Dubai’s urban agenda is moving beyond record-breaking towers toward neighborhoods where daily life feels genuinely rewarding, a shift reflected in the city’s 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Established in 2019, A.R.M. Holding has become a key private investor across real estate, hospitality, culture and education, guided by H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi. The group’s strategy emphasizes long-term stewardship rather than quick exits.
Al Shehhi tells Property News International, “It is an approach that challenges many of the assumptions traditionally associated with large-scale real estate investment, while aligning closely with Dubai’s longterm ambitions for sustainable urban growth.”
The holding’s private, patient structure means it retains ownership of its projects for decades. Al Shehhi explains, “We are not building to exit. We hold what we create, which means we live with the consequences of our choices for decades.” He adds, “That long-term ownership model fundamentally changes how decisions are made. It forces you to ask harder questions at the start.”
He says, “I have never seen community value and investor value as competing interests. A place people do not want to leave is, by definition, a resilient asset.”
Jebel Ali Racecourse: A human-scaled masterplan
The five-square-kilometre redevelopment of the historic Jebel Ali Racecourse, designed with BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, starts with a simple question: “What does a good day look like for a resident?”
The plan places a central park at its heart, ensuring every home lies within a five-minute walk of green space, amenities and essential services while preserving the site’s equestrian heritage.
Seventeen measurable performance indicators, covering wellbeing, sustainability, culture and identity, anchor the project, providing a transparent benchmark rather than a set of renderings.
In many ways, this mirrors Dubai’s earlier focus on iconic skylines, yet it marks a clear departure. Where once the city’s reputation grew from record-high towers, today success is judged by how well a community supports a child’s walk to school or a senior’s evening stroll.
Beyond buildings: cultivating community
Developments such as HUNA and HIVE illustrate the group’s shift from merely delivering homes to supporting lived experiences.
HUNA integrates a sculpture park featuring works by international and Emirati artists, alongside cultural talks and curated retail, turning public spaces into daily gathering points.
HIVE targets younger residents, offering shared workspaces, communal kitchens and collaborative environments that make the building itself part of the neighbourhood’s identity.
Expanding the Vision Beyond Dubai
ENTa Mina on Hayat Island demonstrates the same community-first logic in Ras Al Khaimah. The concept grew from observing HIVE residents who sought ownership while retaining the co-living spirit they had discovered.
Design-led waterfront residences now incorporate co-working zones and social hubs, mirroring the lifestyle preferences of the emirate’s young professionals and its expanding tourism sector.
When assessing new markets, Al Shehhi outlines three core criteria: genuine demand, an identifiable market gap, and a development partner that shares the long-term vision.
He adds that sustainable growth follows improvements in population quality of life rather than headline-grabbing projects, and that markets prioritising liveability align with A.R.M.’s investment philosophy.
Future Priorities and Legacy
Looking ahead, Al Shehhi emphasizes three pillars for upcoming developments: health, proof and everyday experience.
“Health means designing communities that encourage walking, outdoor activity, cleaner air and stronger social interaction,” he explains, showing the importance of active, breathable environments.
He continues, “Proof means replacing sustainability claims with measurable outcomes and performance indicators that build trust among investors, regulators and residents alike.”
Beyond bricks and mortar, A.R.M. Holding invests heavily in cultural and educational infrastructure. The group serves as Presenting Partner of Art Dubai, acts as Corporate Patron of the Dubai Collection, and runs a Children’s Programme that reaches students across all seven emirates.