OMNIYAT: Setting the standards of excellence

Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of OMNIYAT, discusses his plans for 2024, the launch of VELA VIENTO, and his thoughts on PropTech and smart buildings.

What are your core values and guiding principles when shaping your projects? 

Our projects manifest the OMNIYAT vision, which is dedicated to consistently crafting unique properties and elevating the exceptional to create ultimate uber-luxury living experiences. Our guiding principles centre around design, innovation, and creativity, as we aim to develop projects beyond quality and rarity for those who will inhabit them. This commitment is exemplified in projects like The Lana, One at Palm Jumeirah, Ava at Palm Jumeirah, The Opus, ORLA Collection, VELA & VELA VIENTO, and will persist in our future projects.

This vision has driven us to work with the best architects and partners in the world, from Zaha Hadid to Foster + Partners and Dorchester Collection, to name a few. My objective has been to inspire them to join us in the quest for building and creating the exceptional. Ultimately, our core values and guiding principles aspire to establish a standard of excellence in every project we undertake. We create spaces that meet today’s needs and shape the future as we continuously elevate and go beyond to inspire the city. 

What are some of your most iconic projects and their unique features? 

All OMNIYAT projects are considered iconic, defining our distinct position in the industry. What sets us apart is the emphasis on the individual identity for each property, all contributing to a larger vision that pushes boundaries and achieves new milestones.

Currently, The Lana project is an impressive achievement set to inspire the entire region, hosting the 10th Dorchester Collection hotel worldwide and the first in Asia and the Middle East. With 39 exclusive residential units, The Lana promises a unique living experience. The design, achieved after working with multiple design firms over two years, reflects the modern design language of Foster + Partners and the values of Dorchester Collections’ aspirations and philosophy. The success of this project prepares us to continue pushing the boundaries of architecture, design, and service quality, aiming to create a living experience that only the discerning few values. 

How has OMNIYAT navigated the recent economic and market fluctuations in 2023?

Despite the recent fluctuations experienced by the market, OMNIYAT was able to consistently grow its portfolio and deliver on its vision, presenting new destinations and achieving record numbers that contributed to maintaining the city’s leading position relative to other markets. 

Can you talk more about the VELA VIENTO launch and how it is different from the rest of the projects? 

The VELA VIENTO launch marks a significant milestone in the continuous development of Marasi Bay but also sets itself apart from other projects, including its sister property, VELA. This project presents our overarching vision shared with VELA and The Lana, which, through the Marasi Bay waterfront promenade, creates a connection with nature through landscaped gardens and communal areas, introducing a new dimension to urban living.

VELA VIENTO will be crowned by two four-bedroom penthouses and three signature duplex apartments with a distinctive concept that captures the idea of ‘living in the sky’. The architectural characteristics of the spaces and bridges between the property’s two towers meet to create an ‘in the sky’ residential experience. This places our vision of innovation at the heart of design, complementing the living spaces that distinguish VELA VIENTO from other projects and offering residents a unique and elevated lifestyle.

How are you embracing emerging trends like PropTech and smart buildings? 

We actively embrace emerging PropTech trends and smart building technologies to enhance our customers’ experiences and streamline operations.

We closely track the latest smart building innovations and evaluate how they can be integrated into our developments to create more innovative, efficient, and enjoyable spaces. For example, our projects have implemented advanced Building Management and Lighting Control Systems that enable remote monitoring, improved HVAC, lighting efficiency controls and energy savings.

PropTech and smart buildings will remain key priorities as we develop new landmark masterpieces. By embracing these trends early on, we aim to provide our clients with intelligent, connected, technologically advanced living and working environments.

Can you elaborate on OMNIYAT’s commitment to sustainability and responsible development?   

We are deeply committed to incorporating sustainability and responsible development practices. We strive to set new benchmarks in environmental performance and human well-being through high ratings in leading certification frameworks.

Our initiatives to ensure a sustainable future include conducting detailed operational carbon modelling for all of our future projects, innovating our design, and building assessment processes and all-electric building where feasible to achieve operational net-zero carbon for all of our new-build assets by 2030, and ultimately, net-zero for the whole life cycle by 2050. 

Ultimately, our goal is to provide unparalleled, limitless uber-luxury experiences that integrate sustainable practices and solutions that, in turn, elevate the living experience. We aim to develop a global showcase for how the world’s most ambitious sustainability goals and human-centric wellness targets can converge in a single architectural landmark. It represents our steadfast commitment to pushing boundaries in responsible development.

What is your vision for the future of the real estate landscape in Dubai and beyond? 

In Dubai and beyond, I see a future where real estate goes beyond conventional boundaries, as there will always be a demand for the highest levels of luxury and what can be done to achieve that. Therefore, we aim to be at the forefront of what defines uber-luxury living, and we will continue to reach unprecedented levels, influencing our clientele’s desires and aspirational expectations. OMNIYAT will strive to contribute to setting these heightened expectations, embarking on each project to ensure that each one achieves its own distinct and unique identity. 

What advice would you give to aspiring developers or entrepreneurs in the region? 

One key to success is maintaining a future-focussed mindset. Looking five or ten years into the future and observing current trends to identify potential opportunities that may serve you later allows you to remain one step ahead. 

It is also essential to remember that people are at the heart of what we do as curators of living spaces. This necessitates that, above all else, the spaces we design must serve to make their inhabitants feel well-adjusted and acclimated beyond aesthetic beauty.