Sobha Realty has launched its new ONE Sobha App brand film, which aims at educating users of the unique features of this all-in-one digital platform that has been designed with great attention to detail – to elevate every stage of the customer journey.

With creative visuals and a narrative focusing on craftsmanship and convenience, the film directed by renowned photographer and artist Tejal Patni and developed in collaboration with ANC Advertising Agency, showcases Sobha Realty’s vision of combining modern technology with a human touch. As part of the developer’s strategy to increase awareness and digital engagement across its global customer base, the film illustrates how the ONE Sobha App embodies the brand’s customer centricity approach, by offering a digital extension of the Sobha Realty experience for existing and new customers.

Ashish Parakh, Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Sobha Realty, said:
“At Sobha Realty, we’ve always believed that true luxury is in the details. The ONE Sobha App is a natural evolution of our ‘Art of The Detail’ philosophy, offering a seamless and comprehensive tool that not only meets the functional needs of our customers, but enriches their overall lifestyle, thoughtfully covering all aspects of their journey. By optimising our digital channels, we renew our commitment to providing innovative solutions that can streamline our customers’ experience.”

Aligned with Sobha Realty’s customer-first philosophy, the ONE Sobha App offers existing homeowners and residents a smart, secure, and effortless way to manage their properties. By harnessing technology to save residents’ time and efforts, the app allows customers to book amenities, request services, and manage guest access, further enhancing the unique luxury living experiences that Sobha Realty promises to its residents.

Additionally, the ONE Sobha App enables potential homebuyers and investors to make informed decisions by granting streamlined access to real-time project updates, live inventory updates, and settle online payments with highest levels of cybersecurity. In line with the global reach of Sobha Realty, the ONE Sobha App has customer support in over 100 languages, including English and Arabic.

The ONE Sobha App represents a natural continuation of Sobha Realty’s focus on integrating innovation into luxury living. This focus is underpinned by its unique position as the only fully backward integrated real estate developer in the region, a model that has earned the company recognition as a case study at Harvard University. With complete in-house control over design, construction, and delivery, Sobha ensures quality and excellence at every touchpoint, from conceptualization to completion.

Anthropologie is setting the tone for summer with an imaginative assortment of tableware designed to turn every meal into a special moment. Crafted in collaboration with Feeling Good Inside, a collective of master ceramic artists renowned for their handcrafted and hand-painted pieces. Brimming with playful charm and artisanal detail, the vibrant assortment features fruit motifs, hand-painted illustrations and a palette bursting with feel-good colour.

The range includes everything from strawberry-patterned teapots and stackable cake stands to sculptural lemon-shaped bowls and dishes adorned with jovial phrases like “cherry on top” and “best oranges.” Palm and pineapple-inspired sets offer a tropical twist, while bold reds, sunny yellows and cool turquoise hues make each piece feel like a statement.

Crafted with care and designed to delight, this collaboration with Feeling Good Inside is made for alfresco lunches, sun-drenched brunches and all the little moments worth celebrating. And while the summer may send us indoors, Anthropologie’s latest drop brings the essence of outdoor living to the table – infusing even the most ordinary meals with a burst of seasonal joy.

By Adrian Goulder, Technical Manager at VUE Audio Visual Trading LLC (VUEAV)

The landscape of customer engagement is undergoing a profound transformation, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Today’s consumers are not just seeking products or services; they are chasing experiences. We are living in the age of the ‘experience economy,’ where emotional resonance and immersive interaction are more important than the transaction itself. And at the heart of this shift lies a powerful, often underestimated catalyst: Audio-Visual (AV) integration.

For several years, AV has been viewed through a narrow, functional lens – a screen to display presentations or a sound system for announcements. But this perception is rapidly evolving. In the hands of forward-thinking businesses, AV has become a transformative tool, the medium through which compelling, multisensory experiences are crafted, and customer loyalty is deepened.

There are several instances in our daily life that showcase the exceptional use of AV to provide us with exceptional experiences. For instance, imagine walking into a retail space where digital displays shift in real-time based on your preferences, offering tailored product suggestions with vivid 3D visuals. Or maybe consider a museum where interactive projections breathe life into ancient artefacts, inviting visitors to explore history through gesture and touch. These aren’t visions of the distant future. They’re happening now, across the MENA region, thanks to the rise of integrated AV technologies.

A standout example of immersive AV integration is the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, where projection mapping transforms the space into a fully immersive 360° environment. Far from a passive visit, this installation surrounds worshippers and visitors alike in a blend of synchronised audio and visuals, delivering a multisensory experience. The entire Immersive Show was scripted, designed, and brought to life by a dedicated team of BAPS volunteers, who handled every aspect of the creative vision in-house – from concept development to execution.

VUEAV worked alongside Christie, a global visual technologies company and the BAPS technical team, to achieve this seamless fusion of form and function.

The installation features a sophisticated network of Christie projectors with a collective output of over 300 lumens per square metre, projecting over 60 million pixels onto architectural surfaces. This powerful AV system is orchestrated through Aurora’s IP-based solutions for video distribution and live system monitoring, while Pixera media servers ensure high-resolution content and pixel-perfect synchronisation across all outputs.

But it’s not just about what you see – it’s about what you hear and feel. Sennheiser microphones and Klipsch Professional Series 8-inch speakers, complemented by robust 15-inch subwoofers, deliver an acoustically rich environment. Each component is precisely calibrated and programmed to provide a unified and intuitive experience. Central to this installation is ‘The Fairy Tale,’ an immersive show that runs daily, merging storytelling with high-resolution visuals and surround sound.

In a parallel context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also leveraging AV to showcase the epic past of AlUla, an ancient Arabian oasis city. The Incense Road Experience, an immersive adventure developed through a partnership between VUEAV and The Aimes, is a project that blends live performance, interactivity and cutting-edge audiovisual technologies to reanimate the rich cultural heritage of this ancient trade route. A sophisticated array of Christie 4K laser projectors maps high-resolution, vibrant visuals onto architectural textures and theatrical spaces. Driven by Pixera media servers,the installation dynamically responds to visitor movement and interaction through a network of custom-designed motion sensors and RFID-triggered zones. As visitors travel the space, the audio-visual and lighting elements adapt in real-time.

A rich audio landscape is delivered through a premium Klipsch multi-zone sound system, enhanced with bespoke directional speakers and embedded subwoofers that allow scenes to breathe with immersive realism. Visitors can experience holographically projected historical, legendary figures and recreated ancient local environments complete with scent emitters and tactile surfaces. Furthermore, visitors can also craft their own incense blend through interactive prompts, in addition to unlocking personalised narrative paths using sensor-based interactions and gamified storytelling. At the heart of the experience is a powerful integration of hardware and creative content, blending high-resolution projection, real-time media control, interactive systems, and environmental storytelling.

So, what exactly is driving this transformation? These are not just futuristic fantasies. They are tangible realities being implemented across the MENA region, thanks to sophisticated AV integration, and their outcomes are remarkable. Among the many benefits are elevated engagement. Interactive kiosks, immersive video walls, and crystal-clear audio systems hold attention and turn passive customers into active participants. Offering personalised interactions is another benefit, as through integration with analytics, AV systems can adapt to individual preferences in real time. From digital restaurant menus that respond to dietary needs to personalised greetings displayed on screens in the experience becomes not just engaging, but personal.

Additionally, it creates immersive environments. Whether it is a showroom designed for multisensory experiences, or a collaborative workspace equipped with interactive displays and seamless video conferencing, AV is redefining physical space as dynamic hubs for engagement. AV technologies enable businesses to communicate their brand identity not just through words, but through unforgettable sensory experiences – such as stunning visuals, impactful sound design, and interactive installations – that resonate far beyond the initial interaction. Beyond the customer-facing benefits, AV integration streamlines backend operations, from wayfinding and internal communications to automating routine tasks and presentations.

For businesses in the MENA region, the opportunity is clear: those who invest in AV not as a utility, but as a strategic experience enabler, will lead the charge in redefining customer engagement.

In a market where expectations are rising and attention spans are shrinking, it is not enough to be seen or heard – brands must be felt. By embracing the full potential of AV technologies, organisations across the MENA region can move beyond the basics, crafting immersive, personalised, and memorable experiences that set them apart.