Wasl Group said that it is expanding its portfolio of affordable housing in the UAE. Currently the group manages more than 45,000 residential units in different communities in the country, home to nearly 180,000 residents, with more than 90% being families, the firm said.

In May 2025, Wasl signed an MoU with the RTA and Dubai Municipality to double its affordable leasehold residential portfolio across Dubai, the firm added.

Together, these projects will span a total planned area of 1.46m sqm, with phased delivery across multiple stages to ensure infrastructure readiness.

This initiative supports the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which calls for a balanced housing ecosystem encompassing luxury, mid-income, and affordable segments, while upgrading urban areas into vibrant, inclusive communities.

The program also advances the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by supporting workforce stability, economic productivity, and long-term market resilience through diversified housing supply and a stronger focus on end-user demand amid the city’s rapidly growing population, the firm added.

Whilst building these communities, an important aspect has been wellness and landscaping. This approach is seen in master-planned communities such as Wasl Village in Al Qusais, which have around 6,200 residential units ranging from studios to 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments. Wasl Green Park offers approximately 2,527 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom homes set within landscaped surroundings.

Wasl also aims to double its residential leasing portfolio over the next 5 years, showing that it is a key partner in shaping Dubai’s urban future, the statement concluded.

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The Diriyah Company has secured a significant contract worth US $666mn for the implementation of the Pendry Superblock Package Northwest within Diriyah Gate II as part of the Diriyah Project.

This contract involves Pendry Hotels and Resorts, a unit of US-based Montage International, establishing its inaugural property in Saudi Arabia’s historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination.

The Diriyah Project, a $63bn initiative by Diriyah Company, aims to transform the birthplace of Saudi Arabia into a heritage destination. This transformation will blend historic Najdi architecture with modern luxury, making Diriyah a unique and captivating destination. Notably, Diriyah is also home to the At Turaif Unesco World Heritage Site.

The Pendry Superblock Package encompasses a comprehensive scope of work, including the construction of the Pendry Hotel Diriyah. Additionally, it involves the development of premium residential and commercial assets spanning over a vast 75,000sqm area. This project is one of the 32 new global hotel brands that have joined Diriyah Company’s hospitality portfolio.

Founded in 2014, Pendry is a chain of luxury boutique hotels based in California. The company also offers residential components at various properties, such as Pendry Residences West Hollywood. As of 2022, Pendry operates seven properties in diverse locations, including San Diego, Baltimore, West Hollywood, Chicago, New York City, Park City, and Washington DC.

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A luxury apartment in Dubai has been sold off-plan for approximately US $115mn – the deal has been hailed as powerful sign of confidence in the city’s real estate market, and security in the UAE.

The sale of the 31,201sqft apartment at Aman Residences Dubai on the Jumeirah Peninsula, has been confirmed by fam Properties. Data from DXBinteract, the data platform developed by the company in partnership with Dubai Land Department, said the transaction put the value at $3,683 per sqft.

Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fam Properties said, “The sale of an ultra-luxury villa at this level is particularly relevant in the current circumstances. It underlines the fact that the Dubai real estate market is structurally stronger than it has ever been.”

“Over 70% of transactions are now end-user driven, not speculative. The buyer base is globally diversified. Mortgage activity has doubled in 4 years. The regulatory environment has matured. The UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index rates Dubai moderate risk, while cities like Miami and Tokyo sit in the high-risk zone. The fundamentals haven’t changed overnight because of regional events. And of course, the enormous lengths that the UAE authorities have gone to in order to keep everyone who lives and works here safe at all times, sends out the strongest possible message to investors,” said Msaddi.

“That has long been the case, and the effect of all this is highlighted by an apartment being sold for $115mn in the current climate, at a time when the eyes of the world are on Dubai, and the Gulf region. It’s a sale which says so much about the UAE as a whole, and in this case in particular, about Dubai as one of the world’s leading destinations for wealthy real estate investors. While headlines elsewhere paint one picture of the UAE, the reality for those of us living and working here is completely different,” concluded Msaddi.

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In a statement posted on the Dubai Financial Market website in response to ongoing regional events, ALEC Holdings (ALEC) reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding its workforce and delivering on the best interests of its clients.

Following regional escalations, the company confirmed it had implemented a temporary work-from-home policy across its operations in the UAE. It also said its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remained fully operational during this period.

“Our priority is, and always will be, the safety and security of our workforce. We are immensely grateful to our clients for their steadfast support during this period. That trust has been built over decades of delivering on our promises, and it is something we value deeply. We remain focused on transparency and close collaboration, working hand in hand with our clients and partners to safeguard everyone’s best interests and ensure safety across all our sites and offices,” stated Barry Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of ALEC Holdings.

ALEC said it resumed on-site and in-office operations across its UAE projects from Wednesday 4 March, in close coordination with clients to ensure a prompt and safe return to full-scale activity.

In addition, the company said it is committed to holding its first Annual General Assembly Meeting post listing as intended on Tuesday 24 March, 2026, in line with regulatory guidelines.

Lewis added, “Our significant investments in digital collaboration platforms, workforce management systems and enhanced security protocols have been tried and tested across our operations. These capabilities continue to play a pivotal role in keeping our projects on track while protecting our people. We remain confident in the resilience of our operations and in our ability to adapt responsibly to changing circumstances.”

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A fire broke out in Fujairah’s Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) early on 3 March, which was caused by debris falling due to drone interceptions by the UAE’s air defenses.

The Media Office responded to concerns about loud sounds heard across various parts of the city, and stated that relevant authorities had responded to the blaze and brought it under control.

No injuries were reported during the incident, and normal operations in the affected area have since resumed, the Media Office said.

The authorities also urged the public to seek information from official state sources and to refrain from spreading rumors or unverified information. Meanwhile, relevant teams are continuing to monitor the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

This is the first such incident reported in Fujairah. Ras Al Khaimah authorities also reported a drone debris falling incident in a residential area for the first time on 2 March.

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Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) data centre in the UAE reported an interruption in services from 1 March, after debris from an aerial interception struck the facility and started a fire.

The company said on their health dashboard at 5:19pm UAE time on 1 Marh that connectivity and power issues had affected APIs and instances in a single Availability Zone (mec1-az2) in the ME-CENTRAL-1 Region due to a power issue.

According to a report, in an update at 9:41pm UAE time, they then said, “At around 4:30am PST (4:30pm UAE time), one of our Availability Zones (mec1-az2) was impacted by objects that struck the data centre, creating sparks and fire. The fire department shut off power to the facility and generators as they worked to put out the fire.”

“We are still awaiting permission to turn the power back on, and once we have, we will ensure we restore power and connectivity safely. It will take several hours to restore connectivity to the impacted AZ. The other AZs in the region are functioning normally,” AWS explained.

In their next update, AWS said, “We are aware that some customers are experiencing errors when calling EC2 APIs, specifically networking related APIs (AllocateAddress, AssociateAddress, DescribeRouteTable, DescribeNetworkInterfaces). We are actively working on multiple paths to mitigate these issues.”

At 6:01am UAE time on 2 March, the company said, “For customers that can, we recommend using alternate Availability Zones or other AWS Regions where applicable.”

Their 2 March 9:59am UAE time update then stated, “We are investigating additional connectivity issues and error rates in the ME-CENTRAL-1 Region.”

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PureHealth and Yellow Door Energy have signed a master lease agreement to bring clean electricity to its network of hospitals and clinics in the UAE.

The 25-year agreement strengthens operational efficiency, improves long-term cost predictability and embeds sustainability into long-term asset planning. The on-site solar power plants are expected to generate approximately 23.5mn kWh of clean electricity annually – equal to reducing carbon emissions by 7,200t – to further align with the UAE’s national Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.

Leya Al Damani, Chief Sustainability Officer at PureHealth said, “This partnership sets a new benchmark for sustainable healthcare and reflects our responsibility to reduce the healthcare sector’s environmental footprint. By combining resilient infrastructure and reliable power we’re making our hospitals and clinics more operationally efficient to deliver uninterrupted, high-quality patient care. As we work towards Net Zero by 2040, this project forms a core component of the Smart Facilities and Operations pillar, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and advancing cleaner, more resilient energy systems.”

Jeremy Crane, Group CEO of Yellow Door Energy said, “We are honoured to partner with PureHealth to bring clean electricity to its extensive network of hospitals and clinics across the UAE. Healthcare plays a vital role in societal well-being, and powering these essential facilities with clean energy supports both environmental sustainability and long-term operational resilience. With more than 1.1TWh of clean electricity generated from our operating projects, Yellow Door Energy has the expertise to deliver multi-site solutions under master lease agreements. We look forward to supporting PureHealth in accelerating its Net Zero by 2040 commitment and contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.”

Under the master lease agreement, Yellow Door Energy is responsible for financing, designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining the solar power plants across PureHealth’s UAE healthcare assets. The solar leasing model enables PureHealth to benefit from clean energy and advance its Net Zero by 2040 ambition and reinforces the group’s commitment to building a smarter, more sustainable healthcare system aligned with the UAE’s national priorities for energy efficiency, digital transformation and climate action.

This partnership reflects a broader shift toward integrated sustainability in healthcare, where clean energy, operational efficiency, and patient-centric care come together to support healthier communities and a more sustainable future, the statement concluded.

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ACWA has announced the appointment of Dr. Samir J. Serhan as CEO effective 1 March 2026. The Board of Directors of the Saudi-listed company made this appointment as part of a planned and structured leadership transition and succession process overseen by the company’s Board Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

The Board and the former CEO Marco Arcelli agreed to implement the planned succession process to ensure continuity and stability. The company’s long-term direction remains unchanged, said a statement.

Since joining ACWA last year as President of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, Dr. Serhan has worked closely with the leadership team and is fully prepared to assume this new responsibility. Previously Dr. Serhan was COO of the US-based company Air Products where he had global responsibility for the company’s operational business and project execution with P&L accountability for the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. He also led functions including technology, global engineering, manufacturing, and equipment at Air Products. Earlier in his career he was President, Hydrogen for Praxair.

For 14 years prior, he worked for the Linde Group in leadership positions in the US and Germany, culminating in his role as MD, Linde Engineering. Dr. Serhan brings more than 3 decades of global leadership experience across large-scale industrial and infrastructure organisations, with a strong track record in driving operational transformation, strengthening institutional capability, and delivering disciplined and profitable growth in complex, capital-intensive environments.

Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA said, “ACWA stands today as a Saudi national champion and a global leader in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen, and our position continues to strengthen. We are grateful for Marco’s leadership in advancing ACWA’s strategy and accelerating our growth trajectory. This structured leadership transition reflects the strength of our governance and the maturity of our business platform. Our strategic direction remains clear and unchanged. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Samir Serhan to his new role as CEO of ACWA.”

Dr. Serhan noted, “Everyday affords us new opportunities to help our customers and meet pressing energy and water needs around the world. I’m honored to lead ACWA at a pivotal moment as the company accelerates profitable global growth in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen solutions – including advancing green hydrogen to decarbonise heavy industries — to deliver scalable, sustainable impact worldwide. I look forward to working with our talented ACWA teams around the globe to build on the progress we have achieved and shape the next chapter of our journey.”

Marco Arcelli, the outgoing CEO of ACWA concluded, “Over the past 3 years, ACWA’s portfolio has doubled in size, and we are on track to double it again by 2030, scaling both our footprint and our impact. ACWA now produces around 25% of the world’s desalinated seawater. We have expanded into new markets, including Azerbaijan, China, Kuwait, and Senegal, while advancing energy export opportunities from Saudi Arabia, and cementing our leadership in green molecules. What we have achieved reflects the scale of our ambition, the discipline of our execution, the dedication of our people, and the trust of our partners.”

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DP World has confirmed that all of its terminals at Jebel Ali Port are fully functional, after there was a temporary suspension due to ongoing developments in the region.

The statement follows a report from Bloomberg that stated operations at the Dubai port had been halted briefly as a safety measure.

A spokesperson from DP World confirmed all operations have resumed across all terminals following the temporary halt.

Previously there was a fire due to falling debris from an interception. According to DP World, Civil Defence quickly contained the blaze, and the port returned to functioning normally soon after.

Jebel Ali Port is a key trade gateway for Dubai and the Middle East. It handles millions of containers annually and is a critical part of the global supply chain, DP World said.

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