Ali Sajwani on building legacies: A bold vision for global growth, innovation, and luxury living

Economy ME

16 hours ago

As managing director of DAMAC Properties and co-founder of ultra-luxury brand Amali Properties, Ali Sajwani is orchestrating an ambitious transformation of his
family's real estate empire
beyond the sector. From record-breaking Dubai developments to groundbreaking international ventures, he shares how innovation, AI integration, and bold partnerships are driving unprecedented growth across multiple sectors.
DAMAC has achieved several milestones this year — from the partnership with Chelsea FC to the successful handovers at DAMAC Lagoons, as well as the launches of Safa Gate and Riverside Views. Could you walk us through these key achievements and performance highlights, particularly in terms of project delivery and overall expansion?
DAMAC entered 2025 with strength and momentum, as expected, and we have no plans to slow down. One of our most important milestones this year is the commencement of handovers for the Santorini cluster at DAMAC Lagoons, which marks the delivery of our third master community out of six in total. I personally visit the site every 10 days to ensure that what we're building is not just another residential project, but a world-class, family-oriented community.
Every detail, from construction quality to landscaping to the thoughtfully curated amenities, is being developed to meet the highest standards and to cater to every member of the family, offering spaces for wellness, recreation, play, and relaxation. Equally groundbreaking is our landmark partnership with Chelsea FC. DAMAC is proud to be the first
UAE real estate
developer to appear on the front of jersey for a top-tier English football club, an achievement that proves our global ambitions.
This partnership came to life through the launch of the world's first-ever football-branded residence: Chelsea Residences by DAMAC in Dubai Maritime City. Comprising over 1,400 units across six towers and featuring amenities such as a rooftop football pitch, this project represents a bold new lifestyle concept. The market's response was overwhelming: The first phase, four towers, sold out in just 1.5 hours, proving the exceptional demand for iconic, differentiated real estate.
Amali Island, located in the Dubai World Islands, comprises 24 ultra-luxury beachfront villas
Read: Ali Sajwani on DAMAC Hospitality standing out in a crowded marketplace
On the international front, we are equally excited about The Delmore in Miami, our first U.S. project, designed by the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects. Located in Surfside's exclusive 'Billionaire's Triangle,' this 12-storey ultra-luxury development features only 37 residences, each over 7,000 square feet, and world-class amenities including a rooftop deck, a 75-foot acrylic pool suspended 125 feet in the air, and a Michelin-starred dining experience.
With The Delmore, we're setting new benchmarks in luxury living, not just in Dubai, but globally. From local community handovers to global brand-defining partnerships, we continue to lead the industry with innovation, bold moves, and a relentless commitment to excellence.
EDGNEX has been making notable strides in the global digital infrastructure space, particularly with your expansion into the U.S. and the recent Trump-linked data center announcement. What's the strategic vision behind these moves, and how does EDGNEX position itself?
The idea and vision for EDGNEX were born during the COVID lockdown, a period when our family actively sought new opportunities for strategic investment. Many questioned our decision to enter the data center industry, asking, 'You're real estate experts, what will you do in data centers?' While it's true that we come from a legacy rooted in real estate, this industry fundamentally requires deep expertise in real estate to successfully design and build data center infrastructure.
Since EDGNEX was established in 2021, we've responded boldly, not only by investing in the Middle East, but by expanding across 11 countries worldwide, including the UAE, U.S., Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Greece, Spain, Finland, and Italy. By the end of this year, we expect to deliver 55 MW of capacity in the Middle East and more than 300 MW of operational capacity across Southeast Asia by 2026.
Globally, our target is a projected capacity exceeding 4,000 MW. Earlier this year, the world took notice of our landmark $20 billion investment in the United States, announced at a press conference led by U.S. president Donald Trump and our father,
Hussain Sajwani
.
Our goal is to develop data centers with a total capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four years across key states including Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana, with the potential to double that investment based on future demand.
Amali Properties is quickly establishing itself in the ultra-luxury segment. What was the founding vision behind Amali, and how does it differentiate itself from DAMAC's portfolio or other high-end players in the region?
My sister
Amira
and I founded Amali Properties to create and leave behind our own legacy. Amali is entirely distinct from DAMAC, our focus is ultra-luxury, catering to a very niche segment and target audience. In fact, it's not just different from DAMAC; we believe Amali is unlike any other developer in the region. We are building an ultra-luxury product that sets a new benchmark, with no direct comparison.
Our first launch, Amali Island, located in the Dubai World Islands, comprises 24 ultra-luxury beachfront villas. Valued at $544.5 million and spanning 1.2 million square feet, the project sold out within just one month of its launch. The island connects two of The World Islands, Uruguay and São Paolo, and each villa features up to 50 meters of exclusive beachfront, with handover scheduled for early 2027.
Designed by award-winning architecture Elastic, the villas come in two distinct architectural styles: Minima and Grande. Interiors are conceptualized by HBA Residential in two distinct themes, Ultra and Terra. Amali Island residents will also enjoy exclusive access to a private 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, a world-class spa and gym, a gourmet restaurant, a swim-up bar, a cigar lounge, saltwater and horizon pools, and yoga decks.
Each of the seven villa typologies draws inspiration from the Ombu tree of Uruguay, a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and shelter. These villas are architectural masterpieces featuring private beaches, berths with direct villa access, sweeping views of the Dubai skyline, Palm Jumeirah, and Atlantis The Royal. They are enhanced with rooftop terraces, outdoor firepits, teppanyaki bars, jacuzzis, and multiple pools. Villa Avatea, the crown jewel of the island, exemplifies the seamless integration of luxury and nature.
Positioned on a private islet connected to the island by a designed water channel and surrounded by lush landscaping, Avatea offers residents an unrivalled sanctuary of tranquility and elegance. We can proudly say that Amali Properties is unlike any other developer in the region, and we're just getting started.
Villa Avatea at Amali Island offers residents an unrivalled sanctuary of tranquility and elegance
Dubai's real estate sector continues to break records in 2025. What are the key trends you are seeing on the ground, and how do you see investor sentiment, supply dynamics, and regulatory developments shaping the market in the next 2–3 years?
Dubai's real estate sector remains robust in 2025, marked by record-breaking sales activity and strong buyer sentiment. I am confident this momentum will continue, as the statistics clearly indicate. Transaction volumes in Q1 2025 surged nearly 50 percent year-on-year, amounting to around 42,000 deals worth AED114 billion, with off-plan sales now representing approximately 70 percent of all transactions.
Developers are rapidly launching new projects, introducing over 30,000 units in Q1 2025 alone to meet the demand, while the average sale price has climbed to AED2.7 million, demonstrating that Dubai's market shows no signs of slowing, with demand continuing to strengthen.
What sets Dubai apart is the collaborative approach of all entities, driven by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, working collectively to enhance the emirate's global standing across all dimensions. When examining the market closely, several innovative initiatives stand out: Developers like DAMAC have partnered with ADIB to offer financing for off-plan properties once construction reaches 35 percent completion, facilitating easier home financing.
Additionally, DAMAC introduced the first-ever football-branded residences in collaboration with Chelsea Football Club. At the regulatory level, the Dubai Land Department implemented AI-powered monitoring of property listings to boost market transparency, alongside the pioneering introduction of the region's first tokenized real estate investment pilot through the 'PRYPCO Mint' platform, in partnership with
PRYPCO
.
Furthermore, the government has announced relaxed Golden Visa requirements, removing the 50 percent down payment previously required for property investors. Each of these efforts collectively contributes to strengthening the emirate's market. Looking ahead, I anticipate no significant downturn; instead, I believe Dubai's real estate sector is evolving into a mature, stable phase of long-term growth, underpinned by strong economic fundamentals, an exceptional quality of life, and visionary leadership.
DAMAC's entry into the Maldives with a Mandarin Oriental-managed resort is a major move. Can you share what this project represents for your hospitality strategy, and what guests and investors can expect in terms of experience and value?
In my role as managing director at DAMAC Properties, hospitality is one of the key departments I oversee. As an avid traveler, I have personally experienced some of the world's finest resorts in the Maldives, Fiji, Bora Bora, and Mauritius. These travels have allowed me to curate exceptional experiences from top-tier resorts globally, combining their best elements in our upcoming resort in the Maldives, operated by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and set to open by Q2 2026. This five-star, 34-hectare luxury resort comprises 130 standalone villas, among the largest available in the market, and features rooms of unmatched quality.
We are setting a new benchmark in terms of finishing standards, offering our guests an extraordinary level of luxury. The resort's amenities and experiences will be truly world-class, including outstanding dining outlets and specialty restaurants, extensive wellness facilities, a dedicated water sports and dive center, and multiple private beaches thoughtfully designed for adults, children, and families to ensure privacy and relaxation.
Additionally, we are creating what will be the best kids' club in the world, further enhancing the overall guest experience. I assure you, DAMAC's first resort will be one of the best in the world, and we're launching it to make a statement.
DAMAC introduced the first-ever football-branded residences in collaboration with Chelsea Football Club
AI is reshaping real estate globally. How is DAMAC leveraging AI across its operations, from design and construction to customer engagement and sales? And what kind of impact are you seeing or anticipating in both efficiency and innovation?
At DAMAC, we are strategically integrating artificial intelligence across all areas, including operations, telesales, land acquisitions, digital marketing, and beyond. Historically, DAMAC was built on the strategic vision and entrepreneurial intuition of our founder, Hussain Sajwani, particularly regarding land acquisitions. Today, AI significantly enhances our land acquisition decision-making processes, supporting our exceptionally agile development cycle, which moves dynamically from land acquisition to project launch in just 6 to 8 weeks.
We leverage comprehensive datasets from public records, covering transaction volumes, average sales prices, unit sizes, and regional trends in Dubai, and incorporate them into sophisticated AI models. These models accurately pinpoint emerging demand hotspots, enabling proactive investment decisions and allowing us to capitalize strategically on future growth opportunities.
A notable internal AI use-case is in our collections department. Given that DAMAC generated approximately $10 billion in sales last year, we recognize collections management as critical in our off-plan sales model. To enhance this process, we implemented AI-driven automated calling systems trained on historical customer interactions. These AI solutions engage clients in personalized, productive conversations, increasing our collections conversion rate from 42 percent to 50 percent, resulting in an additional AED200 million collected monthly, translating to AED2.4 billion annually.
Another impactful use-case emerged when we identified demand among Chinese buyers which we were not aware of internally. By adjusting our marketing strategies accordingly, we significantly improved sales conversions within this untapped key market segment. Additionally, we are deploying AI within our legal department.
Legal teams play a vital role in real estate development, especially when reviewing complex land acquisition contracts. Today, by integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into our legal workflows, we input contracts with redlines, and AI delivers accurate insights within a single day, a task previously taking lawyers up to 10 days.
AI is undeniably reshaping industries and transforming global operations. If businesses fail to adapt, they risk falling behind. However, AI requires a crucial human element. It does not replace our teams but rather strengthens their capabilities. Ultimately, it takes human insight and management to effectively leverage AI and unlock its full potential.
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