As a pivotal figure in Dubai’s housing landscape for over 17 years, Ahmed Al Suwaidi has significantly shaped the city’s residential sector. His unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction has led to the creation of enhanced living experiences for the Emirate’s diverse and rapidly expanding resident population, solidifying its reputation as a desirable place to live and work. Ahmed, at the helm of Dubai Asset Management, the residential leasing arm of Dubai Holding Asset Management (DHAM), oversees one of the city’s largest residential portfolios, comprising 25 strategically located residential communities with a total of 40,000 units, each designed to meet the diverse needs of its residents.
Representing an expanded portfolio, Dubai Asset Management’s footprint extends across the city, serving over 100,000 residents. The Group’s assets include premium living at Bluewaters, City Walk; family communities at Nad Al Sheba Villas, Shorooq in Mirdif, Bayti Villas in Al Barsha, The Gardens in Jebel Ali and Discovery Gardens; affordable communities at Al Khail Gate and International City; and staff accommodation at Nuzul, Al Quoz Accommodation and Rahaba Residences.
Amid Dubai’s dynamic residential property sector, characterised in recent years by surging investment inflows and record-breaking sales, Ahmed propelled the Group to another successful fiscal year. Dubai Asset Management’s robust leasing portfolio demonstrated exceptional occupancy rates, strong rental yields and high resident retention, reflecting a substantial appetite for quality housing in a globally competitive market.
Strategic partnerships with public and private entities have significantly enriched the resident experience. A notable collaboration is with BEEAH Tandeef, the waste collection and city cleaning business of BEEAH Group. This partnership, announced in December 2023, is aimed at advancing sustainable waste management, supporting the circular economy, and enhancing the quality of life across Dubai Asset Management’s communities. It represents a significant sustainability milestone in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. As part of this agreement, BEEAH has organised community-level activities and workshops to promote sustainable living among residents of all ages.
The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) installed EV chargers in Dubai Asset Management’s Ghoroob community in 2023 to facilitate sustainable technology adoption in Dubai. Additional partnerships geared at resident satisfaction include preferential rates and packages with brands such as Careem, OSN, Cafu and the Tickit rewards app, as well as flexible rent payment plans for Emirates NBD customers. The partnerships have been pivotal in ensuring communities adapt to residents’ evolving needs, resulting in robust retention rates and customer satisfaction.
At the core of Ahmed’s vision is positioning Dubai Asset Management as a leader in digital transformation in real estate. The DubaiAM Life app, a digital platform for residents launched in 2019, has been instrumental in promoting connected and enriched community living. It has simplified daily resident interactions and introduced innovative features such as flexible cheque-free digital rent payments and lease renewals. The app also allows residents to schedule home and community maintenance services, coordinate with community representatives and manage move-ins and move-outs efficiently. Future updates, including text-to-speech and high-contrast visual aids, will further enhance the app’s inclusivity and accessibility for older community members.
Dubai Asset Management built an integrated dashboard to improve data-driven decision-making. By incorporating multiple portfolio-wide data sets, including third-party aggregated data, Dubai Asset Management has elevated community experiences and strategic diversification of its portfolio. The Group is now experimenting with artificial intelligence, leveraging the potential of predictive analysis to anticipate market trends, manage leads, dynamically adjust pricing strategies and enhance customer interactions.
Technology is also employed to track and manage portfolio-wide water and electricity consumption and waste integration to drive efficiency, which aligns with the UAE’s sustainability agenda. As part of its partnership with BEEAH, Dubai Asset Management will introduce QR-based digital bins to incentivise plastic recycling and divert waste from landfills. Upcoming enhancements to digital platforms and experimentation with emerging technology will focus on improving residents’ living experiences and interactions, investment outcomes and sustainable practices.
Dubai Asset Management also rolled out a series of portfolio-wide community enhancement projects to provide sustainable urban development and enhance community standards in 2023. Alongside EV charging stations in partnership with DEWA, the Group invested in refurbishing sports courts and children’s play areas in select communities and uplifting common green spaces, landscaped areas and courtyards. The project also further increased safety and security in neighbourhoods, including upgrading fire fighting installations, strategic CCTV and security coverage networks, and enhanced street lighting, strengthening Dubai’s status as one of the safest global cities to call home.
In 2024, Ahmed aims to enhance Dubai Asset Management’s expanded portfolio by developing future-proof communities aligned with the ambitions of Dubai 2040. Economic diversification, mounting investor confidence, and enhanced visa categories will continue to drive population growth in Dubai, fuelling demand for quality housing across diverse price points and consumer preferences. To maintain its reputation as the builder of connected, enriched communities, Dubai Asset Management aims to invest in inclusive, sustainable urban development that contributes to resident happiness and reinforces Dubai as one of the world’s most liveable cities.