Aldar to invest Dhs5 billion in more income-generating assets
Aldar will leverage both its development and asset management expertise to deliver the new commercial, retail, and hospitality assets within key Abu Dhabi destinations
Aldar Properties, the leading real estate developer, investor, and manager in the UAE, will deploy a further Dhs5 billion to develop a range of income-generating assets within key destinations in Abu Dhabi. The assets, which will be held in the company’s investment portfolio, will be delivered in a phased manner between 2025 and 2027.
The ‘develop-and-hold’ approach complements Aldar’s ongoing acquisition of recurring income assets and allows the company to activate its landbank through the development of a variety of real estate asset classes. Following a prudent approach to capital deployment, Aldar’s new investment will focus on value accretive commercial, retail and hospitality assets, which will add to a develop-and-hold portfolio that also includes logistics assets.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aldar Properties, said: “Aldar is driving rapid expansion of its high-value asset portfolio through a disciplined acquisition and develop-and-hold approach, to significantly increase recurring-income streams and longterm capital appreciation. Our teams are creating substantial value across the real estate spectrum, leveraging our strengths in master planning and development, through to leasing and active asset management. This integrated business model is ratcheting up growth across our core UAE businesses, driven by strong demand for premium real estate.”
Driven by strong demand for Grade A office space in Abu Dhabi, the investment will see Aldar develop new commercial assets across three key destinations: Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Al Maryah Island. This includes a new 12-storey office tower which is under development next to the Yas Plaza Hotels on
Yas Island and is expected to be handed over in 2025. The development has 25,000 sqm of new leasable area (NLA), inclusive of retail space, and its design is of a modular nature, allowing for the flexibility to sub-divide the floorplates and cater to the specific needs of tenants. The tower benefits from easy access to major transport links, including Abu Dhabi International Airport and the main highways to Saadiyat Island, downtown Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, and is also located close to the twofour 54 media freezone.
On Saadiyat Island, Aldar will develop a business park with approximately 26,000 sqm of NLA at Saadiyat Grove, an integrated mixed-use development which sits in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Cultural District. Set for completion in 2027, the project incorporates four Grade A commercial office buildings situated within a boutique landscaped business park, integrating themes of sustainability and connectivity with the wider Cultural District.
Within Abu Dhabi’s financial district on Al Maryah Island, Aldar will further extend its partnership with Mubadala with the addition of a second Grade A commercial tower that will be added to the site of the 37-storey office building announced in 2023. This amalgamated approach will take the total NLA at the site to 98,000 sqm and will crucially expand the availability of Grade A office space within ADGM once completed in 2027. The expansion within the financial district follows Aldar’s acquisition of the four ADGM towers and Al Maryah Tower in 2022.
In total, the new commercial developments on Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Maryah Island will increase Aldar’s commercial NLA by 31 per cent to 549,000 sqm. Occupancy across the company’s commercial property portfolio stands at 95 per cent, with a rapid increase in occupancy registered at the four ADGM towers, standing at 96 per cent at the end of 2023.
On the retail side, Aldar is developing 78,000 sqm of NLA at Saadiyat Grove, including a central shopping destination, two retail boulevards, and community retail spaces. The central shopping destination will introduce new experiential retail, dining, and entertainment concepts to Abu Dhabi and will connect directly to the neighbouring residential buildings and business park being developed by Aldar.