Luxury real estate in Dubai has evolved beyond architecture and interiors. Developers compete on detail, private members clubs refine experience as currency, and homeowners increasingly measure quality in sensory terms. In that environment, sound is no longer background. It becomes part of the identity of a space. The question is no longer whether a property has a sound system. The question is whether it has been engineered to perform.
Øystein Hasnes returned to Dubai with a specific observation. Premium audio brands were selling more high performance units in Norway than in the Gulf, despite the region’s concentration of capital and appetite for bespoke living. That imbalance suggested something structural rather than cultural. If demand for luxury exists, yet performance audio lags behind, the issue may lie in how systems are specified, installed, and demonstrated.
The foundation of his work traces back to an early exposure to sound at home, followed by a year in a military marching band and later studies in electrical engineering. A period as a bike messenger in Norway led to an encounter with what was then the leading high end audio retailer. That moment shifted focus from listening to understanding. Audio moved from hobby to discipline. Over time, the craft became less about components and more about system integration.
Today, Øystein Hasnes operates through Rivos, positioning the firm inside the intersection of luxury property, private hospitality, and bespoke interiors. Rather than treating speakers and amplifiers as standalone products, the model centers on how a system performs inside a specific room, with specific materials, dimensions, and acoustic constraints. In a market where aesthetics often dominate specification decisions, acoustic physics can easily become secondary. The result is expensive equipment delivering average performance.
One of the more defining decisions involved securing a four hundred thousand dollar sound system and placing it inside a private members club in proximity to individuals who could both appreciate and acquire such systems. Instead of relying on brochures or showrooms, the strategy allowed potential clients to experience the performance in a lived environment. In luxury markets, exposure through experience often influences purchasing decisions more effectively than specification sheets.
The broader Dubai high end sound system market sits within a global shift. According to industry data, the global luxury audio market has seen steady growth driven by residential real estate expansion, hospitality upgrades, and demand for personalized home experiences. Dubai’s property sector recorded tens of billions of dollars in transactions in recent years, with ultra prime developments continuing to enter the market. As homes become more technologically advanced, integration quality becomes a differentiator. Audio, lighting, and automation must operate as a unified system rather than isolated features.
In this context, the emphasis moves toward performance optimization. The phrase sound system for bespoke living reflects more than marketing language. It signals a method. Each installation begins with evaluating the physical environment, predicting acoustic behavior, and configuring equipment accordingly. Two identical systems placed in different rooms can produce entirely different results. Calibration, positioning, and structural consideration determine whether a system reaches its potential.
Recent recognition at highendshow.ae, where the setup was noted as best sound in show, functions less as a trophy and more as a data point. Industry exhibitions provide comparative environments. When multiple brands and configurations operate under similar conditions, performance becomes measurable through direct listening. Observations from such events often influence purchasing conversations long after the exhibition closes.
The decision to re-enter Dubai reflects a longer term positioning objective. The ambition is not volume distribution but authority within a defined niche. In markets where reputation compounds through results rather than campaigns, consistent performance across projects creates its own signal. The focus remains client centric, particularly among those who seek measurable excellence rather than brand recognition alone.
As Dubai continues to attract global wealth and expand its luxury infrastructure, the expectations placed on residential and hospitality environments will likely intensify. Audio will move further from accessory to architectural component. Those who understand both engineering and experiential design will shape that transition. Within that movement, the re-emergence of Øystein Hasnes in the market suggests that the next phase of Dubai’s luxury narrative may be heard as much as it is seen.
For those who understand that silence and sound define space as much as marble and glass, the center of the conversation is shifting. The market does not reward noise. It rewards performance that can be felt before it is explained.
