Brands
Damac unveils tropical dream with Islands 2 launch
MUMBAI: Dubai is getting a taste of paradise with Damac Properties’ latest splash, Damac Islands 2, a master community inspired by the world’s most scenic islands. Following the record-breaking success of Damac Islands 1, this new project promises a tropical escape right in the heart of the city.
Damac Islands 2 draws inspiration from eight dream destinations, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, Maui, Mauritius, and Tahiti. The community blends lush landscapes, crystal lagoons, and wellness-focused design to create a luxury retreat where calm and sophistication meet.
Damac Properties managing director Amira Sajwani said, “DAMAC Islands 2 captures the energy of the tropics and the ambition of Dubai. It is more than a place to live; it is an invitation to experience paradise in the heart of our city.”
The launch event at the Coca-Cola Arena was star-studded, with Hindi cinema actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt gracing the occasion alongside Arab music sensation Majid Al Mohandis.
Residents will enjoy wellness pavilions, floating decks, open-air spas, and nature-inspired retreats, providing a rare sense of calm in Dubai’s fast-paced urban environment. The project’s horizontal design makes it stand out in a city dominated by vertical developments.
Property sales in Dubai are booming. In the first 290 days of 2025, sales reached AED 525.87 billion, surpassing 2024’s record-breaking figures. In Q3 alone, there were 59,228 transactions worth AED 170.7 billion. Damac Islands led villa and townhouse sales in H1 2025 with 4,185 transactions, while Damac Hills 2 recorded 1,942.
Damac Islands 2 offers a range of luxury homes: six-bedroom villas of around 583 square metres, five-bedroom twin villas of 324 square metres, five-bedroom townhouses of 293 and 263 square metres, and four-bedroom townhouses of 203 square metres. Prices start at AED 2.7 million.
Adding a playful twist, Damac has launched a global competition to find the ultimate islander. The winner will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip and live as an employee on one of the eight islands.
Damac’s past launches have shown strong investor confidence, with price growth from launch at Damac Hills 1 townhouses up 86 per cent, Damac Hills 1 villas 72 per cent, Damac Hills 2 townhouses 60 per cent, and Damac Islands villas 29 per cent.
With Damac Islands 2, Dubai residents can now sip a virtual cocktail under swaying palms without ever leaving the city, proving that paradise can come with a postcode.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
