Dubai real estate pioneer Alex Zagrebelny on his wellbeing vision

Alex Zagrebelny has come a long way from launching buildings in Latvia to working on what will be the world’s first wellbeing focused building in Dubai.

Prior to 2020, Zagrebelny lived in the Latvian capital Riga where he worked on several projects, including Tomsona Terases, CityZEN and House of the Flying Trees. These projects have become world-renowned for their innovative designs and integration of Zen Buddhism and yoga principles.

Then in early 2020, he found himself stuck in Dubai amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally on a two-week vacation, the global lockdowns extended his stay.

“We decided to stay for another month and then another month. After three months, my wife proposed that we try living here,” says Zagrebelny, speaking to Gulf Business from his office and showroom location in Business Bay, Dubai.

He soon realised that the kind of building he wanted to live in did not exist in the Emirate. So, he set about building it himself, via his company R.Evolution Group. Founded in 1999, R.Evolution Group started with Zagrebelny’s vision of innovative buildings, and it would build projects in other countries such as Germany and Spain.

Fast forward to 2024 and Zagrebelny is moving quickly with planning Eywa, the world’s first wellbeing focused building, located in the Dubai Water Canal in Business Bay, which is 6-10 minutes’ drive away from Downtown Dubai, The Dubai Mall and The Opera District.

With a completion date set for the second quarter of 2026, this groundbreaking project is set to revolutionise the real estate industry by integrating holistic health and sustainability into its very core.

The building will, literally, help its residents live a healthier lifestyle, from the air filtration system to the water they drink.

“Our water system goes beyond purification; it reduces negative information from the desalination process, creates the right clusters and pH balance, and provides two different pH levels: one for showers and one for drinking,” Zagrebelny explains.

“After a week of drinking this water, you’ll feel more energetic.”

Eywa’s innovative approach includes MERV 14 and MERV 16 air filtration systems, which filter the air down to a 0.3 to 1 micron particle size. Advanced and energy-efficient facades, along with anti-mould and antifungal systems, will further be integrated.

And from an energy efficiency perspective, Eywa is double that of standard buildings.

“Eywa consumes half the energy of other buildings, which lowers maintenance costs and is more sustainable,” Zagrebelny adds.

But Zagrebelny views Eywa as being more than a building. Rather, he views it as a movement, which he wants to expand to the rest of the globe.

“The Eywa movement will expand to places like Abu Dhabi, Milan, and beyond,” he says.

“I hope it will be the next revolutionary generation of 21st-century buildings, focusing on people and real values,” he adds.

Building on this movement, Mindvalley last month announced that Eywa will serve as a sanctuary for its masters, providing a space equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

“Imagine meeting world renowned master in the clubhouse in the morning. The community inside Eywa is essential,” Zagrebelny tells Gulf Business.

Eywa’s holistic design and philosophy extend to its amenities, offering a longevity concierge service, partnerships with top Ayurveda clinics, a gym, a six-degree plunge pool, a stone hammam, and a yoga studio. The clubhouse includes three kitchens catering to different dietary needs, fostering a sense of community.

“Eywa is designed to provide everything you need in one place. I call it a ‘building mother’—a nurturing environment with knowledge and connections to the best specialists in various disciplines,” says Zagrebelny.

The building will also incorporate 1,450 crystals in 18 variations into its structure, enhancing its wellbeing energy.

“Next month we will lay the first slab with the crystals and document the process,” Zagrebelny reveals.

“This project reflects our commitment to creating true value for our future residents.”

Zagrebelny concludes our interview by revealing that Eywa has already garnered significant local and global interest, with inquiries growing rapidly. Winning World’s Best Property, 2023-24 at the recent International Property Awards further endorsed Eywa worldwide.

“We are not cheap; we are not for everyone, and that’s a good thing,” Zagrebelny states.

“We are creating an end-user product. Even the rent will be higher because people can see, evaluate, and understand that what we offer truly works in their lives.”

“Eywa was born in Dubai because I live here and created this concept by collecting all my knowledge from previous projects and personal self-development,” Zagrebelny says. “It is with thanks to the esteemed leadership in the UAE that I am able to create such a unique project”.