DAMAC Properties, the largest private real estate developer in the UAE and the Middle East, has urged more than 300,000 residents staying across its communities and team members to participate in ‘Earth Hour 2026’. The annual sustainability initiativeis part of a global movement highlighting the urgent need for climate awareness and energy conservation.

On Saturday, March 28, DAMAC communities and towers across Dubai will go dark by switching off lights for one hour, starting 8.30pm. The initiative is supported by community engagement teams and sustainability champions from LOAMS, the award-winning, jointly owned property and community management company.

DAMAC’schampioning of Earth Hour reinforces its commitment to building a sustainable future. Switching off lights for one hour across 50,000 homes has an impact equivalent to planting 200 trees that thrive for a decade. It saves 10,800 kWhr, equal to 4900kg of carbon dioxide emissions.

Patricia Torres, a resident of DAMAC Hills 2, noted: “It is motivating to see our community united for a meaningful cause. Earth Hour helps us appreciate how simple actions taken together can create real and lasting change. We look forward to playing our part by switching off lights and make a positive impact in the fight against climate change.”

Earth Hour, organised by WWF, is a global grassroots movement that started as a lights-out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then, it has grown to engage millions of supporters globally. As the movement grows, the one-hour lights out event continues to be the symbol of a broader commitment toward nature and our planet.

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.

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.