With more than 15 years under his belt, Ahmed Al Suwaidi is an industry veteran who has played an instrumental role in enriching Dubai’s housing landscape and enhancing its appeal as a global destination to live and work. He is at the helm of Dubai Asset Management, the residential leasing arm of Dubai Holding Asset Management (DHAM), which manages a portfolio of 15 strategically located residential communities that provide ideal solutions for individuals and families as well as corporate clients.
Dubai Asset Management provides a spectrum of housing, from studio apartments to luxury villas, across more than 25,000 units. Its assets include premium living at Layan, Dubai Wharf, Manazel Al Khor, City Walk, and Bluewaters, family communities at Ghoroob Square, Ghoroob, Shorooq, Bayti Villas, Um El Sheif Villas, and Remraam, value communities at Al Khail Gate as well as convenient staff housing at Nuzul, Al Quoz Accommodation, and Rahaba Residences.
Al Suwaidi’s comprehensive experience encompasses the full spectrum of property management solutions and innovative services in leasing, with emphasis on customer relationship management and tenant happiness. His vision to promote digital transformation in real estate and property management have enhanced resident experiences and enabled Dubai Asset Management to significantly contribute to Dubai’s paperless strategy, as one of the first real estate players to digitize the leasing and payment system.
Under Al Suwaidi’s leadership, Dubai Asset Management’s Residential Communities successfully and resiliently surmounted a global pandemic with noteworthy milestones and achievements. High occupancy rates across the portfolio over the past 12 months echo a global shift in tenant expectations for more balanced offerings, including a demand for spacious homes, greener spaces and convenient amenities, and reflect strong confidence in Dubai’s real estate market.
Dubai Asset Management successfully launched Ghoroob Square in 2020, an intimate community of 39 large two-bedroom townhouses designed for families. Along with an exclusive gym, swimming pool and a dedicated children’s pool, the community has established schools and healthcare facilities nearby and a quaint retail complex featuring a nursey, boutiques and restaurants.
Another addition to Dubai Asset Management’s residential portfolio in 2021 was Al Khail Gate Muhra, a centrally located master community. Amplifying affordable and high-quality living options amid an all-time demand high for Dubai’s property market from 2021-2022 reinforced Dubai Holding Asset Management’s commitment to offering a spectrum of housing catering to a wealth of different lifestyles.
The 2019 launch of DubaiAM Life app, a digital platform and app, further promoted enriched living experiences and focused on simplifying the brand’s day-to-day interaction with individual and corporate customers. The integrated app pioneered enabling residents to make digital rent payments and renew leases on the app, while also allowing them to raise maintenance and community care requests, communicate with management and manage move-ins and move-outs efficiently for an enhanced tenant journey.
As of December 2021, more than 85% of individual customers are registered on DHAM’s DubaiAM app. In H1 2022, app-based transactions made up nearly 87% of the payments, while more than 21% of residents use DubaiAM Life to pay completely cheque-free.
Moving into 2023 and beyond, tenant-centricity and community management remain a focal point for Al Suwaidi. Enhancements, ongoing maintenance and upgrades are poised to play a considerable role in minimising the communities’ environmental footprint, leveraging new technologies and delivering high-quality residences. As part of Dubai Asset Management’s commitment to provide the best possible services to residents, the Company plans to continue carrying out a range of community improvement projects to boost efficiency, comfort and engagement.
Additional efforts to amplify sustainability across the portfolio are in the pipeline. Dubai Asset Management is installing electric car stations at select communities to promote the use of fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as solar panelling at common parking areas to produce renewable energy, in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 efforts.
Several of Dubai Asset Management’s residential communities, such as Remraam, Layan and Ghoroob also offer vibrant landscaped areas, playgroups, sports courts and more. Looking ahead, Dubai Asset Management has a roadmap for promoting a sustainable lifestyle in Dubai, with plans to work with its partners to implement a host of waste management initiatives across its communities.
Such plans are part of the Company’s mission to develop future-proof communities designed around the needs of residents, whilst being strategically aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan ambitions. Al Suwaidi remains steadfast in his commitment to providing approximately 100,000 residents across the portfolio world-class living experiences by using a data and consumer behaviour driven approach to building and enhancing communities. His determination to keep residential offerings on par with changing trends is an integral value, and core to reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the most dynamic cities in the world.