Sobha Realty signs multi-year partnership deal with Arsenal

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Dubai-based property developer Sobha Realty has signed a new global partnership with Arsenal.

The luxury real estate developer’s presence will be at all men’s and women’s domestic games played at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal said in a statement.

“This is our first Official Global Real Estate Partner, a further sign of our commercial strength, and ability to continue attracting new partners from a diverse field of industries and backgrounds. We look forward to working with Sobha Realty in the years ahead and supporting its growth as a brand across the world,” said Juliet Slot, chief commercial officer of Arsenal Football Club.

Sobha Realty will also gain naming rights to The WM Club – a premium match-day hospitality suite at Emirates Stadium – which will now be known as ‘The WM Club, Presented by Sobha Realty.’

The Premier League club said the partnership will see Arsenal and Sobha Realty collaborate on initiatives to develop the sports industry in Dubai and beyond. This includes hosting football experiences, including youth football clinics, tournaments, and seminars.

“We have seen a heightened interest in Dubai Real Estate from UK consumers and with this partnership with Arsenal, we look forward to strengthening our brand in the UK and surrounding markets,” Francis Alfred, managing director of Sobha Realty.

The two entities said they look forward to collaborating on projects to demonstrate their collective pursuit of progress over the coming years.

Sobha Realty’s growth prospects

Meanwhile, Sobha Realty is mainly active in Dubai’s real estate market, where it had an 8 per cent market share in the first half of the year, according to a presentation on its website.

The company raised $300m from its debut sale of Islamic bonds or sukuk in July. The pricing of the Islamic issuance, which includes a call feature, the first of its kind for a GCC sub-investment grade benchmark-sized sukuk, marks a significant achievement for Sobha Realty and the entire real estate industry.

Sobha’s pioneering approach and ability to tap into new markets have positioned the company as a key player in the real estate sector as it continues to expand its footprint and explore new opportunities with its unwavering pursuit of excellence and focus on quality.

Founded in 1976 as an interior design business in Oman, the developer has established a global presence with developments and investments in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Brunei and India. It reported a 129 per cent year-on-year (YoY) sales growth to Dhs7.4bn in H1 2023.

The property developer’s revenues jumped 20 per cent YoY to Dhs3.2bn while its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 19 per cent to Dhs0.7bn, with a strong revenue backlog of more than Dhs11bn.

Read: Sobha Realty raises $300m with debut sukuk