Home Integrator
STARZPLAY CAPTURES THE REALITY BEHIND THE UAE’S MOST ELITE PROPERTY DEALS
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.
Home Integrator
SOBHA REALTY’S CREST GRANDE RECEIVES BUILDING COMPLETION CERTIFICATE; HANDOVER TO COMMENCE WITHIN RERA TIMELINE


Sobha Realty, a leading global luxury real estate developer, has announced that Sobha Crest Grande has received its Building Completion Certificate (BCC), with customer handovers scheduled to commence shortly.
Located in the waterfront district of Sobha Hartland, Crest Grande, comprising 985 units, offers proximity to key Dubai landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai International Airport. The development features waterfront views, fully fitted kitchens, covered car parking, and amenities including an indoor and outdoor gymnasium, sauna room, adult and kids’ swimming pool, kids’ playing area, barbecue zone, as well as retail and restaurant offerings.
Importantly, the project is scheduled for delivery with the timeline committed on RERA, underlining Sobha Realty’s continued focus on execution discipline and delivery certainty, a hallmark of the brand’s Backward Integration model.
Francis Alfred, Managing Director, Sobha Realty, said; “At a time when people value certainty and reassurance more than ever, milestones like the Building Completion Certificate carry even greater meaning. Dubai continues to demonstrate the resilience, confidence, and long-term vision that makes it one of the world’s most trusted places to live and invest. For us, the receipt of the Building Completion Certificate for Sobha Crest Grande is not just a development milestone; it is a reflection of the trust families place in us when they invest their savings, aspirations, and vision of a dream home in the UAE. Achieving and being able to deliver within the timeline committed on RERA reaffirms our commitment to honour that trust through disciplined execution, timely delivery, and the consistent quality we promise every customer.”
Sobha Crest Grande has been designed to offer elevated waterfront living within one of Dubai’s most sought-after residential destinations. Its location within Sobha Hartland places residents within minutes of central Dubai, while offering a more serene lifestyle setting shaped by open views, green surroundings, and curated amenities.
The receipt of the BCC and the commencement of delivery shortly further strengthen Sobha Realty’s track record of translating vision into reality through disciplined planning, in-house capabilities, and a long-term commitment to customer confidence.
For homeowners, this milestone signals the transition from anticipation to ownership, as Crest Grande moves into its final stage before residents begin experiencing the development as a completed address.
Home Integrator
ICONIC RESIDENCES REACHES KEY CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES, MERED HIGHLIGHTS MARKET CONFIDENCE

MERED, the award-winning real estate developer, has reported significant progress on ICONIC Residences Design by Pininfarina, one of Dubai’s most ambitious premium projects. Construction is advancing steadily across multiple phases, with fully mobilised teams achieving key milestones in structural works, MEP systems, interior fit-outs, and material coordination. The update underscores the resilience of Dubai’s off-plan property market, supported by government measures that safeguard the industry and ensure large-scale developments remain on schedule.
ICONIC Residences is a G+66 floor ultra-luxury residential tower set to become an architectural landmark in Dubai. Designed by the legendary Italian firm Pininfarina, the tower draws inspiration from the city’s sand dunes and flowing ocean waves. The development will house 310 premium apartments and a signature two-level penthouse, offering residents world-class amenities, including infinity pools, wellness and spa facilities, padel court, lounges, family areas, luxury retail spaces, and air-conditioned parking spaces. Its strategic location provides breathtaking views of Dubai’s landmarks and direct access to Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbour, Downtown, Bluewaters Island, Emirates Golf Club, and Sheikh Zayed Road.
As of March 2026, the tower has reached approximately 125 metres, with work advancing steadily on Level 22. On the first technical floor, MEP systems are being installed, forming the backbone of the building’s technical infrastructure. Across the residential component, apartment works are progressing in parallel, with teams of engineers, technicians, and skilled tradespeople actively coordinating each phase on site. Deliveries of finishing materials for all units have been scheduled to ensure a smooth transition to the next stages of fit-out. Mered’s in-house quality control department monitors excellence at every stage of the work.
“Every milestone at ICONIC Residences reflects the resilience of the UAE property market,” comments Michael Belton, CEO of MERED. “We will continue to drive the project steadily, upholding the highest standards of quality. We are grateful for the UAE government’s proactive approach in supporting a stable and resilient market, which enables developments like ICONIC Residences to progress with confidence. This tower will stand as a symbol of innovative design, architectural excellence, and the enduring strength of Dubai’s real estate sector.”
The development’s impressive construction progress is supported by the broader stability of the UAE real estate market. Recent steps by the Central Bank of the UAE, designed to strengthen liquidity and safeguard the banking sector, help maintain a stable environment for lending and economic activity. This stability enables banks to continue providing financing to buyers, investors, and developers, contributing to smoother cash flow in the property industry.
ICONIC Residences is backed by a team of world-class experts, including Pininfarina, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), SERA Group, Currie & Brown, Bond Interiors, and more, ensuring meticulous coordination across every aspect of the development. Combined with MERED’s expertise and the stability of the UAE property market, ICONIC Residences is well-positioned to achieve its delivery and performance goals by Q3 2027.
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
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