Latest news with #wellnessrealestate
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Arada sells signature penthouse at new wellness destination Akala for AED125mln
Penthouse is also largest apartment sold in Dubai so far this year Sale underscores global investor interest in fast-growing wellness real estate sector Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Arada has announced the sale of The Observatory, the showpiece penthouse at Akala, the recently launched wellness-focused branded residences project located adjacent to Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Valued at AED125 million, the sale ranks as one of the top 10 apartments sold in Dubai so far in 2025, underscoring the strong global investor interest in Akala. Spanning two floors at the top of one of Akala's 220-metre twin towers, The Observatory offers panoramic, unblocked views of the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, DIFC and the Zabeel area. Featuring six bedrooms, The Observatory is also notable for a number of design features including an expansive Grand Room that showcases the views, public and private wings, an art gallery and a rooftop terrace with private pool and jacuzzi. At over 23,000 square feet in size, The Observatory is larger than any apartment ever sold in the DIFC, and is also the biggest apartment sold in Dubai so far this year. Located between Index Tower and Central Park Towers, the AED5 billion Akala project is underpinned by a precision wellness ecosystem that integrates advanced diagnostics, performance therapies and a curated hospitality model to deliver measurable health outcomes. Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: 'We have positioned Akala as the world's most advanced wellness residences, and this sale underscores the strength of demand for a new category of real estate, which is intentional, intelligent and focused on long-term wellbeing. In addition, the high value of this penthouse, which is rare for a non-waterfront property, speaks to the strength of Akala's location, product quality and brand positioning.' The 534 branded residences at Akala, as well as the ultra-luxury five-star hotel located in the same complex, incorporate built-in wellness features, including air and water purification systems, circadian lighting, organic sleep systems and intelligent climate zoning. Shared amenities span more than 13,000 square metres and include a clinical wellness centre, spa, high-performance gym and studios, as well as the Akala Spa. Akala also features a unique 'weightless' service environment, combining AI-enabled hospitality, wellness concierges, in-home treatments and curated meal plans. Akala is LEED Gold and WELL Silver precertified and is the first location in a global pipeline of wellness-focused residences and retreats planned under the Akala brand. Construction on Akala will begin in 2026 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2029. About Arada Launched in 2017 and headquartered in the UAE, Arada was created to build spaces people connect with for healthier, happier and more meaningful lives. Arada's scope of operation covers property development, retail, education, healthcare, fitness, wellness and hospitality. The master developer has so far launched nine record-breaking communities in the UAE and has expanded into the Australian market, opening an office in Sydney in 2024. Arada also operates a portfolio of complementary brands and experiences, which includes large-scale gyms, F&B and retail assets, social initiatives and visitor destinations.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Six New Wellness Real Estate Principles Enhance Your Home, Well-being
Wellness programming and gathering spaces, like water aerobics in a community's pool, enhance ... More residents' wellbeing. The Global Wellness Institute, a leading research resource for policymakers, analysts and writers on the international wellness industry, just released its June 2025 'Build Well To Live Well: The Future' report and it has some compelling new principles for real estate professionals, homeowners and homebuyers looking for their next place to live. The first point worth noting is that wellness real estate is now a $438 billion global industry, according to GWI, with the U.S. accounting for $180.6 billion and a first place global rank. 'The wellness real estate market has grown by 19.5% annually over the five-year period from 2019-2024, as compared to a 5.5% average annual growth rate for overall construction,' the report states, adding this prediction: 'We project 15.2% annual growth over the next five years, with the market increasing to a projected $1,114.0 billion by 2029.' For homebuyers, that's good news in terms of available options. 'Wellness real estate is no longer the domain of one-off 'passion projects,' and is increasingly undertaken by larger, professional development companies, some of which are adopting a 'wellness lens' for their entire portfolio,' the report shares. As wellness design – the component that turns real estate assets into enhanced homes and communities where people live – is gaining awareness among buyers and commanding higher prices, it's not surprising that major developers are noticing! With a more comprehensive approach to the field, there are also more types of wellness real estate offerings, which is great news for first time buyers, downsizing buyers and just about everyone else. Six Dimensions of Wellness Real Estate The report makes the case that wellness real estate benefits residents in many ways, including these: 'More physical activity, better sleep, lower rates of chronic disease, reduced hospital admissions, reduced symptoms of asthma, reduced sick days at work, lower crime rates, more time spent in nature, improved self-reported well-being, better memory and cognitive function, more interactions with neighbors, and a greater sense of belonging and connection.' It outlines six dimensions in which these benefits are conceived and produced. The first, Physical, dimension includes providing space for movement and exercise; a kitchen designed for preparing, storing and serving healthy food; building to manage environmental exposures and comforts (which can include the home's heating and cooling systems, as well as minimizing building components that exposure residents to toxins); enhancing mobility and accessibility for all residents, (something we'll be seeing much more of as our population rapidly ages), and enhancing safety and security for residents. (Building for wildfire and hurricane resilience are both trending.) Mental and Spiritual dimensions include designing in nature features; creating spaces that foster rest, solace and sleep; reducing daily friction; spotlighting spiritual traditions (including with personalized design elements), and optimizing work-life balance. The Social dimension is a fairly recent aspect of wellness real estate, one that likely emerged from the pandemic-driven evidence of isolation's painful costs. Prosocial design creates shared spaces for gathering, like roof or courtyard gardens and shared athletic facilities; diverse and integrated housing that can mix affordable with market rate and promote multigenerational living, and tech-based connectivity that facilitates meetings, classes, accessibility, and easy online access. Related to Social is the Civic and Community dimension, which seeks to incorporate local history, heritage and culture into new communities; encourage engagement, inclusion and diversity; provide public services, and feature where possible regeneration and renewal of older neighborhoods and buildings. The Financial and Economic dimension is about providing affordable housing to all, enhancing access to education and employment and support for local entrepreneurs, which can include sourcing their products and services to create a community. The Environmental dimension includes earth- and climate-friendly building strategies that optimize energy, water conservation and biodiversity. These dimensions all come together in projects that support their residents' wellbeing and incorporate six guiding principles GWI outlines. Six Guiding Principles for Wellness Real Estate 'The built environment is an essential foundation for building healthy lives,' the report states, and these are its six principles for making that happen. Last Words 'Our built environments have a profound influence on our health and well-being (an impact that is often negative), and these impacts have become more obvious since the COVID-19 pandemic,' the report observes. I couldn't agree more! Nothing drove the point home – literally – more than a virus that kept us in our dwellings for months on end at the start of the crisis.
