Aldar Properties, the biggest developer in Abu Dhabi by market value, has bought Rixos Bab Al Bahr hotel in Ras Al Khaimah in a Dh770 million ($210m) deal as it continues to expand its portfolio of hospitality and leisure investments in the UAE.
The acquisition of the 715-room hotel that opened its doors in 2014 was made by Aldar Investment — the company's second investment in the emirate this year, it said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
“The acquisition adds further scale to Aldar Investment’s growing hospitality and leisure portfolio and will bring its total investment in Ras Al Khaimah to Dh1.5 billion, including the earlier acquisition of Al Hamra Mall and additional development rights at both properties,” the company said.
RAK Hospitality Holding, an integrated hospitality and leisure company that owns and operates hospitality and leisure assets, separately confirmed the sale of Rixos Bab Al Bahr to Aldar Investment through its subsidiary RAK National Hotels.
Last year, Aldar adopted a new group operating model and organised its business into two segments. Aldar Investment is responsible for managing its Dh22bn portfolio of recurring income assets, including its hospitality portfolio, while Aldar Development is responsible for building the company's 75 million square metre land bank.
“The acquisition is underpinned by the tremendous potential of the emirate as a tourist hub, our robust asset management capabilities, as well as the strong operating fundamentals and mature nature of the asset itself,” Jassem Busaibe, chief executive at Aldar Investment, said.
“In addition to the transaction being value and yield-accretive to our recurring-income generating portfolio, it allows us to build further scale and enhance diversification, which is a key tenet of our strategy going forward.”
As part of the deal, Aldar Investment has also secured development rights for an additional 250,000 square feet for residential and commercial use, it said, without giving details of further development plans.
“Aldar’s investment in the emirate contributes to enhancing the hospitality experiences for our tourists and residents, adding to the emirate’s destination appeal,” Alison Grinnell, chief executive of RAK Hospitality Holding, said in a separate statement.
In February, Aldar bought Al Hamra Mall in a $111.6m deal, its first transaction outside Abu Dhabi, and said it plans to further expand its footprint in Ras Al Khaimah.
The company, through its investment platform, is assessing opportunities to invest more capital into new geographies and property types as part of an overarching growth strategy, the company said at the time.
The Abu Dhabi-based company is also increasing investments outside the country. Last year, a consortium of Aldar Properties and one of the region’s biggest holding companies, ADQ, acquired a majority stake in Egypt’s Sixth of October for Development and Investment Company for 6.1bn Egyptian pounds ($386.8m).
The value of mergers and acquisitions in the Mena region surged 57 per cent to reach $109.1bn last year. The total number of deals also jumped 40 per cent annually to reach 1,141, the highest annual total recorded since 1980, according to a report by Refinitiv.
Aldar reported a 21 per cent jump in its full-year 2021 profit to Dh2.3bn, as revenue rose 2 per cent annually to about Dh8.6bn on record property sales amid the continued recovery of the UAE’s property market.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
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Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
More on Yemen's civil war
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Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
