RAK Properties' Mina Al Arab development in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National
RAK Properties' Mina Al Arab development in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National
RAK Properties' Mina Al Arab development in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National
RAK Properties' Mina Al Arab development in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National

RAK Properties reports 15% jump in second-quarter profit on higher revenue


Fareed Rahman
  • English
  • Arabic

RAK Properties reported a 15 per cent jump in second-quarter net profit after its revenue more than doubled on the back of higher property sales.

Net profit for the three months through to June 30 rose to Dh14.6 million, the company said in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares trade.

RAK Properties reported revenue of Dh83.8m after property sales increased to Dh71.6m, compared with Dh18.9m in the same period last year.

However, the company also incurred higher costs as activity increased. Finance costs increased to Dh10.3m in the second quarter, from Dh624,000 in the same period last year while selling, general and administrative expenses rose by 15 per cent to Dh9.3m.

The developer said it began to hand over apartments at the Gateway Residences project, part of its Dh10 billion Mina Al Arab development in Ras Al Khaimah, during the period.

Its Julphar Residence project on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is at an advanced stage, with property deliveries expected to be completed by the end of the current quarter, the developer said on Sunday.

RAK Properties is also working on the Marbella Villas and Bay Residence projects in Ras Al Khaimah.

Marbella Villas, with 205 villas and townhouses, is scheduled to be completed next year while construction on the Bay Residence project is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

In the hospitality segment, the company is building a 350-room Intercontinental hotel and resort and a 174-room Anantara Mina Arab hotel and resort.

“The construction of hotel properties has been progressing as per [the] development plan, with a target to start the first hotel operation by the fourth quarter of 2021,” Mohammad Al Qadi, managing director of RAK Properties, said.

Profit for the first six months of this year rose by 65 per cent to Dh26.7m as revenue grew by 50 per cent to Dh120m, the company said.

Total assets at the end of June reached Dh5.67bn, up 2 per cent since the end of last year.

RAK Properties distributed a 4 per cent dividend to shareholders during the first quarter.

Property sale prices fell by 9 per cent year on year in the Northern Emirates in the second quarter, according to consultancy Asteco, while rents fell by 10 per cent.

The downward pressure on rental rates “is expected to continue with the steady delivery of new supply”, the consultancy's second-quarter report said.

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

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The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Women & Power: A Manifesto

Mary Beard

Profile Books and London Review of Books 

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Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

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Price: From Dh439,000

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

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Torque: 240Nm

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

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SPECS

Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh184,500

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE FIXTURES

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Thursday February 24: final 

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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

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• For more information visit the library network's website.

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

War and the virus
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets