What initially drew you to real estate, and what has kept you in the industry for so long?
I have been working in real estate for 16 years, and what has kept me in this industry is that it never stands still. Markets evolve, client behaviour changes, and every cycle brings new opportunities.
Over the years, I have learned that successful real estate investment is not about emotions or following the crowd. It is about understanding the market, identifying the right entry point, and continuously developing your own expertise. That combination of analysis, strategy and human relationships is what still makes real estate fascinating to me today.
After sixteen years in real estate, what inspired you to establish Savos Realty, and how has the company evolved since its inception?
After sixteen years in the real estate industry, establishing Savos Realty was a natural progression in my professional journey. Over the years, I gained extensive experience and developed in-depth expertise in Dubai's property market, which became the foundation of the company. My ambition was not simply to establish another real estate agency, but to build a company founded on professionalism, responsibility, trust and long-term client relationships.
Today, Savos Realty operates three offices in Dubai and has a team of more than 50 real estate agents, supported by dedicated marketing and administrative departments, as well as legal partners.
While our core business is focused on the property markets of Dubai and the wider UAE, our outlook is international. We actively explore global markets, monitor investment trends, develop international partnerships and build relationships with clients from around the world.
Our goal is not merely to facilitate property transactions, but to create lasting value for our clients and strengthen Savos Realty's reputation as a trusted partner in the international real estate market.
What distinguishes Savos Realty’s approach from that of other Dubai-based real estate brokerages?
For us, the process starts with the client, not with the property.
The first step is always client qualification: understanding their objectives, available capital, investment horizon, expectations and risk profile. Only after that do we define a strategy and select suitable opportunities.
I also believe that a professional advisor should never pressure a client into making a quick decision. Our responsibility is not to sell the property that is easiest for us to sell, but to explain why a particular investment makes sense for that specific client.
The company works with private investors, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. How do the expectations and priorities of these client groups vary?
Every investor has different objectives, which is why there is no universal investment strategy.
A private investor may prioritise capital appreciation or rental income, while a corporate client may focus more on scale, liquidity and commercial efficiency. High-net-worth investors often look at diversification, capital preservation and long-term opportunities.
Our international exposure is also important here. We travel, attend international events, study different markets and meet investors from different parts of the world. To understand an international client, you need to understand the market they come from, their investment culture, expectations and priorities. This broader perspective helps us advise clients more strategically when they invest in the UAE.
Savos Realty offers solutions across residential, commercial, off-plan, resale, and bulk sales segments. How does it tailor its services to meet different client needs?
For me, two of the most important factors are the entry price and expertise.
We evaluate every opportunity according to the individual client’s strategy. Off-plan, resale, commercial property or a bulk acquisition can all be successful investments, but each has a different investment horizon, risk profile and potential return.
In the short term, not every project will deliver the same result. Over a longer-term strategy, a well-selected project that is successfully completed can generate value. The difference is in the margin, timing and, most importantly, the entry point.
Working with many of Dubai’s major developers, how do these relationships influence the advice the company provides to clients while maintaining an independent perspective?
Strong relationships with major developers give us access to information, opportunities and a deeper understanding of the market. However, our responsibility is always to the client.
We analyse the developer’s quality and track record, the entry price, infrastructure, location, future development of the area and the characteristics of the property itself. In Dubai, view characteristics can also be an important factor affecting desirability and future value.
A relationship with a developer gives us access, but it should never determine our recommendation.
What criteria does a property have to meet before the company is comfortable recommending it to an investor?
We never evaluate a project only by its design or presentation. One of the most common mistakes investors make is reacting emotionally to a beautiful project without analysing its fundamentals.
We look at the developer, entry price, location, infrastructure, future development of the area, supply and demand, views, potential liquidity and exit strategy.
And I always ask one key question: why should this particular property perform better than the other opportunities available in the market at the same time?
Dubai continues to attract significant amounts of international investment. What factors make the city particularly attractive to investors seeking to grow and diversify their wealth?
Dubai has created an environment where infrastructure, international business and investment capital develop together.
A good example is commercial real estate. In 2023, many people were sceptical about the segment and questioned whether enough businesses would actually relocate to Dubai. But there were already two important indicators: the level of investment being directed into infrastructure and the growing presence of major institutional investors and funds.
In my experience, successful investors do not simply follow today’s trend. They try to understand what may become tomorrow’s trend. Very often, that is where exceptional opportunities are found.
How would you describe the current state of Dubai’s real estate market, and what are the main forces shaping it?
Dubai’s real estate market has become increasingly sophisticated, and investors are evolving with it.
The profile of a first-time investor has not changed dramatically: people can still be influenced by emotions, design, advertising or the opinions of others. More experienced investors, however, are increasingly seeking professional expertise while also studying the industry themselves.
This is also why we believe it is important to look beyond one market. By following global real estate trends and studying how investors behave in different countries, we gain a broader understanding of international demand and can better interpret what clients are looking for in Dubai and the UAE.
In my opinion, an investor should verify everything from A to Z, even when an advisor’s arguments sound very convincing.
What advice would you give to international investors entering Dubai’s real estate market today?
My first advice would be: do not invest emotionally and do not rush.
Start by choosing the right agency and advisor. Today, it can be difficult to judge an agent’s real expertise through social media. A high number of transactions does not necessarily mean those transactions were the most profitable for the clients. For an agent, income comes from transactions; for an investor, the result comes from the quality and profitability of the investment.
I would be cautious about working with an advisor who pressures a client to make a quick decision. Define your strategy first. Study the market, determine your entry point and expected exit point, and do not commit all of your capital to a single investment.
Most importantly, verify everything yourself and continue building your own expertise. The most expensive mistake is not always the money you lose; sometimes it is the profit you miss because you chose the wrong project or failed to recognise the right opportunity.
