
Dubai's SOL Properties set to appoint main contractor JVT project soon
The developer has appointed Bhatia General Contracting to undertake the enabling work on the project, which has a gross development value (GDV) of 1 billion UAE dirhams ($272.28 million), he said.
'These carefully planned decisions reflect our commitment to delivering a project that enhances residential experiences with modern amenities and thoughtful design,' he stated.
SOL Levante will comprise 612 residential units, 100,000 square feet (sq. ft.) of office spaces and 50,000 sq. ft. of retail area. It also features a 50,000 sq. ft. podium, which will house various outdoor and indoor amenities.
The project handover is slated for third quarter 2028.
Bhatia asserted that SOL Levante will be a self-financed project.
'Given Dubai's strong reputation as a global investment hub, we are leveraging the city's ability to attract international investors,' he said.
The CEO added that Sol's robust financial support and strategic investment approach ensures the project is well-funded and positioned for long-term success.
(Reporting by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon)
(anoop.menon@lseg.com)
Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news, updates and insights on project activities, developments, and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: How some residents beat peak-hour Salik charges, traffic
For many Dubai residents, the daily drive is more than just getting from one place to another, it's about dodging traffic jams and avoiding paying extra at Salik toll gates during peak hours. Dubai's peak-hour Salik rates can add up fast, especially for those crossing multiple gates. It now costs Dh6 per crossing during peak times (6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm from Monday to Saturday). Three peak crossings a day can cost Dh18, about Dh360 a month, not counting fuel and parking. Commuters are thus finding creative ways to save money and time. Off-peak hours are cheaper at Dh4, and between 1am and 6am, there's no charge at all. By shifting their schedules, some residents are saving money, avoiding long waits in traffic, and making better use of their time. Detour for gym When the clock hits 5pm, most office workers in Al Quoz brace for the slow crawl home. Not Emaad Hassan, a 32-year-old interior designer. 'I leave my office at 5pm, take Al Khail Road and the Infinity Bridge towards Al Mamzar. Traffic builds only after 5.30pm, so by 5.45 I am there without paying extra Salik,' he said. He stops for a light snack, prays Asr, and starts his gym session at 6.30pm. 'By avoiding Salik and traffic, I finish my workout at 8pm, get home by around 8.20 in Al Nahda, Sharjah, shower, spend time with my family, have dinner, and relax before bed,' he said. Changing work timings Mohammed Shareef, who works at an automobile firm on Sheikh Zayed Road, changed his routine after calculating that peak-hour Salik was costing him over Dh250 a month. 'I asked to start at 7am and finish at 4pm, and my manager agreed,' he said. Now, he leaves just as the evening peak begins but takes a route that avoids the worst of it. 'I am home early, I spend time with my wife and kids, and I still have time to go out. Before, I would get home exhausted after 7.30pm.' Waiting it out Faiz (name changed), who lives in Latifa Tower, Al Nahda, has a Salik gate right outside his building. 'I can skip the Al Mamzar gate, but I still pay Dh6 for Al Garhoud Bridge,' said the finance executive in Business Bay. However, on his way back, he avoids both peak traffic and tolls by meeting friends at a coffee shop near Dubai Airport around 6.30pm. 'We are starting a small business, so we talk for a couple of hours. By the time I leave, it's after 8pm, and the roads are clear.' Escape to beach For Ahmed Al Dwari, a marketing executive, the beach is his escape. He leaves his office on Sheikh Zayed Road at 6.15pm and heads straight to Al Mamzar Beach. 'I jog for an hour or walk along the shore. By the time I leave, it's well past 8pm, so there's no Salik,' said Ahmed, who lives in Al Nuf, Sharjah. 'I have lost weight, I feel healthier, and I am not wasting my evening sitting in traffic.' Early start Ahmed's brother, Husam Al Dwari, prefers a morning fitness routine. He leaves home at 5.30am, crosses the Salik gate for free, and jogs at Kite Beach before reaching his Al Quoz office by 7.30am. By starting early, he finishes work at 3.30pm, gets home for a short rest, and then takes his and his brother's children to the mosque for Islamic studies. 'It's a balanced day, work, fitness, and family,' said Husam.


Gulf Business
7 hours ago
- Gulf Business
HONOR's Laurance Li on the Magic V5, AI's impact and future of foldables
The foldable smartphone segment is rapidly moving beyond its nascent stages, transforming into a mature category that blends cutting-edge technology with practical, daily utility. In the Middle East, a region characterised for its love of digital innovation and premium devices, the introduction of a new flagship foldable carries significant weight. HONOR recently unveiled its Magic V5 foldable in Dubai, a device meticulously engineered to redefine the user experience through a convergence of advanced hardware and deeply integrated artificial intelligence. We chatted with t o delve deeper into the technical advancements, strategic market positioning, and HONOR's overarching vision for the future of foldables, Redefining durability and power When discussing the core upgrades and engineering breakthroughs of the HONOR Magic V5, Laurance Li emphasised the company's long-standing commitment to making foldables a seamless part of everyday life. He noted that while HONOR has consistently pushed the boundaries of slimness, from the Magic V2's 9.9mm to the Magic V5's remarkable 8.8mm, thinness is merely one dimension of innovation. The Magic V5 primarily addresses critical user concerns: reducing bulk, extending battery life, enhancing durability, and improving photography capabilities. The device's robust design is anchored by the HONOR Super Steel Hinge , a component subjected to rigorous testing to endure 500,000 folds . This hinge also showcases impressive structural integrity, demonstrating its ability to lift a weight of 100 kilogrammes under controlled conditions – a feat recognised by a new Guinness World Record. Further fortifying its resilience, the Magic V5 holds IP58 and IP59 dust and water resistance ratings . The inner display panel is protected by a NanoCrystal Shield , which offers a 15 times greater scratch resistance compared to standard glass. Powering this advanced hardware is a 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery , which Li said is the 'industry's largest battery in a foldable device'. This battery features 15 per cent higher silicon content for enhanced efficiency, providing ample power for extended use. Charging capabilities are equally robust, supporting both 66W wired and 50W wireless HONOR SuperCharge . Li emphasised that this engineering prowess is rooted in HONOR's manufacturing philosophy. 'At the core of this engineering is HONOR's AI Manufacturing process, the industry's most advanced AI-powered production system, which enhances structural precision, durability, and design integrity,' he stated. This commitment is supported by substantial investment in research and development, with over 70 per cent of HONOR's workforce dedicated to R&D , and 11.5 per cent of the company's annual revenue reinvested into innovation . AI at its core: Enhancing productivity and communication Artificial intelligence forms a central pillar of the Magic V5's user experience, particularly in enhancing productivity and communication. Laurance Li detailed how the device is designed to offer an 'AI-first experience' through several integrated features. A significant innovation is the Magic Sidebar , an intelligent, context-aware panel that dynamically adapts to user activity. 'This smart feature suggests helpful features on the side bar based on what you're doing,' Li explained. This intuitive design eliminates the need for users to switch between apps for common tasks like translation or summarization, ensuring that 'everything you need appears right when you need it.' The device's operating system has been 'reinvented… to enable better collaboration between hardware and software based on understanding of user intents,' incorporating a unique 'human-based kernel to learn about and analyse user habits, personal intents as well as the environment.' The Magic V5 also features deep integration with Google Gemini . 'Central to this is Gemini Live, an AI assistant designed for real-time interaction and multitasking,' Li clarified. Gemini Live's capabilities extend to analysing live video feeds to identify objects, text, and scenes, providing instant insights without requiring users to leave their current application. It also supports screen sharing with the AI assistant, allowing the device to understand and summarise complex content, such as legal documents or financial charts, and offer context-aware assistance. For seamless access, the innovative 'Tap Tap' interaction allows users to launch Gemini simply by double-tapping the back of the device. Beyond these broad AI capabilities, the Magic V5 integrates on-device AI for specific, critical functionalities: AI call translation: Powered by HONOR's on-device call translation large model, this feature ensures complete privacy by processing audio locally. It enables smooth real-time phone conversations between users speaking different languages, with only one party needing an HONOR device. AI photography: The HONOR AI Super Zoom leverages an on-device AI RAW model to enhance image clarity and sharpness up to 30x zoom . For higher zoom levels, cloud processing is utilised to further improve image quality. AI security: 'HONOR Deepfake Detection also operates fully on-device to identify AI-generated face manipulations during video calls,' providing a crucial layer of privacy and security in an era of increasing AI-driven misinformation. Li envisions a future where 'smartphones will evolve from being just tools into intelligent companions that understand your preferences, anticipate your needs, help solve complex problems, and inspire creativity.' Strategic market focus: Tailoring for the tech-savvy GCC The UAE and wider GCC region play a pivotal role in HONOR's global foldable strategy. Li highlighted that 'The GCC region is one of the most dynamic and promising markets in the world for technology. Consumers here are highly tech-savvy, open to innovation, and quick to adopt new technologies, especially in areas like AI, advanced smartphones, and gaming.' 'This strong demand makes the region 'an ideal launchpad for our most sophisticated devices,' he said. The Magic V5 has been deliberately tailored to meet the needs of this discerning audience, designed to be 'the perfect lifestyle companion for UAE users with busy, connected lives,' through its combination of advanced hardware and intelligent AI experiences. A key localised integration for the UAE market is the pre-installation of the UAE PASS app . This app, developed in partnership with the UAE's Digital Government Regulatory Authority, provides users with secure and seamless access to government and private sector services from the moment they activate their device, showcasing HONOR's commitment to delivering meaningful, locally relevant digital solutions. Competitive landscape and market position Li articulated HONOR's perspective on the competitive landscape: 'At HONOR, we welcome competition as a catalyst for innovation and growth within the foldable market.' He views the entry of new players as validation of increasing consumer interest. 'HONOR has been a pioneer in the foldable space, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology and design with each generation of our foldable smartphones,' he asserted. The company's strategy focuses on creating devices that are not only 'as lightweight and comfortable to hold as bar phones, but also deliver a premium user experience.' While specific country-by-country market share figures were not disclosed, Li shared internal data indicating HONOR's rapid growth. 'HONOR is the fastest-growing tech brand in the MENA region, with shipments rising over 83 per cent — a milestone no other smartphone brand here has achieved.' In the UAE specifically, 'our sales in the first half of 2025 increased by 75 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.' He also noted that the HONOR Magic V3 'doubled foldable shipments', and the HONOR 400 series 'grew by 200 per cent', signifying strong consumer adoption for both foldable and traditional flagship smartphones. Pre-order, availability, and expanding ecosystem The HONOR Magic V5 will be available in the UAE at a price of Dhs 6,499 ($1,799) . Pre-orders commenced on Thursday, August 14 , with the device officially hitting shelves on Thursday, August 21. For early adopters, Dhs3,695 . This package includes a Bose Speaker, HONOR Magic Pen, and an additional HONOR Magic V5 Case . Crucially, it also features HONOR VIP Care+ , which provides 12-month screen protection (covering one free replacement for both the inner and outer screens, with no cost for parts or labour). Purchases made after the initial month will still receive six months of screen protection. The VIP Care+ package further includes 24-month customised service for up to eight sessions. The Magic V5 is offered in four elegant color options: Dawn Gold, Ivory White, Reddish Brown, and Black. Pre-orders are available through the HONOR Online Store, HONOR Experience Stores, and a wide network of retail partners, including Sharaf DG, Emax, Jumbo, Lulu, Carrefour, Eros, Etisalat by e&, Du, Virgin Megastore, Amazon, Noon, KM Trading, and Ecity. Beyond the foldable, the launch event also showcased HONOR's commitment to expanding its broader AI device ecosystem. The HONOR Magic Pad 3 tablet features a 13.3-inch 165Hz HONOR Eye Comfort Display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, 8 speakers with HONOR Spatial Audio, and a large 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery, all within an ultra-slim 5.79mm and lightweight 595g design. The HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025 laptop, designed for portability and performance, weighs just 1kg, is only 1cm thick, and features a 1600nit HONOR Eye Comfort Display. These devices, alongside the Magic V5, leverage HONOR Share , a cross-platform file transfer and syncing technology that allows instant content sharing across various operating systems, illustrating HONOR's strategic shift toward becoming a global AI device ecosystem leader.


Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Brady didn't understand football, says Rooney after ‘work ethic' jibe
Wayne Rooney has described criticism of his work ethic by Birmingham minority owner Tom Brady as 'unfair' and said the NFL legend did not understand football. Former Manchester United and England captain Rooney, was sacked as Birmingham manager in January 2024 after less than three months in charge. Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Brady, who became a minority shareholder at Birmingham in August 2023, said he was 'a little worried about our head coach's work ethic' during a recently-aired documentary after visiting Blues' training ground two months later. 'I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway, and I don't think he really understood football that well,' Rooney said on his new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, which will be aired on the BBC's digital platforms. 'Football is not NFL -- NFL works for three months a year. Players do need rest as well, so I think he's very unfair, the way he's come out and portrayed that.' Following Rooney's departure, Birmingham appointed Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett as managers in the 2023/24 season but were relegated to League One. 'When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess really,' added Rooney. 'Hence the fact that the players weren't really the players who could take the club forward. Since then the project, headed by American-based hedge fund Knighthead Capital, has turned around. Birmingham's wealthy backers invested an unprecedented £30 million ($41 million) in transfers for a League One club last season and broke an English Football League record by amassing 111 points as they stormed to the title. Agence France-Presse