Traditional real estate feasibility studies are a major bottleneck for real estate developers. They are slow, labor-intensive, and often burdened by potential inaccuracies. This process, which can take weeks or even months, creates significant costs and delays, hindering the ability of developers and investors to make agile, informed decisions in a fast-moving market.
AIRE, a technology pioneer in the real estate sector, is directly addressing this challenge. The company has developed advanced, AI-powered proptech software designed to automate and streamline the entire feasibility study process. We spoke with Simon Ardonceau, CEO & Founder of AIRE to understand how this technology works and learn about the company’s strategic expansion across both Africa and the Middle East.
Q: What is the fundamental problem with traditional feasibility studies that AIRE set out to solve?
Simon Ardonceau: The biggest issue with traditional feasibility studies is that they are too slow for how fast real estate moves today. On top of that, reliable, localized data is often difficult to access in many African and Middle Eastern cities, which leads to decisions being made with limited visibility. We built AIRE to change that. Our goal was to make feasibility analysis faster, more affordable, and grounded in real market data, not outdated assumptions.
Q: How does AIRE’s software platform change that dynamic?
Simon Ardonceau: Our software automates what used to be a manual, consultant-heavy process. It uses AI, big data, and proprietary algorithms to deliver a complete feasibility or Highest & Best Use study in just five business days. It gathers and analyzes millions of data points, from supply and pricing trends to demographics and demand indicators, generates thousands of development scenarios and computes their associated financial outcomes.
So instead of waiting a month for an answer, a developer can test scenarios, compare options, and make a confident decision within a week. It changes feasibility from being a bottleneck to being a strategic advantage.
Q: Your company recently announced an expansion of this software. What new capabilities does it have?
Simon Ardonceau: We have added quite a few exciting features. The platform now supports more asset classes, everything from residential and commercial to hospitality and mixed-use developments. We also introduced an automated Highest & Best Use module, which helps developers identify the most profitable development mix for a specific site based on real-time demand and pricing trends. And because we are expanding into Francophone Africa, we have added French-language support and localized market modules for places like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. We are also working on integrating geospatial analytics and benchmarking tools for developers operating across several cities.
Q: AIRE is also expanding its reach to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Why did you select those markets?
Simon Ardonceau: Saudi Arabia and the UAE represent two of the most dynamic real estate markets in the Middle East. Both are undergoing major transformations under initiatives such as Vision 2030, and there is a strong appetite for technology that can accelerate decision-making and reduce risk. For us, it made perfect sense to enter markets that are embracing innovation at scale. Our existing presence in Dubai provides a strong regional base to support clients across both the GCC and Africa, making it a natural launchpad for our software in the wider region.
Q: What impact do you believe this technology will have on the Middle East real estate market?
Simon Ardonceau: I think it will completely change how feasibility and investment analysis are done. Developers and investors will be able to validate their projects in days instead of weeks, which means faster project cycles, less guesswork, and ultimately better investment outcomes.
It will also bring more transparency and consistency to how data is used across the region. When you combine speed with data accuracy, you enable smarter decisions and that is something every market benefits from.
Q: Looking forward, what is AIRE’s long-term vision?
Simon Ardonceau: Our long-term vision is to become the go-to real estate development feasibility studies platform across the globe. We want to create a connected ecosystem where our software, consulting, and valuation services work hand in hand to give clients end-to-end decision support. Over time, we aim to integrate predictive analytics, allowing our users to anticipate demand before it happens, not just react to it. Ultimately, we want AIRE to be the partner that helps shape faster, more sustainable, and more informed development.
The Future of Feasibility
The conversation with Simon Ardonceau highlights a clear shift in the real estate industry. The move away from slow, manual processes toward AI-driven automation is no longer a future concept; it is happening now. By drastically cutting down report times from weeks to hours, AIRE’s technology offers a distinct competitive advantage.
This ability to analyze risk and forecast financials with speed and accuracy is particularly crucial in rapidly developing markets like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As AI continues to integrate into the sector, solutions like AIRE’s will likely become the new standard, making informed, data-driven decisions the baseline for all future development.
To learn more, visit https://www.aire-realestate.com
