Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The company recorded total UAE sales of Dh6.8 billion in the second quarter. Victor Besa / The National
Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The company recorded total UAE sales of Dh6.8 billion in the second quarter. Victor Besa / The National
Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The company recorded total UAE sales of Dh6.8 billion in the second quarter. Victor Besa / The National
Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The company recorded total UAE sales of Dh6.8 billion in the second quarter. Victor Besa / The National

Aldar reports surging UAE sales to expats and overseas buyers boosting its Q2 revenue


Fareed Rahman
  • English
  • Arabic

Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest listed developer, has reported a surge in property sales in the UAE to residents and overseas buyers, boosting its second-quarter revenue amid the country's continued growth in the real estate market.

UAE sales to overseas and resident buyers for the three months to the end of June stood at Dh5.6 billion ($1.52 billion), accounting for 82 per cent of total sales in the country, Aldar said on Monday in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

The company recorded total UAE sales of Dh6.8 billion ($1.85 billion) in the second quarter, up 7 per cent annually, on strong demand for new and existing developments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.

Indians, Russians, British nationals, Chinese as well as Jordanians and North Americans were among its main customers, Faisal Falaknaz, Aldar's chief finance and sustainability officer said.

"Nationalities vary across different locations and different product types. So, for example, when we launched Athlon and Haven [in Dubai], we had a higher concentration of Indians than what we would typically have in Abu Dhabi," Mr Falaknaz said.

Aldar is developing the Athlon and Haven residential projects in partnership with Dubai Holding. The companies generated Dh4.1 billion from the sale of more than 1,000 villas and townhouses at Athlon in May and Dh1 billion from the sale of more than 660 apartment units at Haven this month.

The company is also planning to launch new projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi amid higher demand from buyers, Mr Falaknaz said.

These include a luxury beachfront development at Al Fahid Island in Abu Dhabi and a new master development in Dubai.

"The most meaningful launch that we have coming in Dubai is going to be our third master plan launch, which is going to be the plot on the other side of Mohamed bin Zayed Road ... that's something that we will be looking to launch towards the end of this year or the beginning of next year," Mr Falaknaz said.

Last week, Aldar also unveiled a new development named The Arthouse consisting of 281 premium apartments and sky villas at Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi. The construction of the project, with one, two and three-bedroom apartments, is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, it said.

It also plans to develop a Grade A office tower beside Dubai International Financial Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, with a net leasable area of 88,000 square metres, which also includes a luxury boutique hotel and branded residences.

The Arthouse unveiled by Aldar last week will have 281 premium apartments and sky villas. Photo: Aldar
The Arthouse unveiled by Aldar last week will have 281 premium apartments and sky villas. Photo: Aldar

The new announcements come as Aldar's second-quarter revenue and rental income surged 64 per cent on an annual basis to Dh5.3 billion. Meanwhile, UAE revenue backlog stood at Dh33.2 billion as of the end of June, with an average duration of 28 months, up from Dh29.1 billion at the end of 2023.

Profit attributable to equity holders of the company for the second quarter rose by 30 per cent to Dh1.5 billion.

“The UAE real estate market continues to display solid fundamentals driven by strong end-user demand and increasing global investor interest,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Aldar Properties.

A design of Aldar's new project named The Arthouse. Photo: Aldar
A design of Aldar's new project named The Arthouse. Photo: Aldar

“Underpinning this strength is the dynamism of the UAE economy. Through pro-growth policies and a business-friendly environment, the UAE has emerged as a premier destination for international corporates, entrepreneurs and capital.”

The UAE property market has been booming in recent years on the back of government initiatives such as residence permits for retired and remote workers, and the expansion of the 10-year golden visa programme.

Overall growth in the UAE’s economy due to diversification efforts is also supporting the property market.

In the second quarter, Dubai’s villa market remained robust, with capital values increasing by 33.4 per cent annually and 7.3 per cent on a quarterly basis, according to a report by ValuStrat.

Valuations of apartments also continued to rise and were up by 23.4 per cent year-on-year and 5.4 per cent compared with the first quarter, the report said.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's real estate sector recorded transactions totalling Dh19.4 billion in the first quarter, spanning across 6,070 deals, Wam reported in June, citing data from Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.

The emirate's property market attracted a record Dh1.81 billion in foreign direct investment during the three-month period with investors from source markets such as India, Russia, Canada, the UK, Jordan and China significantly increasing their investments annually, it said.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Surianah's top five jazz artists

Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.  

Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.

Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.

Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.

War and the virus
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The biog

Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates

Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.

Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.

Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.

Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile 

Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran

Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Fixtures

Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs

Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms

Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles

Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon

Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

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Results
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

The specs

Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel

Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power: 1877bhp

Torque: 2300Nm

Price: Dh7,500,00

On sale: Now

 

The five pillars of Islam
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

'C'mon C'mon'

Director:Mike Mills

Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jawan
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Porsche Taycan Turbo specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 1050Nm

Range: 450km

Price: Dh601,800

On sale: now

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Updated: July 30, 2024, 6:51 AM`