Interview with Ravi Menon, Chairman of Sobha Group

As the Chairman of Sobha Group, your leadership has been essential in shaping the company’s success in the UAE. How did you establish Sobha Realty as a top brand in the UAE’s competitive market?    

Success doesn’t come overnight, especially in a market as competitive as the UAE. When Sobha Realty entered the market in 2003, it was never about scale, it was about setting a new standard for excellence and quality. Sobha Realty has always been about building a track record of unwavering commitment, meticulous planning, and an unshakable belief that quality should never be compromised.

Sobha Realty today is well-founded in legacy; one that my father, PNC Menon, dedicated himself to establishing every day of his career. Before I inherited the reins as Chairman, I tried to absorb every lesson he imparted and the values that define Sobha Realty today. This foundation has allowed me to push the brand forward while staying true to what sets us apart.

At Sobha, we don’t just build homes, we create living experiences that last for generations. When buyers and investors choose Sobha Realty, they choose reliability, trust, and enduring values. Principles that we hold close to heart and that guide us in our journey, I truly believe that our market leading position is a result of our commitment to excellence but also the team’s collective efforts to embody the purpose driven attitude that drives Sobha Realty. We are here to help create lasting legacies, celebrating craftsmanship and focusing on our ethos “Art of The Detail”. Our people always have, and will continue to be, the driving force of our success locally and globally.

Can you share your insights on the key strategies that have been pivotal in scaling Sobha Realty from its inception to the prominent position it holds today?

Without a doubt, the key driver of Sobha Realty’s success has been our unique “Backward Integration” model. By overseeing every stage of the development process, from conceptualization to completion, we ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship and precision. Sobha Group has verticals across the construction and development process, with over 500 in-house architects and designers, more than 30,000 technicians in Sobha Constructions, and our glass façade and furniture factories across the country, that we leverage to deliver unmatched quality and ensure timely delivery. Our modular factory in Ras Al Khaimah is a prime example of this model, allowing us to produce high-quality components efficiently while maintaining full control over quality. This approach guarantees our ability to maintain a track-record of timely delivery of our projects.

Beyond construction, strategic location selection is now synonymous with Sobha Realty masterplans. Our developments’ locations are selected with Dubai’s urban vision and plan in mind, offering strong investment potential and long-term value gain. Additionally, our customer-first approach ensures our developments cater not just to market demand but to evolving homeowner expectations.

However, success in a competitive market such as the UAE requires robust collaborations. Our extensive network of channel partners has been instrumental in expanding our reach, enabling us to connect with the discerning buyers and investors who seek reliability and excellence.

Today, homeowners seek more than just a property, they want a lifestyle. How is Sobha Realty adapting to these changing expectations in design, amenities, and community living?

Homeowners today are looking for living experiences, not just spaces to live in. At Sobha Realty, we focus on creating homes that blend functionality with luxury. Our ‘Art of The Detail’ philosophy ensures every aspect, from spacious layouts to premium materials, enhances daily living.

Beyond residences, we build communities designed to create meaningful connections. Sobha Solis in Motor City for example has been designed to offer an active, wellness-focused lifestyle. With the world’s first Arsenal-branded gym, landscaped podiums, and wellness amenities, the project promises residents a rarified living experience at what is now considered the neighbourhood of the future. Sobha Siniya Island meanwhile takes the living experience to a new level, offering a natural island retreat that blends luxury with pristine nature.

We have also recently introduced Sobha’s first fully furnished residences, ensuring a seamless, turn-key living experience. As a leader in the luxury real estate sector, wellness-focused spaces, and waterfront communities, Sobha Realty continues to redefine modern living, bridging the gap where comfort, design, and experience come together effortlessly.

Given the challenges the real estate sector has faced in recent years, how have technological innovations and smart construction practices influenced Sobha Realty’s growth trajectory and helped the company remain resilient while scaling its operations?

The real estate landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead of the curve means embracing technology, and sustainable solutions that enhance our efficiency while keeping our promise of quality. The future of real estate will see a shift in how projects are executed, and we are already investing in cutting-edge technology to streamline processes.

At Sobha Realty, innovation is a core principle that drives every stage of our developments, from conception to handover. By integrating robotics into labour-intensive tasks, we can enhance precision, reduce human error, and improve overall efficiency, ensuring that every development meets an even higher level of quality.

As a masterplan developer, our commitment to sustainable innovation is evident in developments like Sobha One, the first project outside Singapore to receive the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification, reflecting our focus on energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and smart resource management. Additionally, at Sobha Siniya Island, we are looking ahead with future-ready infrastructure, such as incorporating helipads for air taxis in alignment with the UAE’s vision for next-generation urban mobility and pioneers of air taxi transportation.

By merging technology, sustainability, and craftsmanship, we redefine luxury real estate, providing the building blocks to develop smarter, greener, and more future-ready communities.

As Sobha Group continues to grow under your leadership, what do you see as the next big step for the company, especially in terms of sustainability and community development?

As we continue to strengthen our presence in the UAE, we are also setting our sights beyond, with upcoming expansions locally in Abu Dhabi and globally in the United States and Australia. These markets represent new opportunities to bring our signature craftsmanship and sustainability-driven approach to a wider audience.

However, I believe true growth is more than just entering new markets. Just as my father wanted before me when he was Chairman, I would also want to leave a lasting impact. Sobha Realty has always believed in giving back to the communities that have supported us and that will continue. Guided by the philanthropic vision of my father, our commitment is reflected in our education, community, and women’s empowerment initiatives. From building free schools and providing housing for families in need, to launching programmes that create opportunities for women, we are dedicated to fostering real change.

The Sobha Endowment University, for example, will make quality education accessible to all, as well as our pledge to build an Endowment University campus in Dubai for AED 400 Million, these initiatives reflect our dedication to empower youth. Beyond real estate, our partnerships with Arsenal FC and the International Cricket Council (ICC) represent a testament to a deep belief in the value of investing in youth development and sportsmanship on a global scale.

As we look to the future, we remain anchored by the values that define us: excellence, responsibility, craftsmanship, and a commitment to shaping a better world for generations to come.

Exclusive Interview with Naji Salameh, CEO, IT Max Global

In an era of rapid technological change, businesses are constantly challenged to stay ahead. In an interview that cuts through the noise of technological buzzwords, Naji Salameh, CEO of IT Max Global, breaks down the complex world of digital transformation, cybersecurity, and technological innovation. Drawing from his company’s experience across the Middle East and Africa, Salameh offers a pragmatic view of how organizations can adapt, secure, and leverage technology to remain competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Your quote, “Success is born out of impact” is powerful, so what kind of impact does IT Max strive to create?

IT Max Global was created with the basic objective of providing high quality solutions that will help our customers increase the revenue or reduce their cost. We aim to be a reliable partner to companies and organizations from both the public and private sectors. We work with our customers to help them cope with the rapid developments in technology and empower them to focus on their core business. To achieve this objective, we have onboarded a team of experts with wide range of expertise. This team works with our customers  to create a lasting impact on the way they service their end user customers.

What sets IT Max apart as the most versatile technology partner in the Middle East and Africa?

What distinguishes IT Max from other technology service providers is our exceptional team and strong service-oriented culture. Our team brings deep expertise in the domains we operate in, and we’ve cultivated a culture focused on delivering outstanding service at every touchpoint of the customer journey. This commitment has earned us a reputation for trust and reliability in the market.

How do you approach digital transformation in a way that delivers real business value?

In this day and age where everything is almost turning digital, any company or organization will get left behind without digital transformation. IT Max is well equipped with the expertise, as well as with products and services to help, assist and facilitate such transformation and enable an almost seamless shift to the digital platform. We emphasize not only the infrastructure and tools needed for transformation, but also how AI can be leveraged to automate processes, generate insights, and improve customer experience. We guide clients through the adoption of AI-powered platforms to ensure they maximize efficiency and decision-making accuracy.

 Included in that transformation is the training we conduct that will equip our customers with the knowledge and capability to operate more efficiently in the digital world thereby creating better efficiencies and reliability, which in turn adds real business value to our customers.

What are the biggest tech challenges businesses face in the MEA region today?

Among the biggest tech challenges faced by this region is security. In a highly digitalized and online connectivity of business processes, vulnerability to cyber attacks is probably the single biggest tech challenge, not just within the MEA region, but globally. In fact, just recently, the Cybersecurity Council of the UAE Government has confirmed that national cybersecurity systems have successfully thwarted cyberattacks targeting 634 entities, of which 30 are government entities, 13 are private, and the rest fall under other categories. This follows a similar event on January 17, 2025 when UAE cybersecurity systems successfully countered nearly 200,000 daily ransomware attacks. These attacks targeted several strategic sectors in both public and private entities, aiming to breach data and lock digital systems. The authority highlighted that emergency cybersecurity systems, in collaboration with relevant authorities, detected and preemptively countered these cyberattacks, identifying the hackers and their origins.

Another major technology challenge organizations face today is selecting and deploying the right artificial intelligence solution tailored to their specific business needs. The current IT landscape is saturated with a wide array of AI tools and platforms, making it difficult for businesses to navigate and make informed decisions. To tackle this, we have established a dedicated Innovation and AI team that works closely with our customers, guiding them in developing the right strategy and enabling them to fully harness the benefits and competitive advantages of AI.

How does IT Max tailor its solutions to meet unique client needs?

As a Managed Services and Security Services Provider (MSP and MSSP), we prioritize close collaboration with our customers to deeply understand their unique needs and requirements. Our approach starts with gaining a clear insight into their core business and the role technology plays in their daily operations, including how it supports their respective end-user customers.

We then conduct a thorough assessment of their existing technology infrastructure, with a strong focus on identifying vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement—particularly in areas such as cybersecurity, performance, and scalability. Security is no longer optional; it’s a foundational element of any successful IT strategy, and we ensure our customers are protected against today’s ever-evolving threats.

This comprehensive approach enables us to design and implement tailored technology solutions that drive innovation, strengthen security postures, and accelerate digital transformation. As a result, we help our customers transform their workplaces, enhance operational efficiency, and boost overall productivity. Our unwavering commitment to partnership and results has earned us a remarkable customer retention rate of 99.99%—a true testament to the trust and satisfaction of those we serve.

What does “future-proofing a business” mean in your service approach?

Conscious of the rapid pace at which technology evolves, we ensure that the technology solutions we provide to customers have the flexibility and adaptability to keep pace with any future enhancements. This enables us and our customers to easily integrate or maybe even upgrade to any new developments that may arise at any time.

Future-proofing means building scalable, adaptable solutions that can evolve with the market. Whether it’s preparing for future integrations, new security threats, or emerging technologies, our solutions are designed with longevity and agility in mind.

What’s your vision for IT Max Global in the next 3-5 years?

Our vision in the next three to five years is anchored upon our mission to empower private and public organizations with IT solutions, managed services and digital transformation, so as to provide them with the bandwidth to focus on their core business. Through our success in our mission, will we be able to achieve our aspiration of becoming a leading, integrated technology partner that impacts customers with innovative solutions across all industries. So, in the next three to five years, our focus is to remain steadfast on our mission and service delivery excellence to customers in order to realize our aspiration of being the preferred technology partner of both the private and public sectors.

How important is it for companies like IT Max to champion women leaders in tech, and how are you contributing to that cause?

Gender equality is very important for IT Max. And for us, this is all about creating opportunities for personal and professional growth for everyone regardless of gender. Championing women in technology is not just something that women themselves must espouse. There must be a conscious and collective effort of everybody within the IT Max family to ensure that leadership opportunities in technology are available for everyone, again, regardless of gender or race. Accordingly, we at IT Max have built and nurtured a work culture that promotes such efforts and are proud to say that women at IT Max occupy key management positions and have been instrumental, not just in our success, but more importantly in the success and growth of our customers’ businesses.

Lastly, what’s your advice to companies beginning their digital transformation journey?

Start now. The digital age isn’t coming—it’s already here. Companies that delay transformation risk falling behind in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive environment. My advice is to begin with a clear understanding of your business goals and customer needs. Then, engage a partner who can guide you through the journey. At IT Max, we’re ready to walk that path with you—from strategy to implementation to training. Our role is to make transformation manageable, measurable, and meaningful. Increasingly, this includes helping organizations leverage AI-powered solutions—from intelligent automation and predictive analytics to enhanced customer experiences—ensuring that technology not only supports but amplifies business outcomes.

Exclusive Interview with Mohammed Sleeq, Chief Operating Officer, Unifonic

An exclusive interview with Unifonic shows how Al-powered automation is redefining customer engagement. By seamlessly integrating AI-driven solutions, Unifonic empowers businesses to create personalized, omnichannel communication experiences across SMS, voice, chat, email, and social media. Their advanced platform enables automation, real-time responses, and enhanced customer interactions, ensuring efficiency and satisfaction. With innovations like Flow Studio, AI-powered chatbots, and secure authentication services, Unifonic is at the forefront of business communication transformation. This interview presents the strategies for leveraging AI, enhancing customer experience, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

What are the key innovations that you have created, or you have leveraged to develop your platform?

At Unifonic, we are committed to empowering clients with cutting-edge solutions that can streamline key business processes and enhance efficiency, while keeping up with their evolving requirements. We offer a diverse array of AI-powered conversational automation solutions that are tailored to meet varied customer requirements and maximise value. Our unique offerings are redefining customer-brand relationships by nurturing a personalised communication ecosystem that transcends traditional barriers. This innovative approach to staying ahead of market demands is exemplified by Unifonic’s advanced customer engagement platform, which can now seamlessly automate end-to-end personalised, omnichannel customer experiences. The platform boasts best-in-class features like multichannel campaigns, Chatbot, Agent Console, and Flow Studio, that enable businesses to effortlessly connect with their customers on their preferred channel. Our multichannel campaigns enable clients to automate and easily broadcast large-scale campaigns across channels like WhatsApp, Voice, and SMS, while tailoring unique messages for each customer segment. Unifonic Chatbot, on the other hand, offers round-the-clock, conversational, first-line support, enabling companies to automate multiple communication flows powered by AI. Combining the power of automation and human interaction, it can also hand over chats to live agents when necessary. Our commitment to innovation is also reflected in Unifonic’s ‘Flow Studio’, a no-code drag-and-drop visual designer that can streamline customer journeys and automate business processes quickly. It also empowers companies with no coding expertise to create personalised customer journeys and achieve superior business outcomes. With regard to cybersecurity, our 2FA service, ‘Authenticate’, supports businesses in safeguarding customer identity during each transaction. Moreover, Unifonic offers over 80 native integrations, including leading platforms like Hubspot, Shopify, MS Office, Sallah, salesforce, and Bigcommerce, among others. We recently launched our enterprise-grade customer data platform (CDP), ‘Audience’, along with other advanced customer journey automation solutions, focusing on conversational marketing and customer care automation. By utilising Click-to-WhatsApp ads and enhancing conversion rates by advancing leads to sales, ‘Audience’ helps brands to optimise their ROI from advertising expenditures. Its ROI dashboard can further analyse historical data to implement hyper-personalised targeting, thereby maximising customer lifetime value and campaign visibility. By harnessing advanced AI technologies and a robust SaaS integration ecosystem, Unifonic is redefining current benchmarks of excellence in customer engagement, paving the way for a new era marked by exceptional user outcomes.

With the rise of conversational AI, how is Unifonic leveraging this technology to create seamless omnichannel experiences for clients?

Unifonic is at the forefront of leveraging conversational AI to transform the way businesses engage with their customers. By integrating AI-powered solutions into our communication platform, we enable businesses to provide seamless, intelligent interactions across multiple channels, including SMS, voice, chat, email, and social media. Our conversational AI tools are designed to understand and respond to customer inquiries in real-time, offering personalized experiences that meet each customer’s unique needs. This technology allows businesses to automate routine tasks, provide instant responses, and ensure consistent, high-quality interactions no matter the conditions or the communication channel.

In addition, Unifonic embraces innovation to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving customer engagement industry. The increasing demand for digital-first communication is driven by a shift in customer expectations and advancements in automation technology. These advancements allow us to integrate software and processes that enhance engagement to unprecedented levels. We offer businesses the opportunity to instantly connect with over two billion smartphone users globally with a single click of a button. Our coding-free solutions, competitive pricing, and well-defined cloud APIs help businesses integrate robust outreach capabilities into their systems, allowing them to deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Through conversational AI, Unifonic enables businesses to create omnichannel experiences that maintain continuity across touchpoints, ensuring customers receive the same level of support and engagement, whether via mobile, web, or social media. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also drives operational efficiency, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex issues while AI handles routine queries. Companies in the MENA region are now embracing CX initiatives across their organizations to enable smoother customer journeys, recognizing the importance of these initiatives in improving customer service.

Ultimately, Unifonic’s adoption of conversational AI empowers businesses to deliver faster, smarter, and more effective customer service, while staying ahead in a competitive market that increasingly demands faster response times and more efficient outcomes. Technology, automation, and AI are central to Unifonic’s strategy, ensuring businesses can stay ahead in the rapidly evolving customer engagement landscape.

How do you ensure that the platform’s operations align with customer needs?

The rapid advancements in AI will continue to alter how consumers interact with businesses in the coming years. Businesses will utilise fully automated conversations to resolve any issues with product delivery or online services, covering everything from comprehending the initial complaint to informing the relevant parties involved. We strive to make communication between businesses and clients seamless and easy. Our innovative features, robust infrastructure, and compliant framework differentiate us and help us deliver enterprise-grade, multilingual, omnichannel communications that support both businesses and customers.

Can you comment on Sestek, Unifonic’s acquired AI arm, and how the acquisition has impacted Unifonic’s evolution in AI-powered conversational automation solutions?

In today’s multibillion-dollar Internet of Things (IoT) industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is widely used for everything from industrial anomaly detection to speech-based user interfaces. We offer a wide range of conversational automation solutions that empower customers and guarantee optimal value. Since our acquisition of Sestek, Unifonic has undergone a remarkable evolution in our AI-powered conversational automation solutions. As we look back on this journey, it is clear that this strategic move has been instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and solidifying our position as a leader in the field. Sestek’s AI-powered solutions are built on text-to-speech, speech recognition, natural language processing, and voice biometrics technologies. Notably, our growth since acquiring Sestek has positioned Unifonic as a pioneering force in AI-powered conversational automation. The acquisition of Sestek is not just about expanding our product offerings – it represents our commitment to leading the charge in the AI revolution. We look forward to continuing this journey and setting new standards for the future of customer engagement.

How does having a local corporate presence in six countries contribute to delivering personalized, 24/7 support for your global clientele?

Having a local presence in six countries is a key differentiator for Unifonic, enabling us to provide personalised, region-specific support that aligns with the unique cultural, language, and business dynamics of each market. Our local teams are not just deeply embedded in their communities but are also highly responsive, offering tailored support that meets the unique needs of our diverse clientele. These teams operate around the clock, ensuring seamless 24/7 support for customers, regardless of the time zones. This local presence further strengthens our ability to build lasting relationships with clients, allowing us to better understand their real-time challenges and provide rapid, context-aware solutions. With over 10 billion transactions processed annually, our localised approach directly enhances customer experience and satisfaction, promising more efficient, responsive services. Moreover, in today’s fast-paced business environment, companies are increasingly relying on innovative technologies like cloud solutions and integrated platforms to manage communication needs. SaaS solutions are at the forefront of this shift, offering businesses a flexible, cost-effective way to access and utilise essential software tools. These platforms also simplify business operations, increase productivity, and drive innovation. By leveraging Unifonic’s SaaS solutions, companies can unlock new revenue opportunities, reduce strain on customer support, and enhance overall customer experience. With the advent of cloud communications, what used to require significant upfront investments and large development teams can now be accomplished with minimal effort, making superior customer engagement more accessible and efficient than ever before.