By Carlo Magistretti, Chief Strategic Advisor, Sobha Furniture

For decades, premium furniture has been closely associated with established European manufacturing centres, particularly Italy, where design heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural influence have shaped global standards. That reputation is deserved. But the global landscape has changed.

Today, the conversation around premium products can no longer be defined by where something has traditionally been made. It must be defined by the quality of design, the precision of execution, the consistency of production, and the value delivered to the customer.

The UAE is a powerful example of this shift.

This is a country built on ambition, but more importantly, on the ability to turn ambition into reality. It is a place where bold ideas are not left as concepts. They are planned, engineered, built, and delivered at scale. From iconic skylines and world-class infrastructure to landmark hospitality and residential developments, the UAE has consistently shown the world what is possible when vision is matched with execution.

That same spirit is now shaping its manufacturing sector.

“Made in the UAE” is no longer a statement of convenience or proximity. Increasingly, it is becoming a mark of quality, capability, and confidence. It reflects a country that has invested deeply in industrial infrastructure, advanced technology, logistics, talent, and operational excellence to create a manufacturing ecosystem that can compete on a global stage.

The momentum behind this shift is clear. The UAE’s manufacturing industry recorded 7.7% growth in Q1 2025 and contributed 12.8% to non-oil GDP, underscoring the country’s growing industrial capability and its role in the wider economic vision.

For UAE-based businesses that continue to rely solely on imported products, whether from Italy or any other market traditionally associated with premium craftsmanship, there is a risk of overlooking what is happening here. The Emirates are no longer simply a destination for global products. They are becoming a place where global standards are created, manufactured, and delivered.

The premium furniture industry needs to recognise this change. Premium should not be reduced to geography. It should be measured by design integrity, material quality, manufacturing precision, service reliability, and the ability to deliver consistently. By those measures, UAE manufacturing is proving that it can stand alongside some of the most established production hubs in the world.

At Sobha Furniture, we have long believed that the future of premium furniture manufacturing is about integrating the design excellence and the manufacturing expertise within one fully integrated ecosystem.

This philosophy has shaped the way we build our business. Our own design teams in Milan – Italy draw on deep expertise in creating proportion, materiality, timeless aesthetics, and meaningful living solution while our manufacturing capabilities in the UAE ensure that these ideas are engineered, produced, finished, and delivered with precision.

This high level of integration is fundamental. In furniture, design and execution cannot exist as separate disciplines. A compelling design only achieves its full value when it is translated flawlessly into the finished product. By connecting design, engineering, manufacturing, finishing, and quality control within a unified process, innovation moves faster, customisation becomes more achievable, and the original design intent is preserved throughout every stage.

For customers, this translates into a more dependable experience, with greater transparency, rigorous quality assurance, enhanced flexibility, and confidence that every piece is delivered exactly as intended.

In recent years, global supply chains have faced repeated disruption, from shipping delays to material shortages and geopolitical pressures. Businesses that rely heavily on distant production networks have often found themselves vulnerable to factors beyond their control.

Manufacturing in the UAE changes that equation. It gives brands greater control over quality, timelines, and responsiveness. It also creates a clearer connection between a brand, its product, and its place of origin. From a customer’s perspective, that translates into confidence and trust.

This belief also shaped the launch of Flaer during Milan Design Week. Flaer represents a new expression of what a premium furniture brand from the UAE can be: globally minded, rooted in Italian design culture, and powered by the UAE’s ability to make ambitious ideas real. Presenting Flaer in Milan was not only a design statement, but a statement of confidence. It demonstrated that a brand conceived, manufactured, and built through the UAE’s capabilities can enter one of the world’s most influential design conversations with clarity and credibility.

This is the opportunity in front of us. The UAE has already earned a global reputation as a place where bold visions are realised. Now, that same reputation is extending into manufacturing, design, and industrial excellence.

The real question is no longer whether UAE manufacturing can compete internationally. The evidence increasingly shows that it can. The question is whether businesses are prepared to move beyond outdated assumptions and recognise the opportunity this shift presents.

As an industry, we must move beyond the belief that premium is synonymous with imported. Excellence can be designed globally, manufactured locally, and delivered to the world. The brands that embrace this mindset will not only strengthen their own competitiveness but will also help define the next chapter of global manufacturing.

The future of premium furniture will belong to those who can combine design excellence, manufacturing precision, operational control, and customer confidence into one seamless experience. The UAE is increasingly proving that it can do exactly that.

As the summer months approach, heat resilience is becoming a key priority for the UAE’s built environment. In the region, cooling can account for up to 80% of a building’s total electricity consumption, making design and construction choices critical not only for comfort, but also for long-term efficiency and sustainability. At the same time, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 targets a 40%  reduction in energy demand across key sectors. This means buildings can no longer depend only on mechanical cooling after completion. The decisions made during planning, design, material selection, and construction directly influence how liveable a building will be for future residents and tenants.

For Access Consult, years of experience across the UAE’s built environment have shown that designing for this region requires a clear understanding of climate, local regulations, cultural context, user comfort, and operational performance. Drawing on this experience, Access Consult outlines six construction choices that can help make buildings in the UAE more heat-resilient.

1. Choosing the right building orientation

One of the most effective ways to reduce heat gain is to study how the building sits on its plot. Orientation affects how much direct sunlight a building receives during the hottest parts of the day. Research in the UAE shows that north-facing windows consume 36% less annual cooling energy compared to windows facing other directions.

Consultants can help developers assess sun paths, neighbouring buildings, wind direction, and views before finalising massing and layout. By reducing unnecessary exposure on the most heat-sensitive façades, buildings can perform better before any mechanical cooling system is even switched on.

2. Designing façades that work with the climate

The façade is one of the most important elements in heat-resilient construction. It is the building’s first line of defence against solar radiation, heat transfer, glare, and outdoor temperature extremes.

High-performance glazing, shading devices, insulated panels, balcony projections, façade fins, and carefully selected cladding systems can all help reduce heat gain. The aim is to design a building envelope that supports comfort and energy efficiency. In the GCC, façade design must balance daylight, views, aesthetics, durability, and thermal performance.

3. Using materials with better thermal performance

Some materials absorb and retain heat quickly, while others help regulate internal temperatures more effectively. Choosing appropriate insulation, wall systems, roofing materials, and external finishes can significantly improve a building’s performance during summer.

Light-coloured external materials can help reflect sunlight, while insulated walls and roofs reduce heat transfer into the building. In large developments, these choices can make a noticeable difference to indoor comfort and operational costs over time. Good material selection also supports durability, which is critical in environments exposed to intense sun, humidity, and temperature fluctuations.

4. Strengthening wall insulation and airflow

In hot climates, double-wall construction, cavity walls, and insulated blocks can help reduce the amount of heat entering a building and support more stable indoor temperatures. While these options may slightly increase initial construction costs, they contribute to long-term comfort and efficiency.

Cross ventilation should also be planned early. Windows on opposite walls, open layouts, and ventilation shafts can support natural air movement through the building. When airflow is properly considered, interiors feel less stagnant and cooling systems do not have to work as hard.

5. Planning roofs and outdoor areas carefully

Roofs are among the most exposed parts of a building, making them a major source of heat gain. Standard dark bitumen roofs in the UAE absorb up to 90% of solar radiation, reaching punishing surface temperatures of 70°C to 80°C in the summer.

Strong roof insulation, reflective finishes, shaded service areas, and, where suitable, green or landscaped roof zones can improve performance. Outdoor spaces should also include shaded walkways, covered parking, pergolas, heat-appropriate paving, and shaded communal areas to make developments more usable during warmer months.

6. Coordinating efficient HVAC systems early

Even with strong passive design, buildings in the UAE still require mechanical cooling. This makes HVAC efficiency critical. Consultants should coordinate cooling systems early with architectural, structural, and MEP teams to ensure cooling loads are calculated accurately, ducts are properly routed, and systems remain accessible for maintenance.

Energy-efficient HVAC choices include high-SEER units, smart or programmable thermostats, regular maintenance planning, clean filters and ducts, and properly sealed and insulated air ducts.

By Noor Al Muhaideb, Founding Partner – Opaal Interiors

There is a moment, walking through a beautifully finished apartment, when something feels slightly off. The marble is flawless, the joinery bespoke, the lighting calibrated to do exactly what it should at exactly the right hour, and yet the space refuses to settle. Somewhere beneath the surface finish, the city persists. A low thrum, a neighbouring conversation. The sound of a lift motor somewhere in the core. A home can be gorgeous and not feel like a sanctuary.

This is the problem that the UAE’s most discerning residential clients are beginning to name, and it is quietly changing how the region’s top design practices approach a brief. For years, luxury here has been defined by what you can see: the calibre of stone, the provenance of fixtures, the intricacy of a ceiling detail. Those things still carry weight, but the conversation in design studios from DIFC to Abu Dhabi’s waterfront has shifted toward something that doesn’t photograph, the quality of silence a home can actually hold.

This shift is supported by a wider understanding of how design affects wellbeing. A 2026 review reinforced how the physical environment influences mental well-being, including the way people respond to sensory comfort. Sound plays a major role in that experience, shaping concentration, sleep, privacy, and the ability to unwind. Poor acoustic planning can make a home feel busy even when it is empty, while thoughtful design creates a quieter rhythm for daily life.

What clients are actually asking for

Designers working at the top of the market describe a shift in how clients come to the table. The mood board still arrives, but it is increasingly accompanied by something more specific: a set of conditions the home needs to meet. A study that genuinely separates from the rest of the house. A bedroom that earns its keep as a place of actual rest. Living spaces that can hold the noise of a full household without letting it spill everywhere at once.

This is partly a post-pandemic recalibration. When the home became the workplace, the gym, the school, and the social hub simultaneously, its acoustic shortcomings became impossible to ignore. But in the UAE, there is an additional driver that might surprise you. Roughly one in three younger buyers and renters are now evaluating properties based on their suitability for content creation, recording, and professional video calls. The home office is no longer a corner with a desk for a growing cohort of entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and consultants, it is a broadcast environment. To them, acoustic quality is therefore infrastructure.

The design language of quiet

The best executed examples of acoustic design are invisible in the most literal sense. You experience the result without registering the mechanism. Upholstered wall panels absorb without looking clinical. Layered curtains manage reverberation while reading as pure textile luxury. Double-height ceilings with acoustic treatment become a canvas for lighting design rather than a utilitarian fix. A home designed with sound in mind tends to feel more composed and more genuinely calm, which is exactly what luxury clients are reaching for, even when they cannot quite articulate why.

Leading design practices in the UAE are already positioning acoustic engineering alongside circadian lighting systems, biophilic planning, and wellness rooms as part of a coherent philosophy of residential wellbeing. This is the right instinct. Silence is not a niche feature, it is a quality-of-life proposition, and in a market projected to be worth an estimated $70 billion by 2030, home to some 86,000 millionaires in Dubai alone, the clients commissioning these homes expect their designers to understand that.

Sound as part of spatial luxury

The most memorable spaces, the ones that stay with you long after a walk-through, tend to have something in common: they feel curated all the way down. Not just in the choices you notice immediately, but in the ones you absorb without knowing it. Acoustic design is precisely that kind of detail. It does not photograph and does not make a mood board. But it is what separates a home that looks exceptional from one that actually lives that way. In a region that has always known how to do beautiful, learning to do quiet is the next frontier.