The Dubai Land Department reported that completed-project investment in the emirate rose 52 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching Dh111 billion ($30.2 billion) compared with Dh73 billion a year earlier.
Arada’s UAE Property Investment Index released in June confirmed the market’s status as a leading global destination for real-estate capital, citing the same surge in transaction values and sustained buyer confidence.
Flow, co-founded by Adam Neumann, obtained a commercial licence from the Dubai International Financial Centre and announced plans to launch its first communities in the emirate and Abu Dhabi by the first quarter of 2027. The licence gives the startup access to a legal regime that supports cross-border transactions and foreign ownership.
The firm’s UAE chief executive, Arif Shah, said, “At a time when some companies are being cautious on hiring, we’re doing the opposite.” He emphasized that the hiring surge reflects confidence in the region’s construction pipeline and the firm’s long-term growth plan. Staff numbers have risen to 16 and are expected to reach 40-50 by year-end.
The company will also create a global design and development centre of excellence in the city, with an experience centre in Dubai’s Al Quoz area slated to open in December. The centre will host multidisciplinary teams working on architecture, sustainability, and digital modeling. That site will double as the design studio and primary office.
The firm entered Saudi Arabia in 2024, acquiring roughly 1,000 residential units. The acquisition marked the firm’s first major foothold in the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding residential sector. It now manages or develops about 8,500 homes valued at $2.5 billion, demonstrating a broad strategy across key international markets.
