Arada, a developer based in Sharjah, has secured a 75% ownership in UK residential developer Regal, marking its first foray into the London market and its second international venture after Australia in 2024.
This acquisition, graced by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada, entails an initial investment of Dhs2.5 billion ($681 million) aimed at acquiring and enhancing Regal, which will be rebranded as Arada London.
The agreement enables the company to manage Regal’s pipeline of 10,000 units distributed over 11 projects, with ambitions to expand this pipeline threefold in the next three years.
“As one of the premier cities globally, London represents a vital market entry for Arada, driven by the growing need for residential properties,” stated Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed.
Arada’s Expansion Path
Established in 2017, Arada has initiated 10 projects within the UAE, including the substantial Aljada megaproject, the Masaar community, and the Armani Beach Residences located at Palm Jumeirah.
In Australia, the company is in the process of developing nine projects, which collectively comprise 5,000 units.
Overall, Arada’s portfolio across the UAE and Australia surpasses Dhs95 billion, incorporating over 42,000 units, of which 10,000 have already been completed.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Arada’s group CEO, expressed that this acquisition would tap into the company’s “design expertise, successful delivery history, and financial resources” to foster Regal’s advancement.
Read: How Arada is enhancing its presence in the UAE’s luxury real estate sector
With a solid 30-year history, Regal has successfully delivered over 4,000 residential units and 1 million square feet of commercial spaces, while maintaining its existing leadership team and founders.
Current projects under Regal include Fulton & Fifth in Wembley, featuring 876 homes, 40% of which are designated as affordable housing.
Jonathan Seal, CEO of Regal, remarked, “We have thoughtfully partnered with Arada, a company that aligns with our values and has confidence in the London residential market.”
Regarded B1 by Moody’s and B+ by Fitch, the UAE-based developer anticipates that this acquisition will generate synergies across sales channels and enhance its residential-centric mixed-use portfolio.
Rothschild & Co served as the exclusive financial and strategic advisor to Regal.