Executives explain why reputation, discipline and long-term thinking matter more than chasing rapid property growth
Young professionals entering the UAE’s property industry must learn to think beyond launches and short-term sales if they want to build lasting careers, according to some of the country’s real estate executives.
The advice comes as the sector experiences one of its strongest periods of growth.
Dubai recorded AED252 billion in real estate transactions during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 31 per cent from the corresponding period last year, according to Dubai Land Department data.
The market’s expansion is creating career opportunities across development, design, construction, finance, sales and property management.
However, it is also placing pressure on professionals to launch projects quickly, meet ambitious delivery schedules and satisfy increasingly demanding buyers.
Executives from AMWAJ Development, Meraki Group and Tomorrow World Properties said understanding investors, protecting reputations and designing around residents’ needs would be essential for the next generation.
Think like an investor
Young professionals should understand the full lifecycle of a development rather than specialising too early.
The advice from experts is quite simple: learn to think like an investor, not just a builder.
Real estate is often taught as a construction discipline, but the projects that succeed are the ones where every decision, from concept design to final handover, is tested against a single question: does this protect the value we promised our investors?
Experts encouraged new entrants to gain experience in development strategy, design management, regulatory approvals and construction delivery.
That breadth allows professionals to understand how decisions made during the feasibility stage affect the cost, quality and performance of a completed project several years later.
The advice is that discipline matters more than speed. The developments that hold their value long after handover are the ones built on rigorous planning and honest cost control, not shortcuts.
Design for people
Emad Saleh, founder and chairman of AMWAJ Development, warned against chasing scale without considering how people will use a property.
“The developments that endure, that hold their meaning as well as their value, are the ones shaped around real human experience rather than excess,” he said.
Saleh said design decisions should have a practical purpose, with layouts, materials and shared spaces planned around residents rather than added primarily for visual impact.
“Design should never be decorative,” he said. “I encourage anyone starting out to ask why a space is designed the way it is before asking how it looks.”
Sustainability should also be considered at the beginning of a project rather than added later as a marketing feature, he said.
Protect your reputation
Ajay Rajendran, founder and chairman of Meraki Group, identified reputation as the most important asset a young developer or entrepreneur can build.
“Your next opportunity is almost always earned by the quality of your last project,” he said.
“It’s easy to get caught up in launches, sales milestones and ambitious expansion plans, but none of those matter if you don’t consistently deliver on your promises.”
Rajendran said buyers remember whether developers complete properties on time, while investors assess whether projects retain value after handover.
He also advised young leaders to build multidisciplinary teams rather than attempting to control every decision themselves.
“When every function understands not only its own responsibilities but also how its decisions affect the next stage of the development lifecycle, challenges are identified earlier,” he said.
Look beyond the cycle
Xu Ma, founder and chairman of Tomorrow World Properties, said developers should consider the emotional effect buildings have on occupants.
“People remember how a space makes them feel long after they forget its specifications,” he said.
Ma identified natural light, access to outdoor space, practical layouts and community infrastructure as increasingly important to buyers.
He argued that developers should resist making decisions based solely on the current property cycle and instead consider how neighbourhoods will evolve over decades.
“Build for the life people want, not the cycle developers expect,” Ma said.
While Dubai’s expanding market offers considerable opportunities, the executives’ advice carries a common message: short-term success may generate a sale, but credibility, thoughtful design and disciplined delivery are what create a lasting property business.
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Reposted via Arabian Business
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