Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Real estate industry has always been a topic of great interest to the UAE and also to the world. The sector has been pivotal to the non-oil economy of the region and more so as the country is enjoying a boom despite difficult conditions elsewhere.
And now the much-anticipated local version of the Emmy-nominated luxury real estate series “Million Dollar Listing” is on the OTT platform StarzPlay, courtesy Abu Dhabi’s Image Nation.
First broadcast in the US on the Bravo network in 2006 and set in Los Angeles, the series has spawned several franchises, with other versions set in New York, Miami and San Francisco. The UAE spin-off to the hit US series has followed estate agents as they negotiate sales of some of the most luxurious properties in the region.
Out of an audition pool of more than 3,000, the list was whittled down to 300 and then to a final five.
The cast of the series, Ben Bandari, Zay Brown, Nassira Sekkay, Rami Wahood and Riad Gohar, were all in attendance to celebrate the launch of the show, along with senior members from StarzPlay and Image Nation Abu Dhabi management. The red carpet was rolled out in a grand unveiling that took place at The Theatre, Dubai.
The bi-lingual series follows a diverse cast of realtors living in the UAE, as well as a feature cameo from Million Dollar Listing: LA legend, Josh Altman and his brother Matt.
Veteran estate agent Bandari also serves as an Executive Producer on the show.
“It’s a real dream come true, the launch event was incredible. It’s truly uplifting to see so many people supporting us. I am honoured and very grateful for this opportunity; it all feels surreal. I can’t wait for the show to air and I’m thrilled for everyone to see our journey through the competitive world of real estate”, said Brown.
Bandari added: “The launch of Million Dollar Listing UAE was the party of the year. The turnout was insane and it’s now the talk of the town. I’m confident that the Million Dollar Listing UAE franchise will exceed all expectations and will give the US franchise a run for its money.”
Sekkay noted: “The energy in the room was electric as we gathered to mark this special occasion. This celebration has solidified our belief that this will be something truly special.”
Real estate company founder Gohar thanked StarzPlay and Image Nation for the launch “event of a lifetime for a brilliant show brought to life by an extraordinary team.” The grateful artist also thanked partners Innovate Living and Aldar, whose properties are featured on the show.
Million Dollar Listing follows the trend of reality shows such as Real Housewives of Dubai and Dubai Hustle in recent times.
StarzPlay is now the number on streaming platform in the MENA region, with thousands of hours of premium content featuring the best of Western and Arabic shows, Turkish favourites, anime, and live sports. The service is available in 19 countries across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan for fans to enjoy quality content anytime, anywhere, and from any device.
