How Arada is expanding its presence in UAE’s luxury property market
Arada’s developments in Sharjah reflect its aim to create integrated communities that promote active living and meaningful connections, says group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi
04 February, 2025
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Known for its real estate projects in Sharjah, master developer Arada is expanding its presence in the UAE’s luxury real estate market with Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah, a project that reflects the company’s focus on quality design and integrated living spaces.
Featuring architecture by Tadao Ando and interiors by Armani/Casa, the development is part of Arada’s broader strategy to deliver thoughtfully designed communities that balance exclusivity with functionality.
In this interview, we discuss the significance of Armani Beach Residences, Arada’s approach to luxury and community development, and the key trends shaping the UAE’s real estate sector.
Arada is known for creating integrated communities like Aljada and Nasma Residences. How does this philosophy shape your developments, particularly in Sharjah?
Arada’s developments in Sharjah, including Aljada, Masaar and Nasma Residences, reflect our commitment to creating integrated communities that promote active living and meaningful connections. These communities feature expansive green spaces, family-centric amenities, and thoughtfully planned infrastructure to enrich residents’ lifestyles.
For example, Aljada offers a wide array of high-end facilities, including a family entertainment zone, a cultural district, three international schools and four hotels.
Nasma Residences offers a 13-acre park and community center, catering to diverse family needs, while Masaar is a forested community with over 50,000 trees, cycling tracks, and a vibrant community hub. This holistic approach ensures Arada’s projects enhance the living experience and set new benchmarks for modern, lifestyle-focused living.
Armani Beach Residences is a significant project for Arada. What excites you the most about this development, and how does it stand out in the Palm Jumeirah area?
Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah represents a new standard for the high-end Dubai real estate market, helping to redefine the concept of ultra-luxury living in one of the world’s most coveted neighbourhoods. This exceptional development embodies elegance and exclusivity, with architecture by the legendary Tadao Ando and interiors by Armani/Casa.
Limited to just 53 meticulously designed units, it offers a level of exclusivity rarely seen, even on the Palm Jumeirah, which has become a byword for high-end living.
For me, what really stands out about the project is the 90,000 square feet of luxury amenities – including a spa, function room, cigar lounge, movie theatre and landscaped deck area, which is a significant amount for a development of this size.
Beyond creating homes, this project crafts works of art that seamlessly blend iconic design with an unparalleled location, capturing the essence of luxury living.
The collaboration with Armani/Casa and Tadao Ando is unique. How did these partnerships come about, and what distinctive design elements do they bring to the project?
This is the first and only time that Giorgio Armani and Tadao Ando have collaborated on a residential offering. Brought together by Arada, this partnership with Armani/Casa and Tadao Ando stems from our vision to push the boundaries of design excellence. Both were natural choices, given their global reputations for timeless innovation.
Tadao Ando’s signature minimalist architecture blends light, space, and nature to create harmony, while Armani/Casa’s interiors bring unparalleled sophistication and attention to detail. These collaborations ensure that every corner of Armani Beach Residences reflects artistry and refinement.
The presidential suites at Armani Beach Residences offer bespoke luxury. What makes these units so exceptional, and how do they cater to Dubai’s evolving luxury market?
The presidential suites at Armani Beach Residences represent bespoke luxury at its finest, offering an unparalleled opportunity for personalisation. Buyers can collaborate directly with the Armani design team to customise their interiors, ensuring every detail reflects their unique vision. This exclusive experience includes a trip to Milan, where clients engage with designers to select materials, finishes, and furnishings, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind residence.
Spanning up to 43,830 square feet, these expansive homes feature state-of-the-art amenities and iconic design elements, catering to the discerning tastes of Dubai’s luxury market.
This level of personalisation and exclusivity addresses the evolving demand for residences that transcend traditional luxury, offering a deeply personal and unique living experience.
This approach reflects a broader trend in Dubai’s real estate market, where affluent buyers seek homes that not only provide opulence but also resonate with their identity and lifestyle, setting new standards in ultra-luxury living.
With Arada’s growth in the UAE, especially in Sharjah, what trends do you see emerging in the real estate market over the next few years? How do you see Sharjah’s rising role as a property lifestyle destination akin to the other emirates?
We see a continued shift towards lifestyle-driven developments that prioritise sustainability and wellness. Sharjah is witnessing the rise of large-scale master developments that accommodate family-friendly, community-focused lifestyles.
These projects, such as Masaar and Aljada, emphasise connectivity, green spaces, and integrated amenities, catering to the evolving needs of modern residents.
Arada is also leading this transformation by introducing branded residences like Vida Residences Aljada, Rove Home Aljada, and Anantara Sharjah Residences, which blend global luxury with Sharjah’s community-centric ethos.
These developments further position Sharjah as a rising lifestyle destination, complementing Dubai’s global luxury focus by offering sustainable, value-driven living. This shift is redefining the UAE’s real estate market, with Sharjah emerging as a key player in the region.
How does Arada balance luxury developments with community-focused projects, and how do elements like education, retail, and hospitality fit into your broader vision?
Arada’s projects cater to diverse needs while ensuring community integration. Aljada, Sharjah’s largest real estate project, will accommodate a population of up to 100,000 and it’s always been important that there is a diverse residential mix with products to support a wide range of budgets and lifestyle choices.
Aljada’s centerpiece, Madar, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, offers sports, cultural, and entertainment amenities alongside Sharjah’s largest business park, Arada Central Business District. Aljada’s scale demands meticulous urban planning for seamless connectivity.
Masaar, in contrast, focuses on forest living, with 70,000 trees being planted by its 2026 completion. Similarly, Jouri Hills at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai features 294 luxury townhouses and villas, blending premium living with natural settings.
Arada integrates lifestyle essentials like community centres, active living facilities, schools, and healthcare. More schools, healthcare facilities, and retail offerings are in the pipeline across all developments.
The SIS-Aljada school reflects this focus, as does East Boulevard, Sharjah’s premier retail and dining hub.
With regard to the luxury end of the market, the Anantara Sharjah Resort delivers premium hospitality, while the W Residences at Dubai Harbour showcases waterfront opulence.
These projects balance high-end living with thoughtful community planning. By combining these elements, we create thriving communities that prioritise both luxury and everyday convenience.
All our residential products benefit from the fast-growing array of complementary brands, which support our goal to deliver spaces where people can live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.
These include the four gym brands under our fitness and wellness division, three of which were recently purchased to create a vertical that is now valued at Dhs1bn.
Health and wellness has become a key focus area for us, and we’ll be announcing the launch of new companies that tap into this rapidly growing market segment early this year.
Sustainability is becoming more important in real estate. What steps is Arada taking to integrate sustainable practices into your projects, particularly moving forward?
At Arada, sustainability drives our vision of creating spaces where people connect to live happier, healthier lives.
Our commitment to the environment is evident in our communities, which contain over 100,000 trees offering improved air quality and a more sustainable living environment. Our natural resource management expertise extends to advanced water conservation and waste management techniques, as well as investment in cutting-edge treatment technology.
Energy-efficient designs, sustainable construction practices and smart home technologies deployed in every Arada home reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions.
Our partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Manbat, helps to bring local consumers and Emirati farmers together, helping with the UAE’s national food security goals.
At the same time, we prioritise social responsibility by fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and Arada was recently recognised as the top real estate workplace in the UAE by Great Place to Work.
Our company and community calendars feature events that foster engagement and skill-building and offer emerging talent platforms to hone their skills, build confidence and connect with others.
The Arada Foundation works with partners such as The Big Heart Foundation and UNHCR on initiatives both at home and abroad, including the internationally recognised Home for a Home campaign.
Through our combined focus on environmental stewardship and social wellbeing, we aim to create a positive, lasting impact and contribute to a sustainable and equitable future for all.
Where do you see Arada in the next five to 10 years, and what will its impact on the UAE’s real estate sector?
As a company, Arada has grown fast in the nearly eight years since we were founded. But we intend to keep up this pace of growth in the coming years. We’ve made no secret of our plans to expand internationally and announced our launch in Sydney (in August 2024) with a Dhs6bn pipeline of projects.
We also continue to look at key markets in Saudi Arabia, the UK and Italy and I anticipate that Arada will be operational in all of those markets in five years’ time.
We will also be looking to ensure that our revenue streams remain diversified by continuing to build out our brand portfolio and investing in our verticals. In particular, I see hospitality and entertainment as well as fitness and wellness, play an important part in our future.
At the same time, Arada’s legacy will be defined by maintaining exceptional communities that set new standards in any segment of the real estate industry by enriching lives through meaningful, well-designed spaces.
All our communities, all our brands and all our verticals will continue to emphasise an active and wellness-driven lifestyle that puts people first.
