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Designing Homes That Anticipate Life

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An elegantly set dining room features a modern wooden table, comfortable grey upholstered chairs, a decorative white console table, and abstract wall art, all under soft, ambient lighting.

Exclusive Interview with Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director of Nemetschek Arabia

Nemetschek Group has long been a pioneer in digital design and construction software. How do you see your solutions reshaping the modern home in the UAE?

We see our solutions reshaping the modern UAE home by focusing on three core pillars: intelligent design, sustainable performance, and operational excellence. Instead of just modeling a home, our platforms, like Graphisoft and Vectorworks, allow architects to simulate how a home will actually perform in different conditions, ensuring maximum energy efficiency and indoor comfort from day one.

In construction, tools like Bluebeam enhance collaboration, speeding up delivery and ensuring quality. Critically, we reshape the modern home’s operational life. Our Digital Twin solutions turn the design data into a live asset management tool, allowing seamless integration with smart home technology and predictive maintenance. This ensures the home is not only built efficiently but remains comfortable, sustainable, and high-performing for decades. Ultimately, our goal is to help developers and designers deliver homes that reflect the UAE’s vision for a future where technology enriches everyday living in meaningful, intuitive ways.

With the rising demand for smart living, what role does Nemetschek play in helping architects and designers create more intuitive, tech-enabled homes?

As smart living becomes an essential part of the UAE lifestyle, our role at Nemetschek is to bridge the gap between architectural design and technological integration. Creating truly intuitive, tech-enabled homes requires designers to integrate systems like HVAC, security, and smart lighting before construction even begins.

Our BIM solutions enable architects to design the digital infrastructure for these systems directly within the model. This allows for early clash detection and ensures the building fabric seamlessly accommodates all the smart technology. Furthermore, by promoting open standards, we ensure the data generated by design is easily consumable by all home integrators, guaranteeing a smoother installation and a unified, future-proof platform for the homeowner. In essence, we empower designers to deliver homes where the technology is invisible, intuitive, and truly enhances the living experience without overwhelming it.

As the Managing Director, what excites you most about the future of homes and spaces in the UAE?

What excites me most about the future of homes and spaces in the UAE is the incredible convergence of innovation, sustainability, and human-centric design. This is a country that doesn’t just adopt new ideas, it imagines what living could look like in 10 years or even 50 years from now and then builds it. We are entering a new era where homes will be more adaptable, energy-efficient, and seamlessly connected. Spaces will anticipate residents’ needs, reduce environmental impact, and enhance wellbeing through smarter design and technology.

At Nemetschek Group, I am inspired by how our digital solutions are helping bring this vision to life, from AI-assisted design and precise BIM modelling to digital twins that optimize comfort and performance. What truly motivates me is the opportunity to support developers, architects, and designers as they shape homes that are not only technologically advanced, but also warm, livable, and deeply rooted in the UAE’s forward-looking spirit.

You recently announced a strategic partnership with Concerted Solutions to boost AEC/O digital transformation across the GCC. Can you walk us through a few early projects or pilot deployments under this collaboration and how they align with regional home-and-infrastructure development trends?

Our partnership with Concerted Solutions is deeply aligned with the region’s digital transformation ambitions. Together, we want to accelerate the adoption of smarter, more connected, and more data-driven workflows across the GCC’s construction and infrastructure sectors. Concerted Solutions brings strong regional expertise and an extensive network, which will help us engage more closely with government entities, developers, and consultants who are looking to advance their digital capabilities.

The partnership is also designed to support national agendas such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s We the UAE 2031 vision by enabling organizations to improve efficiency, enhance collaboration, and make more informed decisions through integrated digital tools. Ultimately, our joint mission is to unlock new opportunities for innovation and help shape future-ready built environments whether in homes, communities, or major infrastructure projects.

How are you tailoring your software and digital workflows specifically for large-scale residential developments in the GCC through this partnership?

Through our partnership with Concerted Solutions, we are tailoring our software and digital workflows to meet the unique needs of large-scale residential developments in the GCC – a market defined by rapid growth, ambitious national visions, and rising expectations for smart, sustainable living. Together, we are helping developers move from traditional, siloed processes to fully connected digital ecosystems that support better planning, coordination, and long-term asset performance.

Our joint approach focuses on enabling clearer design communication, improving construction quality, and ensuring that energy efficiency and sustainability targets are embedded from the start. With tools such as BIM, digital twins, and data-driven collaboration platforms, residential developers can simulate community layouts, optimize material use, streamline handover, and enhance the resident experience through smarter building operations.

Since your expansion into Saudi Arabia, you’ve signaled a focus on giga-projects under Vision 2030. What are some of the major developments (residential, infrastructure, or hospitality) you are already involved in, or planning to be involved in, in the Kingdom?

Our focus in Saudi Arabia is strategically aligned with the core pillars of Vision 2030, including the massive residential, infrastructure, and tourism giga-projects. We are proudly engaged with developments that are setting a new global benchmark for sustainable construction. Nemetschek Group is actively supporting the digital transformation goals of major developers behind flagship projects like the ones by Public Investment Fund. Our solutions are providing the digital backbone for design and construction in the Kingdom’s next generation of cities, whether that’s using Graphisoft for residential master-planning, Bluebeam for site collaboration, or dTwin to power the long-term, sustainable operation of the Kingdom’s emerging hospitality and infrastructure assets.

The Nemetschek Group has an impressive global footprint. How are you tailoring your growth strategy for the UAE’s unique home and hospitality markets?

Our global strategy is always executed with a deep commitment to understanding the needs and expectations of the local market. The UAE’s home and hospitality markets are uniquely dynamic, blending cutting-edge design with a strong emphasis on comfort, sustainability, and guest experience. To help developers create spaces that are both technologically advanced and deeply human-centric within this region, our strategy focuses on three areas. First, service localization to ensure our support and consulting services are delivered by local experts who understand the unique regulatory environment and climate challenges. Second, ecosystem collaboration, which means strengthening ties with key local system integrators and property technology providers to ensure our design and operation platforms integrate seamlessly with the specific smart home technology favored here. Third, specialized solutions, where we champion brands like Spacewell and dTwin that deliver immediate, measurable value in facility management – a critical factor for the region’s high-end, long-term asset owners in both the residential and luxury hospitality sectors. Through this strategy which combines global innovation with local partnerships and on-the-ground expertise, we ensure our solutions truly reflect the UAE’s forward-looking vision.

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Home Integrator

‘SOBHA CITY’: ABU DHABI’S NEW NATURE-LED WATERFRONT LIVING COMMUNITY

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Leading luxury property developer Sobha Realty has announced its entry into Abu Dhabi with the unveiling of Sobha City, a master-planned community that reflects a deliberately quiet and serene approach to urban living in the UAE capital.

Marking the developer’s first large-scale residential development in Abu Dhabi, Sobha City represents a significant milestone rooted in a 50-year legacy of craftsmanship and a long-term commitment to shaping environments that prioritise wellbeing, design integrity, and enduring value. Long associated with refined, design-led communities across Dubai and Umm Al Quwain (UAQ), Sobha Realty’s move into the UAE capital aligns with Abu Dhabi’s continued evolution as a global destination defined by stability, cultural depth, and quality of life.

Set in Al Bahiya along the prime E10 and E12 corridor, close to Zayed International Airport and Yas Island, Sobha City unfolds as a low-density, nature-led Madinat designed around space, light, and movement. Spanning approximately 38 million square feet, with an initial phase of around 8 million sq. ft. of land area, the development is envisioned as a “city within a city” that will evolve into a fully integrated, self-sustained ecosystem. Designed for family-oriented living, the gated masterplan demonstrates a commitment to crafting complete communities, where everyday living is shaped by balancing privacy, connectivity, and wellbeing.

Designed with nature at its core, ~60% of the masterplan is dedicated to open and green spaces, with more than 50,000 trees, forest-inspired landscapes, and shaded walkways shaping a seamless sense of quiet continuity. An expansive wellness loop spanning over 18 km encourages a slower, more intentional pace of life, while pedestrian-first pathways reinforce a lifestyle centred on movement, health, and ease.

“Abu Dhabi holds a unique position as a city that balances cultural authenticity with forward-looking ambition, and our entry reflects a long-term belief in its evolution not just as a solid real estate market, but as a place where communities can grow with family-oriented intention,” said Ravi Menon, Chairman, Sobha Group. “Sobha City has been envisioned as a living environment that feels calm, enduring, and deeply connected to its surroundings, while being future-ready.”

A defining feature of Sobha City is its two-kilometre waterfront promenade and integrated marina destination, which brings together leisure, retail, and social spaces in a vibrant, yet considered, way. Schools, healthcare facilities, mosques, and an executive Par-3 golf course, masterfully designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design. These are all thoughtfully embedded within the masterplan, ensuring essential elements of daily life remain within easy reach.

Drawing inspiration from Abu Dhabi’s coastal, natural landscapes, the City’s design reflects a contemporary interpretation of place where water, greenery, and architecture create an environment that feels both modern and rooted. The result is a ‘live-connect-restore’ ecosystem that is calm, refined, intuitively connected to its surroundings yet with future-ready infrastructure.

Sobha City will offer a diverse mix of residences, including waterfront apartments, estate and garden villas,  and mansions catering to a wide spectrum of residents, from families seeking a sense of permanence to global investors looking for stability and long-term value.

Each residence will reflect Sobha Realty’s hallmark ‘The Art of Detail’, with high-quality finishes, open layouts, and technology-enabled living environments that prioritise comfort, functionality, and longevity. Globally recognised for its proprietary Backward Integration model, Sobha Realty maintains full control over design, engineering, and construction processes in an approach that has consistently delivered superior quality and above-market performance across its portfolio.

Mr Francis Alfred, Sobha Realty’s Managing Director, added: “As we expand our footprint into Abu Dhabi, Sobha City will be embodiment of our vertically integrated approach to development ensuring not only exceptional quality but also long-term resilience and value. This position us strongly within a market driven by sustained population growth, investor-friendly policies, and projected increased demand for integrated, lifestyle-oriented developments.”

The launch further strengthens Sobha Realty’s presence in the UAE, complementing its portfolio of developments across Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, including destinations such as Sobha Siniya Island and Downtown UAQ| Sobha Realty. Its entry into Abu Dhabi comes as the emirate reaffirms its commitment to economic diversification, infrastructure development, and a renewed focus on liveability and sustainability. The launch aligns with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, which seeks to foster a knowledge-based economy supported by thoughtfully planned, high-quality communities.

As the UAE capital determines to evolve into a globally competitive hub, Sobha Realty’s entry with nature-led master community signals both confidence and commitment, positioning the developer at the forefront of the emirate’s next growth chapter.

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Home Integrator

UAE-BORN HOMEWARE BRAND CHAMPIONS SUSTAINABLE LIVING WITH UNIQUE VINTAGE AND PRE-LOVED PIECES

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For those who love adding personality to their homes with one-of-a-kind pieces, Tangerrine Casa, a UAE-born online homeware brand offers a hand curated selection of vintage and preloved homeware items that are cool, quirky and unique. Featuring character-filled pieces, the small business currently delivers products across Dubai and offers next-day delivery (if ordered before 12pm).

A women-led brand, Tangerrine Casa was founded by Amy Armitage, a freelance stylist, who launched the brand in February 2025. Amy had a passion for hunting for vintage pieces during her travels but after struggling to find cool preloved homeware pieces locally in Dubai, she decided to fill the gap and elevate the preloved market in the region by bringing a carefully curated edit of unique vintage and preloved homeware, that was also easily accessible and affordable.

The curation features everything from abstract fruit bowls and chrome plated pieces to intricate glass dishes, fun porcelain plates and bowls of Italian and Portuguese design, egg cups, vases, toast racks, trinket trays, candle holders, and more, offering something fun, bold and rare for every space.

Rooted in sustainability and circular living, the brand promotes mindful consumption while also encouraging individuality in home styling, inviting the community to embrace preloved pieces to create spaces that feel more personal, purposeful, and full of character.

I’ve always loved hunting for unique preloved pieces during my travels that I can bring back to my home in Dubai. But I didn’t feel like there were many places here locally with a cool preloved homeware curation that was unique, easily accessible and affordable, so I decided to create one. I’m passionate about keeping things in circulation for as long as possible and I believe more people would shop preloved if the stigma was removed and items looked more aspirational. I want to bring joy to homes in a more sustainable way and that’s exactly what Tangerrine Casa is all about.”, comments Amy Armitage, founder of Tangerrine Casa.

In addition, Tangerrine Casa connects with their community through its signature hosting concept ‘Tangerrine Table’. Hosted by Amy and her husband Ed, this concept creates a space to connect, share stories across cultures, explore different cuisines and celebrate the joy of gathering around a table.

A go-to destination for unique preloved homeware pieces, Tangerine Casa invites the community to discover the charm of objects that have already lived and see how cool shopping preloved can be.

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Home Integrator

WESTERN FURNITURE Highlights Tomasella’s Sustainable Italian Design for UAE Homes

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As the world turns its attention to the preservation of our planet on Earth Day, Western Furniture is proud to highlight Tomasella—a brand that has spent 70 years proving that luxury design and environmental responsibility are inseparable. With roots firmly in the past and a clear vision for the future, Tomasella balances a rich history with a tireless vocation for technological and creative innovation.

For Tomasella, sustainability is a philosophy rooted in social and ethical solidarity .This harmony between ethical codes and material analysis ensures meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. This is the profound commitment to quality and earth-conscious living you embrace when you choose Tomasella for your home.

Explore a wide range of models at Western Furniture that can be fully customized through an extensive choice of materials, colors, and textures, allowing for a personal touch in every sustainable space.

The Porticello Collection: Designed by Massimiliano Minuti, this set combines modern elegance with classic Italian design. Finished in Rovere Moka with Materico Basalto Lucido accents, the King Bed and matching dresser exude a high-end, serene atmosphere.

The Porticello Dining Table: A striking example of architectural design, blending organic shapes with minimalist proportions. The thick pedestal base features an asymmetrical oval cutout, giving the monolithic structure a sense of “lightness.” Its warm taupe matte finish perfectly complements natural textures like jute and velvet.

The Clio Bed: Featuring a natural oak wood finish and pure lines, the Clio focuses on minimalism. Its gracefully curved headboard is fitted on an airy frame, creating a pleasant feeling of relaxation that makes it easy to concentrate on dreams and slumber.

The Morfeo Bed: This designer solution expands the traditional concept of a bed by integrating a shelf and bedside tables into one clever, practical piece. With reclinable headboard cushions for reading or watching TV, it pairs functional versatility with a harmonious silhouette.

Eros Bed: The Eros bed features a unique design with a rounded frame that wraps the mattress, offering supreme comfort and wellbeing. The delicate stitching along the headboard and bed frame accentuates its contemporary elegance.

The Lunato Bed: Sleek comfort and modern elegance – The Lunato Bed brings a refined touch to your bedroom with its minimalist design and plush upholstery. We invite you to experience the intersection of Italian heritage and environmental stewardship. Discover how Tomasella’s commitment to “people-first” sustainability can transform your living space into a sanctuary for the future.

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