Cipriani Residences Miami
Flagship Development Execution / SVP, Mast Capital
Mr. Abbas was brought in by Mast Capital to lead Cipriani Residences Miami, a $1B+ branded luxury condominium tower and the firm’s most ambitious development to date. Tasked with righting the ship on the largest undertaking in Mast’s history, he was responsible for steering the project from entitlements through to the successful execution of its sales, marketing, capitalization, and construction launch.
The assignment required integrating one of the world’s most sophisticated brands — Cipriani — into every aspect of the project, from legal structure and architectural design to operations, brand standards, and market positioning. Mr. Abbas oversaw the coordination across Mast’s internal teams, brand partners, design consultants, and legal advisors to ensure Cipriani’s legacy translated seamlessly into the residential experience.
He led the development of the construction documents and guided the project to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract with Moss Construction, one of the region’s leading builders. In tandem, he managed the structuring and closing of a record-breaking $600M construction loan, secured through a structured facility comprised of Ascendant Capital Partners and Carlos Slim’s Banco Inbursa.
On the sales and marketing front, Mr. Abbas directed the launch strategy that resulted in nearly 70% of units under contract, totaling close to $700M in gross sellout proceeds within three years of going to market. The strategy enabled average pricing to increase by approximately 50% over that period, a testament to the project's positioning and execution.
At the time of his transition, the project was tracking three months ahead of schedule and on course to become the tallest building in Brickell once completed.
Apeiron Living
Development Management / Principal
In collaboration with hospitality icons Horst Schulze (co-founder of Ritz-Carlton) and Michael Bedner (co-founder of HBA), Mr. Abbas conceived and launched Apeiron Living — a wellness-focused residential and hospitality brand targeting the younger segment of Baby Boomers looking to downsize their residence while upsizing their lifestyle.
As founder and principal, Mr. Abbas led the creation of the Apeiron brand and development program from the ground up, including concept development, positioning, and brand narrative. He oversaw the full pre-acquisition lifecycle — from identifying high-potential sites and conducting rigorous underwriting to leading due diligence and shaping the business plan that underpinned the investment thesis.
Following acquisition, Mr. Abbas directed the execution of the development strategy, including entitlements, title resolution, asset management, and structuring of joint ventures and partnerships. He managed all third-party consultants and capital partners, ensuring consistent alignment across all fronts.
As part of Apeiron’s unique value proposition, he curated a global design team that included Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo to lead the master planning and architectural vision. The project integrated cutting-edge wellness concepts, branded residences, and hospitality components in a high-touch, service-rich environment.
Mr. Abbas ultimately sold his interest in the real estate asset to one of his partners, while retaining full ownership of the Apeiron intellectual property, positioning the brand for future growth and potential expansion.
Hollywood Circle
Entitlements + Capital Procurement
Urbanis Advisors was engaged to oversee development operations and co-found an EB-5 investment platform — Gold Coast Florida Regional Center — to finance a series of multifamily projects in South Florida.
Its flagship project, Hollywood Circle, is a $210M mixed-use development spanning two city blocks, comprising 626 residential units, a 111-key hotel, and 85,000 SF of retail, anchored by a Publix supermarket.
Centro
Acquisition + Joint Venture
A generational landowner in Downtown Miami sought guidance on unlocking the value of a vacant urban site.
Urbanis Advisors identified the opportunity for a residential high-rise, secured a development partner (Newgard Development Group), and structured the joint venture that led to Centro — the first residential tower in Miami by designer Yves Béhar.
Al-Saleh
Investment/Portfolio Management
A prominent Kuwaiti family engaged Urbanis Advisors to develop a strategic growth plan for their $180M real estate portfolio.
Urbanis led a repositioning effort that included the planning and development of new residential assets and a large-scale mixed-use project in Kuwait City, ultimately increasing the portfolio’s value to over $500M.