If you live in Khorfakkan and have been wondering what’s happening with housing in the area, here’s some reassuring news.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has announced that a new residential neighbourhood will be built in Jabal Al Ashkel, directly responding to concerns about the shortage of homes in the city.

The new development, called Al Ashkel Neighbourhood, will be located along the mountainous area of Khorfakkan. It’s set to take place near the Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled, and to ensure the area is ready for construction, the road leading to Al Rafisah will be paved.

The announcement was made during a phone call on the programme Direct Line, where the Sharjah Ruler addressed concerns by Emiratis about the availability of residential plots in Khorfakkan. And it wasn’t just talk about plans, there’s already a lot happening on the ground.

Right now, 270 homes are under construction, including 120 homes in Al Mudeife. More residential plots in the Al Harray area are also being handed over to the municipality, with construction expected to take around two years.

And it’s not just Khorfakkan that’s seeing progress. The Sharjah Ruler also shared updates on housing projects in Kalba, with new neighbourhoods being developed along the ring road in areas like Al Ghayl, Al Saaf, and Al Tareef. Construction has already started in Al Dahiyat neighbourhood, with more developments on the way.

All in all, it’s a clear sign that efforts are being made to ease housing pressure across Sharjah’s East Coast, and the message is clear: Sharjah is moving fast to address housing needs with long-term, citizen-focused developments that balance community living and natural surroundings.

The UAE Ministry of Finance has launched a new digital system to centralise and manage data on all federally owned real estate, marking another step in the country’s push to modernise public asset management and strengthen governance.

The platform, known as the Federal Government Real Estate Assets Platform, will act as a unified electronic registry for federal government properties. It is designed to document, update and classify real estate data, while linking assets directly to financial and operational systems across the federal government.

The ministry said the launch fulfils the requirements of Article 18 of Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2023 on Union-Owned Properties, which mandates the creation of a federal electronic registry for government real estate.

Supporting digital transformation

Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance, said the platform is designed to strengthen regulation, governance and oversight of federal real estate assets, while supporting the UAE government’s wider digital transformation agenda.

By automating real estate-related processes, the system aims to improve data accuracy and provide better insights for policymaking, planning and long-term asset management.

Federal entities can use the platform to register and update property data under standardised classifications, manage leasable spaces, and submit real estate-related requests through automated workflows. These include inspections, transfers, sales, demolitions and structural changes to properties.

The platform also integrates with other federal systems to ensure records remain up to date, while generating reports and performance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making.

Linking real estate and financial data

Mariam Mohamed Al Amiri said the platform was developed to unify real estate data across federal bodies and connect it directly to financial and operational procedures, helping improve planning, expenditure control and transparency.

The system records both financial and non-financial data, including property values, depreciation, operating costs, location, condition and technical specifications. It also stores digital documents such as architectural drawings, site maps and contracts.

A new four-tier classification structure, covering sites, buildings, floors and individual units, standardises how government real estate is recorded and enables faster access to information.

From paper to digital

According to the ministry, the platform replaces paper-based procedures with a fully digital framework that supports real-time tracking, automated approvals and structured lease management, including contract creation, amendments and terminations.

Officials said the move will improve the efficiency of federal real estate use, enhance governance and support long-term planning of government-owned properties as part of the UAE’s broader digital government strategy.

Dubai is gearing up for one of its most ambitious retail projects yet, and it’s absolutely massive. Emaar’s upcoming Dubai Square Mall at Dubai Creek Harbour is set to be three times the size of Downtown Dubai, cementing its place as one of the region’s biggest shopping and entertainment giants. 

Backed by a Dh180 billion investment, the project is expected to open in three years and is already being called a game-changer for Dubai’s retail future.

Emaar announced the Dubai Square project earlier this year, positioning it as a next-generation destination where residential, retail, dining, entertainment and lifestyle experiences all come together under one address. At the heart of it is the Dubai Square Mall, a tech-forward, eco-friendly retail hub designed to feel more like a futuristic city than a conventional shopping centre.

A mall designed for the future

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar revealed that the mall will go big on sustainability and technology. With Dubai’s EV ownership rapidly rising, the new mall will feature dedicated electric vehicle facilities, ensuring a smooth, modern and planet-friendly experience for visitors.

One of the mall’s standout features?
It will operate as a drive-through mall, aligning with Dubai’s push for smart, green and ultra-convenient infrastructure.

Future tech

Dubai Square Mall will use Artificial Intelligence to enhance the shopping journey, from personalised recommendations to seamless navigation and smarter retail services. Think of it as a mall that gets to know what you like before you even walk in. The mall will also integrate dedicated EV facilities and smart-drive design features.

Immersive design, inside and out

The mall’s architecture leans heavily into light, openness and immersive visuals. Expect:

• Striking skylights
• High-tech LED installations
• Glazed roofing and expansive glass windows
• Vast landscapes and greenery woven throughout

The result? A bright, airy, modern space that blends indoor and outdoor vibes, very much in line with Dubai’s evolving design language.

Emaar is already the name behind Dubai’s most iconic retail destinations, and Dubai Square Mall is set to add a whole new chapter to that lineup, bigger, smarter and more forward-thinking than anything the developer has done before.