His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada, attended a signing ceremony in London to mark the developer’s acquisition of a 75% stake in Regal, one of the city’s leading residential-led mixed-use developers. The deal signifies Arada’s first entry into the UK and its second international expansion, following the company’s launch into Australia in 2024.

The acquisition will see Regal rebranded as Arada London, with Arada committing an initial AED2.5 billion to invest in the 150-person-strong business. The move will accelerate delivery of Regal’s existing 10,000-unit residential pipeline across 11 projects, with ambitions to more than triple the pipeline over the next three years.

“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,” said His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada, added: “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.”

Jonathan Seal, Chief Executive of Regal, commented: “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.”

Arada has an established track record in the UAE, having launched ten projects since 2017, including Aljada, one of the country’s largest mixed-use megaprojects, Masaar forested community, and Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah. In Australia, the developer has nine upcoming projects totalling 5,000 units across New South Wales. Across its UAE and Australian portfolio, Arada’s developments exceed AED95 billion in value, with over 42,000 units, more than 10,000 of which have already been delivered.

The acquisition combines complementary expertise, strengthening Arada’s ability to deliver high-quality, amenity-rich residential-led projects, while creating opportunities to cross-sell products across both companies’ sales platforms. Regal has delivered over 4,000 residential units and one million square feet of commercial space, with an integrated model covering all aspects from land assembly and planning to sales and asset management. The executive team and company founders will remain with the business.

Current projects under construction include Fulton & Fifth in Wembley, a mixed-use development with 876 homes, 40% designated as affordable housing. The scheme will also host Regal’s second Regal Academy, offering construction skills training and employment pathways for the military community and local residents.

Rothschild & Co served as sole financial and strategic adviser to Regal.