Sobha Group has entered strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with 10 leading global and regional universities, reinforcing its long-term commitment to building future-ready leadership talent and strengthening its position as a people-first organization that invests as deeply in its people as it does in its projects.

Aligned with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation, higher education, and advanced talent development, the initiative represents a long-term investment in leadership capability, continuous upskilling, and future talent pipelines amid rapid business transformation and regional expansion.

At the core of the programme is Sobha Group’s People Development Team, which drives leadership development through bespoke workshops, executive coaching, capstone projects, and strategic learning interventions designed to enhance enterprise-wide capability building for Talent readiness for meeting the Global expansion plans of Sobha Group. The university partnerships will further expand the scale, depth, and global exposure of these initiatives.

The partner institutions include globally respected universities such as BITS Pilani, INSEAD, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Amity University, Symbiosis Institute, Heriot Watt, Canadian University, Abudhabi School of Management and Northwood University, alongside other leading academic institutions operating across the UAE and internationally.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Ravi Menon, Chairman, Sobha Group, said, “As industries evolve and business environments become increasingly dynamic, organizations must equally evolve in how they nurture talent and leadership. Our partnerships with leading universities represent a long-term investment in building future leaders equipped with global perspectives, stronger capabilities, and the agility to navigate a rapidly changing world. This initiative also reflects our confidence in the UAE’s vision to become a global center for knowledge, innovation, and advanced talent development.”

Mr. Francis Alfred, Managing Director, Sobha Realty, said, “Our growth has always been powered by our people – Sobha family, and this collaboration with leading universities strengthens that foundation further. We are creating structured access to global knowledge, research, and leadership development opportunities to help our people grow into future-ready leaders while embedding continuous learning deeper into our culture.”

Reflecting the growing role of the private sector in strengthening academia-industry collaboration in the UAE, the programme also positions the country as an emerging crossroads for global academia and enterprise collaboration. With several partner institutions operating internationally, the programme brings together global faculty, research ecosystems, and industry leadership under a unified talent development framework.

The collaboration also highlights strengthening India-UAE education and business corridor, with institutions such as BITS Pilani, IIM Ahmedabad, and Manipal Academy (Bcz Manipal is name of a place) playing an increasing role in cross-border executive education, leadership development, and talent exchange between the two countries.

The MoUs have been formally endorsed by all participating universities and mark the commencement of a long-term collaboration focused on leadership development, innovation, and sustainable growth.

ELEVATE, the visionary lifestyle real estate brand behind Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences, developed in partnership with globally recognised lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore, has announced a landmark transaction exceeding AED 127.5 million at the project, underscoring the extraordinary demand for premium branded beachfront residences on Al Marjan Island.

The transaction was made by THRIVESTATE Square Real Estate, reflecting growing investor confidence in Ras Al Khaimah’s evolving luxury residential landscape and the increasing global appetite for design-led waterfront living experiences in the emirate.

The deal underscores sustained momentum within Al Marjan Island, where demand continues to accelerate for premium beachfront residences that combine lifestyle, design, hospitality, and long-term value. With beachfront inventory on the island becoming increasingly constrained by geography, buyers are showing heightened interest in developments that offer both scarcity and cultural relevance.

Zeeshaan Shah, Founder & CEO of ELEVATE, said: “The market response has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we are honoured to have built this momentum alongside an exceptional community of broker partners and buyers who share our vision.

“This also marks the arrival of Ras Al Khaimah on the global stage. After the Burj Al Arab, the Burj Khalifa, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Wynn Al Marjan is the UAE’s next global icon, and its opening next year will be a headline event felt around the world. At the heart of this transformation is Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences: a living destination for those who seek art, culture, beauty, and a deeper, more intentional way of life. Prime beachfront real estate here is now extremely limited, very soon, we will be speaking of it only in hindsight.”

Reflecting the project’s strong market momentum, ELEVATE recently hosted an exclusive gathering for leading UAE brokers at Delano Dubai, celebrating the broker community whose support and market conviction have contributed to the project’s continued success. The development has now achieved close to 200 residences sold, reinforcing the growing demand for branded beachfront living on Al Marjan Island and the broader momentum currently shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s luxury real estate market.

Lior Poly, CEO of THRIVESTATE Square Real Estate, added “Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences stood out for its strong lifestyle positioning, iconic branding, and clear appeal to both primary and second-home buyers. The project captures the essence of modern beachfront living by combining design excellence with a compelling cultural and hospitality offering.”

Following the strong uptake of its residential offerings, the project is preparing to introduce a limited collection of exclusive townhouses and sky villas, presenting buyers with a rare opportunity to own highly curated, design-led homes within one of the UAE’s most anticipated beachfront developments.

Construction continues to progress steadily on site, with shoring now 100% complete, anchor installation at 80%, and excavation progressing at 50%. Handover remains targeted for 2029.

Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences has emerged as one of the standout developments within this evolving market. Following its Q4 2025 launch, residences were reserved within hours, highlighting strong demand from both regional and international buyers seeking a more experience-led approach to luxury living.

By Haya Bitar – leadership and personal transformation expert, founder of Blue Turtle, and wellness advocate.
What stands out to me about the burnout epidemic is that I don’t believe we are necessarily burning out because we are busier than previous generations. I think we are burning out because we have become disconnected from our bodies and because rest has slowly lost its value in modern life.

Somewhere along the way, rest became associated with laziness or lack of ambition. Productivity became the measure of worth. Achieving, performing and constantly moving became the norm while slowing down started to feel uncomfortable for many people. Yet the body was never designed to operate in a constant state of output.

Rest is no longer something that simply happens naturally in the rhythm of the day. In the past, there were pauses built into life. Prayer times, slower afternoons, moments of gathering, quiet evenings and even siestas created space for the nervous system to reset. Today, life has become more flexible in many ways, but flexibility without intention often means we never truly stop.

This is why I believe we need to schedule rest into our lives in the same way we schedule meetings, deadlines and responsibilities. If we don’t intentionally create space for recovery, it simply gets swallowed by the next task.

What matters equally is the quality of that rest. Many people take time off physically while mentally remaining in performance mode. Even during moments of pause, the mind is still trying to optimise, improve and prepare for the next achievement. True rest cannot exist when the brain still feels like it is being evaluated.

I often speak about something I call the art of fulfillment. These small moments of pause become opportunities to acknowledge ourselves, celebrate progress, appreciate the small wins and reconnect with gratitude rather than pressure. Sometimes ten quiet minutes of presence can shift the entire quality of a day.

Mental fatigue is also very real. The brain uses around 20 percent of the body’s energy, which means constant stimulation, decision-making and information overload come at a cost. When the brain never gets moments of recovery, people begin to experience emotional exhaustion, reduced focus, irritability and a growing sense of disconnection from themselves.

This is also where our homes become incredibly important. A home should not only look beautiful, it should feel regulating. The spaces we live in either signal safety to the nervous system or contribute to overstimulation. Lighting, noise, clutter, constant notifications and even the absence of quiet corners all affect how the body feels within a space.

Creating a calmer home does not need to mean creating perfection. Sometimes it is as simple as creating intentional pauses within the environment. A chair near natural light where no screens are allowed. Softer lighting in the evening. Moments of silence. Areas that invite stillness rather than stimulation.

The nervous system responds to what we repeatedly experience. When a home allows space to breathe, slow down and reconnect to the body, it becomes more than a place we live in. It becomes a place that restores us.