This Ramadan, Homebox unveiled its flagship seasonal campaign, For Every Way You Gather, through an exclusive, event attended by leading influencers, VIP guests, and members of the media. Thoughtfully curated to reflect the many rhythms of Ramadan life, the experience brought to life a tapestry of gathering styles — from grand family iftars filled with laughter and legacy, to intimate evenings with friends and colleagues, cozy game nights, outdoor majlis suhoors under the stars, and the quiet, soulful moments. Each setting was styled to demonstrate how Homebox enables every home to become a sanctuary of connection, beauty, and belonging during the holy month.

“Ramadan is a time of deep meaning across our region — a season of reflection, generosity, and togetherness,” said Mr.Ajay Antal, CEO Homebox GCC. “With For Every Way You Gather, we wanted to honor the beautifully diverse ways our customers open their homes and hearts during this time. Our collections are designed to support those moments — whether they are grand celebrations or simple everyday gatherings.”

A central focus of the campaign is Homebox’s Living and Dining furniture, designed for comfort, hospitality, and meaningful connection. The collection spans modular and corner sofas, dining tables and chairs, coffee tables, sideboards, serving trolleys, and indoor and outdoor majlis seating. Signature ranges include Scallop’s Scandinavian-inspired elegance, Majesty’s functional contemporary designs, Modena’s marble and gold accents, Bellmar’s solid wood and marble craftsmanship, alongside the Vivian collection, Zabilia modular majlis seating, and outdoor majlis setups. Complementing this is a curated selection of Ramadan homeware and décor, presented through three stories — Arabesque, Sands & Palms, and Celestial — designed to elevate hosting with warmth, tradition, and style.

“Our role goes beyond furniture,”Mr. Ajay added. “As Homebox continues to expand toward 50+ stores and strengthen its e-commerce presence, our focus remains on helping people shape the moments that matter at home. By combining thoughtful design, everyday functionality, and accessible pricing, we make it easier for families across the GCC to create spaces that are comfortable, stylish, and truly their own.

ELEVATE, the visionary lifestyle real estate brand, has officially broken ground on the highly anticipated Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences, marking the start of construction for a landmark residential destination delivered in partnership with Ennismore, the global lifestyle hospitality group behind Mondrian.

In a ceremony held on Al Marjan Island, ELEVATE announced the appointment of Pinnacle Piling as the shoring contractor for the project. The groundbreaking comes just weeks after the development shattered market records, securing over AED 700 million in sales within just two hours of its launch.

The swift transition from sales launch to groundbreaking underscores ELEVATE’s commitment to rapid delivery and capitalizes on the unprecedented momentum within the Ras Al Khaimah property market. With Phase 1 fully committed, the developer has confirmed that Phase 2 will be released imminently to meet the surging demand from global investors and homeowners.

Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, Group CEO of Marjan, commented on the milestone: “The groundbreaking of Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences is another testament to the incredible velocity at which Al Marjan Island is transforming into a world-class destination. Every milestone of our developers who are investing in this island is a showcase of our collaboration with them and contributes significantly to the growing trajectory of Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate and tourism sectors which are set for remarkable expansion.”

The AED 1.8 billion Mondrian development in Al Marjan Islands, a partnership with Ennismore the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, has been received with an overwhelming response from global and local buyers, with more than 200 units allocated within 2 hours. With construction now underway, the project is on track for its scheduled completion in Q4 2028.

Zeeshaan Shah, Founder & Chairman of ELEVATE, said, “We promised our investors a new standard of execution, and today we are delivering on that promise. Breaking ground soon after our record-breaking launch reiterates our commitment to our buyers as we move with speed and precision. We have started the process and are proud to appoint Pinnacle Piling, who come with 35+ years of experience in the region. As we move to release Phase 2, we remain focused on bringing this iconic landmark to life.”

Pinnacle Piling, renowned for delivering complex, high-quality developments was strategically appointed to reinforce ELEVATE’s commitment to execution excellence, quality, and on-time delivery. To date, Pinnacle has successfully delivered over 650 projects, with a portfolio that includes landmark developments such as Dubai Creek Harbour Development, Marina Shores, and The Peninsula at Business Bay.

Sai Kumar, Chairman and Owner of Pinnacle Piling, added, “We are happy to be appointed by ELEVATE on the Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences project. It is one of the most high-profile branded developments on the island, and we look forward to working closely with ELEVATE to deliver a landmark destination.”

Following the lightning-fast absorption of Phase 1, ELEVATE is preparing to launch Phase 2. Residents will enjoy proximity to the upcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island and access to over 60,000 sq. ft. of curated amenities, including the Mondrian Sky Club, the region’s first Fi’lia By the Beach, and an invitation to join Platinum Status in the Accor Owner Benefits Program.

By Noeline Conradie, Co-Founder and Lead Interior Designer of SharpMinds Consulting Engineers

UAE has always been fertile ground for ambition. From monumental architectural feats to world-class urban environments, the story of this country is a story of ideas brought to life at extraordinary scale. Yet, in the world of interior design, ambition does not guarantee success. Without a clear direction, even the most imaginative concepts risk becoming hollow gestures, beautiful on paper, tenuous in practice.

This tension becomes unmistakably clear when looking at the broader context of the UAE’s built environment. The construction industry over here is in robust expansion where recent analyses forecast total construction output to grow from a record $107.2 billion in 2024 to around $130.8 billion by 2029, driven largely by mixed-use, residential, and commercial projects.  Concurrently, the interior design market itself is expanding from an estimated USD 378 million in 2024 to an anticipated USD 552 million by 2031 reflecting rising demand for high-quality design services.

These figures define a landscape that is vibrant and opportunity-rich. Yet they also reveal a deeper truth, when growth outpaces strategic planning, ambition becomes an echo, not a foundation.

The Illusion of Creativity Without Structure

Creativity does not thrive in chaos; it flourishes when guided by intention. In interior design, structure is not a limitation, it is the framework that allows ideas to be realised meaningfully and responsibly. In the UAE, where projects increasingly weave together smart technologies, sustainability imperatives, and cultural narratives, design ambition must be paired with disciplined execution.

The most successful interiors are those where creative vision is supported by clear parameters. When designers understand the operational, technical, and human context from the outset, creativity becomes sharper, more relevant, and ultimately more impactful. Structure enables design to move beyond surface-level expression and toward environments that truly serve their users.

Designed for Use as Much as Aesthetics

In a sector that champions innovation, interior design is expected to solve real-world challenges, enhancing wellbeing, accommodating hybrid work patterns, and responding to sustainability goals. Achieving this requires a purpose-led approach long before finishes are selected or layouts finalised.

Effective projects begin with asking the right questions: Who will use this space? How will they move through it? What behaviours should it encourage or support? By anchoring design decisions to these considerations early, interiors become intuitive rather than imposing, functional rather than performative.

Purposeful Design Over Performance for Appearance

Enduring environments are defined by coherence. When ambition is embedded into a project roadmap that accounts for user needs, technical constraints, regulatory requirements, and cultural context, design decisions become resilient. They withstand revisions, adapt to construction realities, and remain relevant long after handover.

In practice, this means establishing alignment early. Materials are selected for performance as much as appearance. Spatial layouts are tested against real workflows. Technology is integrated only when infrastructure and operations can support it. These choices reduce friction later in the project lifecycle and protect design integrity.

Shifting the conversation away from style alone is essential. Purposeful interiors are shaped by behaviour, experience, and emotion. When designers focus on how a space should feel and function from the moment someone enters, aesthetic decisions naturally follow with greater clarity and confidence.

Design That Resonates Beyond the Surface

The UAE’s design market is not only expanding, it is maturing. Clients and end users are increasingly sophisticated, seeking environments that balance beauty with resilience and innovation with ease of use. This evolution calls for interior design that is measured, thoughtful, and grounded in long-term value.

Across residential, workplace, and hospitality projects, the expectation is consistent: spaces must perform. They must respond to changing needs, age gracefully, and remain relevant in fast-evolving contexts. Design that prioritises longevity over spectacle delivers greater returns, commercially, operationally, and experientially.

This does not diminish ambition. On the contrary, ambition guided by intention becomes more powerful. When supported by a clear roadmap and strategic discipline, bold ideas translate into environments that people connect with intuitively and sustainably.

Great interior design is defined by impact, the quiet confidence of a space that works effortlessly, supports its users, and endures over time. Direction does not constrain creativity; it amplifies it.