Corporate and Commercial Counsel

Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann's Flow launches in the UAE. Flow, the residential real estate company founded by former WeWork co-founder and chief executive Adam Neumann, is officially entering the UAE market and preparing to open its first residential communities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by the first quarter of 2027. The company has received a commercial licence from the Dubai International Financial Centre and is now expanding its local team as it prepares for its next phase of growth. Flow begins operations in the UAE. Flow was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in the United States, where it owns and operates residential properties. Its UAE launch marks a major step in the company's international expansion. Flow UAE chief executive Arif Shah said the company is already in advanced negotiations for its first properties in the country, with projects planned across both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The first communities are expected to open by early 2027. Dubai team to grow rapidly. Flow is also building a significant operational presence in Dubai. The company has hired 10 people over the past three months, bringing its current UAE team to 16. That number is expected to increase to around 40 to 50 employees by the end of 2026. Shah said the company is deliberately hiring at a time when some businesses are becoming more cautious about expanding their teams. The Dubai operation is being positioned as more than a local office. Flow plans to establish a global design and development centre of excellence in the city, with the team supporting projects not only in the UAE but also in other international markets. New Al Quoz experience centre planned. By December, Flow plans to open an experience centre in Al Quoz. The space will also serve as the company's design studio and Dubai office. The concept reflects Flow's wider strategy of combining residential development with design, community and lifestyle rather than focusing only on traditional property management. The Dubai team is also expected to support Flow projects globally, initially across the United States and Saudi Arabia. UAE property market continues to attract investment. Flow's arrival comes during another period of strong growth for the UAE real estate sector. Investments in completed real estate developments in Dubai reached Dh111 billion ($30.2 billion) in the first half of 2026, representing a 52 per cent increase year on year from Dh73 billion during the same period in 2025. The UAE has also continued to strengthen its reputation among international property investors despite recent geopolitical challenges. For overseas developers such as Flow, the scale of investment and continued population growth make Dubai and Abu Dhabi increasingly attractive markets. Adam Neumann returns to real estate. Flow represents Neumann's return to the property sector after his highly publicised departure from WeWork. He co-founded WeWork and helped transform the company into one of the world's fastest-growing flexible office businesses. However, the company's attempted stock market listing in 2019 triggered intense scrutiny of its losses, corporate governance and Neumann's leadership. He stepped down as chief executive that year as WeWork's valuation fell sharply. The company later filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023. Flow became Neumann's next major business venture. Backed by $350 million from Andreessen Horowitz. Flow launched in 2021 with a $350 million investment from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z. Since then, the company has built a property portfolio valued at approximately $2.5 billion. It currently has around 8,500 residential units under management or development. The company has already begun expanding beyond the US. In 2024, Flow entered Saudi Arabia through the acquisition of approximately 1,000 residential units. The UAE now becomes another important market in its international strategy. Why Dubai matters to Flow. Dubai offers Flow several advantages as it grows. Beyond strong property demand, the city provides access to international talent, investors, developers and a growing ecosystem of design and technology companies. By making Dubai a centre for design and development rather than simply a sales market, Flow is signalling that the UAE will play a broader role in its global operations. The local team will contribute to international projects while simultaneously building the company's first communities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A new property player enters the UAE. Flow's launch adds another international name to the UAE's increasingly competitive residential property market. The company is entering at a time when Dubai continues to attract record levels of investment and developers are competing not only on location and price, but also on design, services and lifestyle. With its first UAE communities expected in early 2027 and a rapidly expanding Dubai team, Flow is now preparing to test whether its residential concept can translate successfully to one of the world's fastest-growing property markets.

Flow, Adam Neumann's residential real estate venture, is opening an office in Dubai International Financial Centre to oversee expansion in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the US. The company will make its first real estate acquisitions in the Emirates. Flow has owned apartment buildings in Riyadh since 2024, when it acquired 1,000 units. It now manages or is developing 8,500 homes in Saudi Arabia, Florida, and California. By comparison, Emaar has developed around 130,000 units in Dubai alone. Despite the Iran war, Dubai's property market has held up, with apartment rentals and sales down only by single digits. It remains a buyer's market.

Flow expands into the UAE following issuance of DIFC Commercial License. Flow today announced its expansion into the United Arab Emirates following the issuance of a Commercial License by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), marking the next phase of the company's regional growth. Headquartered in the United States, Flow was established in 2021 with a $350 million investment from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), the largest individual investment in the venture capital firm's history. Since entering the MENA region in 2024 via the acquisition of approximately one thousand units in Saudi Arabia, the company has become one of the largest owners and operators of residential real estate in the market, with a $2.5 billion portfolio comprising 8,500 residences currently under management and in development. Adam Neumann, Founder of Flow, said: "When I look at Dubai, I see so much of what Flow is about - extraordinary ambition, some of the greatest architecture in the world, and a belief that the places we create can change how people live. At Flow, our mission goes beyond buildings: it's about creating environments that support wellness, connection and a better way of living. It's a privilege to bring that vision to a city that has already set such a high bar, and we're excited to play our part in carrying that ambition forward." Arif Shah, CEO of Flow UAE, added: "The UAE has become a global benchmark for residential quality and lifestyle, making it the ideal market for Flow's next phase of growth. We believe the future of residential real estate will be defined not only by the quality of a building, but by the quality of life it enables. By combining technology, hospitality and operational excellence, we're helping our partners create communities where people feel happier, healthier, more connected and truly at home." Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, said: "Flow's expansion into the UAE underscores DIFC's position as the preferred platform for globally ambitious companies operating across real estate and investment sectors. We are delighted to welcome Flow to our business community, where its integrated approach to residential living brings valuable expertise to the market, and we look forward to supporting the company as it scales its platform and partnerships across the UAE." Flow partners across the residential real estate ecosystem to deliver an integrated operating platform spanning branding, property management, hospitality, wellness programming and community operations. Bringing these capabilities together under one platform allows Flow to create sought-after communities that deliver exceptional resident experiences while driving stronger long-term asset performance. Across its portfolio, Flow has consistently delivered industry-leading occupancy, strong resident satisfaction and attractive long-term performance for its partners. With a growing pipeline of opportunities, Flow expects to open its first communities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2027 and is actively pursuing new partnerships across the UAE.