How Technology is Redefining the DNA of Middle Eastern Real Estate

For decades, the Middle East has been defined by its skyline, a horizon of ambition stretching higher with every new launch. But as the region’s cities mature, a new kind of race is underway. This time, it’s not about who can build the tallest tower, it’s about who can build the smartest future.

Real estate across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt is reaching an inflection point. In the UAE alone, the AI-driven real estate market is valued at around USD 5 billion, signaling a shift in how the sector grows and competes. The next wave of developments in addition to being defined by building, structure and design, it will also be defined by sustainability and AI integration for smarter communities.

The Shift from Scale to Intelligence

Where earlier decades were driven by expansion, the next will be defined by precision. The rise of artificial intelligence, modular design, and predictive planning is driving the industry to rethink everything, from how projects are conceived to how they are lived in. In the MENA region, the integration of scalability and intelligence are used to expedite property valuations and improve accuracy, reinforcing this broader shift toward smarter, more intentional development.

“Smart development means building with purpose, guided by how people live and what they value. Data and design are tools that help us deliver more efficient and future-ready communities.” said Ali Al Gebely, Founder and Chairman of ONE Development, a UAE-born developer that has grown into one of the region’s most closely watched innovators in the sector. “Our focus on innovation, sustainability and AI integration is rooted in making every aspect of our communities more purposeful- from how they’re planned to how they’re experienced.”

The balance between utilizing technology and maintaining the human element in developments sits at the heart of a broader transformation in the Middle Eastern development.

Across the region, city planners are adopting digital tools to improve infrastructure planning, support environmental goals, and enhance the overall functionality of urban spaces. The smartest developers are shaping that evolution from within the system, setting the standard for what intelligent urbanism looks like.

Applying a Tech Mindset to Urban Growth

The company operates with the speed and agility of a startup, embedding AI into design, pricing, and operations; proving that innovation matters only when it enhances how people live.

Its projects, from Laguna Residence in Dubai to the DO Hotels & Residences concept on Dubai Islands and DO New Cairo, utilize AI to support smarter design and enhance operational agility. This integration of technology and design reflects a wider trend in global real estate, where homes and hospitality are merging, and cities are being reimagined as ecosystems rather than standalone developments.

Developers across the Middle East are moving past geographic growth toward intellectual growth, using each new market as a testbed for smarter, more adaptive urban models. ONE Development’s international projects embody that evolution in action, as they expand in Cairo, Riyadh and soon in Europe.

The future city won’t be built by machines alone. It will be built by people who understand how to use machines -wisely, responsibly and creatively. Developers who can combine smart systems with smart decisions will lead the next chapter of growth in the sector. As Al Gebely puts it, “Technology helps us optimize, but only a clear vision tells us what’s worth optimizing.”

That distinction, between data and purpose, may well define the entire region’s next era of progress. As the Middle East’s evolving skyline continues to grow, the smartest structures are no longer the tallest ones; they’re the ones built with thought.