ORA Developers, a globally recognised real estate leader, has established its UAE headquarters at One Central. This strategic move reinforces ORA Developers’ regional expansion while directly supporting the UAE’s vision for sustainable, future-ready urban environments that drive economic growth.
Founded by Naguib Sawiris, ORA Developers boasts a global portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, commercial, and entertainment. With an extensive land bank of more than 76 million sq m, ORA Developers has a global portfolio of 17 projects across seven countries, with an estimated total sales value of over $45 billion.
Industry forecasts indicate that the UAE’s real estate market is on a robust growth trajectory, with a projected increase in total market value from $704.25 billion in 2024 to $1.08 trillion by 2030.
Mr Sawiris, chairman and chief executive of ORA Developers, emphasised the significance of the new headquarters, stating: “In a fast-evolving real estate landscape, establishing our new headquarters is a crucial step that aligns with the UAE’s long-term vision for urban development.
"This hub not only strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, future-ready communities but also allows us to integrate global best practices with the UAE’s dynamic market needs. By prioritising nature, connectivity, and design, we are committed to shaping sustainable, well-balanced developments.
"Our leadership team’s extensive experience and long-standing commitment to ORA Developers have been instrumental in building our diverse portfolio, driving growth, and ensuring the successful execution of transformative projects.”
Since entering the UAE in 2023, ORA Developers has rapidly scaled its presence acquiring prime land, obtaining regulatory approvals, and laying the groundwork for transformative developments. The company built its UAE team from the ground up-growing to nearly 94 employees, with plans to at least triple by the end of 2025. By combining local market expertise with a seasoned leadership team, ORA Developers has established a robust foundation for operational continuity and sustained growth.
Driving the UAE expansion is a leadership team with expertise in development, sales, branding, marketing and finance. Khaled Morgan, chief development officer, ensures delivering unique and innovative urban experiences, while Ahmed Samir, chief human resources officer, drives talent acquisition in the UAE to support rapid scaling. Expanding on this foundation, Tamer Fikry, chief sales officer, enhances investor engagement, Mohamed Sheta, chief financial officer, leads financial strategy, and Lana Sawiris, chief brand officer, alongside Rasha Georgy, chief marketing officer, shapes global positioning. Amr Abdelmoneim, chief technical officer, oversees engineering and execution, maintaining top industry standards.
Furthermore, ORA Developers will soon unveil details of its key investment in the UAE, a 4.8 million sq m master-planned community in Ghantoot. The project, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, features 1.2 kilometres of pristine Arabian Gulf beachfront. ORA Developers will establish customer experience centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to provide a dedicated touchpoint for clients and stakeholders.
ORA Developers is also a strategic investor in Discovery Dunes, a project by Discovery Land Company. The ultra-luxury community is designed around a championship golf course by Tom Fazio. This project further validates ORA’s strategic investment decisions in the sector and the UAE market.
With its strengthened presence in the UAE, ORA Developers remains committed to creating forward-thinking, balanced communities that seamlessly integrate nature, connectivity, and modern infrastructure.
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
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Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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