Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) · 22 Sep, 14:05 · Business briefing

UAE Business: Smart city technologies can unlock new asset class: JLL

JLL reports that smart city technologies are creating a novel asset class within the UAE business landscape.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

JLL reports that smart city technologies are creating a novel asset class within the UAE business landscape. The firm suggests that integrating advanced digital infrastructure into urban development unlocks significant value for investors and developers. This shift moves beyond traditional real estate metrics, emphasising data-driven urban planning and technological integration. Professionals in property and technology sectors should note this structural change, as it redefines how urban assets are valued, managed, and developed in the region’s rapidly evolving market.

Employer demand for AI in Real Estate skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This development signals a critical pivot for professionals in real estate, urban planning, and technology. Your value now depends on bridging physical assets with digital intelligence. Skills in data analytics, IoT integration, and sustainable urban design are rising sharply. If you work in property management or development, you must understand how smart technologies influence asset valuation. Stop viewing technology as merely operational support; treat it as a core strategic driver. Start upskilling in data interpretation and smart infrastructure management immediately. Engage with cross-functional teams to understand how digital layers enhance physical spaces. This is your opportunity to lead the transition towards integrated, tech-enabled urban environments.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI in Real Estate, Data Science, Sustainability management and Project Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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