In partnership with C A I A rc h it e c ts POWER IN POISE Çağda Akten on how discipline, detail, and design integrity are shaping her company’s philosophy AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION APRIL - MAY 2026 • VOL. 3 • ISSUE 02 CWPME_Apr2026_00_Cover_13889180.indd 117/04/2026 17:22Follow us: @casamilanouae Casa Milano | Website : www.casamilanoitaly.com Call us: +971 50 210 7606, +971 4 341 2572, Toll Free : 8009394 DUBAIABU DHABISHARJAHDEIRA (SALAH AL DIN)QATAR (DOHA) Scan QR Code ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY TILES & SLABS BESPOKE WARDOBES WOODEN FLOORING SANITARYWARE RESIDENTIAL KITCHENS Casa Milano makes it iconic Got a signature project in mind? Untitled-3.indd 205/08/2025 16:28EDITOR’S LETTER 3APRIL - MAY 2026 I won’t pretend this issue exists in a vacuum. Headlines are heavy, and some of you reading this are navigating waters that didn’t exist six months ago. We know. We see it. And yet, amid these changes, the real estate industry continues to innovate, launch, and deliver. From residential and commercial developments to iconic new projects, the work happening across the region is proof of resilience and vision. That is why, when we spoke to our cover star Çağda Akten, what struck me wasn’t just her portfolio, though CAI Architects’ work speaks for itself but the way she talks about buildings as living things. Structures that breathe, respond, and adapt. After all, even in diffi cult seasons, people still need shelter, communities still need gathering places, and cities still need to imagine what comes next. Which brings me to our Architects’ Hall of Fame powerlist. Compiling this list meant spending weeks immersed in the minds shaping our skylines—people who draw lines on paper that eventually become the places where we live, work, and celebrate. It’s easy to forget that behind every tower, villa, and museum, there’s someone who once stared at a blank screen and made a choice. These are those people. So, consider this issue both a celebration and a refl ection. As you fl ip through the pages, you’ll read about the buildings around you and the people behind them, and you’ll see that in real estate it is always about the long game—creating spaces and projects that endure, inspire, and defi ne the region for years to come. Thank you for reading, and for being part of a community that keeps building, no matter what. Yours truly, Shehzin Shaikh Editor A timeless experience: As global uncertainty reshapes priorities, Dubai’s top-tier buyers are redefi ning luxury through longevity, discretion, and design integrity. H&H CEO Miltos Bossinis explains this shift PAGE 20 The Architects’ Hall of Fame: Curated by CW Property, this powerlist honours architects whose work harmonises innovation, sustainability, and local heritage in ways that leave a lasting mark PAGE 30 The power of design in real estate: Pedram Rad, CEO of Elev8 Architects, shares how architecture is shaping value, demand, and the future of urban development across the GCC PAGE 56 Dubai’s green leap: Dubai’s real estate market is embracing effi ciency, comfort, and long-term relevance, making green homes the benchmark for modern living PAGE 68 MUST READ THIS ISSUE CWPME_Apr2026_3_Editor Letter_13867964.indd 316/04/2026 09:24CONTENTS 4APRIL - MAY 2026 MARKET ALERT Gulf construction faces geopolitical risks, yet projects continue as developers and governments manage volatility and logistical challenges. CO-BRANDED COLLECTIONS Jumeirah Residences Al Maryah Island: iconic design, waterfront views, and refi ned hospitality create a distinguished Abu Dhabi address. HOMESCAPE HORIZONS Dubai luxury evolves as top buyers value longevity, discretion, and design integrity, says H&H CEO Miltos Bossinis. COVER STORY CAI Architects has evolved from a Dubai practice into a design-and-build fi rm known for high-end projects led by Çağda Akten. POWERLIST The Architects’ Hall of Fame celebrates visionaries redefi ning the region’s skyline with innovation, sustainability, and cultural integrity. CRAFTED CONCEPTS SHI Hospitality Group crafts immersive dining in Dubai, blending gastronomy, design, and cultural storytelling across iconic venues. 2014 58 8 8 14 20 24 30 58 CWPME_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13867965.indd 417/04/2026 17:325APRIL - MAY 2026 24 30 6474 66 PROPTECH PLATFORMS AI evolves beyond a tool, becoming a decision-maker that drives operational excellence through real-time analytics and intelligent workfl ow orchestration. 64 SUSTAINABLE SPACES Dubai’s real estate market is embracing effi ciency, comfort, and long-term relevance, making green homes the benchmark for modern living. FINAL KEYS UAE real estate shows resilience with record luxury sales, high-profi le launches, steady construction, and rising investor confi dence across emirates. 66 74 CWPME_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13867965.indd 517/04/2026 17:326APRIL - MAY 2026 To fl ip through previous editions of Construction Week Property magazine visit property.constructionweekonline.com/magazine PO Box 500024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Head of Business and Technology Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Group Editor Thomas Mackie +971 4 444 3134; thomas.mackie@itp.com Editor Shehzin Shaikh +971 4 444 3719; shehzin.shaikh@itp.com Editor Julianne Tolentino +971 4 444 3855; julianne.tolentino@itp.com Commercial Editor Angitha Pradeep +971 4 444 3278; angitha.pradeep@itp.com Features Writer Pranati Yekula +971 4 444 3238; pranati.yekula@itp.com ART Art Director Amjad Ayche amjad.ayche@itp.com Art Editor Tofiq Memon tofiq.memon@itp.com ADVERTISING Group Commercial Director Anup Nagpurkar +971 4 444 3573; anup.nagpurkar@itp.com Commercial Director Moutaz Gadelhak +971 4 444 3177; moutaz.gasdelhak@itp.com Commercial Manager Aanchal Sharma +971 4 444 3663; aanchal.sharma@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events Eleanor Ashton eleanor.ashton@itp.com Senior Events Manager Kate Galaktionova Events Manager Gavin Moeketsi Associate Events Manager Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager Maria Trishina Event Sales Executive Jan Mokoala Events Sales Assistant Joyce Salonga Events Coordinator Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Senior Production & Distribution Manager Balasubramanian P Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Website www.property.constructionweekonline.com NOTICE: The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. PUBLISHED BY AND © 2026 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. CWPME_Apr2026_6_Flannel_13867966.indd 616/04/2026 09:26TUESDAY, JUNE 23 JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL DUBAI NOMINATE NOW Join us as we recognise the projects, companies, and leaders redefining real estate across the region. From landmark developments to forward-thinking design and innovation, this is where the industry’s most impactful work is celebrated. Because shaping skylines deserves recognition. Untitled-18 117/04/2026 17:50MARKET ALERT 8APRIL - MAY 2026 Geopolitical instability has introduced new risks for the Middle East’s construction sector, but projects across the Gulf are largely continuing with limited disruption as developers, contractors, and governments navigate logistical challenges and market volatility For those watching the Middle East construction sector, the coming months will likely be shaped by two competing forces: geopolitical uncertainty and the region’s remarkable economic resilience. While recent hostilities across parts of the Gulf have created understandable concern, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced. Construction activity has not stopped. In many areas, it continues with only limited disruption, refl ecting a pattern the industry has seen repeatedly over decades. Across the region — from Bahrain and Qatar to the United Arab Emirates, Images supplied by: Shutterstock Words by Marcus Siddons, Group Director, Baker Wilkins & Smith BUILDING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY Left: Construction activity continues unabated Right: Misuse of force majeure clauses is becoming increasingly common across projects; Marcus Siddons, Group Director, Baker Wilkins & Smith CWPME_Apr2026_8-11_Market Alert_13881459.indd 816/04/2026 09:28MARKET ALERT 9APRIL - MAY 2026 Kuwait, and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia contractors, consultants, and developers are adapting quickly to the evolving situation. While missile and drone threats have created short-term operational challenges, the fundamental drivers of construction demand remain fi rmly in place: long-term national development programmes, energy revenues, infrastructure expansion, and population growth. Martin Phillips, Special Projects Director at BWS, who oversees projects across Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, describes conditions that are serious but manageable. “Most construction projects have suff ered delays of a few days, but work is continuing when safe to do so. Problems persist in respect of importing material supplies with the ongoing air and sea restrictions, and local supplies are stretched, with uncertainty continuing. Spirits are relatively high given the stressful situation and supported by strong and timely government communications. Current delays are minimal with contingency/recovery plans being implemented.” For investors, the key takeaway is that construction schedules are being aff ected far less than many might assume from international headlines. Delays are measured in days rather than months. On major projects, contractors have activated contingency programmes that allow work to continue around short interruptions. However, operational pressures remain and must be monitored closely. The most immediate challenge is logistics. Airspace restrictions and disruptions to shipping lanes have complicated the import of specialist materials and equipment. Steel components, façade systems, specialist mechanical equipment, and fi nishing materials, many of which are sourced internationally, are seeing occasional delivery delays. Local supply chains are absorbing some of this pressure, but inventories are tightening. This does not yet represent a systemic risk to project delivery, but developers may need to plan for slightly longer procurement cycles and higher short-term costs in certain trades. Another important factor is workforce management. Many construction teams in the Gulf are highly international, and staff understandably seek reassurance during periods of instability. Clear communication from governments and employers has played a crucial role in maintaining confi dence. For companies with a long history in the region, the current situation is not unprecedented. According to Tim Siddons, Chairman of BWS, decades Most construction projects have suff ered delays of a few days, but work is continuing when safe to do so. Problems persist in respect of importing material supplies with the ongoing air and sea restrictions, and local supplies are stretched, with uncertainty continuing” CWPME_Apr2026_8-11_Market Alert_13881459.indd 916/04/2026 09:28Next >