AHS Properties has announced one of Dubai’s more unusual redevelopment projects of 2026: the transformation of the former Shangri-La Dubai hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road into a Grade A commercial office destination.
The Dubai developer announced AHS Twin Towers on 27 October following its AED 1.1 billion acquisition of Shangri-La Dubai. The redevelopment has an announced project value of approximately $1.3 billion.
Rather than continuing to operate the property under its former hotel identity, AHS plans to reposition it as a premium commercial asset aimed at companies seeking Grade A office space on one of Dubai’s most established business corridors.
What was announced
AHS Properties is transforming the former Shangri-La Dubai into AHS Twin Towers, a Grade A commercial development valued at approximately $1.3 billion. The redesign is being led by Gensler, with interiors by AHS Atelier.
The existing property is getting a new commercial identity
The project represents more than a cosmetic refurbishment.
AHS Properties says the building will receive a new architectural identity, while its interiors will be substantially reworked for commercial use.
Gensler, the international architecture and design firm, has been appointed to design the transformed property. AHS Atelier, the developer’s in-house studio, will handle the interiors.
AHS founder and CEO Abbas Sajwani told Gulf Business that the redevelopment will introduce a refreshed exterior and redesigned internal spaces while retaining elements of the building’s underlying design philosophy.
A hotel is being repositioned as Grade A offices
The change in use is one of the most significant parts of the project.
Shangri-La Dubai operated for more than two decades as a luxury hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. Under the new plan, the property will become a commercial destination offering flexible Grade A office environments.
AHS Twin Towers will comprise a ground floor plus 50 levels. Office configurations are expected to include both larger corporate spaces and smaller arrangements for businesses and investors.
The developer is targeting completion in 2028.
More than 30,000 sq ft will be dedicated to wellness
The redevelopment is also designed to change the way the building is used beyond the office floors.
AHS says more than 30,000 sq ft will be allocated to wellness and fitness facilities, while more than 12,000 sq ft will be dedicated to food and beverage concepts.
Plans also include executive business lounges, a private wellness sanctuary with a lap pool, an elevated dining destination and a landscaped rooftop sky garden.
The property is expected to provide more than 1,000 parking spaces.
Demand appeared before the official launch
The redevelopment is also being used to respond to demand for premium office space in Dubai.
Sajwani told Gulf Business on 28 October that more than 30% of the building had already been booked ahead of the full launch.
That figure is company-reported rather than independently verified, but it suggests that AHS sees the conversion as a commercial repositioning opportunity rather than simply a renovation of an ageing hospitality asset.
Why the project matters for Dubai renovation
The AHS Twin Towers project is an example of how renovation can extend far beyond replacing finishes or modernising interiors.
Large redevelopment projects can involve changing a building’s use, redesigning its façade, rebuilding internal layouts, upgrading building systems and repositioning the entire asset for a different market.
For Dubai property owners, the broader lesson is that an existing building does not always need to be replaced to create a different commercial product.
In the right location, major refurbishment and repositioning can be used to extend the economic life of an asset and adapt it to changing demand.
What owners should take from the conversion
The scale of AHS Twin Towers is far beyond a typical apartment or villa renovation, but the underlying renovation decisions are familiar.
- The intended use of a property should be decided before design and fit-out work begins.
- Exterior, interior and building systems need to work as one redevelopment plan.
- A renovation budget should be considered against the future positioning and income potential of the asset.
- A strong location can make repositioning an existing building more attractive than replacing it completely.
- Design changes should reflect the needs of the future user rather than simply modernise the existing appearance.
For smaller Dubai owners, that can mean deciding whether a renovation is intended to improve resale value, increase achievable rent, reposition a Holiday Home or simply restore the property to its existing market level.
What property owners should know
- AHS Properties announced the transformation of Shangri-La Dubai into AHS Twin Towers on 27 October 2026.
- The redevelopment has an announced value of approximately $1.3 billion following AHS Properties’ AED 1.1 billion acquisition of the hotel.
- Gensler is leading the architectural redesign, while AHS Atelier is responsible for the interiors.
- The former hotel will be repositioned as a Grade A commercial office destination with wellness, dining, business lounge and rooftop facilities.
- The project illustrates how major renovation can be used to change an existing building’s function, target market and commercial positioning rather than simply refresh its appearance.
Source
AHS Properties / Business Wire, 27 October 2026. Official announcement of AHS Twin Towers, including the acquisition value, project value, design teams, building configuration and planned amenities. View the announcement.
Gulf Business, 28 October 2026. Interview with AHS Properties founder and CEO Abbas Sajwani covering the Shangri-La Dubai transformation, 2028 completion target, early bookings and planned changes to the property. View the report.
Image source — Wikimedia Commons. “Worker installs glass panels in a construction site.jpg”, photographed by Nenad Stojković. The original 6,048 × 4,032 image is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. View image source and licence.
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