< PreviousPOWER LIST 60OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_42-61_Power List_13704779.indd 6005/10/2025 21:01POWER LIST 61OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 Moustafa Elsaid Managing Director, Swank Development Swank Development views real estate as far more than the construction of homes — it is about shaping lifestyles, fostering communities, and creating lasting value. Aligned with Dubai’s vision, the company focuses on projects that strike a balance between architectural excellence, sustainability, and investor appeal. In recent years, Swank Development has proudly introduced two fl agship villa communities in Mohammed Bin Rashid City: Selora Residences and Lua Residences. Both exemplify the company’s ethos of blending design innovation with long-term investment potential. Selora Residences off ers 4–6-bedroom villas with private pools, elevators, and landscaped gardens, all set around a 1.2-km swimmable lagoon. Designed for those who value exclusivity, Selora includes world- class amenities such as a clubhouse, gym, yoga studio, kids’ play area, and padel courts, creating a true lifestyle destination in the heart of Dubai. Lua Residences complements this vision with a carefully curated collection of villas that emphasise modern comfort, community living, and accessibility. Like Selora, Lua features landscaped surroundings, private pools, and smart layouts, off ering a refi ned yet inviting environment for families who seek both luxury and functionality. Sustainability and innovation lie at the core of Swank Development’s projects—from smart home integration and energy-effi cient systems to thoughtful community planning. For global investors, Dubai’s tax- free environment, along with fl exible payment plans and eligibility for the Golden Visa, further enhances the appeal of both Selora and Lua. Going ahead, Swank Development’s vision is to remain a benchmark in the UAE’s evolving real estate landscape. By combining timeless design, sustainable practices, and investor- focused opportunities, the company strives to deliver communities that inspire, connect, and endure, shaping the future of living in Dubai. CWPME_Oct2025_42-61_Power List_13704779.indd 6107/10/2025 13:0562OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CRAFTED CONCEPTS Peeking into the world of design and architecture in the Middle East’s real estate scene 62OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_62-63_Crafted Concepts Opener_13705373.indd 6203/10/2025 07:2763OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 202563OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_62-63_Crafted Concepts Opener_13705373.indd 6303/10/2025 07:28CRAFTED CONCEPTS 64OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 Project images supplied by: BMA S tudio BEAUTY IN LAYERS Guided by restraint and resonance, Leila Sobek’s latest villa project in Ajman reveals how sculptural curves, cultural sensitivity, and a seamless dialogue with nature can create a home that is both rooted and uplifted Words by Shehzin Shaikh For Leila Sobek, Founder and Director of BMA Studio, architecture has never been just about form. “I’ve always been drawn to how space feels, not just how it looks—the hush of a courtyard, the dance of shadows on a bare wall, a moment of pause the window off ers in the middle of your day,” she refl ects. These early impressions crystallised into a conviction that would later defi ne her practice: that design is about framing life itself. When she launched BMA Studio in 2015, it was with the belief that meaningful design need not shout. “It can unfold slowly, revealing its depth over time. That belief shaped our guiding ethos: beauty in layers.” Nearly a decade later, BMA Studio has grown into a multidisciplinary practice with projects across the globe. Yet its essence remains rooted in emotional intelligence, spatial clarity, timelessness and innovation THE DNA OF QUIET POWER The design identity of BMA Studio, as Sobek describes it, is “restraint with resonance.” Every commission begins with listening to the client’s needs, aspirations, and the unique character of a site. “Our goal is never just to create something beautiful, but to elevate how people live and feel in the spaces we design,” she says. This philosophy Left: Exterior view of the Ajman villa project Right: Light, movement, and softness meet in the villa’s living room CWPME_Oct2025_64-67_Crafted Concepts_13725323.indd 6403/10/2025 07:29CRAFTED CONCEPTS 65OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 has shielded the practice from trends and driven it toward environments that remain relevant across generations. From private homes to multi-unit developments, the studio’s touch is unmistakable: refi ned yet layered, bold yet grounded. Sobek insists that scale does not change the essence of their work. “Whether we’re designing a private villa in Ajman or a multi-unit residential development, our approach is always guided by sensitivity to place, to people, and to legacy.” DESIGNING IN THE UAE Working in the UAE has given Sobek fertile ground for experimentation. “The UAE is unique—it’s ambitious, fast-moving, and constantly evolving. What excites me most is that clients here are increasingly design-aware and open to ideas that push boundaries.” She is quick to note, however, that this ambition requires balance. “We design with purpose, knowing that bold statements must also be deeply rooted in function and place.” For Sobek, the real challenge and opportunity lies in marrying contemporary design expression with cultural depth. “The UAE is progressive, especially in the real estate sector, but it’s also profoundly rooted in tradition. Successful design here must understand both a future-facing mindset and a deep respect for values.” CURVES WITH PURPOSE That philosophy fi nds one of its clearest expressions in BMA Studio’s latest residential project: a sculptural villa in Ajman. At fi rst glance, its sweeping curves give the impression of an architectural sculpture, but Sobek resists the idea that form was pursued for its own sake. “The villa was never meant to be just a spatial sculpture. It was envisioned as a lived experience, fl uid, grounded, and deeply connected to our client’s aspirations,” she explains. The curves, she adds, were not added for ornament but “emerged as an intuitive response to how the family wanted to live, move, and feel within the space.” Each curve carries a function as much as poetry. Some create natural shading The UAE is unique—it’s ambitious, fast-moving, and constantly evolving. What excites me most is that clients here are increasingly design-aware and open to ideas that push boundaries” CWPME_Oct2025_64-67_Crafted Concepts_13725323.indd 6503/10/2025 07:29CRAFTED CONCEPTS 66OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 for terraces and interiors, others frame the view toward the nearby port, while many shape movement inside the home. “They require discipline and intuition in equal measure to create something both expressive and liveable,” Sobek says. WHERE ARCHITECTURE MEETS NATURE Perhaps the most striking quality of the Ajman villa is the way architecture and nature intertwine. “Nature wasn’t an afterthought. It was part of the architectural narrative from day one,” Sobek stresses. Intentional voids and landscaped openings punctuate the villa, drawing breezes and framing views. Passive shading, cross-ventilation, and layered thresholds dissolve the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. “The curves that defi ne the built form continue into the garden paths and fl ow around the organically shaped pool,” she explains. We walk them through the impact of light at diff erent times of day, the way curves can guide movement or soften energy” CWPME_Oct2025_64-67_Crafted Concepts_13725323.indd 6603/10/2025 07:29CRAFTED CONCEPTS 67OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 MOVING BEYOND TEMPLATES In a residential market often dominated by safe, repetitive models, Sobek sees her role as helping clients embrace design that feels personal and resonant. Many clients, she observes, start with safe choices because they seem tried and tested. But with careful dialogue, new possibilities emerge. “We walk them through the impact of light at diff erent times of day, the way curves can guide movement or soften energy. When clients start to see how design can refl ect their essence, they become more willing to let go of templates and embrace something authentic.” The Ajman villa benefi ted from a progressive client open to organic forms and sculptural expression. “Our role was to translate that ambition into a built reality that was both bold and deeply liveable.” DESIGNING FOR DEPTH Looking ahead, Sobek sees high-end clients moving away from superfi cial beauty toward something deeper. “We’re seeing a real shift toward emotional quality. Clients are asking for spaces that feel grounded, calming, and intuitive.” She points to rising interest in wellness, biophilia, and spatial fl uidity, alongside regenerative materials and discreet smart systems. “It’s an exciting time, because clients are ready for more than surface-level beauty.” Her studio is also exploring research-driven design, examining how architecture infl uences sleep, mood, and creativity. For Sobek, this signals a turning point where luxury is measured not just in aesthetics but in lived experience. A HOME ROOTED AND UPLIFTED Asked to summarise the Ajman villa in a single line, Sobek pauses, then replies: “A home shaped by softness and fl ow, where architecture moves like nature and everyday life is both rooted and uplifted.” It’s a description that perfectly captures both her personal journey and BMA Studio’s ethos: architecture as a quiet force, framing life, elevating the everyday, and resonating across generations. Left: Leila Sobek, Founder and Director of BMA Studio; The master bedroom designed as a retreat of calm and fl ow Right: The majlis balances cultural heritage with sculptural design; Minimal design meets everyday luxury in the bathroom CWPME_Oct2025_64-67_Crafted Concepts_13725323.indd 6703/10/2025 07:2968OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 BROKER BRILLIANCE Revealing the expertise, strategy, and dedication of the professionals who make dreams come true 68OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_68-69_Broker Brilliance Opener_13705374.indd 6803/10/2025 07:3269OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 202569OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 CWPME_Oct2025_68-69_Broker Brilliance Opener_13705374.indd 6903/10/2025 07:32Next >