Vibha Mehta and Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Residential Communities at Dubai Holding Asset Management, explore DHAM’s core pillars
Dubai’s accelerated economic growth and diversification strategies attract investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to tap into the city’s spring of opportunities across non-oil sectors. It has become an increasingly attractive place to live, work, and do business, primarily due to its stability and high quality of life. This translates into a thriving residential market across the board as demand for quality housing grows with the population, creating a sense of urgency and potential in the market. Dubai’s robust buying landscape has made global headlines, but the rental segment is also performing tremendously well.
“We are seeing its impact across our residential portfolio, which has maintained high occupancy levels across the board,” shares Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Residential Communities – Dubai Holding Asset Management. “Whether we are looking at our premium assets in Bluewaters and City Walk or more family-focused living like Layan, Ghoroob and Shorooq, there’s incredible and unyielding interest from new residents.” That pairs with interest from existing residents who have either been priced out of their previous homes as rental rates increase or seek more comprehensive housing solutions. DHAM’s extended portfolio brings their total number of residential assets to 25, enabling them to better cater to this competitive market and enhance the portfolio to meet the needs of Dubai’s evolving resident fabric.
Sustainability At Its Core
Sustainability is a shared responsibility, especially if they want to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis meaningfully. Integrating sustainability into their portfolio is crucial in creating communities that encourage and enable sustainable living. Ahmed adds, “Our partnership with BEEAH Tandeef is part of that mission to advance sustainable waste management by diverting waste from landfills and elevate the quality of life in our communities.” Along with analysing opportunities for more sustainable investments and enhancements, they also co-host events with their residents to raise awareness for sustainable lifestyle habits that aim to shape more positive behaviours at an individual level.
“We are also launching the Green Ambassadors Club Program to motivate, educate and incentivise sustainable environmental practices by assigning green leaders in our communities,” he continues. The Green Ambassador will raise awareness for sustainable living among residents and report any waste management issues, actively involving them in the sustainability strategy. These sustainability initiatives aim not only to align their communities with the Dubai 2040 Urban Masterplan but to authentically reduce the environmental footprint of their portfolio and reflect the values of the residents, who are increasingly passionate about environmental preservation.
Integrating AI & Emerging Technologies
“It is part of our strategic vision to leverage technology to enhance our services, offerings and overall resident experiences. Our digital platform, the DubaiAM Life app, is central to this effort, streamlining and digitising key resident interactions and services for convenience,” continues Ahmed. That includes digital rental payments, lease renewals and maintenance requests. They have also built a comprehensive dashboard as a repository for all data and insights generated across the DHAM portfolio to enhance decision-making. It allows them to identify problem areas that require urgent addressing and remain connected to their communities and resident needs in real time. This will undoubtedly feed into future investments and explorations into AI, creating a valuable data stream, but they are still in the early stages of exploring its applications and integrations. As with any technological and community enhancements, their end goal is the convenience and satisfaction of the customers, so the focus now is to ensure that incorporating AI is in service of that.
Aligning With Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan
Many of DHAM’s residential communities have been integral to Dubai’s urban fabric for many years. They were built to cater to all resident needs, from quality units to community sports courts, pools, gyms, running tracks, family and dog parks, barbeque puts and curated retail centres with a mix of F&B, service retailers, supermarkets and nurseys. They have been at the forefront of the 15-minute city trend, ensuring that residents never have to venture too far for their daily needs and wants, providing a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
“We see our communities as dynamic residential destinations that evolve with the needs of their residents and broader housing trends rather than as static built environments,” continues Ahmed. That has been at the core of all their enhancements, whether adding a padel court in Ghoroob as the sport grows in popularity locally or expanding the number of dog parks as pet ownership becomes more common among younger generations. Additionally, sustainability is an integral part of resilient, future-proof communities, where their efforts to integrate sustainable practices, processes and technologies become central to the strategy moving forward. Identifying the suitable investments, infrastructure and technologies that enable this will help them further future-proof their portfolio while contributing to the ambitious Dubai 2040 strategy.
Impactful Partnerships
DHAM partners with service providers and brands like Careem, OSN, Emirates NBD, Tickit rewards app, Cafu, and more to provide residents with value-added benefits that enhance their living experience. These brands offer the residents exclusive deals and discounts on streaming, WiFi, and flexible digital payment services, such as with Emirates NBD, all tailored to their customers’ needs. It expands the convenience and comfort of DHAM’s communities beyond the physical unit or community infrastructure, addressing their daily wants and aspirations. “We don’t only consider the built environment to be our way of catering to our communities but also providing value-added benefits through tailored partnerships and services that enhance their quality of life,” explains Ahmed.
Primary Objectives In 2024 And Forward
DHAM’s primary objectives for this year are integration, sustainability and resident happiness. Their portfolio recently expanded to include a range of new communities, including Nad Al Sheba Villas, Garden View Villas, Meydan Residences and more, bringing their total assets to 25 and extending their footprint across Dubai. “These new assets are being integrated into our existing brand and portfolio, ensuring resident experiences are standardised and maintained. It’s a large yet exciting task ahead of us, and I’m optimistic about the journey ahead,” shares Ahmed.
Sustainability and innovation are also central to their growth strategy, which includes further exploring ways to embed sustainable practices into the communities to reduce their collective environmental footprint and champion the environment at a residential level. Lastly, and most importantly, ensuring resident satisfaction by enhancing their interactions with the community representatives. Resident retention is also central to their business growth strategy, which they achieve by continuously improving their interactions and experiences. “Whether hosting events that connect them with their neighbours and engage their families or ensuring a swift response to any needs or requests, we are continuously working to provide our residents with quality care and convenience,” concludes Ahmed.
