Dileep Kumar: Reaching Greater Heights

As one of the top property developers in the UAE, Heilbronn is unearthing new opportunities in the real estate market. Founder and Chairman Dileep Kumar in conversation with Rhonita Patnaik

There are no second thoughts in saying that the construction sector in the UAE is booming. The sector is expected to see a solid recovery in the next five years, with construction industry value growing between 3.7-4.7 per cent, according to experts. This growth will be driven by the country’s development agenda, which is focused on growing the country’s industrial, transportation, and energy infrastructure. As part of the 'Projects of the 50' initiative, the UAE government announced plans to implement a series of projects aimed at accelerating the UAE’s economic development to transform the country into a comprehensive hub for all sectors, aiming to attract $149.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next nine years.

In particular, the UAE’s real estate market witnessed a surge of prices in the first quarter of 2022, attributed to the UAE government’s ease of Covid-19 restrictions on travel, tourism and other economic activities, the positive impact of the Expo 2020 Dubai on the real estate and tourism sectors, and the return of international travel to normal levels. Prices in some sectors of Dubai’s property market have increased as much as 56 per cent over the last year, fueling interest in new construction. Dubai’s largest property developers have launched new construction projects within the last few months, all of which reportedly sold out immediately. March, April and May 2022 saw the highest levels of real estate transactions for those months in over a decade.

One such property developer that has been making strides in the market is Heilbronn, founded by the visionary Dileep Kumar. With Kumar, a civil engineer by profession and a self-made designer, at the helm, Heilbronn is counted among the best with unrivalled experience in sectors such as construction and property development and is a pioneer in buildings, roads and infrastructure, contracting, and free hold property developments, among others.

Excerpts from the interview.

Can you tell us about the inception of the company?

We established Heilbronn on February 2, 2002 to provide high-quality construction projects to our reputed clientele. As the years went by, our reputation saw a manifold increase with an overwhelming response. At Heilbronn, we always strive to deliver from our heart, the highest quality work within the stipulated time and budget. For us, our client is the king.

This led us to us acquiring many prestigious projects from highly reputed firms such as Emirates Airlines, Dnata Sky Cargo, Emirates Aviation Academy, and many VVIP clientele. One of our flagship projects is Rugby Sevens. Today, Heilbronn is a leading Dubai-based construction and property development company, catering to world renowned clientele, developing premium and luxury freehold properties in the UAE.

The UAE real estate is making some serious strides in becoming the top destination for investors and buyers. What boom do you see in the coming months? What optimism does this give you?

The UAE real estate market has seen some serious growth over the years and continues to be a hotbed for investors and buyers, not just from within the nation, but also from outside. Propelled by higher energy prices, Dubai's property market has recovered strongly from the pandemic’s downturn with buyers snapping up luxury units after the emirate eased restrictions faster than most cities around the world.

However, we have been developing and constructing high-end projects for 20 years regardless of the market situation. I would say that real estate is a long-term investment, if you maintain it properly. This encourages our excitement about the Dubai luxury real estate segment as we have successfully completed many projects in Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estate and Palm Jumeirah in the past 15 years.

Based on our past and present experiences, we anticipate the current demand for high-end properties to rise higher or at least stay the same due to the influx of high net worth individuals (HNWI) from other countries who have chosen Dubai as their base. I don’t see any slowing down in this area for another couple of years. Even a mid-level home seeker has realised the importance to invest in a home because in 10-12 years’ time, your rent expenses turn into your asset.

Sustainability is at the core of construction today. Can you brief us on what Heilbronn is doing at this front?

Sustainability can play a pivotal role in creating a better future. Over the years, the UAE has consistently revisited its sustainable development goals, such as the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy, Green Economy for Sustainable Development in line with the UAE Vision 2021, Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the UAE Energy Plan for 2050. All these are drivers for the public and private sector, as well as the community, to embrace green practices.

We are very keen to provide sustainable construction to minimise the overall environmental impact. We start our sustainability inputs right from the design stage to construction – not just in residential, but also commercial with elements/details in mind. Solar panels, thermal-resistant windows, heat-insulated blockworks for walls, roof insulation, sensor controlled-passage light to save electricity as well as greenery are regular features in our developments.

What are the various sectors/project portfolio that Heilbronn caters to, including the clientele?

As a multi-specialist in the construction industry, Heilbronn specialises in high-end luxury golf and beach villas to cater to the HNWIs in high-end areas namely Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach and Pearl Jumeirah. With a positive shift towards affordable luxury projects due to a strong demand from the middle-income clientele, our forte also includes luxury apartments and town houses. This segment is very vital to what we do.

Instagram: @dileepheilbronn