Rafeeg unveils revolutionary AI interior design tool and franchise initiative at GITEX Europe 2025
Germany - Berlin — Rafeeg App, a leading UAE-based platform in the home services sector, made a bold statement at GITEX Europe 2025 with the unveiling of its new AI-powered interior design algorithm, allowing homeowners to professionally design their spaces without hiring interior designers or conducting in-person consultations. The announcement signals a major move toward digital transformation in home design while also setting the stage for Rafeeg's global expansion, starting with Europe.
The patent-pending algorithm, currently undergoing the registration process with support from the UAE Ministry of Economy and Khalifa Fund, employs AI to instantly generate high-quality and fully customized interior design concepts based on user input. Without the need for costly site visits or manual layout reviews, the technology significantly reduces the time and the cost that is often associated with home redesign. It is expected to launch publicly by the end of 2025.
Rafeeg introduced an innovative franchise pilot program at the event, inviting interested European partners to participate in a fully funded, one-month trial with no obligation to continue afterwards. During the opening days of the exhibition, more than 20 European businesses expressed formal interest in the program. Rafeeg will cover all startup costs during the trial, providing partners with a low-risk opportunity to test the platform in their respective markets.
'We believe that the success of a startup depends on cultivating knowledge, trust, and a seamless operation. This vision is what Rafeeg stands for and presents,' said Khamis Alsheryani, Founder and CEO of Rafeeg. 'We're excited to extend that vision to Europe and beyond.'
Founded in 2017, Rafeeg was created to bridge the gap between homeowners and vetted service providers in the UAE. The app currently supports over 140,000 users and a network of 4,500 service professionals, including electricians, interior designers, and renovation specialists. The platform has already processed over AED 50 million in transactions and is celebrated for its focus on quality assurance, affordability, and customer satisfaction.
What sets Rafeeg apart is its mission to empower local businesses rather than compete with them. Through comprehensive training programs, operational support, and strict quality control, Rafeeg helps small and medium-sized contractors to scale their operations and elevate their service standards. Their collaborative approach has been a key pillar of the brand's success in the UAE and is central to its strategy for future expansion.
The company's participation in GITEX Europe represents a strategic initiative to enter new markets. Supported by the UAE's national innovation agenda, Rafeeg is actively seeking like-minded partners across the Northern Emirates, GCC countries, and key European cities to collaboratively develop the next generation of home services.
Entrepreneurs and investors interested in joining Rafeeg's international growth journey can apply for the limited-time franchise trial through www.rafeeg.ae or by reaching out to the team at khamis@rafeeg.ae.
About Rafeeg Facility Management:
Rafeeg Facility Management is a subsidiary of the Rafeeg App, the first of its kind in the UAE. Founded in 2017 by Emirati entrepreneur Khamis Al-Sheryani, the company has quickly established itself as a leader in providing remote maintenance and decoration services to homeowners.
In just a few years, Rafeeg has attracted a specialized engineering team with over 15 years of experience in facility management. This team of experts enables the company to expand its services and cater to both private and government sectors. Rafeeg helps these sectors manage their facilities and assets using advanced Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) systems and best practices that comply with international standards.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on the latest news announcements, please visit: https://www.rafeeg.fm
About the Founder:
Khamis Al-Sharyani is an Emirati entrepreneur with extensive experience in strategic planning, project management, and sustainable business development. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 2004 by founding Wslaat, a highly successful online platform that attracted over 1.2 million visitors daily and was later acquired by Maktoob, which was later acquired by Yahoo International.
Following his success in the technical and real estate sectors through the establishment of the Ekaar.net platform, Al-Sharyani turned to the government sector, where he currently holds the position of Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. He works to implement strategic initiatives that contribute to enhancing the investment climate and developing the business environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, through cooperation with government agencies and investors, improving regulatory performance, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Al-Sharyani holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Griffith University, Australia, in addition to a wide range of executive degrees from leading international academic institutions such as London Business University (LBS), Stanford University, the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), and IESE University, in the fields of entrepreneurship, negotiation, leadership development, and strategic planning.
Notes to the editor:
For media inquiries, please contact:
Faten Abdulla
FAC Marketing Management Consultancy
Email: faten@fac.ae
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
41 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's property market sets new sales record in May
Dubai's real estate market continued to witness unprecedented growth, smashing records with Dh66.8 billion in sales in May 2025, a 49.9 per cent surge from the previous year, according to fäm Properties. This blockbuster performance, propelled by strong demand and global investor confidence, underscores Dubai's status as a magnet for wealth and a destination of stability in a volatile world. Despite whispers of a potential price correction, the market's fundamentals remain rock-solid, with an undersupply of office space and a steady influx of high-net-worth individuals driving sustained growth. The May figures, reported by DXBinteract, reveal 18,693 transactions, making it the second-highest month for sales volume on record. This marks a dramatic climb from prior years: Dh2.3 billion from 1,400 transactions in 2020, Dh11.1 billion from 4,400 in 2021, Dh18.3 billion from 6,600 in 2022, Dh33.6 billion from 11,600 in 2023, and Dh46.4 billion from 17,600 in 2024. Last month's crown jewel was a luxury villa on Palm Jumeirah, sold for Dh300 million ($81.7 million), alongside a Jumeirah Residences Asora Bay apartment fetching Dh164 million ($44.7 million). High-value properties shone, with 14 per cent of sales exceeding Dh5 million ($1.4 million), while 30 per cent fell in the Dh1-2 million ($272,000-545,000) range and 26 per cent below Dh1 million ($272,000). Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, dismissed concerns raised by a Fitch Ratings forecast of a 15 per cent residential price correction, emphasising market maturity over weakness. 'A slowdown in growth isn't a correction,' he said. 'Dubai's demand base is strong, and absorption will catch up.' Approximately 363,000 residential units are slated for delivery over the next five years, but only 12,000 are near completion (80-99 per cent progress), with 270,000 units at early stages (0-20 per cent). Completed project deliveries in 2024 dropped 23 per cent from 2023, dispelling fears of oversupply. However, localised pressure may emerge in areas like Jumeirah Village Circle, expecting 20,000 units in the coming years, potentially causing temporary price adjustments. In contrast, Dubai's office market faces a stark undersupply. 'Quality commercial space is extremely limited, with strong demand and minimal new inventory in prime business zones,' Al Msaddi noted. This scarcity is driving value appreciation, with no price correction in sight. Developer first sales dominated, accounting for 66 per cent of transaction volume and 67 per cent of value, far outpacing resales. DXBinteract data shows Dubai gained 212 per cent more millionaires over the past decade, while London lost 45 per cent. 'Dubai is a secure investment environment where wealth is preserved and grown,' Al Msaddi said. Property Finder data underscores this, with the US leading international search traffic, followed by the UK and India, signaling a shift in global interest. Despite challenges like inflation and geopolitical volatility, investor confidence remains unshaken, driven by Dubai's lifestyle allure and economic stability.
Khaleej Times
41 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE businesses stay resilient amid global challenges
The UAE's non-oil private sector is traversing its softest growth in nearly four years, with a key indicator marking its lowest level in May 2025 since September 2021. Despite this slowdown, the sector remains healthy, buoyed by strong demand, strategic diversification, and optimism in global trade, as highlighted by recent survey data. While challenges like global economic uncertainty and US tariffs loom, UAE businesses are adapting with agility, maintaining a competitive edge in a shifting landscape. The S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to 53.3 in May 2025, down from 54.0 in April. The PMI stayed above the 50.0 no-change threshold, signalling continued expansion. However, the pace of growth in new orders and output has eased, with output growth hitting its weakest mark in 44 months. Companies cited robust client demand, effective marketing strategies, and diverse product offerings as drivers of new orders, though global trade disruptions, particularly US tariffs, tempered momentum for some. The Dubai PMI, holding steady at 52.9, echoed this trend, reflecting solid but slower expansion, with new orders reaching a four-month high thanks to improved client confidence and competitive pricing. A striking development was the record decline in input stocks, the sharpest in nearly 16 years of survey data, as firms streamlined inventories amid slowing growth and supply constraints. Purchasing activity rose at its slowest pace in 28 months, reflecting cautious stock management. Conversely, employment saw a notable uptick, with job creation reaching a one-year high as firms responded to rising workloads. Backlogs of work, while still significant, grew at their slowest rate in 16 months, indicating a slight easing of pressure on capacity. Inflationary pressures softened, offering some relief. Input cost inflation fell to its lowest since December 2023, with only five per cent of firms reporting higher costs, driven by pricier raw materials and transport. Selling prices rose marginally, as some companies passed on costs while others offered discounts to stay competitive. This aligns with broader trends of declining inflationary pressures, a positive signal for businesses navigating cost challenges. Despite the slowdown, UAE firms remain optimistic about global trade. According to HSBC's 2025 Global Trade Pulse Survey, conducted between April 30 and May 12, 2025, 94 per cent of UAE businesses anticipate strong growth in cross-border activities, outpacing global peers. This resilience stands out against a cautious global backdrop, where two-thirds of firms worldwide report cost increases from trade uncertainties. UAE companies, facing an average seven per cent rise in operational expenses due to tariffs, are countering challenges through advanced planning, digital innovation, and market diversification. This positions the UAE as a leader in global trade optimism, even as geopolitical uncertainties ripple worldwide. Business confidence, however, showed signs of moderation. Only 10 per cent of surveyed firms expect expansion in the year ahead, the lowest optimism since January 2025. This tempered outlook, combined with sharp inventory cuts, suggests firms are bracing for softer growth. Yet, the UAE's non-oil sector continues to perform well, supported by strong fundamentals. David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted: 'While competitive pressures and weaker trade amid US tariffs have weighed on growth, the UAE economy remains robust. The survey data points to easing momentum but also highlights falling inflationary pressures, offering a silver lining.' 'From an overall perspective, the survey signals that the UAE economy is performing well, but the softer increases in output and new orders hint at momentum easing. Furthermore, the sharp cutback in stocks (which was the fastest on record) and the broadly subdued outlook for activity suggest that firms are gearing up for softer growth,' said Owen. 'Positively, the survey data backs up the trend of falling inflationary pressures, as businesses saw input costs rise at their slowest rate since the end of 2023,' he added.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
NMDC LTS concludes acquisition of 70% equity stake in Emdad
NMDC LTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the NMDC Group, has completed the acquisition of a 70 per cent stake of the share capital and voting rights in Emdad, an integrated service provider specialising in the oil and gas, utilities, and industrial sectors. The transaction was financed through debt and equity. This acquisition enables NMDC Group to expand into the OPEX segment of recurring revenues in the oilfield services, further diversifying its portfolio and strengthening its competitive advantage. In parallel, this acquisition will provide NMDC Group with a broader range of services and additional avenues for revenue growth, with Emdad's offering spanning over an array of different services, including well intervention, waste management, shutdown/ turnaround, coil tubing, valves, among other services. Emdad reported revenues in excess of Dh600 million in 2024 and its equity stood at Dh217 million. Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, CEO of NMDC Group, commented: 'We are happy to complete this landmark acquisition which marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both organizations. Emdad stands out as an industry leader with robust capabilities and deep sector expertise. By combining its strengths with NMDC's scale and commitment to innovation, we now have a powerful platform to unlock long-term value. With diversification at its core, this integration enhances our ability to deliver broader service offerings, create greater value, and drive sustainable growth for our clients, partners, and stakeholders across the dynamic energy landscape.' Mohammed Juma Al Bawardi, CEO of Emdad, commented: 'This milestone transaction underscores the sophistication and attractiveness of the UAE's energy sector as well as the trust that NMDC has in Emdad's position as a leading service provider in the market. We are confident that through this compelling partnership, where we are now plugged into the wider NMDC platform, we will be able to chart an exciting new journey of growth. Ultimately, this collaboration will unlock deeper value for our customers and help us to achieve our shared goals for sustainable success.' The update is another further step in NMDC's strategy to drive value creation, strengthen its regional presence, and support revenue growth. It marks a leap in NMDC Group's broader expansion and diversification goals, paving the way for future innovation and leadership in the energy sector.
