Home Integrator

BISR REDEFINES EDUCATIONAL SPACE DESIGN THROUGH STRATEGIC VISION WITH KIDZINK

Published

7 months ago

March 17, 2026

Exclusive interview with Wayne Orr, Interim COO & Project Director Al Waha, BISR & Riccardo Borghesi, Market Manager KSA, Kidzink

Interview with Wayne Orr:

As Interim COO and Project Director, how do you define your role in shaping design outcomes across complex environments like educational campuses?

I joined BISR as Project Director for the Al Waha campus, later became Interim COO, and now serve as Interim Group CEO. That sequence matters because it changes your perspective.

As Project Director, the design was largely set. My job was to ensure it was delivered properly, adapted where evolving needs required it, and tightened where safety or operational risks emerged. That meant challenging contractors, questioning details that did not work in practice, and making sure what we opened was safe, compliant and ready for daily use.

As Interim COO, the focus shifted to opening the school smoothly. Even with a brand new campus, the real test is whether it works. Traffic flow. Student movement. Staff circulation. Supervision. Safeguarding. Peak time pressure. If those fail, the architecture is irrelevant.

Now, at Group level, I look across Al Waha, Al Hamra and DQ and ensure decisions make sense strategically as well as operationally.

If something looks good but creates friction or cost pressure later, it was the wrong call. On a project of this scale, you also learn. The key is recognising issues early and applying those lessons across the estate.

What are the core principles that guide design decisions at BISR projects, especially in terms of spatial flow, flexibility, and future adaptability?

Four principles guide us.

First, flow. A school must feel calm and logical. Students need to move safely. Staff need clear sightlines. Emergency routes must work without confusion. In a through school serving ages 4 to 16, zoning is critical. Younger children need protection and scale. Older students need independence. You cannot design for one group and ignore the other.

Second, flexibility. Educational priorities shift. Numbers change. Teaching models evolve. At Al Waha we built adaptable classrooms and shared spaces. At Al Hamra, which is over 40 years old, flexibility is often about reworking layouts or improving furniture rather than rebuilding.

Flexibility is not free. Every adaptable feature costs money. We invest where it protects long term value and avoid over engineering for theoretical scenarios.

Third, climate reality. In Riyadh, heat and dust shape how a campus functions. If classrooms overheat or glare is uncontrolled, learning suffers. Shading, cooling performance and durable materials are practical decisions, not aesthetic ones.

Fourth, financial discipline. Funds are finite. Whether improving a legacy campus or delivering a new one, we prioritise changes that improve experience and longevity rather than cosmetic upgrades.

The British International School Riyadh (BISR) Al Waha campus is noted for design that nurtures curiosity and creativity. What design elements were crucial in achieving that user experience?

At Al Waha, we focused on three things.

First, visibility. You can see learning happening. Glass between spaces, open commons areas and clear sightlines encourage collaboration and make supervision easier.

Second, variety. We did not just build rows of classrooms. There are breakout spaces, specialist labs, performance areas and shaded outdoor zones. Different students learn in different ways, particularly across a 4 to 16 age range. The building needed to support that range.

Third, making sure it works in this climate. If a space is uncomfortable, students disengage. We focused on effective shading, cooling and lighting. Even sports lighting was designed to meet recognised Class B standards so it performs properly without glare.

Curiosity is far more likely in an environment that is safe, comfortable and well run.

In your experience, how does a place like Al Waha campus balance aesthetic aspirations with functional requirements unique to educational settings?

You balance it through discipline.

Schools are hard working buildings. Finishes must last. Circulation must allow supervision. Specialist facilities must meet regulatory standards. Safeguarding cannot be compromised by design ambition.

At Al Waha, aesthetic decisions were tested against maintenance, operational reality and climate conditions. A building can look impressive, but if it creates long term cost or operational headaches, it is not a success.

In educational design, how do you address flexibility, so spaces can evolve with pedagogical innovation?

Change is constant. That is the starting point.

Teaching methods evolve. Technology advances. Student numbers fluctuate. Buildings need to absorb that change without repeated major capital spend.

At Al Waha, flexibility was built into layout and services capacity. At DQ, which is mid life, we focus on reconfiguration rather than rebuild. At Al Hamra, improvements are targeted and proportionate.

Designing for ages 4 to 16 adds complexity. Early Years spaces must feel secure and appropriately scaled. Secondary students need independence and facilities that feel credible. Zoning and transition areas matter.

Flexibility is about sensible investment, not endlessly transformable space. Good design in a school is ultimately about creating spaces that are safe, workable, financially sustainable and capable of adapting over time.

Interview with Riccardo Borghesi:

As Market Manager for Saudi Arabia, how do you define your role within the design ecosystem, are you a strategist, a cultural translator, or a curator of design experience?

We built Kidzink and Koda around a shared mission: to make schools better. Creativity, collaboration and innovation underpin everything we do. Saudi Arabia’s clear national vision and deep investment in education provide a powerful platform for a mission-driven company like ours to create lasting impact, not only for clients, but for children and communities for generations to come.

Within that context, my role as Market Manager for KSA spans strategist, cultural translator and curator of design experience.

Strategically, I bridge commercial realities with long-term educational ambition — ensuring that vision is grounded in structured, deliverable frameworks that create sustainable value. Education in the Kingdom is evolving rapidly, and aligning design strategy with pedagogical outcomes and operational performance is critical.

Culturally, we work to ensure that as the Kingdom modernises, schools retain a strong sense of identity, place and shared values. Every project must thoughtfully balance global best practice with local context.

From a design experience perspective, we translate educational vision into tangible spatial environments, embedding values physically into the learning experience rather than leaving them as abstract statements.

Pedagogy remains central to this work. Last year, Kidzink unveiled The Enriched Environment Model™, a science-backed framework developed through years of research in pedagogy, neuroarchitecture and environmental psychology. The Model provides a structured approach to designing environments aligned with how students learn, feel and thrive.

Ultimately, my role is about integration, aligning vision, strategy and experience so that each educational environment is pedagogically meaningful, commercially sound and built for long-term impact.

In leading Kidzink’s footprint in Saudi Arabia, how do you maintain a design-first mindset while adapting to fast-evolving regional expectations?

Design strategy is our anchor. At Kidzink, designing for longevity means designing for change.

A design-first mindset is not about rigidity, it is about adaptability. In Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving market, design is less about fixed solutions and more about creating frameworks that anticipate shifting expectations and evolving educational models.

Each school is a unique ecosystem shaped by stakeholders, operational realities and long-term ambitions. Our role is to develop structured yet flexible strategies that align educational vision with spatial performance and commercial viability.

Whether delivering purpose-built campuses such as BISR Al Waha or elevating legacy environments through thoughtful interventions, the objective remains consistent. We create learning environments that are responsive, future-ready and grounded in pedagogical outcomes..

True sustainability extends beyond materials or efficiency. It means designing spaces that remain relevant and capable of serving generations of learners.

What role does local culture and context play in translating Kidzink’s global vision into meaningful spaces across Saudi Arabia?

At Kidzink, we design schools for children, young people and their communities. Culture is central to that process. Every project begins with fundamental questions. Who are we designing for? What values define the community? What is its history and future ambition?

Saudi Arabia presents a uniquely dynamic context. While Vision 2030 is accelerating modernization and positioning the Kingdom as a global hub, cultural identity remains deeply valued. Education becomes one of the most meaningful platforms where progress and heritage coexist.

Culture shapes how comfort, privacy, hierarchy and social interaction are understood. These behavioural nuances influence how students gather, communicate and experience space. Designing meaningful environments requires sensitivity to those patterns.

Our role is to ensure that global best practice is thoughtfully adapted to local context so each learning environment feels authentic, relevant and grounded in its community. Global vision provides structure. Local culture gives it meaning.

One of the standout projects you’ve been associated with is the Aldenham Prep Riyadh transformation, what design philosophy guided your involvement from briefing to execution?

The philosophy centred on repositioning rather than rebuilding. The structural fabric remained intact, so the transformation focused on reshaping experience, identity and perception within the existing shell.

Interior environments became the primary design tool. Spatial planning, materiality, light, flow and FF&E were carefully orchestrated to elevate quality and clarity without altering the footprint. The objective was premiumisation through atmosphere, improving how the school feels, functions and communicates its values.

Constraints were treated as creative drivers. Existing grids, proportions and circulation patterns informed precise interventions that unlocked the building’s potential. Functionality was central, particularly daily operations, movement, supervision and flexibility.

Cultural calibration was equally important. A British school identity was expressed through detailing and material language, thoughtfully balanced with Saudi expectations around privacy and community.

The project demonstrates that meaningful transformation does not always require new construction. It requires strategic reframing of space and experience.

Can you walk us through how design thinking impacts the way children, educators, and parents interact in a space? What design decisions make that difference?

Design thinking shapes how people feel, behave and connect within a space. In schools, that influence is significant because children, educators and parents experience the same environment differently.

For children, space influences confidence, curiosity and behaviour. Natural light, spatial clarity, movement and sensory comfort support focus, engagement and social interaction. When environments offer flexibility and choice, students develop independence and ownership of learning.

For educators, design affects performance and wellbeing. Clear sightlines, adaptable classrooms, considered acoustics and intuitive circulation reduce friction and cognitive load, allowing teachers to focus on teaching rather than navigating constraints.

For parents, the physical environment becomes the first expression of a school’s ethos. Arrival experience and shared spaces communicate care, safety and educational intent.

Projects such as BISR Al Waha exemplify this approach, where design strategy aligns with educational vision, student experience and community identity from the outset.

Well-designed spaces don’t just accommodate learning, they quietly shape behaviour, relationships and belonging.

In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception about interior design for institutional or educational environments?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that interior design in schools is primarily aesthetic.

In reality, educational environments demand a level of rigour comparable to sectors such as healthcare. Schools are high-performance human spaces where spatial decisions directly influence wellbeing, stress, cognitive function and behaviour. Yet they are often approached with less technical scrutiny, despite being environments centred on human development.

Educational interiors shape attention, emotional regulation and social interaction in ways that are frequently underestimated. For many children, school is the first environment outside the home where identity, independence and confidence are formed.

Another misconception is viewing schools as static. Pedagogy evolves constantly, requiring spaces that are adaptable and capable of remaining relevant over time.

When designed well, learning environments act as behavioural frameworks. They guide movement, collaboration and focus, often invisibly. The impact of educational design is far more profound than it first appears.

Home Feature

THE STORIES BEHIND THE MATERIALS SHAPING UAE INTERIORS

Published

2 hours ago

October 23, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

by Selva Kumar Rajulu, Managing Director & Senior Vice President – Middle East, Asia & Africa, Nolte FZE

A beautiful material can catch the eye, but it is the story behind it that increasingly captures a buyer’s attention. Customers today are more knowledgeable about their homes and increasingly interested in the finer details behind the products they choose. Where was the material sourced? How will it perform overtime? And what effect could it have on the people living around it?

For manufacturers and designers, this creates a responsibility to explain the thinking behind every material choice. Storytelling is becoming an important way to do that, connecting aesthetics with provenance, performance, sustainability, and wellbeing. And like any good story, this too begins with its origins.

Origin Is Adding New Value To Premium Interiors

A material’s origin tells us more than where it comes from. It can influence how sustainably it is produced, how well it performs, and the character it brings into a home.

Stone from a particular quarry, responsibly sourced timber, and traditionally woven textiles each carry a sense of place and craftsmanship. These qualities are particularly valuable in premium interiors, where homeowners are looking for substances beyond surface appearance. However, these stories also need to be supported by evidence. At Nolte Küchen, more than 99% of the wood we use meets our sustainable wood criteria, with FSC and PEFC certifications prioritized in procurement.

We are seeing this emphasis on transparency reflected in our work with UAE developers, where project briefs increasingly look beyond the appearance of kitchen materials to consider sourcing, durability, and consistency across multiple units. For manufacturers, responsibly sourcing materials, backed by recognized certifications and produced to consistent quality standards, will set them apart. It also allows customers to make more informed choices by showing where materials come from and how they are made.

Regional identity is influencing design trends

Beyond its origin, a material must also suit the region’s environment and culture. In the UAE, extreme heat, humidity, and strong sunlight make durability a key consideration. Material choices can also influence how much heat enters a building and, in turn, the energy needed for cooling.

A 2026 study of Dubai’s Al Fahidi district highlighted how traditional homes used coral-stone walls and wind towers to regulate indoor comfort naturally. Today, that same principle of environmental adaptation applies to modern interiors: cabinetry, adhesives, and surface finishes must be engineered to withstand the UAE’s coastal humidity, intense UV light through floor-to-ceiling windows, and constant exposure to indoor air conditioning without losing their structural integrity.

Cultural identity matters, too, with some homeowners looking for ways to reflect the region’s heritage in their spaces. For example, Al Sadu is a traditional Emirati weaving technique featuring geometric patterns inspired by grasslands, sand dunes, and the waves of the Arabian Gulf. These cultural influences can be incorporated into contemporary homes through traditional geometric detailing, sand-toned finishes, and textured stone.

From our experience, no single style defines the UAE market. With people from over 200 nationalities coming here to live, work, and build families, homes naturally reflect a wide range of cultures and personal tastes. This is especially evident in kitchen design, where some buyers prefer clean, minimalist European styles, while others are drawn to warmer wood finishes, earthy tones, and textured surfaces. We are also seeing growing interest in combining contrasting materials and finishes, such as natural wood textures with matt cabinetry or stone surfaces, to create more unique kitchens.

Sustainability is at the center of material choices

PWC found that more than half of Middle Eastern consumers surveyed are changing their purchasing habits by buying more sustainable products. This growing awareness is also influencing how people choose materials for their homes, with greater attention to what products contain, how they are made, and how long they will last.

For manufacturers, this means supporting sustainability claims with evidence. Using recycled wood in particle boards, sourcing certified timber, and reducing waste during production are some ways the industry is responding. However, sustainability goes beyond material sourcing. Durability and repairability are equally important to reduce the need for frequent replacements.

In kitchens, these considerations are particularly important. With frequent everyday use, buyers increasingly look for materials that can withstand wear and tear while retaining their appearance over time. This is why advancements in surface engineering—such as anti-fingerprint matt lacquers, UV-resistant laminates, and highly durable stone reproductions—have become central to the sustainability conversation.

What lies ahead for 2027

As homeowners pay closer attention to materials, trends such as natural wood finishes, statement stone surfaces, and textured cabinetry are gaining ground across the UAE.

More importantly, the kitchen is no longer treated as an isolated workspace. Heading into 2027, we are seeing a decisive shift toward integrated living ecosystems, where identical material stories, warm timber cabinetry, layered textures, full-height stone backsplashes, and earthy colors extend seamlessly from the kitchen into dining and living areas, paired with fully integrated built-in appliances.

This has made customisation increasingly important, as customers want cohesive colours, textures, and layouts that reflect their personal identity across the entire home. As buyers increasingly seek to experience these materials first-hand, showrooms are becoming an important part of the decision-making process, letting them see and feel differences in texture, finish, and quality. Beyond appearance, however, sustainability and provenance will become essential considerations in material selection, with customers expecting greater transparency around responsible sourcing, durability, environmental impact and long-term value.

Home Integrator

From Cozy Corners to Autumn Details: How to Style Your Home for the New Season

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

As the season changes, there’s something comforting about making the home feel a little warmer and more inviting. Autumn brings an opportunity to slow things down, create cosier spaces and add small touches that reflect the mood of the season. Whether it’s a candle glowing in the evening or a warmer colour palette around the living room, a few small changes can make a familiar space feel fresh. To embrace the season, MINT Market, a UAE-born curated online and offline marketplace, has rounded up pieces from its unique homegrown brands to help bring a little autumn warmth into everyday spaces, with inspiration for cozy gatherings, relaxed evenings and a subtle nod to Halloween.

Scents of Autumn

Autumn starts with the little details that set the mood, and scent is an easy place to begin. Fill your home with the comforting aromas of natural coconut wax melts in scents of Dark Honey & Tobacco, Cinnamon, Frankincense & Cedarwood, or Fireside & Wild Berrier, gently warmed in a tea light or electric burner. Or perhaps create the atmosphere with the glass jar candle, where vanilla, and sage meet soft woody sandalwood fragrance. For a little everyday indulgence, the coffee and cocoa massage soap bar brings a mini spa moment to your shower, with its textured surface gently exfoliating and massaging the skin while its rich, warm fragrance adds a comforting touch to your winter routine.

Living Room Essentials

In the living room, a simple change in colour and texture can instantly give the space a more seasonal feel. A maroon checkered throw in soft, neutral tones adds warmth and sophistication while making the room feel a little cosier. For a more contemporary touch, switch up your cushions with an abstract colourful striped cover, bringing playful colour and pattern into the space without overpowering the room.

A Touch of Halloween

As Halloween draws closer, let a little magic find its way into the home. From playful fidget toys to playdough sets, these little touches can spark imagination and make the season feel that much more magical. For an afternoon of fun, the spooky figures painting kit lets little ones add their own splash of colour and personality, making it a lovely activity to enjoy at home.

All the products mentioned in this guide are available through MINT Market Online, which brings together a selection of independent, homegrown brands.

Home Integrator

The Connected Home Is Evolving into an Intelligent Ecosystem

Published

3 days ago

October 20, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Exclsuive interview with Jason Ou President, Hisense Middle East. Africa, and India

Smart homes are moving beyond individual connected devices towards more integrated living experiences. How is Hisense approaching this shift, and what role do you see the brand playing in the evolution of connected homes across the Middle East?

At Hisense, we recognized early that the future of the smart home isn’t simply about connecting devices, it’s about creating intelligent companions that understand and anticipate how families live. Our vision has evolved from “connected life” to “smart connection powered by AI,” where every device in the home becomes part of an intelligent, communicative ecosystem.

This is the foundation of our ConnectLife platform, which unifies Hisense refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, dishwashers, and air conditioners into one seamless ecosystem. But connectivity alone is no longer enough. Our global vision is to transform home appliances into AI companions, moving toward what we call Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) in the home, where devices don’t just respond to commands but actively partner with consumers to enhance their daily lives.

At IFA Berlin, we showcased this AI companionship philosophy across our product range. Our smart refrigerators, powered by AI and voice control, manage food inventory and suggest recipes. Our air conditioners intelligently adapt to preferences and environmental conditions. The award-winning X-zone Master washer dryer, which claimed the CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award, uses AI Assist to detect fabric types and optimize cycles automatically. These are household companions that learn, adapt, and improve over time.

The Middle East, with its strong appetite for premium technology and its culture centred on family gatherings and hospitality, is ideally positioned to lead this evolution. Hisense is committed to shaping the connected home experience across the region, not by adding more devices, but by transforming them into intelligent companions that enhance how families live together.

UAE consumers are increasingly looking for homes that combine convenience, energy efficiency, entertainment, and intelligent technology. How are these changing expectations influencing Hisense’s product development and regional strategy?

The UAE stands as the most digitally advanced market in the region, with consumers who are early adopters of technology and innovation. The fast-paced lifestyle here means UAE consumers actively seek products powered by AI that simplify their lives while delivering premium experiences. This market insight directly shapes our regional strategy and product development.

Convenience through intelligent technology: UAE consumers don’t have time for manual adjustments. Our ConnectLife ecosystem and AI-powered automation address this, whether it’s a washing machine that intelligently selects the optimal cycle or an air conditioner that anticipates comfort needs before you even think about it. AI transforms everyday tasks into seamless, automated experiences.

Energy efficiency as intelligent innovation: Sustainability matters to UAE consumers, but not at the expense of performance. Our U8 air conditioner, recognised with a Red Dot Award, exemplifies how AI can optimise energy consumption while maintaining exceptional comfort. The X-zone Master washer dryer uses heat pump technology for gentle, low-temperature drying at 50°C, protecting fabrics while significantly reducing energy use, intelligence that benefits both households and the environment.

Entertainment reimagined: This is where Hisense has established clear leadership. As the originator of RGB MiniLED technology, our flagship displays deliver cinema-grade experiences that discerning UAE consumers demand. The UR9 Series achieves 100% BT.2020 colour coverage, while our laser display portfolio redefines home entertainment possibilities.

Intelligent technology is the thread connecting all three pillars. Our localised R&D centre in Dubai ensures products are tailored to regional requirements, while our manufacturing facilities across the region demonstrate our commitment to serving this market with agility and precision.

Interoperability remains a key challenge in smart-home adoption, with consumers often managing devices across different platforms and ecosystems. How is Hisense addressing this challenge to make connected living more practical and accessible?

Interoperability is one of the greatest barriers to smart home adoption, and addressing it has been central to our strategic vision for the connected home. ConnectLife is Hisense’s answer to ecosystem fragmentation, but we’ve designed it to go far beyond simple device management. It serves as a unified platform where our full range of products don’t just connect, they communicate, analyze, and optimize experiences together. Refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, dishwashers, and air conditioners become nodes in an intelligent network that understands household patterns and preferences.

The PureFlat Smart Series refrigerator exemplifies this vision. Through ConnectLife, it transforms from a kitchen appliance into a connected hub for household life, enabling meal planning, content sharing, and family communication. The X-zone Master washer dryer integrates seamlessly, with AI Assist optimizing every cycle based on real-time data from across the ecosystem.

What distinguishes our approach is the shift from devices you control to devices that learn from each other. When our appliances analyze your patterns, your preferred temperatures, your viewing habits, your food consumption, they collectively optimize energy usage, suggest improvements, and anticipate needs. The home becomes an intelligent environment that adapts to how each family actually lives.

Rather than locking consumers into proprietary systems, we focus on creating seamless experiences that feel natural. When a large-format display delivers cinema-grade visuals, an air conditioner maintains the ideal viewing environment, and a refrigerator keeps refreshments ready, all coordinated intelligently, the home truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a defining feature of next-generation home appliances and entertainment systems. Where do you see AI delivering the most meaningful improvements to everyday living, beyond simply adding more features to connected devices?

The meaningful impact of AI lies in transforming appliances from devices you control into intelligent companions that understand you. This represents a shift, from smart appliances that respond to commands to AI-powered systems that connect with each other, communicate, analyze patterns, and proactively optimize your home experience.

In home entertainment, our Hi-View AI Engine RGB processor works in real time, analyzing content to optimize color accuracy, contrast, and motion handling. It learns your viewing preferences and adapts, sport, film, and gaming are each rendered with the precision they deserve, without requiring manual adjustment.

In laundry care, the X-zone Master’s AI Assist represents a leap forward in intelligent companionship. The system doesn’t just follow instructions, it detects fabric types, analyses soil levels, and optimizes washing and drying parameters automatically. It learns from each cycle to deliver better garment care with less effort over time.

In climate control, AI enables our air conditioners to become environmental companions. They learn household patterns, analyze preferences, and adjust temperature proactively, maintaining comfort without constant input, particularly valuable in the Gulf region’s demanding climate.

In kitchen appliances, AI-powered refrigerators track food inventory, analyze consumption patterns, suggest recipes based on available ingredients, and even optimize energy usage based on household routines.

The transformative element is when these AI companions work together, sharing data, analyzing collective patterns, and optimizing the entire home environment. This is the vision Hisense is building: homes where AI doesn’t just add features, but genuinely understands and enhances how families live.

Hisense has recorded significant growth in the Middle East and Africa under your leadership. Which shifts in consumer behaviour, distribution, or product demand have contributed most to this momentum, and how are these insights shaping the brand’s next phase of growth?

Our growth across this diverse region is driven by a combination of key factors: a strong and innovative product portfolio, deep understanding of local market dynamics and consumer preferences, strategic partnerships, and our ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet evolving needs across different markets.

Strong product innovation: Our leadership in RGB MiniLED technology and large-format displays, Hisense ranks No. 1 globally in the 100-inch and over TV segment according to Omdia (2023-Q3 2025), reflects our commitment to genuinely differentiated products. The recognition of our X-zone Master at CES 2026 and IFA Berlin validates our approach to scenario-based innovation. Euromonitor International has certified Hisense as the fastest-growing brand among the world’s top 10 washing machine manufacturers over the past five years, momentum we’re building across all categories.

Deep market understanding: Consumer behavior across the region has shifted decisively toward premium, integrated solutions. Families want ecosystems that work together intelligently. In the GCC, the cultural emphasis on hospitality and shared experiences aligns naturally with our whole-home technology philosophy. We’ve invested in understanding what each market needs and tailoring our approach accordingly.

Strategic partnerships and localization: Our partnerships across retail and distribution channels have been crucial in reaching consumers effectively. Our manufacturing facilities in South Africa and Algeria, with a major facility under development in Egypt, bring production closer to consumers and demonstrate long-term regional commitment. Our R&D centre in Dubai ensures products address local requirements.

Looking ahead, these insights shape a strategy focused on deepening ecosystem connectivity, expanding our premium portfolio, and leveraging our position as official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to strengthen brand resonance with families across the region.

Hisense has expanded its television portfolio with technologies such as Mini-LED and larger-screen displays. How are these innovations shaping the brand’s premium home entertainment strategy in the UAE, and what can consumers expect next?

Display technology is at the heart of our premium entertainment strategy, and RGB MiniLED represents the future of television, a future Hisense originated and continues to lead.

We developed RGB MiniLED technology with three fundamental advantages that give us a clear edge over competition:

True colours: Unlike conventional displays that use blue LEDs with colour filters, RGB MiniLED uses dedicated red, green, and blue LEDs for the purest, most accurate colour reproduction possible. Our UR9 Series achieves 100% BT.2020 colour coverage, delivering what the content creators actually intended.

Eye protection: The natural light spectrum produced by RGB technology is gentler on eyes, reducing strain during extended viewing, particularly important for families in the UAE who value premium entertainment experiences at home.

Energy efficiency: RGB MiniLED delivers superior brightness and colour with lower power consumption than traditional technologies, intelligent innovation that doesn’t compromise on performance.

We’ve deployed this technology across our flagship lineup, the UX, UR9, and UR8 Series, paired with our Hi-View AI Engine RGB processor and native 180Hz refresh rates for exceptional precision in sport, gaming, and fast-paced content.

According to Omdia, Hisense ranks No. 1 globally in the 100-inch and over TV segment (2023-Q3 2025), reflecting both consumer demand for immersive screens and our ability to deliver at scale.

Our laser display portfolio extends this vision further. The L9Q Laser TV delivers cinema-grade screens up to 200 inches, while the Laser Projector XR10 offers 6,000 lumens brightness, 60,000:1 contrast ratio, and projection capability up to 300 inches, fundamentally dissolving the distinction between television and home cinema.

UAE consumers can expect continued innovation at the intersection of display technology and AI, screens that not only deliver exceptional picture quality but adapt intelligently to content, lighting conditions, and preferences. Combined with premium audio partnerships like our collaboration with Devialet, we’re building complete entertainment experiences, not simply selling screens.