Alya opens DIFC headquarters for premium GCC homes

Dubai, UAE - Alya, a newly formed platform for premium residential development in the GCC, has opened its regional headquarters at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) with backing from Brookfield and Lunate.

The launch was announced on 3 November 2026 and was timed to coincide with Dubai Future Finance Week, according to the company’s release.

Brookfield is a global investment firm. Lunate is an independent global investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, with more than $125 billion in assets under management.

The two investors announced a $1 billion joint venture for residential development in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern markets in May 2025, covering build-to-sell and opportunistic buy-to-sell homes.

Alya said it is setting out a vision based on institutional discipline and craft, with homes intended to last for generations.

The developer is owned and governed by institutions. It said it pairs global development discipline with deep relationships in the region.

Its strategy is deliberately selective, the company said. That gives the team room to concentrate on the quality of each scheme instead of the number of projects, and to keep to its own standards from the first concept to final delivery.

According to its company profile, Alya brings an institutional investor’s rigour to how it designs, delivers and plans its places. Every scheme is meant to respond to its own site and city while meeting one common standard, and the stated aim is homes that keep their value over time.

DIFC presents itself as one of the leading global financial hubs serving the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA). The release said a base there puts the platform inside an internationally recognised financial and regulatory system while it builds out operations across the GCC.

Otto Dreyer, Chief Executive Officer of Alya, said: “With the backing of Brookfield and Lunate, we are building a development platform held to institutional standards of governance and transparency. We are pleased to launch Alya with the opening of our office in DIFC.”

Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer of DIFC Authority, said: “DIFC continues to attract globally backed businesses that choose Dubai as the base for their long-term regional growth. Alya’s decision to establish its regional headquarters in the Centre reflects the depth of DIFC’s institutional ecosystem and its ability to connect businesses with the capital, expertise and partnerships needed to grow across the region. We look forward to supporting Alya as it builds its presence in DIFC and advances its ambitions across the GCC.”

Oversight of Alya sits with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), which independently regulates financial services conducted in or from DIFC.