Home Integrator
PRECISION AS A PHILOSOPHY WITH SOBHA FURNITURE
Exclusive interview with Anuj Jain, Chief Executive Officer, Sobha Furniture
As CEO of Sobha Furniture, how has your journey across finance, strategy, and operations shaped your vision for Sobha Furniture’s growth and market positioning?
My career journey has given me a 360-degree perspective on business execution, from understanding market dynamics to ensuring operational excellence. Working across various divisions within Sobha Group has taught me that true success stems from the seamless integration of strategic foresight, discipline, and an unwavering attention to detail. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate how deeply this attention to detail is woven into Sobha’s DNA, an ethos I am now embedding into every facet of Sobha Furniture, ensuring we deliver premium, design-led products at scale while positioning the brand as a benchmark for quality, innovation, and reliability in the market.
Having been part of the Sobha ecosystem for several years, I also recognise how personal this venture is to our founder, PNC Menon. Furniture was where his journey began and my goal is to carry that legacy forward by building a new era in furniture manufacturing defined by efficiency and technology. Through this approach, we are laying the “foundation of a new standard”, and it is a standard that will redefine how the region perceives and experiences furniture made in the Emirates.
Sobha Furniture is part of the larger Sobha Group legacy. How do you integrate the Group’s ethos and heritage into the furniture division’s brand identity?
Sobha Group is globally recognised for its end-to-end approach and for delivering real estate known for exceptional quality and meticulous craftsmanship. With Sobha Furniture, we aim to carry forward these same values, bringing the same precision and attention to detail to our furniture offerings. We are building solutions that customers will be able to distinguish from the others through the level of quality and craftmanship that our brand is known for. We believe the product should speak for itself, through its design, finish, and the experience it delivers.
By implementing Sobha Group’s backwards integration model and adapting it across our operations, we maintain complete control of the entire process, from conceptualisation and design to sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery. Our aim is to build a manufacturing ecosystem that not just produces furniture, but creates it with intent, reflecting the expertise that comes from our deep understanding of the construction and interiors landscape.
Your announcement of a fully automated facility in Dubai Industrial City signals a big leap in manufacturing. How will this facility reshape Sobha Furniture’s manufacturing ecosystem and customer value proposition?
Sobha Furniture’s upcoming 53,000sqm facility in Dubai Industrial City (DIC) marks a defining milestone in our journey. Designed to be one of the most advanced and fully automated furniture manufacturing plants across the Middle East, India, and Africa, this investment reinforces our commitment to innovation and quality while supporting the UAE’s industrial growth.

The facility is divided into two highly specialised divisions:
- The Upholstery Line: Performs all operations under one roof, including mould and block foaming, metal finishing, fabric and leather cutting, and precision sewing, ensuring complete process control and consistent quality.
- The Cabinetry Line: Built to European standards and guided by Lean Manufacturing principles, it employs data-driven systems and an AI-enabled Batch 1 production model, enabling large-scale customisation with minimal error and rapid turnaround times.
Together, these innovations not only enhance precision, scalability, and efficiency but also set new benchmarks for how large-scale furniture is manufacturing in the region. This facility will redefine industry standards, demonstrating that world-class furniture manufacturing can thrive locally, powered by the nation’s high-end infrastructure, skilled workforce, and forward-looking industrial vision.
What were the biggest challenges in establishing a full-scale furniture manufacturing base in a market largely reliant on imports, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges we faced was shifting market perception in a region long-dependent on imported furniture. For years, “Made in Europe” was viewed as the premium standard for quality and design. Our aim is to prove that “Made in the Emirates” can meet, and even exceed, those standards.
To achieve this, we brought the best from around the world – international design expertise, advanced technology, and a highly skilled team, to build a facility and operating model that would rival any in the industry. By integrating state-of-the-art automation and precision engineering, we created a manufacturing ecosystem capable of delivering large-scale, tailored solutions with consistent quality.
This approach, supported by the UAE’s vision for industrial excellence, enabled us to establish a self-reliant, world-class production base. Today, Sobha Furniture stands as proof that with the right talent, technology, and infrastructure, perfection can be achieved.
As Sobha Furniture steps up its manufacturing and regional footprint, how will you maintain direct engagement with integrators, interior architects, and hospitality-specification partners to ensure product relevance and luxury positioning to become part of the design ecosystem rather than just a product supplier?
Our goal has always been to be a co-partner from the design stage. We don’t just manufacture furniture but provide solutions that help translate our customers’ ideas into cohesive, elevated interiors concepts of the highest quality. As we expand our manufacturing and regional footprint, we are equally focused on deepening our engagement with architects, designers, and specifiers to bring their vision to life – from mood boards, material selections and mock-ups to the final product.
Our flagship showroom, The Gallery at The S Tower, is designed as a space for collaboration, where partners can experience our materials, finishes, and collections in real-life settings, and co-create solutions tailored to their projects. Complementing this is our Milan Design Studio, which bridges creativity with regional sensibilities, ensuring our products reflects both artistry and functionality.
Home Integrator
NATUZZI ITALIA ILLUMINATES THE SOUL OF THE HOME WITH THE POETRY OF LIGHT

Natuzzi Italia, the global ambassador of Italian lifestyle, invites the world to see the home in a new light. In a masterclass of craftsmanship and atmospheric design, the brand unveils its latest lighting ensemble—a collection where functional illumination evolves into pure, radiant sculpture.
These pieces represent more than just a new product line; they are a dialogue between the heritage of Italian artisanal mastery and the avant-garde of modern luxury.
The Collection: Sculptures of Luminosity
Aura Suspension:
Architectural Harmony Aura embraces space with ethereal grace, spreading a soft, diffused glow that envelopes a room in a harmonious atmosphere. Its refined, essential shapes interact seamlessly with architecture, creating a perfect equilibrium between raw matter and weightless light. Available in various compositions, Aura enriches grand spaces with a timeless allure, transforming surroundings into pure emotion.


Elsa Table Lamp:
A Timeless Embrace Elegance and purity find their form in Elsa. This masterpiece features a charm carved from artisan glass, playing against the natural, sophisticated veins of Calacatta marble. Topped with a decorative accessory in brushed light gold, Elsa is not merely a lamp, but a precious jewel for the contemporary interior.


Tea Floor Lamp:
Floral Grandeur: Standing with the poise of a curated bouquet, the Tea lamp features three slender stems rising in a rhythmic interplay of heights. Each stem culminates in a satinated blown-glass sphere, casting a soft, encompassing glow that mimics the gentle transition of dusk.


Rosé:
The Icon of Grace Inspired by the delicate silhouette of an inverted chalice, Rosé pays homage to the warm, shimmering hues of a desert sunset. With its refined finish and iconic silhouette, it transforms light into a radiant expression of Mediterranean beauty.


Solene:
The Luminous Secret of Solene is where tradition meets innovation. Featuring a hand-carved crystal heart nestled within blown glass, it filters light to create a sanctuary of intimacy. It is a quiet masterpiece, a secret whispered in the language of light.


Nola:
Ethereal Weightlessness Suspended with the quiet dignity of a bell, Nola brings a brilliant yet delicate presence to any room. Its minimalist form serves as a statement of lightness, proving that true refinement often speaks in a whisper.


Bossanova:
The Rhythm of Reflection Dynamic and fluid, Bossanova appears to dance within the air. Its vibrant transparency and undulating lines create a play of reflections that evoke joy and movement, capturing the timeless spirit of Italian celebration.


Experience the Glow
Discover the collection at Natuzzi Italia showrooms across the UAE, where the poetry of light meets the art of living.
Natuzzi store are located near you in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, visit the website.
• Natuzzi, Sheikh Zayed Road between 2nd and 3rd interchange, Dubai
• Natuzzi, near Al Maktoum Bridge, Umm Hurair Road, Dubai
• Natuzzi, The Galleria, Abu Dhabi
Home Integrator
THE RETURN OF BROWN: A NEW NEUTRAL FOR INTERIORS WITH MINOTTI
Grounded in nature and materiality, brown is returning to interiors as a calming, contemporary neutral.
Brown is re-emerging as one of the defining tones of contemporary interiors. Once associated with the nostalgic interiors of the 1970s, the colour is now being reinterpreted through a more refined lens, introducing depth and material richness to modern living spaces. After several years dominated by pale neutrals and cool greys, designers are increasingly introducing a spectrum of warm brown tones – from deeper shades such as espresso and cocoa to softer hues including caramel, tan and walnut – bringing greater character and contrast to current interior palettes.
Used thoughtfully, brown acts as a versatile neutral within contemporary spaces, adding structure while softening lighter schemes. Layering deeper chocolate tones with caramel or tan shades introduces subtle depth, while softer tones such as off-white or cream keep the composition light and balanced. Accents in bronze or brushed metals, alongside rich woods and textured fabrics, further enhance the layered quality of the palette.
Reflecting this shift, Minotti explores these richer tones across its latest collections. At the Minotti Dubai flagship store in Jumeirah, sculptural seating and refined finishes illustrate how brown tones can shape contemporary interiors.

Sculptural Foundations: Bézier seating system and coffee table
Statement seating is one of the most effective ways to introduce brown into a space. TheBézier seating system by Marcio Kogan / Studio MK27 embodies this approach through its fluid, organic silhouette and generous proportions. Inspired by the parametric curves developed by French engineer Pierre Bézier, the sofa’s rounded volumes create a sculptural presence that feels both architectural and inviting.
Upholstered in warm tones, the design anchors the living area while maintaining visual softness. Its modular configuration expands into island-like compositions that encourage relaxed gathering and conversation. Paired with the Bézier coffee table, featuring a Canaletto walnut top in light brown veneer, the composition highlights how brown can extend through both upholstery and natural materials.

Layered Upholstery: Coupé and Libra
Brown tones are equally effective when introduced through layered seating arrangements. The Coupé seating system by Giampiero Tagliaferri reinterprets the aesthetic language of 1960s and 1970s interiors through a contemporary lens. Its overlapping rounded volumes and tone-on-tone stitching emphasise softness and craftsmanship while maintaining the understated elegance characteristic of Minotti.
Also designed by Giampiero Tagliaferri, the Libra armchair introduces a sculptural accent. Inspired by seventies aesthetics, the design is composed of overlapping padded volumes upholstered in leather or fabric, creating a balanced interplay between seat, backrest and headrest.

Architectural Balance: Riley seating system, Andrée and Stage coffee tables
Where softer silhouettes introduce warmth, more architectural pieces bring structure and contrast. The Riley seating system by Hannes Peer reflects this balance through its geometric form and precise detailing, with vertical quilting adding rhythm to the upholstery.
Alongside the seating, the Andrée coffee table, also designed by Hannes Peer, introduces a decorative counterpoint. Inspired by the facades of 1970s Milanese architecture, the design pairs glazed ceramic surfaces with chrome-plated brass trims, adding texture and reflective depth.

The Stage side table further extends the palette through wood and metal finishes, with tops available in Canaletto walnut-stained light brown or glossy Moka lacquer.
A Contemporary Neutral
Far from being a passing trend, brown’s return reflects a broader shift toward interiors that prioritise depth, materiality and balance. When layered thoughtfully through furniture, finishes and textures, the colour introduces a quiet sophistication that feels both timeless and relevant today.
Home Integrator
Object 1 hits major milestone: project completion with RA1N Residence in JVC

Object 1 has officially announced the 100% completion of RA1N Residence, the developer’s residential project in Dubai. The delivery signifies the company’s evolution from project launches to the successful handover of homes, solidifying its reputation as a reliable player in the city’s fast-moving real estate sector.
Located in District 12 of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), the 25-storey tower features 144 units, ranging from one- and two-bedroom apartments to exclusive top-floor apartments with jacuzzi for extra comfort. The project meets a surging market demand for ready-to-move properties. JVC remains a top-tier choice for residents and investors alike, currently capturing 61% of sales searches and 80% of rental searches for apartments in the mid-market segment.
RA1N Residence provides a comprehensive suite of amenities designed for modern urban life:
A spacious lobby with lounge area and co-working spaces, a dedicated clubhouse, indoor and outdoor fitness areas, 2 swimming pools – for kids and adults-only, on-site retail outlets, children’s play zones – both indoors and outdoors.
Designed for immediate comfort and functionality, the apartments feature bright, ergonomic layouts and high-quality materials with contemporary finishes sourced directly from European factories, complemented by built-in appliances and premium plumbing fixtures from leading manufacturers.
There is direct access to Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, linking the community to Dubai Marina, JLT, and Dubai Internet City. The Roads and Transport Authority’s Hessa Street Phase II project, will double road capacity and reduce travel times while serving nearly 650,000 residents across surrounding communities, further strengthening accessibility for the district.
The announcement comes as Dubai’s property market demonstrates unprecedented momentum. In January 2026 alone, total transactions reached circa Dh108.0 billion – nearly doubling the figures from the previous year.
Tatiana Tonu, CEO of Object 1, commented: “Delivering RA1N Residence is a defining moment for Object 1, as we move from vision to tangible reality. While the world watches regional shifts with caution, our faith in Dubai’s investment climate remains absolute. This city is more than just a market; it is a global safe haven that consistently turns challenges into growth opportunities. By completing our project, we are sending a clear message to our investors: we are here for the long term, contributing to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and building high-quality communities that thrive regardless of external pressures.”
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