Staff Report
Dubai, UAE
Arada, the Sharjah-based mega developer, has announced its foray into the UK market by acquiring 75 percent stake in Regal, one of London’s leading residential-led mixed-use developers. The acquisition entails an initial investment of Dh2.5 billion and renaming Regal into Arada London. This also marks Arada’s second international expansion following its entry into Australia in 2024.
Arada’s acquisition of Regal, which has a 30-year track record, will accelerate the delivery of the company’s existing 10,000-unit residential pipeline over 11 projects, with an ambition to more than triple this over the next three years.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada, who attended the acquisition ceremony, said, “London is one of the world’s leading cities, and our expansion into this market represents a strategic step for Arada in response to the strong demand for residential space. This investment provides a significant opportunity to accelerate the delivery of new residential assets in London, fully aligned with Arada’s long-term strategy to develop high-quality projects that enable people to live healthier and more prosperous lives.”
In recent years, London has welcomed the expansion of key GCC developers. Heavyweights like Damac, Dar Global, and Aldar have established substantial presence in the city. This trend is attributed to the influx of GCC investment into London’s lucrative, high-yielding real estate.
According to the UK-based Al Rayan Bank’s 2024 GCC Investment Barometer, GCC investors spent an average of Dh558 million on London property in 2024, increasing from Dh450 million the previous year. In terms of popularity, London overtook global hotspots like Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Paris.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada, said, “We have been impressed by the platform the Regal team has built, as well as the inspirational schemes they are delivering, which reflect our own, long-term focus on experience, amenity, and the customer. Leveraging Arada’s extensive design and placemaking capabilities, delivery track record and capital resources, we are well placed to support Regal’s evolution and unlock new opportunities for growth.”
Since its inception, Regal has built over 4,000 residential units, and 1 million square feet of commercial space underpinned by a fully integrated model that spans the lifecycle of an asset from land assembly, planning, stakeholder engagement, and construction to sales, marketing, customer care, and asset management. As part of the transaction, Regal’s executive team, as well as the company’s founders, will all stay with the business.
Regal’s projects under construction include Fulton & Fifth in Wembley, a mixed-use residential-led development comprising 876 homes, 40 percent of which will be affordable. The scheme is also home to Regal’s second Regal Academy, which provides construction skills training and employment pathways to the military community and local people.
Jonathan Seal, Chief Executive of Regal, added, “With nearly 30 years of successful partnerships behind us, Regal has built a reputation for aligning with businesses that share our long-term vision and deep understanding of the real estate industry. It is in this spirit that we have carefully chosen Arada as our partner, a business that shares our values and confidence in the London residential market and our management team’s ambition to continue growing market share and shaping the London skyline.”
Over its eight-year history, Arada has launched 10 projects across the UAE, including Aljada, one of the country’s largest mixed-use megaprojects, three master plans of the bestselling Masaar forested community, and Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah. In Australia, nine upcoming developments totalling 5,000 units located across New South Wales have positioned the company as one of the country’s largest developers, measured by pipeline. The value of Arada’s projects across both the UAE and Australia amounts to over Dh95 billion, featuring over 42,000 units, with over 10,000 of those already delivered.
Arada, which is rated B1 by Moody’s and B+ by Fitch, brings financial strength and its extensive development experience to the London property market, combined with a long-term vision to create spaces and experiences that enhance communities and transform urban landscapes.
The acquisition presents a number of other benefits, including the bringing together of complementary skill sets and expertise in the development of high quality, amenity-rich residential-led projects, especially given Arada’s strong track record in delivering large-scale, complex mixed-use master plans. The transaction is also synergistic, creating opportunities to cross-sell residential products across both businesses’ leading sales platforms.
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Also read: Arada acquires major Sydney-based contractor as part of Australian expansion
