Cover Story

ART OF THE DETAIL: Sobha Realty’s Commitment to Craftsmanship & Legacy

Published

9 months ago

April 2, 2025

Exclusive Interview with Ravi Menon, Chairman of Sobha Group

As the Chairman of Sobha Group, your leadership has been essential in shaping the company’s success in the UAE. How did you establish Sobha Realty as a top brand in the UAE’s competitive market?

Success doesn’t come overnight, especially in a market as competitive as the UAE. When Sobha Realty entered the market in 2003, it was never about scale, it was about setting a new standard for excellence and quality. Sobha Realty has always been about building a track record of unwavering commitment, meticulous planning, and an unshakable belief that quality should never be compromised.

Sobha Realty today is well-founded in legacy; one that my father, PNC Menon, dedicated himself to establishing every day of his career. Before I inherited the reins as Chairman, I tried to absorb every lesson he imparted and the values that define Sobha Realty today. This foundation has allowed me to push the brand forward while staying true to what sets us apart.

At Sobha, we don’t just build homes, we create living experiences that last for generations. When buyers and investors choose Sobha Realty, they choose reliability, trust, and enduring values. Principles that we hold close to heart and that guide us in our journey, I truly believe that our market leading position is a result of our commitment to excellence but also the team’s collective efforts to embody the purpose driven attitude that drives Sobha Realty. We are here to help create lasting legacies, celebrating craftsmanship and focusing on our ethos “Art of The Detail”. Our people always have, and will continue to be, the driving force of our success locally and globally.

Can you share your insights on the key strategies that have been pivotal in scaling Sobha Realty from its inception to the prominent position it holds today?

Without a doubt, the key driver of Sobha Realty’s success has been our unique “Backward Integration” model. By overseeing every stage of the development process, from conceptualization to completion, we ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship and precision. Sobha Group has verticals across the construction and development process, with over 500 in-house architects and designers, more than 30,000 technicians in Sobha Constructions, and our glass façade and furniture factories across the country, that we leverage to deliver unmatched quality and ensure timely delivery. Our modular factory in Ras Al Khaimah is a prime example of this model, allowing us to produce high-quality components efficiently while maintaining full control over quality. This approach guarantees our ability to maintain a track-record of timely delivery of our projects.

Beyond construction, strategic location selection is now synonymous with Sobha Realty masterplans. Our developments’ locations are selected with Dubai’s urban vision and plan in mind, offering strong investment potential and long-term value gain. Additionally, our customer-first approach ensures our developments cater not just to market demand but to evolving homeowner expectations.

However, success in a competitive market such as the UAE requires robust collaborations. Our extensive network of channel partners has been instrumental in expanding our reach, enabling us to connect with the discerning buyers and investors who seek reliability and excellence.

Today, homeowners seek more than just a property, they want a lifestyle. How is Sobha Realty adapting to these changing expectations in design, amenities, and community living?

Homeowners today are looking for living experiences, not just spaces to live in. At Sobha Realty, we focus on creating homes that blend functionality with luxury. Our ‘Art of The Detail’ philosophy ensures every aspect, from spacious layouts to premium materials, enhances daily living.

Beyond residences, we build communities designed to create meaningful connections. Sobha Solis in Motor City for example has been designed to offer an active, wellness-focused lifestyle. With the world’s first Arsenal-branded gym, landscaped podiums, and wellness amenities, the project promises residents a rarified living experience at what is now considered the neighbourhood of the future. Sobha Siniya Island meanwhile takes the living experience to a new level, offering a natural island retreat that blends luxury with pristine nature.

We have also recently introduced Sobha’s first fully furnished residences, ensuring a seamless, turn-key living experience. As a leader in the luxury real estate sector, wellness-focused spaces, and waterfront communities, Sobha Realty continues to redefine modern living, bridging the gap where comfort, design, and experience come together effortlessly.

Given the challenges the real estate sector has faced in recent years, how have technological innovations and smart construction practices influenced Sobha Realty’s growth trajectory and helped the company remain resilient while scaling its operations?

The real estate landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead of the curve means embracing technology, and sustainable solutions that enhance our efficiency while keeping our promise of quality. The future of real estate will see a shift in how projects are executed, and we are already investing in cutting-edge technology to streamline processes.

At Sobha Realty, innovation is a core principle that drives every stage of our developments, from conception to handover. By integrating robotics into labour-intensive tasks, we can enhance precision, reduce human error, and improve overall efficiency, ensuring that every development meets an even higher level of quality.

As a masterplan developer, our commitment to sustainable innovation is evident in developments like Sobha One, the first project outside Singapore to receive the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification, reflecting our focus on energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and smart resource management. Additionally, at Sobha Siniya Island, we are looking ahead with future-ready infrastructure, such as incorporating helipads for air taxis in alignment with the UAE’s vision for next-generation urban mobility and pioneers of air taxi transportation.

By merging technology, sustainability, and craftsmanship, we redefine luxury real estate, providing the building blocks to develop smarter, greener, and more future-ready communities.

As Sobha Group continues to grow under your leadership, what do you see as the next big step for the company, especially in terms of sustainability and community development?

As we continue to strengthen our presence in the UAE, we are also setting our sights beyond, with upcoming expansions locally in Abu Dhabi and globally in the United States and Australia. These markets represent new opportunities to bring our signature craftsmanship and sustainability-driven approach to a wider audience.

However, I believe true growth is more than just entering new markets. Just as my father wanted before me when he was Chairman, I would also want to leave a lasting impact. Sobha Realty has always believed in giving back to the communities that have supported us and that will continue. Guided by the philanthropic vision of my father, our commitment is reflected in our education, community, and women’s empowerment initiatives. From building free schools and providing housing for families in need, to launching programmes that create opportunities for women, we are dedicated to fostering real change.

The Sobha Endowment University, for example, will make quality education accessible to all, as well as our pledge to build an Endowment University campus in Dubai for AED 400 Million, these initiatives reflect our dedication to empower youth. Beyond real estate, our partnerships with Arsenal FC and the International Cricket Council (ICC) represent a testament to a deep belief in the value of investing in youth development and sportsmanship on a global scale.

As we look to the future, we remain anchored by the values that define us: excellence, responsibility, craftsmanship, and a commitment to shaping a better world for generations to come.

Automotive

Goodyear continues support for Team De Rooy in the 2025 Dakar Rally

Published

18 hours ago

January 2, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Goodyear continues its partnership with Team De Rooy for the upcoming Dakar Rally 2025. As the official tire supplier, Goodyear will equip the Dutch team with its high-performance Goodyear OFFROAD tires and advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), helping to ensure reliable performance throughout the rally’s demanding stages. This collaboration highlights Goodyear’s dedication to truck motorsport, combining innovation with proven durability on some of the world’s toughest terrains.

Dakar 2025: new challenges await

The 2025 Dakar Rally, running from January 3 to January 17, will cover nearly 8,000 kilometers, including over 5,000 kilometers of competitive stages, starting in Bisha and finishing in Shubaytah. This edition ramps up the difficulty, featuring an early 48-hour chrono stage that flows into the marathon stage, setting a challenging pace from the outset. In the second week, competitors will tackle the demanding dunes of the Empty Quarter, with over 45% of the course on separate tracks for different vehicle classes, enhancing safety while complicating navigation.

Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS: performance in challenging conditions

Team De Rooy relies on Goodyear OFFROAD tires for their durability and reliable traction across different conditions. Designed to handle heat and challenging surfaces, these tires help reduce heat buildup at high speeds and provide consistent performance on sand, rocks, and steep slopes.

Goodyear’s TPMS offers real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature, helping the team make quick adjustments and avoid potential issues. This advanced system helps to minimize downtime and supports better strategic decisions—crucial for maintaining momentum during the rally.

A Legacy of motorsport excellence

Goodyear’s continued support of Team De Rooy highlights its long-standing commitment to truck motorsport. As the title sponsor of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC), Goodyear uses motorsport as a proving ground for tire technology advancements. The partnership with Team De Rooy reflects this commitment, driving innovation and performance in demanding environments.

Maciej Szymański, Marketing Director Commercial EMEA at Goodyear, commented:

“Our continued collaboration with Team De Rooy for Dakar 2025 underscores our commitment to supporting motorsport teams in extreme conditions. With Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS, we aim to provide the reliability needed to tackle the rally’s challenges. We wish Team De Rooy all the best and look forward to another exciting competition at this iconic rally”.

Cover Story

PLAUD Note Pro: This Tiny AI Recorder Might Be the Smartest Life Upgrade You Make!

Published

3 days ago

December 31, 2025

Integrator Web-Editor

By Srijith KN

I’ve been using the Plaud Note Pro for over three months now, and this is a device that has quietly earned a permanent place in my daily life now. Let me walk you through what it does—and why I say that so?

Well at first I thought this wasn’t going to do much with my life, and by the looks of it Plaud Note Pro looks like a tiny, card-sized gadget—minimal, unobtrusive to carry it around.

With a single press of the top button, it starts recording meetings, classes, interviews, or discussions. Once you end your session, the audio is seamlessly transferred to the Plaud app on your phone, where it’s transformed into structured outputs—summaries, action lists, mind maps, and more.

In essence, it’s a capture device that takes care of one part of your work so you can concentrate on the bigger game.

Design-wise, the device feels premium, it features a small display that shows battery level, recording status, and transfer progress—just enough information without distraction. The ripple-textured finish looks elegant and feels solid, paired with a clean, responsive button. It also comes with a magnetic case that snaps securely onto the back of your phone, sitting flush and tight, making it easy to carry around without thinking twice.

Battery life is another standout. On a full charge, the Plaud Note Pro can last up to 60 days, even with frequent, long recording sessions. Charging anxiety simply doesn’t exist here.

Well, my impressions about the device changed once I had an audio captured. I tested this in a busy press conference setting—eight to ten journalists around me, multiple voices, ambient noise—and the recording came out sharp and clear. Thanks to its four-microphone array, it captures voices clearly from up to four to five meters away, isolating speech with precision and keeping voices naturally forward. This directly translates into cleaner transcripts. It supports 120 languages, and yes, I even tested transcription into Malayalam—it worked remarkably well, condensed the entire convo-interview that I had during an automotive racing show that I was into.

Real meetings or interviews are rarely happens in a neat environment, and that’s where I found the Plaud Note Pro working for me. It captures nuances and details I often miss in the moment. As a journalist, that’s invaluable. The app also allows you to add photos during recordings, enriching your notes with context and visuals.

I tested transferring files over 20 minutes long, and the process was smooth and quick. Accessing the recordings on my PC via the browser was equally intuitive—everything is easy to navigate and well laid out.

Now to what is inside this tiny recorder. Well, the core of the experience is Plaud Intelligence, the AI engine powering all Plaud note-takers. It dynamically routes tasks across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s latest LLMs to deliver professional-grade results. With over 3,000 templates, AI Suggestions, and features like Ask Plaud, the system turns raw conversations into organized, searchable, and actionable insights. These capabilities are available across the Plaud App (iOS and Android) and Plaud Web.

Privacy is what I happen to see them look at seriously. All data is protected under strict compliance standards, including SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and EN18031, ensuring enterprise-grade security.

What makes the AI experience truly effective is the quality of input. Unlike a phone recorder—where notifications, distractions, and inconsistent mic pickup interfere—the Plaud Note Pro does one job and does it exceptionally well. It records cleanly, consistently, and without interruption, delivering what is easily one of the smoothest recording and transcription experiences I’ve used so far.

I’m genuinely curious to see how Plaud evolves this product further. If this is where they are today, the next version should be very interesting indeed.

“The Plaud Note Pro isn’t just a recorder; it’s a pocket-sized thinking partner that captures the details so you can think bigger, clearer, and faster.”

Plaud Note Pro is now available for pre-order at https://uae.plaud.ai/pages/plaud-note-pro
Plaud Note and NotePin are available at https://uae.plaud.ai

Cover Story

ICT CHAMPION AWARDS – 18TH EDITION

Published

4 days ago

December 30, 2025

Integrator Web-Editor

The ICT Champion Awards return with their 18th edition, continuing a long-standing tradition of recognising excellence across the Middle East’s ICT landscape. The awards bring together industry leaders, technology innovators, and decision-makers for an evening dedicated to celebrating impact, leadership, and progress across the region’s digital ecosystem.

ABOUT ICT CHAMPIONS AWARDS

This programme is designed to highlight and honour exceptional achievements across the Middle East’s ICT ecosystem, celebrating organisations that continue to demonstrate excellence in innovation, growth, resilience, and leadership. The ICT Champion Awards aim to inspire progress while recognising sustained contributions that have shaped the region’s technology landscape over time.

Integrator Media proudly presents the ICT Champion Awards – 18th Edition, recognising distinguished technology organisations across enterprise solutions, critical and public infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. More than an awards platform, the ICT Champion Awards represent a long-standing commitment to acknowledging industry leadership and real-world impact. The programme serves as a trusted stage to honour innovation, reliability, and the organisations addressing the evolving demands of today’s interconnected and security-driven digital environment.

AIM OF ICT CHAMPIONS AWARD

HONOR INNOVATION: Mark major milestones in the Middle East in the technology domain.

BENCHMARK SUCCESS: Highlight significant technology innovations and achievements in the Middle East landscape.

ACKNOWLEDGE KEY CONTRIBUTIONS: Honor and value key contributions made by leading technology organizations in the Middle East.

AWARD EXCELLENCE: Acknowledge and award accomplishments made by organizations to address the increasing demand in the technology domain.

PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Establish a platform for the technology community to unite, celebrate successes, and inspire future accomplishments.

WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?

STATEGIC NETWORKING: Connect with top experts and decision-makers in the ICT industry. This is your chance to build valuable relationships and expand your professional network.

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE: Aligned with INTERSEC 2026, the event ensure unparalleled exposure as the entire ICT community gathers in one place. Your brand will be in the spotlight, drawing high impact from the audience that are aligned with security, technology, and enterprise transformation industry.

CHANNEL & PARTNER ENGAGEMENT: Promote your brand directly to prospective partners and clients. This platform provides a unique opportunity to discuss your offerings and build new connections.

BRAND AMPLIFICATION: Participate and leverage multi-level branding opportunities through our extensive print, digital, and social media coverage.

HIGH-PROFILE BRANDING: Gain high-profile branding before, during, and after the event across multiple mediums, including print and online platforms.