As Azizi Developments prepares for the soft launch of its innovative real estate project in Sharjah, named Azizi Florence, at the end of this month, the author recalls their first encounter with the emirate, which dates back over thirty years.
Today, the author and their family consider the United Arab Emirates their home and are deeply grateful for being part of this country's remarkable journey. However, the story of how it all began is just as fascinating as the journey itself.
It all started right here in Sharjah. In 1995, while engaged in international trade in Central Asia, the author made a business deal with a company in the UAE—a country they had never visited and knew very little about at the time. The deal proved successful for both parties, and the author's partners invited them to Sharjah for a meeting to explore opportunities for expanding business relations.
The hospitality and generosity experienced during this five-day visit exceeded all expectations. It was a wonderful blend of the legendary UAE hospitality and the warmth and openness that made them feel instantly at home. This visit remained an unforgettable, truly life-changing experience.
Their hosts showed them the UAE, introducing them to all seven emirates. What they saw in Sharjah and across the UAE was not just a country in the early stages of a wonderful path toward growth and prosperity. They saw something much deeper: a vision, ambition, and a sincere openness to new ideas and people from all corners of the world.
So inspired by the experience, they fully accepted the hosts' invitation to make the UAE their home. Notably, by the end of this five-day visit, they had registered a business and rented a small office—all thanks to the generosity and support of their hosts. Three months later, they moved with their family into a villa in Sharjah, and their life in the UAE began.
Although they lived in Sharjah for only four or five years before moving to Dubai, they continue to cherish memories of those early years: a happy and peaceful family life while tirelessly working to create and develop the newly established business in the emirate.
They remember the school bus arriving every morning to pick up their young children. They remember evening walks with their family along Al Buhaira Corniche. These seemingly simple moments have become some of their most cherished memories over the years, creating a deep and strong bond between them and Sharjah.
This is why the soft launch of Azizi Florence feels like coming home. They feel a deep sense of pride that after the success of their real estate projects in Dubai, they are now starting a new chapter in Sharjah with development of unprecedented scale and ambition.
Valued at 30 billion dirhams, Azizi Florence was conceived and designed entirely by the internal engineering team of Azizi Developments. The complex will include 1130 villas, over 6000 townhouses, and 3500 apartments, all designed and developed according to the highest global standards of modern construction and living.
However, Azizi Florence is envisioned as more than just a collection of homes. It represents a complete community designed to offer residents a unique lifestyle—one based on comfort, luxury, well-being, and a close connection with nature.
The master plan includes a wide range of amenities and common areas to create an environment where families can live comfortably, actively, and socially, having everything they need within their community.
Azizi Florence will be a green community with abundant landscaped areas, water features, flower and botanical gardens, and parks, including the signature 1.7 million square foot Central Park.
A wide array of social amenities—including picnic areas, a weekly market, public gathering spaces, and children's playgrounds—will foster interaction and create a vibrant community atmosphere. Cultural venues, such as a cinema, a 3000-seat amphitheater, and a unique Art and Culture Square, will further enrich the living experience at Azizi Florence.
Health and wellness will also be central elements of the community design, with numerous facilities such as spas, gyms, swimming pools, and 12 kilometers of running and cycling tracks.
The community will also feature its own school for 1000 students, two Juma mosques, as well as prayer rooms in each residential cluster. Among many other facilities will be a community mall, six clubs, a 1000-seat ballroom, and 24/7 property management at the community level.
As preparations for the soft launch of Azizi Florence on September 10, 2026, progress, the author views this project as more than just another addition to the growing legacy of Azizi Developments, alongside iconic projects like Burj Azizi and Azizi Venice in Dubai.
For them, Azizi Florence holds deep personal significance. It is a gesture of gratitude to Sharjah—the emirate that welcomed them 32 years ago, gave them their first home in the UAE, and played a vital role in the beginning of their journey here.
It is also a celebration of how far this journey has come. And perhaps most importantly, it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Azizi Developments as the company expands its vision across the UAE and contributes to the continued growth and prosperity of this wonderful country they proudly call home.
