make preferableProperty developer HOLM Developments presented two international projects at the TOON Expo in Yerevan: residential properties in Dubai and the One Peninsula high-rise complex on Ambassador Island in Batumi. The company sees Armenia both as a promising market for selling overseas property and as a potential location for developing its own projects.
Speaking to NEWS.am, HOLM Developments founder and CEO Sergey Avayan said the Dubai project is currently the largest in the developer's portfolio. According to company representatives, most of the apartments in the projects on display have already been sold, while the remaining units in Dubai are limited.
The second project is One Peninsula, a residential complex in Batumi that the company unveiled several months ago. It is HOLM's first international project outside Dubai and also the tallest building in the developer's portfolio, rising 58 storeys.
Location, Quality and Hotel-Style Comfort: HOLM Developments' Core Principles
Dubai's property market is highly competitive, with more than 4,000 registered developers operating in the emirate, both local and international. In this environment, HOLM seeks to distinguish itself primarily through its choice of locations, construction quality and architectural design. These principles, successfully put into practice, have helped the company secure a place among Dubai's 50 largest developers.
According to Mahmoud Raad, HOLM's Director of Development and Projects, the company focuses on projects in central areas of Dubai. Raad said the properties presented are located approximately five minutes from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and ten minutes from the airport.
For One Peninsula, the emphasis is on its waterfront location, sandy beaches and infrastructure designed to provide a comfortable living environment. The company also seeks to incorporate elements of hotel-style service into its residential complexes. In particular, communal areas and lobbies are designed to create the atmosphere of staying in a hotel.
When entering new markets, the company first assesses the location of a prospective development and the quality of construction. These two principles, the developer's representative stressed, remain at the heart of HOLM's approach regardless of the country in which a project is built.
Design also plays an important role in the developer's strategy. HOLM's in-house team works on the design of apartments and communal spaces in collaboration with international architecture and interior design consultants.
“The company prefers not to follow short-lived trends, but to create neutral, versatile designs that will remain relevant 20–30 years from now,” Raad said.
According to him, the same approach applies to the selection of materials: the developer says it prioritises durable, high-quality materials, avoiding both cheap options and unnecessarily expensive alternatives.
What Makes the Armenian Market Attractive
Armenia is of interest to the company in two distinct ways. First, it is seen as a potential market for HOLM's own development projects. Second, there are buyers in Armenia looking to invest in overseas property.
Raad noted that HOLM closely monitors developments in the Armenian economy and property market, as well as demographic changes. The company's ties to Armenia are further strengthened by its partnership with Sergey Avayan, who is one of its co-founders.
Taking part in the TOON Expo gave the developer an opportunity to present its Dubai and Batumi projects to an Armenian audience. The company also prepared special offers for exhibition visitors. Avayan said that exclusive purchasing terms are available during the exhibition, although the details vary depending on the project.
If it moves forward with projects in Armenia, HOLM intends to combine its own architectural approach with local characteristics. Raad noted that the company seeks to take into account the architectural context of every country in which it operates and adapt its projects to the local environment. This may involve incorporating architectural features and materials characteristic of the region, including locally sourced stone, while maintaining international design and construction standards.
