AHS plans AED 25 bn mixed use project, Al Bayader is building a packaging and logistics hub in Dubai, and CBD’s new gold product

AHS goes big on Dubai

Dubai-based developer AHS Properties has acquired the Shangri-La Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road for AED 1.1 bn (USD 300 mn), The National and CoStar report. The 42-story mixed-use property includes a hotel, offices, residences, and F&B outlets, and comes amid a wider shift from Emirati developers toward recurring-income portfolios, as market uncertainty and geopolitical tensions reinforce demand for steadier cashflow.

An AED 25 bn mixed-use project is also in the pipeline, with AHS CEO Abbas Sajwani saying the developer plans to launch the project in 3Q. The development will include residential, office, and hospitality units, and would bring the company's total portfolio to around AED 50 bn.

The acquisition comes even as parts of Dubai’s property market show signs of cooling and regional tensions weigh on sentiment. Sajwani acknowledged a “natural slowdown” linked to the conflict but said demand remains resilient.

More solar energy incoming

The UAE is set to see more solar energy for residential and commercial projects after solar panel and energy storage player Ecohope Solar (which also has a UAE presence) linked up with China-based photovoltaic firm Trina Solar, according to a press release. The plan will see Ecohope buy and distribute 600 MW worth of the Chinese player’s solar PV modules for use in projects across the GCC and wider MENA region, as well as Southeast Asia.

IN CONTEXT- The UAE and China have recently collaborated on a number of solar energy projects. Masdar secured 2 GW of solar modules for Abu Dhabi’s first round-the-clock renewable energy project in May, while China’s Sepco3 secured the EPC contract for Abu Dhabi’s 1.5 GW Khazna Solar PV project at the end of last year.

CBD launches gold-backed working capital loans for bullion businesses

Commercial Bank Dubai is bringing gold directly into the credit equation with a new working capital product aimed at companies operating in the precious metals space, linking financing to the same asset they trade to reduce exposure to price swings and simplify liquidity management, according to a press release.

The idea: The bank’s specialized Gold Metal Loan facility allows firms to borrow and repay in gold rather than traditional currency to better fit with inventory cycles. Transactions are processed electronically through approved bullion trading patterns, and loans are denominated in ounces of gold and priced using global gold lease rates, adjusted according to each borrower’s credit profile.

ICYMI- Gold is increasingly being used in financing and investment platforms, with the likes of O Gold, Oro Labs, and Botim launching gold-based trading and ownership options so far.

Al Bayader to invest AED 180 mn in Dubai packaging and logistics hub

Dubai-based food packaging manufacturer Al Bayader International is putting AED 180 mn behind a new manufacturing and logistics hub in Dubai to boost local packaging production for GCC customers, according to Dubai Media Office.

The plan: The development will combine manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, and a fulfillment center, and also serve as the firm’s headquarters. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with full operations expected by early 2028. Once operational, the 678k sq ft facility will produce up to 30k tons of packaging per year.

More in the pipeline? Additional production lines for aluminum- and bio-based packaging solutions will be introduced over time to serve regional and international markets.