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EmaarProperties has established an in-house contracting arm — RuknMirage — under its subsidiary Mirage, Reuters reports, citing a spokesperson. The new arm will handle certain internal projects while Emaar continues to outsource others, founder and managing director Mohamed Alabbar told the newswire.
The shift reflects a wider trend among UAE developers seeking greater control over construction timelines, costs, and quality — and a larger share of income — by relying less on third-party contractors. It comes amid surging demand, as Dubai real estate prices have climbed 70% over four years to December 2024, while the government aims to double the city’s population to 7.8 mn by 2040.
Emaar’s not alone: Arada Developments acquired 100% of the New South Wales arm of Roberts Co — a Sydney-based commercial construction company — in May, with plans to integrate it into UAE operations. Samana Developers launched its in-house contracting unit in September 2024 and has shifted from allocating 20% of work to the unit to handling 80-90% of its new projects internally, Reuters quotes CEO Imran Farooq as saying. Other developers launching in-house construction units in recent years include Ellington Properties, Azizi Developments, and Sobha Group.
Developers say controlling the full pipeline — from land acquisition to handover — helps them deliver on time, unlock escrowed buyer payments sooner, and avoid penalties for delays. Funds from off-plan sales remain in escrow until after final inspection, with a one-year delivery window before buyers become eligible for refunds.
But the move carries risk, industry experts warn. Splitting focus between development and construction could stretch management capacity, while a downturn could leave costly in-house equipment and facilities idle, construction consultancy Stonehaven ’s founder and managing partner Gordon Rodger told the newswire. Independent contractors, squeezed by reduced awards from developers, may start pivoting to infrastructure, manufacturing, or oil and gas projects, he added.
