30 September 2026
Aldar and Arada announced a strategic partnership in Abu Dhabi on 30 September 2026 with a combined value of about AED 15 billion (USD 4.08 billion). It has two parts: a masterplan joint venture to build a villa and townhouse community on up to 1.5 million sqm of land at Seih Sdeirah, on the border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and Arada’s purchase from Aldar of three residential plots on Yas Island with more than 27,500 sqm of land and almost 130,000 sqm of gross floor area. The deal is the first development presence in Abu Dhabi for Sharjah-based Arada.
What Aldar and Arada signed
The agreements were signed by Jonathan Emery, Chief Executive Officer of Aldar Development, and Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada. Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Executive Vice Chairman of Arada, and Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aldar, attended the signing.
The companies describe the two transactions as the first phase of the partnership. They plan to explore further collaboration across sectors, asset classes and locations in the UAE, without naming projects or amounts for that next stage.
The AED 15 billion figure is the combined value of the opportunities covered by the initial agreements. The announcement does not split it between Seih Sdeirah and Yas Island, and it does not give the price Arada paid for the Yas plots.
| Item | Seih Sdeirah | Yas Island |
|---|---|---|
| Type of deal | masterplan joint venture between Aldar and Arada | purchase of three plots by Arada from Aldar |
| Land | up to 1.5 million sqm | more than 27,500 sqm across three plots |
| Gross floor area | not disclosed | almost 130,000 sqm |
| Product | villas and townhouses with retail and recreational amenities | premium residential projects, two of the three plots face canals |
| Roles | Arada leads development and construction management, both partners brand and sell | Arada develops |
| Launch dates, units, prices | not disclosed | not disclosed |
Seih Sdeirah: a joint community on the Abu Dhabi and Dubai border
At Seih Sdeirah the two developers will co-develop a large mixed-use community on up to 1.5 million sqm of land, or 150 hectares. The plan is a villa and townhouse community with retail and recreational amenities. Arada will lead development and construction management, while Aldar and Arada will jointly brand and sell the homes.
That division of roles is the core of the structure. Aldar brings its landbank and development platform in the emirate. Arada brings its record of delivering large communities, built in Sharjah at Aljada and Masaar. Launch dates, the number of homes and the construction schedule have not been announced.
Talal Al Dhiyebi said the projects on Yas Island and at Seih Sdeirah “establish a strong foundation for our collaboration with Arada, and we see significant potential to build on the partnership across sectors and geographies in the UAE”.
Yas Island: three plots and Arada’s first projects in Abu Dhabi
On Yas Island, Arada has bought three development plots from Aldar for new residential projects. Two of the three sites face canals. Together the plots cover more than 27,500 sqm of land and allow almost 130,000 sqm of gross floor area.
The ratio between those two numbers, roughly 4.7 sqm of floor area for every square metre of land, points to multi-storey residential buildings rather than villas. The product mix, unit numbers and launch schedule have not been disclosed. Arada says it will develop premium residential communities on the plots, and these will be its first development projects in Abu Dhabi.
“This is the beginning of what we intend to be a long and productive collaboration, and we look forward to what we will build together,” said Ahmed Alkhoshaibi.
Yas Island has been the centre of Aldar’s activity this autumn. In September it launched Yas Riva Reserve, a gated community of 292 villas, and together with Talay on Saadiyat Island the two releases generated more than AED 5 billion in sales, as we reported in Aldar’s AED 5 billion villa sales at Talay and Yas Riva Reserve.
Who the partners are
Aldar is Abu Dhabi’s largest listed developer. In the second quarter of 2026 it reported net profit of AED 2.16 billion, up 10% year on year, and revenue with rental income of AED 8.1 billion, up 5%. Its group development backlog stood at AED 71.6 billion at the end of June, of which AED 59.9 billion was in the UAE.
Arada was founded in Sharjah in 2017 as a joint venture between KBW Investments, controlled by Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, and the Sharjah-based Basma Group. It reports projects valued at AED 130 billion and a portfolio of more than 55,000 homes across the UAE, the United Kingdom and Australia. In August 2026 it announced an AED 5 billion project with close to 1,000 homes on the Gold Coast in Queensland, covered in our report on Arada’s Gold Coast towers. In September it revealed plans for a USD 7 billion mixed-use project in Damascus with 11,000 homes.
The partnership comes in a strong market. Real estate transactions in Abu Dhabi reached AED 117 billion in the first half of 2026, up 112% year on year, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
What the deal means for buyers and companies in the UAE
Nothing is on sale yet at Seih Sdeirah or on the three Yas plots, so the practical points are about preparation:
- Launch windows in Abu Dhabi are short. Aldar’s September villa releases went from announcement to open sales in six to eight days, so funds, documents and, where needed, a company structure have to be ready before a launch is announced.
- Yas Island is a designated investment zone, where foreign nationals can buy on a freehold basis under Abu Dhabi Law No. 13 of 2019. The announcement does not state the ownership terms for buyers at Seih Sdeirah, so they should be confirmed with the developer at launch.
- A property investment of AED 2 million or more is the entry point for the ten year renewable UAE Golden Visa. Eligibility is confirmed by the authorities on each application.
- Mortgage terms differ sharply between residents and non residents, and the difference matters most at villa price points. Our guide to mortgages in the UAE for residents and non residents sets out the rules.
- Buying through a UAE company rather than personally changes the paperwork, the banking route and the exit, and the structure has to exist before the booking form is signed.
How Atlant Capital can help
We work on the corporate side of a property purchase, not on brokerage. When a buyer plans to hold a home on Yas Island or in a new Abu Dhabi community through a UAE structure, the company has to be registered and bankable before the sales date, and that sequence is where timelines usually slip. We handle company formation in the UAE with activities suited to holding and leasing property, and we run corporate bank account opening so that funds can move on the day a release opens.
Where a purchase is meant to support residency, we align the property route with residence visas and the Golden Visa. Where a client is comparing Abu Dhabi with Dubai on the same budget, we set out ownership rules, corporate options and running costs for both before any deposit moves.
Bottom line
Aldar and Arada have signed an AED 15 billion partnership in two parts: a villa and townhouse joint venture on up to 1.5 million sqm at Seih Sdeirah, with Arada leading delivery, and the sale to Arada of three Yas Island plots with almost 130,000 sqm of gross floor area. It brings Arada into Abu Dhabi for the first time. Prices, unit numbers and launch dates for both parts are still to be announced.
Source: The National, Economy Middle East.
FAQ
What did Aldar and Arada agree?
On 30 September 2026 Aldar and Arada announced a strategic partnership worth about AED 15 billion (USD 4.08 billion). It combines a masterplan joint venture for a villa and townhouse community on up to 1.5 million sqm of land at Seih Sdeirah, on the Abu Dhabi and Dubai border, with Arada’s purchase of three residential plots on Yas Island from Aldar.
Where is Seih Sdeirah and what will be built there?
Seih Sdeirah is in the emirate of Abu Dhabi on the border with Dubai. Aldar and Arada plan a mixed-use community of villas and townhouses with retail and recreational amenities on up to 1.5 million sqm of land. Arada will lead development and construction management, and both companies will brand and sell the homes. Launch dates and unit numbers have not been announced.
What did Arada buy on Yas Island?
Arada bought three residential development plots from Aldar, two of them facing canals. The plots have a combined land area of more than 27,500 sqm and total gross floor area of almost 130,000 sqm. Arada plans premium residential projects there, its first developments in Abu Dhabi. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Can foreigners buy property on Yas Island?
Yes. Yas Island is a designated investment zone in Abu Dhabi where foreign nationals can own property on a freehold basis, under Abu Dhabi Law No. 13 of 2019, which amended Law No. 19 of 2005. The ownership terms for the future Seih Sdeirah community have not been published.
