HITEK AI has partnered with SoftBank Robotics UK (SBR) to launch its Robot as a Service (RaaS) offering. The service integrates SoftBank’s advanced robotic cleaning solutions with HITEK AI’s CAFMTEK platform, providing a comprehensive automated facilities management (FM) solution. This solution aims to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve operational performance across various industries.

The new RaaS solution is designed to empower businesses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with robotic technologies. These technologies can be integrated into their existing FM operations, streamlining processes and overall efficiency. HITEK AI combines SoftBank Robotics’ robots with its CAFMTEK platform, offering a unified service that integrates robotic automation with traditional FM. This service is managed through a single, intuitive interface, providing businesses with a streamlined and efficient management solution.

“Our partnership with SoftBank Robotics aims to bring the future of automated FM to businesses across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This integration will empower organisations to operate more efficiently, reduce operational costs, and ensure high standards of service, all while contributing to government goals for digital transformation and innovation. By combining SoftBank Robotics’ cutting-edge robotic solutions with HITEK AI’s advanced CAFMTEK platform, this launch marks a significant step forward in the digital transformation of facilities management. With a focus on efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making, HITEK AI’s Robot as a Service offering is poised to redefine the facilities management landscape in the UAE,” said Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK AI.

SoftBank will be providing two robot types. Whiz, is a commercial collaborative robot vacuum, powered by BrainOS, the advanced commercial operating system from robotics industry leader Brain Corp. This determines the best route given the surrounding environment, continuous operation for up to three hours and can cover up to 1,500sqm. Whiz is also equipped with sensors and mechanisms that enable obstacle detection, fall prevention and anomaly impact detection.

Another robot, Phantas, aims to help human teams clean better, faster, and more cost-effectively, vacuuming, sweeping, scrubbing, and dust mopping, up to 5,000sqm per hour. HITEK AI’s CAFMTEK system also tracks the service performance of robots, including uptime, task completion rates, and service requirements.

Once integrated with HITEK AI’s CAFMTEK platform, facility managers will have the ability to schedule and monitor routine and ad-hoc cleaning tasks performed by SoftBank’s robots. Each robot is uniquely identified with a new project site ID and mapped to specific zones and locations within the facility.

Clients can track performance metrics such as the sqm cleaned using the CAFMTEK platform, ensuring cleanliness standards with minimal human intervention. The robots are also capable of handling maintenance tasks like water replenishment and dust bag replacement, reducing operational disruptions and enhancing efficiency.

With CAFMTEK’s analytics dashboard, SoftBank robots provide real-time data on cleaning performance, including task completion times, battery levels, and maintenance needs. Facility managers can utilise this data to monitor a robot’s performance, identify potential issues, and make data-driven decisions to optimise resource allocation and maintenance schedules. The system can automatically generate service requests when the robots require assistance, ensuring seamless operation with minimal downtime. This allows facility managers to monitor performance alongside traditional assets, ensuring that all resources are operating at peak efficiency. Performance data from robots will be visible in both CAFMTEK’s mobile app and web interface, providing real-time insights for facility management teams.

This integrated solution is designed to be managed entirely through the CAFMTEK mobile app and web platform. Facility managers can easily activate, monitor, and schedule robots for specific tasks, while also viewing real-time performance data and maintenance alerts, all within a single platform. This user-friendly approach ensures that businesses can fully leverage the potential of robotic technology without complex system re-configurations.

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Ellington Properties has announced the launch of Eaton Square, its inaugural commercial development. Taking shape in Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), the project is said to signify a new chapter for the developer, extending its signature commitment to design and human-centric living into the commercial real estate sector.

As Dubai solidifies its position as a global business hub through national initiatives such as the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the city is witnessing a surge in foreign direct investments. This surge has driven the demand for future-ready workspaces. In 2024, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce recorded its highest-ever annual increase in memberships, with a remarkable 70,500 new companies joining, representing a 4.6% year-on-year rise. Growth sectors include construction 33%, real estate and business services 8.4%, transportation and communications 8.3%, and financial services 8.3%. Eaton Square is designed to cater to this demand for modern workplaces that prioritise well-being, flexibility, and innovation, the firm said in a statement.

Scheduled for completion in Q2 2028, Eaton Square will rise as a contemporary commercial tower, boasting 11 office floors and premium retail spaces. Each floor has been designed for single-tenant occupancy, ensuring exclusivity and privacy for businesses. The floors will offer panoramic views of Dubai’s skyline and the surrounding central lagoon, creating an elevated and inspiring working environment.

Joseph Thomas, Co-Founder of Ellington Properties said, “With Eaton Square, we are expanding the boundaries of what commercial real estate can offer in Dubai. This launch reflects our continued commitment to design excellence, now re-imagined for the workplace. As the city evolves into a global hub for businesses, there is a clear need for workspaces that foster well-being, creativity, and connection. Eaton Square delivers on that promise, offering an environment that inspires performance and cultivates balance.”

Eaton Square offers a range of indoor and outdoor amenities designed to support a modern work-life experience. From a fitness centre, yoga studio, sauna, and changing rooms to an executive lounge and co-working lounge equipped with presentation technology. An on-site daycare centre supports working parents, while designated phone booths and quiet zones promote focus and privacy, the firm said.

The development also prioritises accessibility and sustainable mobility, featuring parking bays, EV charging stations, and bicycle storage. Advanced smart building technology, including destination control lifts, facial recognition (FR), Near Field Communication (NFC), QR code readers across front-of-house (FOH) areas, and video analytics with people counting, behavioral analysis, and object tracking, enhances the overall experience, the statement concluded.

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Azizi Developments has unveiled Azizi Abraham, a new residential development nestled within Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the UAE’s integrated business hub. As one of the few freehold residential properties in JAFZA, the project presents investors with an opportunity to own their home in the largest free zones and the region’s largest port, said the developer.

Situated against the backdrop of Shiekh Zayed Road, Azizi Abraham boasts metro connectivity, ensuring easy access to major commercial and leisure centres such as Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Marina, Expo City, and Al Maktoum International Airport, the statement said.

Azizi Abraham offers a range of apartments, including studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, each with stylish exteriors and ultra-modern interiors. Exclusive amenities enhance the living experience, including a rooftop infinity pool, cinema, a fitness centre, kids’ play areas, saunas, jacuzzi, steam rooms, BBQ areas, and landscaped jogging and cycling tracks, the developer added.

Farhad Azizi, Group CEO of the Azizi group of companies said, “Azizi Abraham is purposefully designed to meet the needs of Dubai’s growing cosmopolitan population. With its exceptional location, lifestyle offering, and connectivity, it is a stunning example of what it means to live ambitiously in one of the world’s leading trade and logistics free zones.”

Azizi Abraham, the driving force behind Azizi Developments, continues its legacy of strategic land bank utilisation and the development of thriving residential destinations across the nation. Alongside projects in MBR City, Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai South, Dubailand, Al Furjan, Studio City, Sports City, and Downtown Jebel Ali, Azizi Developments is poised to unveil a new project, the statement concluded.

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BEYOND Developments has unveiled PASSO, which is billed as a sculptural waterfront development located on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah. As BEYOND’s first flagship project apart from its masterplan in Dubai Maritime City, PASSO marks a milestone in the company’s strategic growth, positioning it as one of the city’s most iconic and desirable destinations, the developer said.

The project comprises two towers, Avita and Bella, offering a mix of 625 residences split between one, two and four bedroom units plus five bedroom penthouses. The project also features six ultra-exclusive beachfront mansions. The developer says that each home is designed for comfort and connection.

Scheduled for completion in Q3 2029, PASSO embodies BEYOND’s commitment to creating human centric spaces that promotes well-being and enrich daily life. It presents an investment opportunity for those seeking a luxurious and desirable lifestyle by the sea. As BEYOND continues to expand its presence across the UAE and globally, PASSO remains its evolving legacy, the statement noted.

Adil Taqi, CEO of BEYOND Developments said, “PASSO is not just a new address, it is a strategic leap in our journey to craft places that resonate on a deeper human level. Its vision is anchored in three pillars – the Address, the Landmark, and the Experience. We believe architecture should do more than shape skylines, it should inspire emotion, foster connection, and create meaningful experiences. Palm Jumeirah, with its international prestige and unparalleled seafront setting, provides the ideal foundation for this philosophy.”

Taqi continued, “Dubai today is more than a thriving metropolis; it is a global benchmark for visionary urbanism. Its leadership, infrastructure, and investment ecosystem continue to set new standards for what cities can become. At BEYOND, we are not simply responding to this momentum; we are actively contributing to it, shaping places, elevating experiences, and defining the future of real estate in the region.”

PASSO offers hospitality-inspired residences across three signature collections, Wellness, Elite, and Signature. Each collection boasts lifestyle amenities, including a shaded Piazza, a 260sqm Wellness Pavilion, a Montessori-inspired Kids’ Pavilion, cascading pools, 250m of private white-sand beach, rooftop sky gardens, and a 360-degree infinity pool with views of the sea and skyline, the statement concluded.

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The latest edition of the Middle East Consultant Awards have been announced and will take place in Dubai on 9 December, the Middle East Consultant (MEC) team confirmed.

For more than a decade, the Middle East Consultant Awards have set the best practice standards by which stand-out performance and industry innovation are fairly assessed. Mirroring the advances in construction methodology, AI-led modelling tools and the shift towards extreme project scale, the awards are for companies of every skill-set and niche.

The hard deadline for nominations is 21 November, the MEC team highlighted, and noted that the full shortlist and winners will be announced at the gala on 9 December.

This year, the awards have been extensively re-curated and re-modelled, to completely cover the built environment’s spectrum of activities: from design to project management, to sustainability issues and urban master-planning. Nominations will be judged by a panel of specialists chosen for their high standing; moreover, these are specialists who are free from any intrinsic commercial bias, said Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant.

Godfrey added, “This year, we have raised the bar significantly higher; our challenge to the leading names in the industry is ‘do the best you possibly can – we can’t wait to see the quality, innovation and impact of your nominations’.”

Created by professionals for professionals, the awards ensure that when companies enter, they can use the nomination channel that suits them best. So, nominees can opt to send a video that paints a thousand words or create a tailored narrative with links to project portfolios.

Companies can nominate via the awards website: https://meconsultantawards.com/

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Giorgio Armani in partnership with RAK Properties and SIE Group have launched Armani Beach Residences Ras Al Khaimah. The development marks the world’s first Armani-branded villas.

Located on Raha Island, the development will boast an exclusive and limited collection of beach villas and luxury apartments. Designed to integrate with the environment, these residences will offer an elevated lifestyle with direct private beach access and views across the Arabian Gulf, as per a statement.

Inspired by Armani’s personal residences, the Armani Beach Residences Ras Al Khaimah embodies his signature aesthetic of simplicity and timeless elegance. This vision sets a new standard for ultra-luxury living, redefining exclusivity within the emirate. Reflecting Armani’s philosophy and values, the Residences exude understated elegance and attention to detail, it added.

Giorgio Armani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Armani Group added, “New projects related to living fascinate me because I can bring the way of thinking of Haute Couture, that is, the use of precious materials and unique, tailored creations, into the space where we live. The villas developed in collaboration with RAK Properties, a true excellence in the sector, represent an important milestone in this journey and are even more significant because they are designed to integrate into the evocative surrounding marine landscape, offering a unique lifestyle experience.”

Sameh Muhtadi, CEO, RAK Properties added, “At RAK Properties, we are proud to bring Armani’s iconic design philosophy to life with Armani Beach Residences Ras Al Khaimah. This transformative partnership with Armani is a testament to Ras Al Khaimah’s growing appeal and our shared vision for the future of its premium real estate proposition. This development will not only set new standards for elevated living in the emirate, but will deliver lasting value and create an unparalleled lifestyle experience within Mina.”

Residents will enjoy an array of amenities, both indoors and outdoors, including an exclusive members-only beach club. As part of this exclusive community, they will also gain access to a program of benefits and services provided by Giorgio Armani, including special events, private experiences, concierge services, and global privileges.

The launch coincides with significant milestones for Armani/Casa and the Giorgio Armani brand. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of Armani/Casa and the 50th anniversary of the Giorgio Armani brand, marking five decades of lifestyle and design, the statement outlined.

Beyond the residences, the development’s beachfront setting will offer residents the chance to immerse themselves in Ras Al Khaimah’s coastal panoramas and nature, framed by the Jebel Jais Mountain range.

This partnership is said to highlight Armani’s commitment to crafting unparalleled living experiences that aligns with the emirate’s ambitious vision, and is crucial to supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s economic, social, and environmental objectives, the statement concluded.

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AMEA Power has announced its participation in the second phase of the Agadir desalination project in Morocco. The move marks the company’s entry into the project, which will be powered by AMEA Power’s 150MW wind project located in Laayoune. Once operational, this facility will become AMEA Power’s inaugural water desalination plant in North Africa, the company said.

Upon completion of the expansion, the Agadir desalination plant will boast a total capacity of 400,000m3 per day, solidifying its position as one of the largest desalination facilities in Africa. While the initial phase of the plant has been developed and is currently under the ownership of Spanish Cox, a water and energy management firm, the second phase will be delivered through a collaborative venture. AMEA Power will join forces with Cox, providing renewable energy through its wind farm in Laayoune.

“Our entry into the second phase of the Agadir desalination project in Morocco, under the Water Alliance Ventures platform, reflects AMEA Power’s ambition to address both water and energy challenges through integrated solutions. This project is not only our first entry into the water sector in North Africa – it is also a powerful example of what long-term partnerships can achieve for sustainable development across the region,” said Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power.

This project holds significance as it represents the culmination of the joint venture agreement signed in May 2025 between AMEA Power and Cox. It embodies the shared vision of both companies to undertake integrated infrastructure projects that integrate access to water and energy.

The total investment for the second phase of the desalination project and the associated wind power facility is projected to exceed US $272.5mn. The desalination expansion is anticipated to commence its operational phase at the end of 2026, while the wind farm is expected to come online in 2027.

AMEA Power’s commitment to Morocco, said to be a key market in its long-term strategy, is further solidified by this project. With several clean energy projects already in the works across the country, AMEA Power remains steadfastly aligned with Morocco’s aspirations to advance renewable energy, water security, and sustainable development, the statement concluded.

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Developer Amaal has announced a strategic partnership with IOPn, a blockchain infrastructure company. The collaboration aims to bring tokenised property solutions to a wider global investor base. Amaal’s commitment to innovation aligns with Dubai’s digital vision, which seeks to enhance accessibility, liquidity, and international investor participation in the real estate market, the firm said.

Both organisations are adopting an innovation-driven approach to support the evolution of real estate investment. By leveraging blockchain technology, they aim to make property investment more accessible and efficient, while preserving exclusivity and long-term value. This partnership complements Dubai Land Department’s recent real estate tokenisation initiative, which aims to digitise 7% of property or US $16bn by 2033. As the collaboration progresses, specific projects and properties will be shared.

“At Amaal, we see innovation as essential to shaping the future of real estate, and collaborating with IOPn exemplifies our forward-looking vision,” said Abdulla Lahej, Chairman of Amaal. “Through tokenisation, we’re making it possible for more people to participate in real estate investment, supporting the UAE’s commitment to leadership in the digital economy and smart city infrastructure.”

Mojtaba Asadian, CEO of IOPn commented, “This partnership with Amaal marks a pivotal step in redefining how global investors access luxury real estate. In alignment with Dubai’s regulatory framework, we are in the process of tokenising the high-end MANSORY Residences. This initiative is not only enhancing liquidity but also setting a new benchmark for transparency, accessibility, and global participation in property ownership. At IOPn, we believe the future of real estate is on-chain, and we’re proud to build that future with visionary partners like Amaal.”

Dubai’s luxury real estate market is experiencing growth, with sales of homes priced above $10mn surging to $2.6bn between April and June 2025. To meet this surge in demand, IOPn’s blockchain infrastructure, OPN Chain, is being developed. OPN Chain aims to unlock liquidity and enhance global accessibility for traditionally illiquid assets such as luxury real estate. Through strategic partnerships with developers and regulatory authorities, the company is bridging the gap between physical and digital value by implementing compliant and scalable technology.

The tokenisation of MANSORY Residences is currently in the planning phase, and more details are anticipated to be released in the coming months. The tower is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2028.

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ALEC has said that following its extension renovation works, it has been awarded LEED Platinum certification for its headquarters in Dubai. The firm said that its MEP subsidiary, ALEMCO, has also secured LEED Gold certification for its corporate office and adjoining yard in Dubai Industrial City.

These certifications, awarded by the US Green Building Council for Commercial Interiors, reflects the company’s deep-rooted commitment to quality, sustainability and employee well-being, the firm said in its statement.

“Our priority was to enhance the overall workplace experience for our people, while embedding sustainability at every stage of the renovation. With improvements ranging from low-flow water fittings to LED lighting and advanced energy metering, we’ve not only reduced our footprint but reaffirmed our commitment to creating better buildings. These upgrades echo the same principles we bring to client projects, helping them meet and exceed their green building targets,” said Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC.

LEED for interior design and construction (LEED ID+C) is a green building rating system focused on the design and construction of interior spaces within commercial buildings. The upgrades mark a significant milestone for ALEC, as it continues to invest in creating healthier, more efficient workspaces. By achieving the highest level of LEED certification, ALEC demonstrates both its capabilities in delivering world-class green building solutions, and its determination to hold its own operations to the highest standards, the statement highlighted.

To earn the certifications, ALEC said that it implemented a wide range of sustainability measures across both facilities. Water consumption was reduced by 55% from baseline through the use of low-flow fixtures equipped with sensors, and lighting energy was cut by 25% compared to ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standards, thanks to the installation of energy-efficient LED fixtures, occupancy sensors, and enhanced commissioning protocols. Indoor environmental quality was also enhanced through the use of low-VOC paints, adhesives, and materials, while design features maximised daylight use and improved acoustics.

Significant attention was given to responsible sourcing and material reuse. Structural materials included steel with 25% post-consumer recycled content, 100% bio-based wall boards for phone booths, and high-recycled content in insulation and ceiling components. Similar practices were adopted at ALEMCO’s facility, reinforcing the company’s circular approach to design and construction, the firm explained.

Almost 100% of workstation tables, wooden wall panels, reception desks, joinery, storage units, and various meeting room elements from ALEC HQ offices were diverted and reused at the company’s new design office in Dubai, reducing refurbishment-related waste. The firm said the achievement extends its track record in helping clients realise their own green building ambitions.

“As we continue to drive the sustainability agenda forward across the region, our own renovations stand as proof that you don’t need to choose between sustainability and design. With careful planning, extensive reuse and responsible material selection, organisations can elevate their interiors while delivering on environmental performance. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and look forward to supporting more partners across the region in their own green building journeys,” Lewis concluded.

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