Majid Al Futtaim recently announced a major milestone at its flagship forest living community, Ghaf Woods with the launch of Capria, the development’s third phase. In addition, it has achieved the LEED Platinum certification for its newly opened Ghaf Woods Sales and Experience Centre.

Located in the heart of Dubai, Ghaf Woods redefines urban living by blending contemporary architecture with an immersive, forest-inspired environment rooted in sustainable design principles.

Capria introduces the Wellness Community and Tranquillity Collection, a premium residential enclaves designed around holistic wellbeing and mindful living. Tailored for families, wellness seekers, and fitness enthusiasts, this phase integrates biophilic and salutogenic design, WELL residential concepts, spa-style pools, wellness gardens, retreat zones, and an exclusive clubhouse.

Homeowners can select from two refined interior palettes, Radiance (light and airy) or Twilight (warm and bold). The Tranquillity Collection offers a nature-immersed experience, blending the privacy of suburban living with the conveniences of city life.

Ahmed El Shamy, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “Ghaf Woods represents a bold vision for the future of residential living, where nature and modernity coexist harmoniously. With Capria, we are reimagining how communities can integrate wellness into everyday living. The Wellness Community and Tranquillity Collection continues to build on our promise to redefine forest living in Dubai, offering a holistic lifestyle that nurtures both mind and body while respecting the environment.”

The newly opened Ghaf Woods Sales & Experience Centre has been awarded LEED Platinum certification, the highest distinction under the world’s most widely used green building rating system. This achievement reflects Majid Al Futtaim’s steadfast commitment to innovation-led sustainability in real estate. The Centre offers visitors an immersive journey through the community’s vision, featuring interactive AR/VR-enabled smart home demonstrations, a 3D projection room, and spatially dynamic zones including a reception lobby, multimedia room, meeting spaces, and a café.

Spanning 7,556 square feet, the Ghaf Woods Sales & Experience Centre offers a dynamic, immersive introduction to the forest living lifestyle. Architecturally inspired by nature, the centre features organic, biophilic design and operates as a Net Positive Energy facility, achieving 144.5% energy savings through car park solar PV, high-performance insulation, reflective roofing, smart lighting, energy sub-metering, and an efficient HVAC setup.

Designed for occupant wellbeing, over 80% of regularly occupied spaces receive ample daylight and offer direct views of the outdoors, reinforcing the centre’s alignment with Ghaf Woods’ forest-first philosophy.

“The LEED Platinum certification is a powerful testament to our vision for environmentally responsible communities and innovation in the built environment. The Sales & Experience Centre demonstrates how sustainable design can be seamlessly integrated into the customer journey, delivering energy efficiency, occupant well-being, and immersive technology in a single, future-forward space.”

Spanning 738,000 square metres off the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Highway, near Global Village, Ghaf Woods will feature over 7,000 premium units, including one, two, and three-bedroom residences and penthouses. The community will be home to a thriving forest of 35,000 climate-suited trees, including the iconic Ghaf tree, playing a crucial role in reducing soil erosion, conserving water, and cooling the environment—ensuring temperatures remain up to five degrees Celsius lower than the city’s average.

Prioritizing wellness, Ghaf Woods promises residents eight kilometres of walking trails, a three-and-a-half-kilometre biking loop, resort-style pools, fitness facilities, family-friendly gardens, and a yoga pavilion. The community will also be home to Majid Al Futtaim’s signature multi-purpose hub, Distrikt, which features a curated selection of retail and farm-to-table dining experiences.

Yango Tech has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement at Seamless Middle East 2025 between Yango Tech Retail and Grand Hypermarkets. The partnership will see the rollout of Yango Tech’s full e-grocery automation stack across Grand Hypermarkets’ operations in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and KSA.

Under the agreement, Grand Hypermarkets, an established name in the industry with over two decades of experience and over 95 outlets across GCC region, will adopt Yango Tech’s suite of retail technologies. Known as the regional destination for world-class FMCG, food & non-food essentials, department stores, and more, Grand will implement a custom-built client app, store order management system, and last-mile delivery platform. These tools, all powered by Yango Tech Retail’s advanced AI capabilities, aim to transform both the customer journey and operational efficiency across the retailer’s expanding footprint in the UAE and Kuwait.

“As the MENA retail market heads toward a projected value of $1.4 trillion by 2032, it is clear that technology will be central to the sector’s evolution. Yango Tech’s participation at Seamless 2024 underlines our commitment to enabling this transformation through cutting-edge AI solutions,” said Max Avtukhov, Chief Executive of Yango Tech Retail. “Our collaboration with Grand Hypermarkets is a prime example of how we are tailoring global technologies to fit the needs of local communities and enhancing everyday life through intelligent, scalable innovation.”

Rashid Aslam Bin Mohideen, Executive Director of Grand Hypermarkets, added: “Retail is one of the fastest-evolving sectors in the region, and staying ahead requires both agility and technological depth. Our partnership with Yango Tech Retail marks a turning point in how we approach customer convenience, inventory management, and delivery logistics. As we work towards our ambition to become one of the top five retailers in the region by 2030 and create a world-class, multi-format shopping experience, we believe this collaboration will significantly strengthen our operational agility in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and KSA.”

With AI expected to contribute up to $150 billion to GCC economies, these initiatives support regional digital economy ambitions. In addition to the MoU, Yango Tech is showcasing a range of AI-powered B2B industry solutions at Seamless Middle East 2024.

At the forefront of Yango Tech’s booth is its AInventory smart camera system. These AI-powered cameras enable real-time shelf monitoring, alerting staff to planogram inconsistencies and improving inventory control. Retailers benefit from optimized shelf compliance and operational efficiency. Also on display is Yango Tech Retail’s white-label customer app, equipped with intelligent features like advanced search, personalized product suggestions, dynamic pricing tools, and marketing automation, helping retailers enhance customer satisfaction and increase profitability in the e-grocery sector.

Yango Tech Robotics presents its Picker Robot, a next-generation warehouse automation solution based on imitation learning. Trained using behavioural cloning from real-world warehouse scenarios, the Picker Robot adapts like a human, achieving up to 95% picking accuracy across 97% of product types. This innovation addresses the region’s need for sustainable and efficient logistics by reducing dependency on manual labour while scaling warehouse productivity.

Yango Tech Autonomy is showcasing its autonomous delivery robots, purpose-built for urban environments. These robots are capable of offering advanced navigation for quicker routes and reduced delivery times, enabling fast, emission-free last-mile deliveries. In partnership with food tech retail company ROOTS, the robots are already operating in Dubai’s Sobha Hartland community, and a pilot program has also been launched in Expo City Dubai.

Visitors can explore these innovations and more at Yango Tech’s booth at Seamless Middle East 2025 from 20 – 22 May, located at Booth H1-A32.

As Magrabi Health celebrates its 70th anniversary, CEO Mr. Mutasim Alireza reflects on the organization’s remarkable journey from a single ophthalmology center to one of the Middle East’s largest networks for Eye, ENT, Dental, and Aesthetics care, he shares the foundations of Magrabi’s legacy and vision for the future.

“Our story began in 1955, when the late Dr. Amin El-Maghraby founded the region’s first private eye center,” Alireza explains. “By 1975, with Dr. Akef El-Maghraby establishing the first private eye hospital, we had laid the groundwork for a healthcare model built on leadership, innovation, and specialized excellence.”
From performing the Middle East’s first cataract surgeries and corneal transplants to pioneering LASIK vision correction, Magrabi Health has consistently set new standards. Today, the network includes over 40 hospitals and medical centers across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Yemen. The group has also expanded its services to include ENT, dentistry, and recently, aesthetics through Mayam Aesthetics.

“Our expansion has never come at the expense of quality,” Alireza emphasizes. “We maintain standardized protocols, invest in highly trained specialists, and integrate AI-driven technologies to ensure consistent care across all locations.”
This focus on technology and innovation extends to digital health, with Magrabi now offering online appointment systems and planning teleconsultations. AI is already supporting diagnostics, especially in diabetic retinopathy screening, with more clinical applications under development.

Magrabi’s unique healthcare model is built around personalized care. “Every patient receives an individualized treatment plan, shaped by sub-specialty collaboration and the latest medical technologies,” Alireza says. “We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all medicine.”

Recruiting and retaining top-tier talent has been another cornerstone of the group’s success. “We hire for both clinical excellence and alignment with our values—collaboration, empathy, and innovation,” Alireza notes. “High patient volumes and sub-specialization also allow our doctors to refine their skills rapidly.”
Magrabi’s role as a healthcare pioneer is matched by its alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in enhancing quality of life and reducing outbound medical tourism. “Specialized centers improve efficiency and outcomes while supporting national goals,” he says.

Among the 70th anniversary initiatives is the unveiling of the ‘70 Years of Trust, Built Around You’ campaign, alongside new community outreach programs, patient education efforts, and the recent acquisition of Saudi Dent, which strengthens Magrabi’s growing dental services.

Looking ahead, Alireza is focused on sustainable expansion. “Our growth strategy balances scale with specialization. We are investing in underserved areas, expanding centers, and forming strategic partnerships that allow us to reach more communities without compromising on quality.”

He also acknowledges the challenges of innovation and regulation. “To lead in healthcare, we can’t just keep up—we must drive the change. That means embracing digital transformation, maintaining the highest standards, and continuing to raise the bar in specialized care.”

As the private healthcare sector undergoes rapid transformation under Vision 2030, Alireza believes specialized healthcare is positioned to thrive. “The future belongs to providers who can deliver depth, technology-enabled care, and measurable outcomes,” he says. “After 70 years, Magrabi Health is not slowing down—we’re entering our most ambitious chapter yet.”