Arada will deliver thousands of new homes in London after acquiring a majority stake in UK house builder Regal, rebranded as Arada London.
The Sharjah-based developer said the deal will allow it to triple Regal’s current pipeline of 10,000 units to 30,000 homes within three years, adding much-needed supply to one of the world’s most competitive housing markets. The developer added that it was actively seeking assets and opportunities and would make further announcements before the end of the year to show how the pipeline can be achieved.
“On a global level, this move strengthens our positioning as a developer with real international reach. London is a milestone for us, but it’s also part of a bigger picture that includes doubling down at home in the UAE with a series of new project announcements, preparing to launch our first developments and actively seeking to enter the Saudi market,” Edward Attwood, Chief Communications Officer at Arada told The Gulf Pulse.
He said that the acquisition was designed to combine Regal’s “deep local knowledge and delivery record” with Arada’s “scale, international expertise and capital,” enabling the company to fast-track residential development in the UK capital. “Our immediate impact in London is scale—we aim to triple the pipeline in three years, adding thousands of much-needed homes to the city,” Attwood said.
He also said, “Arada London’s approach in London mirrors what we’ve done successfully in the UAE and Australia which is focusing on building a sustainable pipeline of premium homes across different segments that can weather different cycles.”
“Aside from Arada London’s own upcoming projects, we’ll be aggressively reviewing a wide range of opportunities in the UK capital. Across all our markets, including London, we have a pipeline of some 50,000 homes, and we’re on course to raise that number significantly over the next two years,” he added.
Talking about managing challenges unique to the London market, such as planning approvals, high construction costs, and regulatory hurdles, Attwood said that every developer faces these challenges in London. “Our size and integrated model give us an advantage. Aiming to combine Arada London’s local expertise with our own experience in delivering homes and also for large-scale mixed-use projects, we believe we’re well-positioned to navigate these hurdles. And because we operate across multiple verticals in-house, we have more control over costs and delivery than many other players in the market,” added Attwood.
The agreement was signed in London in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. It is the company’s second international expansion following its entry into Australia last year. Arada has committed an initial AED2.5 billion (£500 million) to the deal, which includes Regal’s 150-strong team and project portfolio.
Regal, founded in 1998, has an existing pipeline of 10,000 homes across 11 projects, including Fulton & Fifth in Wembley where 40 percent of 876 homes will be affordable and Orchard Wharf in Tower Hamlets, which will deliver 1,365 student beds and 200 affordable units.
Arada Group CEO, Ahmed Alkhoshaibi told the UK press that the timing of the entry was strategic. “We like to enter markets when they are at a low point, it is about securing the right land banks at the right price. Our scale and integrated model help us navigate challenges such as construction costs and planning delays.”
Since its launch in 2017, Arada has developed 10 communities in the UAE, including the Aljada megaproject and Masaar forested community, and has a pipeline of 5,000 homes in New South Wales, Australia. Globally, the company has more than 42,000 units valued at AED95 billion, of which over 10,000 have already been delivered.
The acquisition also reflects a wider Gulf push into the UK housing sector, following Abu Dhabi developer Aldar’s £230 million purchase of London Square in 2023.
