Housing construction launches in Addis Ababa; 1,086 units underway in joint Ethiopian-UAE
Joint Ethiopian-UAE development breaks ground on 1,086 residential units and commercial space
Construction is now underway on a 23,000-square-meter mixed-use development in Addis Ababa, following a ground-breaking ceremony held on August 8, 2026, marking the formal start of a joint project between the Ethiopian Army Foundation and UAE-based Reportage Properties.
The project will deliver two residential towers containing 1,086 apartments, alongside approximately 15,000 square meters of commercial space, recreational facilities, and landscaped green areas. It represents a concrete addition to Addis Ababa’s housing stock and commercial infrastructure, with physical construction now commenced.
Reportage Properties brings considerable operational scale to the undertaking. The company operates across 25 countries, has delivered more than 55,000 units globally, and currently has approximately 45,000 units under development worldwide. CEO and Group Managing Director Andrea Nucera confirmed that the Addis Ababa project forms part of that active pipeline. The developer already maintains more than 70 employees in Ethiopia and is treating the operation as a domestic enterprise rather than a foreign venture, a posture that signals long-term commitment to in-country execution rather than a transactional entry.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Army Foundation framed its role in explicitly operational terms. Board Chairperson Martha Luwigi stated at the ceremony that the development will generate employment, raise living standards, and facilitate the transfer of modern construction technologies and expertise into Ethiopia. She characterized the project as a potential template for future international investment and connected its execution to broader governance improvements, noting that “project execution, characterized by stronger leadership, effective coordination, close supervision, improved accountability, and more efficient utilization of resources, has undergone significant transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.”
Luwigi also identified the structural conditions she considers essential to sustaining delivery at this scale: deepening cooperation among government institutions, the private sector, international investors, and development partners. She described these relationships as critical to accelerating sustainable growth, attracting quality investment, and enabling technology and knowledge transfer.
Reportage Group Chairman Aref Ismail Al Khoori stated that Ethiopia possesses “tremendous potential” and that the company is committed to supporting the country’s growth through developments that create value and opportunities.
What remains unresolved is the delivery timeline. No phasing schedule or completion date was disclosed in the announcement. Given the project’s scale and Reportage’s track record on large residential portfolios, a multi-year implementation period is the practical expectation. Whether the project maintains momentum through that period, and how the partnership manages coordination between a domestic institution and an internationally operating developer, will be the real measure of whether the ground-breaking translates into delivered units.
For more information, see https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_9366838.
Q&A
What is the scale and composition of the Addis Ababa development project?
The project is a 23,000-square-meter mixed-use development containing two residential towers with 1,086 apartments, approximately 15,000 square meters of commercial space, recreational facilities, and landscaped green areas.
Who are the implementing partners and what is their operational capacity?
The Ethiopian Army Foundation and UAE-based Reportage Properties are the joint partners. Reportage Properties operates across 25 countries, has delivered more than 55,000 units globally, maintains approximately 45,000 units under development, and employs more than 70 people in Ethiopia.
What timeline has been established for project completion?
No phasing schedule or completion date was disclosed in the announcement. A multi-year implementation period is the practical expectation given the project's scale.
What does the Ethiopian Army Foundation identify as essential conditions for sustaining delivery at this scale?
Board Chairperson Martha Luwigi identified deepening cooperation among government institutions, the private sector, international investors, and development partners as critical to accelerating sustainable growth, attracting quality investment, and enabling technology and knowledge transfer.