New brokerage offers guidance on neighbourhoods, schools, and lifestyle considerations alongside standard property services
Nuvello Real Estate, a female-led property brokerage founded by CEO Gemma Contrino, has launched in Dubai with a focus on helping UK families relocate to the UAE. Rather than focusing purely on property transactions, the brokerage provides families with detailed information about communities, schools, amenities, and the practical realities of living in Dubai before they commit to a purchase.
The approach comes directly from Gemma Contrino’s own experience of moving to Dubai with her four children. That experience revealed a gap in the market for honest, practical support aimed at relocating families rather than investors.
“When my family moved to Dubai, nobody was upfront about the real costs, the practical realities, or the lifestyle fit of different communities,” said Gemma. “We were hit with astronomical bills we hadn’t budgeted for, and we’ve moved three times in one year trying to find the right fit. That experience showed me there’s a massive gap in the market for honest, comprehensive support, particularly for families making this life-changing move.”
Nuvello launches at a time when Dubai is seeing a rise in family relocations from the UK, driven by concerns about taxation, public safety, and quality of life. While most brokerages in Dubai target high-net-worth investors in the luxury market, Nuvello has positioned itself to serve UK families as a distinct and underserved group with specific needs.
As a female-led brokerage in a sector dominated by men, Nuvello brings a different perspective to the market. Gemma holds a background in accounting and business and has built the company around transparency, integrity, and empathy, qualities she sees as central when working with families making significant life decisions.
“Being a female CEO in Dubai real estate has its challenges, but being female also gives us a competitive advantage,” Gemma noted. “I understand how hard it is to move with children. I know that finding the right school matters just as much as finding the right property. That empathy and relatability is what sets Nuvello apart.”
Nuvello offers property sales, rentals, and investment advisory alongside partnerships with relocation specialists, schools, and community organisations. The brokerage gives clients practical information about commute times, local amenities, neighbourhood character, and local knowledge that does not always appear in property listings. The aim is to help families make well-informed decisions before signing anything.
The company is built around long-term client relationships rather than single transactions. Nuvello aims to remain a point of contact for clients as their circumstances change and their property needs develop over time in Dubai.
“It’s not just creating a one-time purchase transaction,” Gemma explained. “It’s creating something that becomes a family rather than just a number. I would personally rather a sale took us six weeks longer to find the right property than getting it signed today and getting somebody into the wrong investment or the wrong community.”
Nuvello currently employs 15 people, including 10 brokers. The company’s new office, due to open in six weeks, will accommodate more than 50 brokers. Gemma has indicated that growth will be managed carefully to ensure new team members share the company’s values and client-first approach.
Looking ahead, the company plans to become a trusted name for family-oriented property services in Dubai and to act as a bridge between the UK and UAE property markets, drawing on Gemma’s knowledge of both.
“In five years, I want Nuvello to be ingrained into people,” said Gemma. “In the same way you want a coffee and reach for Starbucks, you want a property transaction and you reach for Nuvello. We’re building something that becomes a real part of the Dubai framework and a dependable family of people.”
