Year: 2026

Indian former cricketer and film actor S. Sreesanth flagged off the event; over 36,000 joined at Mamzar Park

Dubai, February 9 ,2026 : Mamzar Park turned into a sea of purple as thousands of residents came together for the LuLu Walkathon 2026, walking together for health, fitness and sustainability. Held under the theme “Walk for Green,” the event recorded a turnout of over 36,000 participants from 128 nationalities, highlighting Dubai’s strong community spirit and shared commitment to a healthier lifestyle and a greener future.

This year marked the 14th consecutive edition of the event, which was organised in collaboration with various government entities and partners and powered by Mastercard.

The event was officially flagged off at 9 a.m. by Indian former cricketer, film actor and dancer S. Sreesanth, along with popular social media influencers and sports personalities. Participants completed a three-kilometre walk, pledging their support for fitness, sustainability and collective well-being.

Addressing the gathering, S. Sreesanth praised the strong community participation and the growing awareness around health and fitness in the UAE.

Speaking at the event, Salim M.A., Global Operations Director of Lulu, said: “The strong participation at LuLu Walkathon 2026 reflects the growing emphasis on health, fitness and community well-being in the UAE. At LuLu, we continue to support initiatives that encourage active lifestyles and align with the nation’s vision for a healthier and more sustainable future.”

“The Lulu Walkathon reflects our commitment to supporting the UAE’s vision for a healthy, active and sustainable society. It brings together people from diverse nationalities, encouraging fitness, community bonding and a shared responsibility towards well-being and sustainability’’ said V Nandakumar, Director of Marketing and Communications.

In addition to the walk, the event featured a range of activities including Zumba, aerobics, yoga, dance sessions and children’s games, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere for families and participants of all ages. Participation was free, with registered walkers receiving complimentary T-shirts and hampers. Refreshment kiosks and interactive zones were set up across the venue.

Also present on the occasion were Omoke Adebanjo
Senior Vice President, Retail & Commerce, Mastercard, EEMEA; Saifee Rupawala, CEO of Lulu; Salim V.I, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer of Lulu; Shabu Abdul Majeed, Director of Lulu Global Operations and others.

Dubai , February 6 , 2026 :The current sales orderbook of One Broker Group, a Dubai-based exclusive real estate advisory, has exceeded Dh29 billion across 16 projects, including 12 real estate and 4 hospitality projects with a development value of Dh20 billion. This put the company in pole position in the UAE’s high-growth real estate market.

It has also acquired a sizeable chunk in the hospitality real estate market where it is currently marketing four branded luxury hospitality projects with a combined development value reaching Dh9 billion in the UAE. One Broker Group is working with some prestigious global hospitality brands such as JW Marriott, W Hotels, DoubleTree by Hilton and The Luxury Collection – in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.

One Broker Group’s success in marketing, sales and promotion of its client’s properties reflects the growth and success of the overall real estate sector in the UAE – especially in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai – where the total sales volume of land and property transaction volume recorded 18.7 percent growth to 215,741 and transaction value jumped 30.9 percent to Dh686.8 billion (US$187.13 billion) in 2025, according to Dubai Land Department data.

Of these, the sale of 170,453 apartments fetched Dh333 billion, recording a 19.9 percent growth while sale of 34,671 villas raised Dh206.9 billion, registering 11 percent growth. The sale of 6,086 commercial properties fetch Dh18.2 billion, recording a 41.4 percent jump, while the sale of 4,466 plots of land raised Dh128.5 billion last year.

One Broker Group is a Dubai-based real estate advisory that helps property developers market and sell their properties – so that the developer can sharpen focus on building construction and delivery of the project while One Broker Group sells out the project as its exclusive agent.

Led by the Master of Real Estate Umar bin Farooq, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of One Broker Group, the company has perfected the art of exclusive sales and marketing advisory by successfully completing the sale of 40 residential projects to thousands of satisfied customers and helped increase their income, wealth, not to mention capital gains, over the last 12 years – since its inception in 2013.

“One of the biggest problems faced by property developers is selling out the project and collectingpayment on time so that the project’s construction and delivery could go as per schedule. Well, we solve this problem – as the developer’s exclusive sales and marketing partner. We offer end-to-end sales and marketing solution, including product positioning, pricing, payment schemes, etc, so that the property developer and owners can focus on construction and project delivery,” Umar bin Farooq, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of One Broker Group, says.

“As a partner, we get involved in the projects at a very early stage – concept and design stage – and help position the project and develop a strategy to market and sell it out and start collecting payments for the developer – so that they can carry on with the construction. This working model works very well for all the stakeholders.”

Umar bin Farooq has led the real estate industry in developing exclusivity in real estate projects as a Master of Real Estate over the last two decades – that is becoming a popular trend in the real estate sector. 

“For developers, it eliminates any tension on sale – or lack of it – as we take care of it, fully. So, the developer doesn’t have to hire a sales and marketing team. We become their partner and interface in the market. For us, it works as we remain the only sales agent – with no other competition — and rally our resources in the market to sell out the properties,” he says.

“This works for all the stakeholders – including the buyers and investors – who rely on us on their investment and home-buying advice. We help them multiply their income and wealth from real estate. This is why we deal with limited projects and divert our complete focus on each of these projects. This is why, developers prefer us – to deal with one advisory for sales operation.”

He says, developers are increasingly relying on exclusivity in sales and marketing – which sometimes could become very tricky. Appointing an exclusive sales and marketing partner eliminates the cost of sale and marketing and therefore reduces the cost of development, cashflow-related challenges as well as operational problems.

“With our sales and marketing strategy, we ensure faster sales and uninterrupted cashflow which helps the developer to pay the contractor, sub-contractors, building materials suppliers, etc.,” he says. “We ensure the smooth execution of the project, as we pull the revenue that funds the projects.”

The success of the UAE’s real estate sector is linked to the efficiency of the real estate brokers and advisory firms – who make things happen by attracting buyers and investors into the UAE – and help sell out the projects. In fact they are the real change makers in the industry. They are the industry’s real unsung hero, who plough billions of foreign currency into the industry and bankroll the projects to completion.

In the first half of 2025, Dubai real estate brokers generated over Dh3.23 billion (US$880 million) in commission income, nearly doubling the Dh1.62 billion earned during the same period in 2024. This record-breaking surge was driven by 42,181 transactions, with the total number of registered brokers rising to 32,978, according to Dubai Land Department. 

As of the first half of 2025, there are over 29,500 registered real estate brokers in Dubai, including 6,714 new entrants, highlighting a rapidly growing, highly competitive, and increasingly professional market. These brokers are supported by 1,223 registered brokerage offices, facilitating over 42,000 transactions in H1 2025 alone.

One Broker Group is one of the most successful brokerage firms that now advise developers on real estate project development, product positioning, image building, market advisory, marketing, sales and overall development strategy.

Sharjah , February 6 , 2026 : His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, attended on Wednesday evening the closing ceremony of the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, marking the conclusion of a landmark edition that attracted more than 34,000 visitors from around the world.

Held at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, the ceremony brought together photographers, filmmakers, visual arts professionals, and enthusiasts representing a wide range of creative disciplines, reaffirming Xposure’s growing stature as a leading global platform for visual storytelling.

During the ceremony, His Highness honoured the winners of the Xposure Legacy Awards, launched for the first time as part of the festival’s 10th anniversary. The awards reflect Xposure’s evolving vision of the image as a sustainable knowledge asset that transcends aesthetic value to engage cultural, humanitarian, and environmental dimensions.

The Noor Ali Rashid Legacy Award for Documentary Vision, which recognises documentary exhibitions that address humanitarian and social issues with integrity and responsibility, was awarded to Giles Clarke for his exhibition “A Decade Documenting Humanitarian Crises.”

The Saleh Al Ustad Legacy Award for Creative Photography, celebrating artistic innovation and creative excellence, was presented to Dmitry Ersler for his exhibition “Russia at Dusk.” Meanwhile, the BEEAH Award for Environmental and Conservation Photography, sponsored by BEEAH, was awarded to Greg Lecoeur for his exhibition “A Vibrant Sea.”

The newly introduced Xposure Legacy Awards are granted exclusively to exhibitions participating in this edition of the festival. Divided into three main categories, the awards adopt a dual evaluation model that combines public engagement with expert critical assessment, recognising visual storytelling as a long-term cultural and educational resource.

His Highness also honoured the festival’s partners and sponsors from government entities and private companies, acknowledging their vital role in supporting Xposure’s programmes and activities and strengthening its position as a global hub for photography and visual content creation.

The closing ceremony marked the culmination of an exceptional edition that reinforced Xposure’s role beyond that of a traditional festival. Through panel discussions, film screenings, and immersive visual experiences, the event served as a dynamic platform for raising global awareness of pressing humanitarian, environmental, and social issues, while fostering cross-cultural dialogue through the universal language of images.

In addition to showcasing international experiences, Xposure provided a rich educational environment through specialised workshops designed to develop the skills of students, amateurs, and emerging professionals. These sessions enabled the next generation of visual storytellers to transform passion into professionalism through direct engagement with leading international experts.

With the conclusion of its 10th edition, Xposure closes a chapter of foundation and growth while opening a new horizon for its future role as a global platform for visual dialogue, an incubator for contemporary human narratives, and a space that recognises the image as a form of soft power capable of shaping understanding and influencing how the world’s stories are told.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, His Highness toured the exhibition “Photographic Encounters Along the Gulf Coasts,” featuring 165 photographs and archival documents from the collection of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The exhibition highlights photography’s role in documenting history and interpreting cultural transformation.

The ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials, including Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO of BEEAH; Idris Mohammed Al Rafi, CEO of Invest Bank; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council; Abdullah Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, Director General of Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority; alongside representatives of sponsoring entities, partners, and a large gathering of photographers and visual arts enthusiasts.

Dubai , February 2 , 2026 : ​LuLu Group today marked a significant milestone in its growth journey with the inauguration of its new Digital and Omnichannel Transformation Office in Dubai, officially launching LuLu 2.0 – the Group’s next phase of growth evolution firmly anchored in technology, artificial intelligence, innovation and a fully integrated omnichannel retail ecosystem.

Built on over five decades of customer trust in quality, value and service, ‘LuLu 2.0’ reflects the Group’s strategic response to changing market dynamics and evolving consumer expectations. The initiative brings together digital platforms, physical retail strength, advanced analytics and AI-driven capabilities to deliver seamless customer experiences across stores, mobile platforms and home delivery.

As the region’s number one full-line retailer, LuLu is leveraging its leadership position to shape the future of retail by creating a connected ecosystem where offline and online operate as one powerful omnichannel model.
The newly launched transformation office brings together an exceptional pool of global talent across technology, product innovation, analytics and digital operations, while also nurturing young professionals from UAE universities, building strong long-term digital capabilities within the Group.

A key highlight of LuLu 2.0 is the launch of Agentic Commerce, the first of its kind in the hypermarket segment across the entire MENA region, in partnership with Mastercard. This next-generation AI-powered shopping capability enables intelligent digital agents to assist customers in product discovery, personalised recommendations and secure payments, redefining the future of digital retail experiences.

Commenting on the milestone, Yusuffali M.A., Chairman of LuLu Group, said “LuLu 2.0 represents our commitment to continuously evolve with our customers and the changing world of retail, while remaining rooted in the trust and values that have defined us for more than five decades. Technology, AI, innovation and omnichannel retail are not separate initiatives, they are the foundation of how we are strengthening our core business for the future. By combining the strength of our physical network with world-class digital capabilities, we are building a smarter, more connected LuLu that will continue to lead retail transformation across the region.”

The LuLu 2.0 strategy focuses on owning customer relationships, digital platforms and data intelligence, enabling hyper-personalisation, intelligent supply chains, faster fulfilment and continuous innovation across all markets.

The Digital and Omnichannel Transformation Office will act as the central hub for developing next-generation retail solutions, including AI-enabled commerce, predictive analytics, digital payments, automation and enhanced customer engagement across channels.

The launch ceremony was attended by LuLu Group’s senior leadership including Yusuffali M.A., Chairman; Saifee Rupawala, CEO; Ashraf Ali M.A., Executive Director; Saleem V.I., COO; Global Directors Salim M.A. and Shabu Abdul Majeed; Yeshu Yarlagadda, Head of Omnichannel, V. Nandakumar, Director of  Marketing & Communications; Mohamed Anish, Chief Information Officer, along with senior management and key stakeholders from across the Group.