Sobha Realty is one of the major realtors embracing this trend
Published: Mon 7, Jul 2025,
In recent years, the UAE has witnessed a significant surge in mixed-use developments, reshaping the urban landscape across cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These integrated spaces — combining residential, commercial, and recreational elements — are redefining how people live, work, and socialize.
Driven by rapid urbanization, evolving lifestyle preferences, and a push for sustainable city planning, mixed-use projects are becoming central to the nation’s real estate strategy. From waterfront communities to vertical urban hubs, these developments are not only enhancing convenience and connectivity but also contributing to economic diversification and long-term urban resilience in the UAE.
Sobha Realty is one of the major realtors embracing this trend. “A live-work-play community is no longer a distant vision of luxury; it’s the new standard for discerning residents and professionals,” Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty, told Khaleej Times in an interview.
Excerpts:
1. Live-work-play communities are more than a trend — they’re becoming an expectation. How is Sobha designing its mixed-use developments to meet the lifestyle needs of modern residents and professionals?
As demand for mixed-use developments grows, we are not just keeping the pace but leading the way. Rooted in our legacy and ‘Art of The Detail’ philosophy, we consistently evolve to meet the expectations of modern residents, offering a holistic living experience in one place.
Sobha Hartland which was launched in 2014, is Sobha’s pioneering master development which now showcases a tried and tested model of a mixed-use development, testing the appetite of investors and homeowners alike. Even more recently, Sobha Central was unveiled, a landmark residential community on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, which brings the live-work-play vision to life by placing everything essential – and more – within walking distance. Similarly, our mega projects in Umm Al Quwain – Sobha Siniya Island and Downtown UAQ | Sobha Realty – are envisioned as self-sustaining communities where sophistication meets functionality, creating a well-integrated environment for its growing population.
These are not just places to live; they are immersive experiences that elevate how people live, work, and play in today’s fast-paced world.
These developments are also being viewed as resilient investments. How do you see their built-in diversification playing out in the UAE’s evolving economic and real estate landscape?
Mixed-use developments are inherently more resilient than traditional projects. Their built-in diversification, across asset types, attracts broader range of resident profiles and generates multiple income streams, making them a lucrative conduit for long-term value creation.
At Sobha Realty, this is evident in our flagship developments. A prime example is Downtown UAQ | Sobha Realty, our strategic joint venture with the Government of Umm Al Quwain. Spanning over 25 million square feet, it integrates residential, retail, hospitality and public spaces within a single master-planned ecosystem. The market response speaks volumes; over 50% of units in the first three towers were sold within the first week of launch, highlighting the strong appetite for this model.
As the UAE real estate market continues to diversify, mixed-use communities are gaining prominence in meeting the evolving needs of modern residents. At Sobha Realty, we pair this trend with a strong focus on quality through our Backward Integration model; overseeing design, architecture, contracting, and construction to ensure every project delivers lasting value.
Francis Alfred – Managing Director, Sobha Realty – 2. Photo: Lal Nallath
The collaboration with the Government of Umm Al Quwain for Downtown UAQ | Sobha Realty is significant. How does this partnership reflect changing governmental attitudes toward integrated urban communities beyond Dubai?
Our strategic partnership with the Government of Umm Al Quwain reflects a shared vision for future-ready infrastructure, economic diversification, and the creation of self-sustaining, integrated communities. Our two flagship masterplans in the emirate; Sobha Siniya Island and Downtown UAQ | Sobha Realty, are thoughtfully designed around smart-city principles and will eventually host more than 150,000 people.
The government’s proactive role, from facilitating approvals to supporting key initiatives; signals a strong and clear intent to position UAQ as a competitive emirate on the GCC map, providing reassurance on the partnership’s progress. With a focus on economic diversification, ease of doing business, and visionary governance, UAQ is emerging as a promising destination for sustainable growth and attractive returns.
Are there specific nationalities or investor profiles leading the trend around mixed-use properties?
From Jan 2024 to May 2025, Indian buyers drove ~17% of qualified sales in our mixed-use developments, while Europeans across ~35 nationalities contributed ~19.3%. This reflects a strong and sustained interest in lifestyle-driven communities that offer both residential and commercial appeal. British investors have also shown steady growth, rising from 5% in 2023 to 6% in 2025, while American and Iranian buyers each contributed around 5%, with a slight uptick observed in the American segment this year.
These patterns highlight the sustained demand from globally mobile investors who value the convenience and connectivity of integrated developments. The growing interest among Indian and British nationals, in particular, points to rising confidence in the UAE’s real estate market and in the long-term value of mixed-use communities designed for future-ready lifestyles.
Sobha Siniya Island has recorded a 20-22% price appreciation within its first year.
Tokenization has entered the real estate conversation in Dubai. How do you foresee digital asset models like tokenization shaping investment in mixed-use projects?
Tokenization is a groundbreaking initiative that broadens access to real estate by enabling more investors to enter the market with greater ease and confidence. While the tokenization approach in mixed-use projects is still maturing, the model allows investors to diversify their holdings and exposure across multiple asset classes within a single development, offering flexibility, liquidity, and access to traditionally high-barrier opportunities.
As the regulatory and technological framework continues to evolve, tokenization is poised to reshape investment strategies and unlock new value in the mixed-use real estate space.
Going ahead, does Sobha Realty consistently see mixed-use developments as the central focus of its portfolio across the UAE?
Absolutely. Mixed-use developments have always been a central pillar in Sobha Realty’s long-term portfolio strategy across the UAE, especially after being rigorously tested and developed through the initial model of Sobha Hartland. As buyer preferences evolve, today’s homebuyers and investors are no longer just looking for standalone residences; they are seeking complete ecosystems that seamlessly integrate their entire lifestyle of living, working, and leisure in an all-encompassing home.
Sobha’s master-planned communities are purposefully designed to meet this shift, combining residential, commercial, and lifestyle components within a single, cohesive environment.
A testament to this is Sobha Siniya Island, which recorded a 20-22% price appreciation within its first year, demonstrating not only market demand but also growing confidence in the mixed-use mode.
With over five decades of experience in developing master communities, Sobha Realty has evolved through different market cycles, always staying ahead of the curve. Today, governments increasingly view us as a trusted partner in shaping future cities; ones that not only well-built, but thoughtfully integrated and future-ready.
