- 3 months ago
Speaking at a session at the India Today Conclave, Nair said demand for ultra-luxury and branded residences remains strong even as parts of the mid-market segment show caution.
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00:00Thank you for being here today. Thank you, Smita.
00:03Before we begin, for all those who are here, let me tell you who Smita is.
00:07Smita Nair is the head of international sales at BNW Developments.
00:12It's one of Dubai's most dynamic luxury real estate developers,
00:16shaping the region's next generation of design-led waterfront destinations.
00:20With more than a decade of experience in Dubai property market,
00:24she plays a pivotal role in driving BNW's international sales strategy,
00:29connecting global investors to some of UAE's most compelling luxury investment opportunities.
00:35At BNW Developments, Smita leads the brand's international sales network,
00:41working closely with investors, institutions, and channel partners across key global markets.
00:47Her work focuses on translating market intelligence into strategic opportunities,
00:52helping international buyers participate in UAE's rapidly expanding luxury real estate ecosystem.
01:00And what a wonderful ecosystem it is.
01:03But that's not all.
01:04Are you being sarcastic?
01:05No, not at all.
01:06Not at all.
01:07So prior to joining BNW, to give you a little more about her,
01:12Smita held leadership roles at renowned organizations,
01:15including Omniat and Cushman and Wakefield,
01:18where she built a strong reputation for navigating complex cross-border transactions
01:22and advising high net worth investors on premium property portfolios.
01:26But that's her professional work.
01:28She also has a prolific, prolific profile when she's doing extracurriculars,
01:35which includes MMA.
01:36She's a painter.
01:38She's a model and a fitness enthusiast as well.
01:40Okay, I was all of that before I got into, you know, UAE real estate market
01:46when I was in India and actually I could do all that stuff.
01:49But yeah, but thank you so much for all this introduction.
01:51Are we done or there is more?
01:53There is more, but I'll stop.
01:54No, no, no, please go ahead.
01:55I'm listening.
01:57So, but you know what?
01:58I think now that everyone knows who you are,
02:01we should deep dive into the questions
02:03because I think that this is the best time to be having this conversation
02:06where everyone is wondering what's going on with the market.
02:09So, let's start right at the beginning.
02:12We recently heard that your chairman and founder, Mr. Ankur Agarwal,
02:17shared some incredibly fascinating insights about the UAE real estate journey.
02:21So, from your perspective,
02:23how big a role does B&W play in the ecosystem today?
02:28First of all, thank you so much.
02:30It's my pleasure and honor to be here.
02:31I just landed very safe, by the way, last night from Dubai.
02:35And everything is good.
02:39I wouldn't say it's perfect at this moment, as we all know what's going on.
02:43But it's not as bad as is shown in some of the Indian media that I have seen.
02:49So, please, for all the media people who's here, it's not that bad at all.
02:54And Burj Khalifa is still standing.
02:56I stay right in front of Burj Khalifa.
02:59And every single day, I'm getting calls that,
03:01Oh, is it okay?
03:03Is Burj Khalifa still standing?
03:04I'm like, yeah, it's right there in front of me.
03:06So, it's not that bad at all.
03:08And I'm happy that I'm here.
03:10But today, attending your...
03:11Dispelling of the rumors.
03:12You put it at the end once in a while.
03:14Yes, yes, yes.
03:14Because that is the basis of, I think, today's the conclave also for the last two days.
03:19And one of our, the subject of discussion today is this.
03:24So, that's why I have to clarify all this.
03:26Yeah.
03:26So, yeah, coming back to the question, yes.
03:35Yes.
03:36So, what, regarding what part B&W is having?
03:39Yes.
03:40So, B&W is definitely playing a very meaningful part in the UAE's real estate ecosystem.
03:47Let's start by saying that in a very short span, which is about less than three years,
03:52because B&W has already become the, one of the largest private real estate developers
03:58in UAE, yeah?
03:59With a gross, or a GDP, or gross development value of almost 32 billion dirhams, which is
04:06about, how much, 8.7 billion US dollars in, in such a short span of time.
04:12And if you convert it to rupees, then, oh my God.
04:14Months is more than my yearly salary.
04:15It's more than my yearly salary.
04:1625.
04:17Yeah.
04:18And this is a very short span of time.
04:19And all of our projects are in the best locations of UAE.
04:23For example, if you've heard of Dubai Marina.
04:25Yes.
04:26And in UAE now, the hottest investment location is Russell Khema, because of the Wynn Integrated
04:33Gaming Resort that is almost up and, almost will be ready and will be up and running by mid
04:39of next year.
04:41So, most of our projects are in Almarjan Island, and in, where is that, Rack Central, which
04:47is going to be like the financial district or hub of Russell Khema, which in Dubai there's
04:53already a DIFC, Dubai Investment Financial Center.
04:55Similar is happening, going to happen now in Russell Khema, because of the wind coming and
05:01the economy going to boom with all that stuff.
05:04So, Rack Central, and then the most awaited beach district, Almarjan Beach District.
05:10So, most of our projects are in these amazing locations in such a short span of time.
05:14We have in our office 500-plus employees of, like, multinational team who's working on everything
05:24to do with these projects.
05:25And I would say our, do I say, our work of our chairman, Mr. Ankur Agarwal, and our managing
05:33director, Mr. Vivek Oberoi, I think our work is aligning with the vision of the Sheikh of
05:40Russell Khema, His Highness Sheikh Saud Binsakhar Al-Khassimi, and the leadership of the CEO of
05:48Almarjan Island, Mr. Abdullah Labdulli.
05:50So, together, we are building an amazing, I think, new generation, realistic ecosystem
05:57for UAE.
05:58Yeah.
05:59Sounds fantastic.
06:00I'm sure everyone here now is going to try to get a space over there.
06:04Yes, yes, because after this, I am going to come to every table with my, all my projects.
06:11No, but seriously, guys, you should visit our lounge.
06:15My sales team is there.
06:16My daily office team, we have a daily office in Lajpatnagar.
06:21The team is here.
06:23I'll leave some of my cards here.
06:25Please, whoever's interested to ask more information, I'm not saying just buy, also to get more information,
06:32please, you're welcome.
06:33Yeah?
06:34I'm sure you'll have a long life.
06:36So, now, almost everyone watching globally wants to know what is the biggest trend in
06:41the UAE real estate today?
06:43What's really buzzing in the market?
06:46Yeah.
06:47So, UAE, for quite some time, not only today, but today most importantly, as in the last few
06:54years, there has been two trends that has been standing out, right?
06:59The first one being, I would say, waterfront properties.
07:03Yeah?
07:03Waterfront luxury properties is in demand.
07:06It doesn't matter where that water is.
07:09But waterfront properties is very much in demand.
07:12So, like I said, most of our projects are on an island, on a man-male island, Almarjan
07:19island.
07:19Almarjan in Arabic means corals.
07:21So, these are all islands in the shape of corals and they were already, I mean, the island
07:27was already there since 2013, okay?
07:30But it didn't become very popular.
07:33You know why?
07:33There was no draw.
07:34There was no pull at that time.
07:36The pull in the last, since 2022, Jan, the Wynn integrated gaming resort was announced.
07:45The pull started only then because developers started buying plots on the island, investors
07:50started buying plots on the island.
07:51And that's how B&W developments, now we are the, by the way, we are the largest private
07:56real estate developer in Rasul Khmer.
07:59Congratulations.
07:59Thank you so much.
08:00I'm so proud of that.
08:01So, you know, I'm, I'm, thank you.
08:05So, see, I forgot the question because I just love talking so much.
08:09And a few minutes ago on the line, you're saying you just can't.
08:12So, waterfront properties is what is the trend that is number one.
08:16And most of our projects, like I said, is on the island.
08:18So, I have over there a scale model of Taj Wellington Muse, by the way, we have branded
08:23residences.
08:24So, there is Aqua Arc.
08:25There is Aqua Maya.
08:27There is Pelagia.
08:28These are all, Antonino Lamborghini.
08:30One of our branded residences is overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Wynn resort as well.
08:35So, there, there has been a huge demand for that from all, all, I'll say globally.
08:42And, of course, maximum investors in Dubai as well is Indians, right?
08:47So, obviously, that's boiling down to B&W also is a maximum of, or most of our investors,
08:53I would say 40% is Indians.
08:56Well, that's a big number.
08:57Yeah.
08:57So, that was the number one.
08:58And number two, I would say the trend is branded residences.
09:03That is just, just going crazy.
09:06Because Dubai is all about brands, right?
09:07When you think Dubai, what do you think about luxury, brands, and, you know, sophistication,
09:12et cetera.
09:12And most of the buyers are international.
09:15I mean, we are talking about India for sure.
09:17And then we are talking about Russia and, you know, of course, there's so much money coming
09:23in Iran and Russia, Israel and everything, China and Europe, of course, and UK.
09:29So, a lot of the Indian buyers, by the way, the percentage that I told you is also from
09:33US, US passport holders, Indian origin, and same for UK as well.
09:38Yeah.
09:38So, they are looking for branded properties big time.
09:42So, and look at our projects.
09:44I mean, we have branded with hospitality brands such as Ramad, Windham, and, of course, fashion
09:52brand, fashion TV.
09:53Now, there's Tonino Lamborghini.
09:55We have branded with residences and very, very proud to say we are now sitting in Taj Palace.
10:01Yeah.
10:01So, we have got Taj brand to Dubai and Russell Khema.
10:07And we are the only developer that has got Taj brand as a developer to Dubai and Russell
10:11Khema.
10:11I'm very proud of it.
10:12The name of the project or the brand over there is Taj Wellington Muse.
10:16I think it also exists in India, in two cities.
10:19But in UAE, there was no Taj Wellington Muse.
10:22So, that is a project that is branded.
10:25So, brands and waterfront properties, I would say, are the two trending items.
10:30And it's amazing that you're taking India to like a global stage.
10:34100%.
10:35And in the best way possible.
10:36You know, you're exonerating the luxury segment of India.
10:40100%.
10:40And Taj being what?
10:42Indian heritage and, you know, of the late Mr. Ratan Tata.
10:46And to be associated with Taj, we're very, very proud of it.
10:51Now, if you're following the geopolitical events, which have been happening since late
10:55Feb 2026.
10:56Something?
10:57Okay.
10:57We've seen a 20% dip in the Dubai real estate index and rise in cautious sentiment amongst
11:03the mid-market buyers.
11:04But when it comes to the ultra-luxury segment, it remains paradoxically resilient.
11:10In fact, MR recently reported a record sales in Jan Feb 2026.
11:14Now, is this the new normal?
11:16How is B&W developments evolving its international sales pitch to convince investors that Dubai
11:22isn't just a high-growth market, but a permanent safe-haven anchor that outperforms
11:27global credit-driven markets during a crisis?
11:30Can you repeat that question?
11:33No, no, but I got you.
11:34So how do I convince the Indian markets in this global situation?
11:39That's the crux of the story, right?
11:41Okay.
11:42All right.
11:43So, see, I have been in real estate sales since 2008, and I started this in Dubai.
11:50And you know what time that was?
11:51That was when the...
11:53No, 2008 financial crisis.
11:55Yeah?
11:56So I went from Bangalore, a real estate market, into Dubai, which was...
12:02It was a bubble.
12:03I mean, I did great for, what, six months.
12:06And then till it completely crashed, right?
12:08So what happened in 2008?
12:11Markets crashed.
12:12Real estate market, which was a bubble at that point.
12:14There was no RARA and stuff like that, which came much later after they saw what happened
12:19in 2008.
12:20People lost their money, burnt their fingers and whatever.
12:24So 2008 crash was 50% markets down.
12:29Yeah?
12:29But how it revived 100% plus by 2010 to 2012.
12:38Right?
12:38So that was, I think, the worst that I have seen in the near path.
12:43Yeah?
12:43I mean, I don't want to go to the Gulf War and, you know, that much.
12:46So 2008, we saw how resilient Dubai was.
12:50And then we saw 2020 COVID.
12:53I mean, that is a greatest example.
12:57So what happened during COVID?
12:58The whole world was struggling.
13:00Dubai saw a drop of about, I would say, immediate sharp drop.
13:05Okay?
13:06About 10%, not much.
13:07And then people bought distressed sale.
13:11Okay?
13:12Which is actually kind of...
13:13And then they bought.
13:14And then they bought.
13:15And then they bought some more.
13:16And then what happened?
13:18Immediate, you know, a V-spike.
13:20V-shaped spike in the prices.
13:23Because, first of all, whatever goes down has to go up.
13:27Right?
13:27It's like the stock market.
13:28And then there are people who are waiting for markets to fall, to find that value, properties.
13:33And then what happened, you also saw globally that Dubai COVID situation, they were able to control very fast.
13:42Like in six months, we got the vaccines.
13:43And, you know, it was amazing.
13:45Of course, it's not as big as in India or, you know, other countries.
13:49But whatever in that little area, little Emirate or, you know, United Arab Emirates as a country,
13:58they were able to contain everything very soon.
14:00And so, what happened is, it became the brand ambassador for itself because of the safety and the medical condition.
14:07I mean, the medical system and everything.
14:09And people started buying from all over the world.
14:12Yeah?
14:13So, we've seen the 2000...
14:15So, 2020 markets, it grew again, you know, around 60% up in about six months' time.
14:23So, that happened.
14:24Then 2025...
14:25No, 24, about a year and a half ago, we saw some floods.
14:29I'm sure many people saw the floods and, you know, like, Dubai is underwater or this and that.
14:34That was really temporary.
14:35That was like literally a one-week story.
14:37Yeah?
14:38There was some kind of little, very small, very negligible market sentiment did fall at that point.
14:44But again, it picked up.
14:45Yeah?
14:45So, we have seen this.
14:46So, now what is happening geopolitically?
14:48Yes.
14:49It's not going to be a full...
14:51What do I say?
14:53Crash.
14:54Is what...
14:54I mean, I would love to believe.
14:56Because the things are saying, it's paradoxically funny that ultra-luxury segment is thriving.
15:00Yeah.
15:00Because BMW should technically...
15:02A hundred percent.
15:03So, you know...
15:03Okay, so just to reiterate.
15:04So, I handle international sales.
15:07Yes.
15:07So, I have an office in Moscow.
15:09I have an office in Delhi.
15:11Yes.
15:11And of course, there is Dubai.
15:13I have been so busy.
15:14I landed last night.
15:15Since last night till now, I have been so busy.
15:18Riddhi.
15:19I have not been able to go through your questions.
15:22You know?
15:23So, my point I'm trying to make here is there is so much demand that has come from all these
15:27offices
15:28that I'm not able to give time to anything.
15:31I have been just answering queries.
15:32Okay.
15:33You know?
15:34There's a bulk bar.
15:35There's this and that.
15:36And discounts.
15:37Payment plan.
15:37And also, because this time is such, we also have to mold ourselves to the situation.
15:43Okay?
15:44So, we have also made certain changes in the last one week.
15:47Like, we have, we have an extremely amazing payment plan that never heard of in Dubai,
15:54at least, 70, 30, 70, sorry, 30, 70.
15:59By which I mean 30% you're paying now and 70% on completion.
16:03So, this gives you so much confidence because until the property is ready, you don't have
16:08to pay the 70%.
16:09You're just paying the 20 or the 30% which the developer really needs to, you know, start
16:15construction.
16:15And anyway, that money is all lying in escrow.
16:18That can only be used for construction.
16:20So, there is demand.
16:22I mean, people know that this situation is there, yes.
16:25But, as I'm sure all of you are aware, there has been more than 500 missiles and around 15,
16:341600 drones that were sent to Dubai.
16:37And, I don't know, I mean, 90% plus have been intercepted.
16:41I know the 10% shouldn't, is dangerous enough.
16:44But, imagine the amount of destruction would have been if they were not so good at what
16:51they do, yeah?
16:52Under the leadership, under this amazing leadership of the UAE President and Prime Minister.
16:57So, there is still demand.
17:00Now, that brings us to the next demand that I feel that we should address.
17:04As some of B&W's earlier projects approach handover, how is the secondary market responding
17:10to Vivek Oberoi Celebrity Developer Association in terms of resale demand?
17:15In terms of?
17:16Resale.
17:19Resale.
17:19Okay.
17:20So, yes.
17:21So, Vivek Oberoi, as I'm sure all of you know, he is our managing director and co-founder.
17:27Yeah?
17:28That name, definitely very, very important when it comes to brand recall.
17:35Yeah?
17:36And, but our chairman is Mr. Ankur Agarwal, who is a chartered accountant in my profession.
17:40So, he is a numbers guy.
17:42Right?
17:42And, clearly a lot about luxury.
17:44If you look at your ad running, he is living the life and embodying the luxury.
17:48And, he is actually a showman, and he is a huge Shah Rukh fan, by the way.
17:52You will see his look style.
17:53You will see a little bit of his style in him.
17:56So, yeah, the point I'm trying to make is, yes, I mean, Dr. Vivek Anand Oberoi, he is.
18:02And, his name definitely pulls a lot of Indian crowd, international crowd as well.
18:09But, as we all know, not only is he a superstar, Bollywood superstar, he is also a very successful
18:15serial entrepreneur he has been in the last so many years.
18:17So, his vision, his thought process, his perspective on this business, which is B&W, has definitely
18:26helped in, come on, in reaching number one private real estate developer in Russell Khema
18:31and one of the largest in UAE as well.
18:34And, this partnership is wonderful, like I said.
18:38The chairman is Mr. Ankur Agarwal, and he is a chartered accountant.
18:43Right?
18:43So, he is a numbers guy.
18:44All kinds of structuring, deals, etc. is done by him.
18:47And, Vivek brings his expertise, his brand, his name also into it.
18:51So, definitely it has helped.
18:53But, ultimately, then it's all the foundation of both of them.
18:58I mean, both their visions, which work beautifully together.
19:00You're doing really well.
19:02You've got great leadership.
19:04Your, your properties are selling out.
19:07But, how do you contribute to the community in the larger scale?
19:10In the larger sense of the world?
19:11Okay.
19:11Yeah, yeah, yeah.
19:12So, sure.
19:13So, I know Mr. Ankur Agarwal, our chairman, from even before he became a developer.
19:20Right?
19:20He was a chartered accountant.
19:22I know him when we were.
19:23Bricks and Woods was a real estate brokerage company for some time.
19:26So, anyway.
19:27So, since then, I can tell you he has been involved in two community business.
19:32Right?
19:32Since then.
19:33Not only now.
19:34So, for example, let's say there's a lot of charity work that goes in.
19:39Then now, then during Ramadan month, the whole month, even last year I saw before that, and
19:43even this year, for the whole month we have iftar open in our, our office.
19:50By the way, our office, which is our headquarters, is more than, it's almost 22,000 square feet.
19:57Okay?
19:57With 500 employees, I told you, which is multinational.
20:00So, the point I'm trying to make is, so we have iftar open for everybody, all communities
20:05are welcome to come.
20:06So, that, and, yeah, recently during this political, sorry, this geopolitical thing,
20:11when people were stranded, so, remember, we have ready property.
20:14So, we had opened that up for people to, for accommodation.
20:18We provided transport, food.
20:20So, definitely, whatever possible from their side they do.
20:25Fantastic.
20:26Okay.
20:27Now, let's play a quick game.
20:28Okay.
20:29The 2026 homeowner's dilemma.
20:32If you had a magic wand, and you could add one impossible amenity to the BNW project that
20:38would make an international buyer sign a contract in 30 seconds, regardless of the price, what
20:44would it be?
20:45I mean, would it be like a private drone taxi pad, or a built-in AI concierge that manages
20:50their global taxes, or perhaps a quiet zone that completely blocks out the digital world?
20:56What is the one thing today's billionaire is asking for that simply didn't exist two years
21:00ago?
21:06So, what was that?
21:08Helipad.
21:10Taxi helipad.
21:11The drone pad, okay, or the AI concierge.
21:16Or anything, like, you know, what's the billionaires?
21:18No, so, it sounds nice.
21:19It sounds nice to have a drone pad, and AI, what is that, AI concierge, and everything.
21:25But I think, for the, I think the billionaires, or the millionaires, whoever, I mean, everybody
21:30in general, they are looking for something more, I would say, to do with wellness, and
21:37holistic, you know, it has to be holistic.
21:38And AI, and all, see, there are so many apps, there's so many platforms, and anyway, ultimately,
21:44you will always get that drone pad.
21:47It's a reality, by the way.
21:48Okay, oh, wow.
21:49So, that's happening as we speak.
21:51But still, they are looking for wellness, I would say, intertwined into the architecture.
22:00You are into architecture, aren't you?
22:01Yes.
22:02I report on it.
22:03I read a little bit about you.
22:05Yeah, so, they, people are looking for that, you know, so, we have ensured that most of
22:10our projects have everything, you know, all this that we are looking for.
22:13But, yeah, to answer your question, if I had a magic wand, I would probably integrate the
22:19best wellness utopia?
22:22Utopia.
22:23Utopia.
22:23Into my projects.
22:25Okay, maybe in a couple of years, we're going to be seeing that.
22:29Possible.
22:29Now, this next round, we call it this or that.
22:32So, you choose either this or that.
22:34Okay.
22:35If money was not a binder, what would you go for?
22:38Palm Jumeirah for its legacy or Almarjan Island for the win effect?
22:45Hey, Palm Jumeirah is great.
22:47But, no, no, no.
22:48It's a win casino.
22:49Okay.
22:49I mean, hands down.
22:51The Almarjan Island.
22:52Almarjan Island.
22:53Okay.
22:53The reason being, look, so, like I said, I have seen Dubai since 2008.
22:58People have bought in Palm Jumeirah for really peanuts.
23:01And now I have sold even before, I mean, like you said, I was at Omniath.
23:06I've sold for even, you know, five-digit figures per square feet, like 12,000, 14,000 dirhams
23:12or square feet.
23:13So, that growth has already, that story has already happened.
23:16And it's not over, but it's done.
23:18Now, that value you're getting in Almarjan Island.
23:21Yeah?
23:22And the draw or the pull, I told you, is the win integrated gaming resort, which is going
23:28to...
23:28So, it's safe to say win for the win.
23:29Oh, this was a one-liner.
23:31You can have it.
23:32I can keep talking.
23:33Okay.
23:35Now, who is tougher to close in 2026?
23:37Would it be the startup entrepreneur or the European old money investor?
23:42Tougher.
23:42Tougher to close.
23:44Definitely the European old money investor.
23:48Because, you know, the entrepreneur is easier because, simply because they're looking for something
23:54fast, speed, you know?
23:57You give them something, what they want in terms of price, size, payment plan, something
24:02what they're looking for, and it's done.
24:05You know?
24:06However big or small the deal is.
24:08But, a European old money investor, I think they do look for pedigree and, you know, experience
24:14and stuff like that.
24:15So, they are tougher.
24:16Though, like I said, there's a big percentage of our investors who are European, and when
24:21they buy, they buy in bulk.
24:23So, they are definitely much more difficult to...
24:27Yeah.
24:28All right.
24:28Which is the truest sign of UAE strength?
24:31Record-breaking prices or 80% cash transaction volumes?
24:36What is the first option?
24:38Record-breaking prices.
24:41No, no.
24:42It's the 80% cash volumes.
24:43Yeah.
24:44All right.
24:44Because look, when somebody is putting all their money on the table, I mean, when we
24:49say cash, we also mean direct payment, check payments and everything, right?
24:53Yeah.
24:53So, 80% of the payments are all check payments.
24:55I mean, so when somebody is not leaning on leveraging, it means that they are confident
25:03and they believe in the growth story of UAE and the leadership and the whole foundation
25:08that they have built for, like, 40, 50 years.
25:11So, yeah.
25:12That's the question.
25:13That's the answer.
25:14Okay.
25:15Yeah.
25:1580%.
25:16Well, I think I know the answer to the next one, but I still ask you.
25:20A private plunge pool on the balcony or a built-in AI wellness suite?
25:25Obviously, the built-in AI wellness suite, because plunge pool, we already have, no?
25:31I mean, it's a given.
25:32You see, most of our apartments comes with a plunge pool on the balcony.
25:35Right.
25:36So, all of us can just start a separate fund to buy our next home with BMW.
25:39Do that, please.
25:41Now, next round is, you have to have one word answers or one sentence, all right?
25:46What is the most overhyped word in UAE real estate right now?
25:50Luxury.
25:51Okay.
25:52Besides Dubai and R.A.K., which Northern Emirate is the dark horse of 2026?
25:58I would say Omul Quinn.
25:59Okay.
26:00Yeah.
26:00In one sentence, what does a Radisson or Tonino Lamborghini badge add to a building that a developer's name alone
26:06cannot?
26:08Oh, 100%.
26:10You're talking about Radisson and?
26:12Tonino.
26:13Tonino, of course.
26:13Oh, my God.
26:14So, these are amazing brands who have already have their brand established globally.
26:20People can, people know them.
26:23And then there's also Radisson Blue and, you know, all these brands that they're already such amazing brands.
26:27So, if they have lent their name, their brand ethos and everything to BMW, so definitely it is, of course,
26:37Ankur and Vivek, great.
26:38But it shows their leadership that how these people have branded with them, you know, so, yeah, makes a hell
26:44of a difference, yeah.
26:45Will 2026 be remembered as the year of great delivery or the great price reset?
26:51No, no, no price reset happening.
26:53Sorry, folks.
26:54Sorry to break that bubble.
26:56It is going to be the year of great delivery because, look, the developers who in this period will build
27:04and complete and deliver, no?
27:06They will be remembered forever.
27:08So, it is going to be the year of delivery.
27:10Setting your legacy in stone has never been easier, right?
27:12100%.
27:13Okay.
27:14What's the most unusual request an international billionaire has made to you this year?
27:19Now, this is something I'm sure everyone wants to know.
27:21This year?
27:22Yes, this year.
27:22Why?
27:23Last year.
27:23Okay, last.
27:24Yeah, see, there are crazy requests, okay?
27:27We want to know the craziest.
27:29No, but some of them we are even able to do, but the one which was, which came to me,
27:35I'm like, no, we can't because there was this one gentleman who, who almost bought, but he didn't because this,
27:41we couldn't, you know, do this, what he asked for.
27:44So, the whole floor penthouse and it was very expensive, but his only demand was he wants to cover the
27:50entire terrace with black glass bulletproof.
27:55Can't do.
27:56Who was he?
27:56The doner of Sicily or something?
27:58I cannot say who, but the point is, no, you cannot.
28:01I mean, that's the, the facade of the building cannot be changed and definitely not with black glass.
28:05I have to ask you, what's the craziest request you've actually done?
28:09I mean, yeah, there has been like internal changes to the ceilings, to the, to the walls.
28:15I mean, break down a wall, make it glass and, I don't know, random, like I want.
28:19The galaxy on the ceiling situation.
28:20The only thing again, which I've not done is, ah, somebody needed a, this helipad on the, on the big
28:25terrace that they already have.
28:26So, no, that I couldn't do that.
28:28Only in Dubai, folks, only in Dubai, where dreams really do come true.
28:32A hundred percent, yes.
28:34And, and crazy dreams and you've got only billionaires coming out.
28:37And most of it is actually possible eventually, but not, not today and yesterday, yeah.
28:42Wow.
28:43Now, now, last one.
28:44Dubai real estate in 2030, mature metropolis or eternal construction site?
28:52So, I would say both.
28:54Because, see, it is going to be a very mature metropolis by 2030 for sure, but it's not going to
29:01stop there.
29:02It's constantly evolving.
29:04You see, if you have visited Dubai six months back, okay, and you come back now, things have changed.
29:11So, it's completely evolving.
29:13So, the same is going to happen by 2030.
29:15So, it will be definitely more mature metropolis, but there will be a new and more, new and new construction
29:21because, see, the city or the…
29:22Because the billionaires keep coming out of the woodworks.
29:25Also that, but also the, the emirate is moving both northern side and southern because, see, on the north we
29:31have Rasul Khmer, like I said, which is the northernmost emirate of UAE, all right?
29:35Where, where, where we are the largest private real estate developer.
29:38The wind casino is coming.
29:39Millions of people will, will be coming to be the wind.
29:42And then, it's also, the city is also moving south because the world's largest airport, which is the Al Maktoum
29:49airport, will be ready in, in some years.
29:52So, the real estate there is going crazy as well, right?
29:56So, it's, it's, it's going north and south.
29:59And so, this construction is going to continue, but at the same time, it's going to be a very mature
30:03metropolis as well.
30:04Okay.
30:05We're just one minute left on our timer.
30:07I'd like to ask you, what's the most important message you want investors and Indian audiences to take away from
30:13this moment?
30:19Welcome to Dubai, Habibi.
30:21It's still, look, it's still, I would say, it's still safe.
30:27What we are going through right now is uncertainty, right?
30:30So, uncertainty is temporary.
30:33It's still safe and under the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister of UAE.
30:38We're still, we're still there.
30:40See, there, there was an exodus of people who were coming out and going out of the country in the
30:44first one week, two weeks.
30:46It's, it's reduced now because those were mostly tourists.
30:50I mean, because this is the tourist season.
30:52Right from December, Jan, Feb, March, April is the best weather.
30:56Um, tourists, obviously, they, they should go back to their safer havens, but, uh, things are still pretty good.
31:02We are safe.
31:03We have managed to, uh, you know, save, I mean, there have been very, very less casualties.
31:08Trust me, I was talking to some of the media people here and said, please don't show AI videos.
31:16You know, so please, come, welcome to Dubai and come to Dubai, Habebi.
31:19That's my one message.
31:20And that's our time and we have our message.
31:22Thank you so much for being here today and I think we all of us have learned quite a lot
31:26about Dubai.
31:26Thank you so much.
31:28Thank you so much, gentlemen.
31:29Thank you guys.
31:30And ladies.
31:30Thank you for being a wonderful audience.