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STARZPLAY CAPTURES THE REALITY BEHIND THE UAE’S MOST ELITE PROPERTY DEALS

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Exclusive Interview with Ben Bandari, CEO, BenCo. Real Estate & Sarah Serhan, Associate Partner, BenCo. Real Estate

Ben Bandari

Ben Bandari is a powerhouse in the UAE real estate industry, having closed over AED 25 billion in sales and earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most influential and successful brokers. Since starting his real estate career in the UAE back in 2002, He has earned some of the industry’s highest honours, including Number 1 Real Estate Broker in the UAE by Arabian Business, inclusion among the Top 150 Real Estate Icons by Finance World and the prestigious Agency of the Year award by The Entrepreneur. Beyond his brokerage success, Ben is also the star and executive producer of Million Dollar Listing UAE, the hit reality series that takes viewers inside the glamorous, high-stakes world of the UAE luxury real estate.

Sarah Serhan

In the UAE’s competitive luxury real estate market, Sarah Serhan has quickly established herself as one of its most dynamic rising talents. She is a luxury real estate agent and broker as well as an area specialist for Dubai Hills Estate, combining cultural awareness with deep market knowledge.  In her first year she had closed more than AED 100 million in sales and by 2024, she was averaging AED 3 million in transactions daily. Recognised by Ben Bandari for her drive and professionalism, she joined BenCo Real Estate in early 2024 where she now serves as Associate Partner.

Questions:

Beyond luxury listings, the show focuses heavily on ambition, rivalry, and pressure. Why do you think audiences connect so strongly with that side of the story?

    Ben Bandari: At its core, the show really isn’t about houses – it’s about people. While luxury listings are exciting and aspirational, it’s the universal themes of ambition, competition, pressure, and even self-doubt that truly resonated with STARZPLAY’s audiences in Season One once it aired. That strong response is exactly what paved the way for Season Two.

    Audiences connect because they’re seeing the authentic side of success – the wins, the stress, the rivalries, and the emotional ups and downs that come with working in a high-pressure market like the UAE. Partnering with STARZPLAY allowed us to bring this format closer to home for MENA viewers and ground it in a reality they recognise. Viewers aren’t just watching deals close; they’re watching real people who push themselves, make mistakes, and grow, and that honesty is what makes the story relatable, and why it continues to resonate even more strongly in Season Two.

    Sarah Serhan: As a newcomer to both the show and the industry, there is an undeniable pressure to prove yourself as a capable broker who can overcome challenges, obstacles and manage mental pressure. With that, you still need to balance the demands of work with time spent with family. What I believe truly resonates with the audience is the authenticity of that journey. When they see me, they see a human like everyone else, a woman with ambitions and goals, a woman with a family she must always put first, yet someone who continues to push forward, they connect on a much deeper level, probably reflecting their own struggles and aspirations.

    Mr. Ben Bandari, as a returning cast member and Executive Producer, how has your role evolved in shaping the direction and authenticity of Season 2?

    In Season Two, my role became much more hands-on. As Executive Producer, I was closely involved in shaping the narrative to make sure it truly reflected the realities of the UAE real estate market. The focus was on real pressure, negotiations, and consequences. I wanted viewers to see what the job actually demands. The goal was to let the stories unfold naturally and stay true to the people and the market we’re representing.

    Rivalries are a big part of the show; do they sharpen your edge or complicate your strategy?

    It’s genuinely a bit of both. Healthy rivalry pushes you to raise your standards and stay sharp, especially in a market as competitive as the UAE. I’ve learned to use competition as motivation while staying focused on the bigger picture, which is serving clients and closing deals. A great example of rivalry in the show is in Episodes 1 to 3, where Dr. Baydoun of Damac Properties makes Riad and I compete for a luxury property, “Villa Flora.”

    You’ve been part of the franchise since its early days in the UAE—how has the real estate market changed since Season 1, and how has that changed you?

    The market has matured dramatically. Buyers are more informed, expectations are higher, and transactions are far more complex. Since Season One, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UAE have evolved into a truly global luxury market. That evolution has forced me to grow personally as well as upgrade BenCo. to 70 plus staff and still growing. I’ve become more disciplined, more strategic, and more resilient. I’ve also setup a whole new business, Highgate Investments, which caters to investors looking at and acquiring properties, or designing and developing old, rundown ones. The business has skyrocketed with 8 ongoing projects so far.

    Ms. Sarah Serhan, joining a well-established cast can be intense, what was your mindset walking into Season 2?

    I was aware that my presence as a new face and a rapidly rising professional might be perceived as threatening to some of the other cast members. I anticipated questions like “who is she?” “Why is she here?” and “how did she get here?”. Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect from the others, but also, I never felt the need to prove myself to anyone. As I’ve always believed, my performance and my numbers speak for themselves.

    What message do you hope ambitious professionals, especially women, take from your journey?

    My core message is simple yet profoundly powerful: When you stay disciplined, rooted in self-belief, and fully committed to the work, you don’t need to prove anything. Your progress moves faster than doubt, and your results speak long before you ever have to.

    What surprised you most about operating in this environment, on or off camera?

    What surprised me the most was how intense the environment is, both on and off camera.  What I did not expect was how much discipline and emotional intelligence it would require to stay focused and professional while doing my job with cameras and a crew filming at all times. The mental fortitude required is truly immense, and it’s something you can only fully appreciate once you’re living it.

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    PLANRADAR LAUNCHES “CONSTRUCTION SITE TEMPLATES PLAYBOOK” TO HELP GCC PROJECT TEAMS IMPROVE DAILY SITE EXECUTION CONTROL

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    PlanRadar promotional graphic showing a construction site templates playbook displayed on a tablet, highlighting safety, quality, progress and materials control for site teams.

    PlanRadar, a digital platform for construction and real estate project management, has launched the Construction Site Templates Playbook, a new practical guide designed to help project teams strengthen day-to-day execution control through disciplined, repeatable site documentation.

    As construction and real estate developments across the GCC increase in scale and complexity, site teams operate under continuous pressure: multiple trades working in parallel, frequent inspections, tight programmes, and strict compliance requirements. In this environment, performance issues often begin with simple breakdowns—unclear scope clarifications, delayed approvals, missed inspections, fragmented safety reporting, and incomplete records—then surface later during audits, handover, or dispute resolution when time and cost impacts are already locked in.

    The Construction Site Templates Playbook addresses this challenge by positioning templates not as administrative paperwork, but as operational control points that help teams capture, verify, and act on information consistently across the project lifecycle. The playbook consolidates the most essential site templates into five execution pillars:

    • Construction & Commercial Control (scope clarifications, inspections, approvals, change control)
    • Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) (hazard identification, permits to work, incident reporting, compliance records)
    • Quality & Inspections (structured verification, defects and non-conformance control, commissioning readiness)
    • Progress & Coordination (daily reporting, look-ahead planning, constraint tracking, coordination actions)
    • Materials & Logistics (material approvals, delivery inspections, traceable acceptance before installation)

    The guide also introduces a practical “Execution Loop”, outlining the sequential stages of planning, executing, inspecting, correcting, and ultimately approving and closing. This approach demonstrates how the templates work together as a unified, disciplined system that enhances accountability, ensures traceability, and accelerates on-site decision-making.

    “Successful delivery depends on more than planning—it depends on execution discipline,” said Ibrahim Imam, CEO and Co-Founder of PlanRadar “When clarifications, inspections, approvals, and corrective actions are captured consistently and tied to the right locations and evidence, site teams reduce ambiguity, protect quality, strengthen compliance, and improve handover readiness. This playbook is designed to make those controls practical and repeatable on every project.”

    While the playbook can be applied in manual environments, it also highlights how structured digital workflows strengthen template usage by improving ownership, visibility, and audit readiness. By digitising templates, site records become time-stamped, traceable, and location-linked—reducing common challenges such as missing paperwork, delayed approvals, duplicated records, and unclear responsibility.

    The Construction Site Templates Playbook is available in English and Arabic and is intended for developers, consultants, main contractors, subcontractors, and site teams involved in construction and real estate delivery across the GCC.

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    CALLIGARIS: A CENTURY OF ITALIAN DESIGN, CURATED FOR THE UAE BY WESTERN FURNITURE

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    For over three decades, Western Furniture has been synonymous with luxury interiors and European design excellence. As the exclusive partner of Calligaris in the UAE, it continues to bring Italian craftsmanship and innovation closer to homeowners and design enthusiasts.

    A Century of Italian Excellence

    Founded in 1923 by Antonio Calligaris in Manzano, Italy, the brand began as a family workshop crafting wooden chairs, including the now-iconic Marocca. Over the past century, Calligaris has grown into an international design house offering a complete range of furniture and accessories, combining tradition, technology, and artistry to define modern living.

    Through its exclusive partnership with Western Furniture, the essence of Made in Italy continues to flourish in the UAE, uniting design heritage with contemporary sensibility.

    Discover a curated selection of Calligaris’ most admired designs below.

    The Ginza Sofa captures the essence of modern comfort with its soft, flowing lines and 1970s-inspired organic curves. Its modular design allows for multiple configurations, creating a sense of warmth and sophistication in any space.

    Evoking the hues of dawn and dusk, the Sky Rug brings a poetic touch to interiors. Its delicate color gradients and textured weave create a calming, atmospheric foundation for the living space.

    The Oleandro Lounge Chair offers a perfect balance of structure and softness. Its wooden base and plush upholstery combine craftsmanship and comfort in a design that’s both tactile and timeless.

    Sculptural and refined, the Mushroom Coffee and Side Tables feature bush-hammered glass tops and subtly tilted wooden bases, striking a balance between elegance and lightness.

    Minimal yet expressive, the Glen Dining Chair unites geometry and proportion in a sleek, enveloping form that delivers ergonomic comfort and enduring appeal.

    The Onda Dining Chair, with its sinuous, wave-inspired lines and slender metal legs, conveys a sense of movement and contemporary grace.

    The Alterego Sideboard introduces sculptural sophistication with its three-dimensional door fronts, creating depth, shadow, and a strong focal point for modern interiors.

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    RENEW YOUR SPACE WITH NATUZZI ITALIA: A NEW YEAR, REFINED THROUGH DESIGN

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    Dubai, UAE – January 2026: This new year, reset your rhythm, refresh your surroundings, and renew your way of living — with Natuzzi Italia. where a new environment sets the tone for a fresh start. Natuzzi Italia offers inspiration for every room of the home, with refined designs that combine comfort, style, and timeless Italian craftsmanship. From the award-winning Amama collection to the serene elegance of Habita, each piece is designed to elevate daily living.

    HABITA by Mauro Lipparini

    Essential lines and timeless harmony define Habita — a serene living concept where design and well-being coexist in perfect balance.

    At its heart is a sculptural, modular sofa with generous proportions, refined upholstery, and enveloping curves, designed for comfort, sharing, and flexibility. Premium padding and thoughtful detailing ensure a relaxed yet elegant experience, adapting effortlessly to different spaces.

    Habita is not just a collection — it is a way of living.

    The collection is completed by an elegant yet functional coffee table and a striking monolithic dining table, fully lacquered in high-gloss finish. With its organic lines and integrated rotating lazy susan, the dining table seamlessly merges practicality with sculptural appeal.

    Amama collection

    Amama is a compositional project that redefines conviviality and versatility. It is a modular island sofa designed to shape space, offering the possibility of double-sided configurations for a modern and unusual living experience. Reflecting on architecture and ways of living, the armrest or backrest can become functional elements such as a shelf, table, or even a container.

    It is a dynamic project where multiple elements of different textures and materials coexist in a play of overlaps and geometries, opening up to multi-directionality and multifunctionality, combining comfort with freedom of composition and use. It represents a new approach to living that balances aesthetics, flexibility, and functionality, extended by living and dining elements of the same collection.

    The soft textures and shapes of Amama harmonize with Verde Antigua marble displays, while furnishings and decorative objects engage in a palette inspired by earth and sea. The result is an immersive experience designed to engage all senses and convey the idea of a harmonious and welcoming home.

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