Aerial view of beach road and resorts of Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Getty
Aerial view of beach road and resorts of Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Getty
Aerial view of beach road and resorts of Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Getty
Aerial view of beach road and resorts of Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Getty

Dar Global to partner with Aston Martin on $250m beachfront project in Ras Al Khaimah


Alkesh Sharma
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Dar Global, the global arm of Saudi Arabia’s biggest developer Dar Al Arkan, has partnered with British luxury brand Aston Martin to develop a beachfront residential community on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.

With a development value of $250 million, the project is expected to be officially announced next month with construction due to be completed in 2028, in a joint development with Aarvees Group.

The partnership will be Aston Martin’s first real estate collaboration in the GCC, Dar Global said on Monday, adding that the luxury brand will design interiors for the development.

“We … have the opportunity to design ultra-luxury interiors for what we believe will be an unparalleled development in the emerging luxury destination of Al Marjan Island,” Stefano Saporetti, director of brand diversification at Aston Martin, said.

The partnership marked a “significant milestone” for Dar Global as it expands its footprint into Ras Al Khaimah, Ziad El Chaar, chief executive of Dar Global, said.

Stefano Saporetti (second from right), director of brand diversification at Aston Martin, and Ziad El Chaar (right), chief executive of Dar Global, during the signing ceremony. Photo Dar Global
Stefano Saporetti (second from right), director of brand diversification at Aston Martin, and Ziad El Chaar (right), chief executive of Dar Global, during the signing ceremony. Photo Dar Global

With a track record of delivering iconic properties, we are committed to setting new standards of luxury living in this vibrant emirate.’’

With its natural beauty and modern amenities, Al Marjan Island attracts those looking for a luxurious lifestyle.

Marjan is the developer behind Al Marjan Island, a development of four reclaimed islands with more than 7.8km of beaches and 23km of waterfront, in addition to major hotels and residential developments. The artificial islands have been attracting a significant amount of investment from developers in recent years.

Wynn Resorts is set to open its 1,000-room property with entertainment and gaming amenities in 2026. The project, which is being developed by the Las Vegas hotel operator, will include at least 10 restaurants and a large convention centre.

Abdulla Al Abdouli, chief executive of Marjan, the master developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, said that the project “further enhances the appeal” of the Al Marjan Island.

“This partnership … reinforces Ras Al Khaimah's position as a leading real estate hub in the region,” Mr Abdouli said.

Dar Global, which has a market cap of about $662.48 million as of Monday, aims to expand globally with a pipeline of close to $3.6 billion worth of projects planned in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Spain, Bosnia and the UK.

Its share price jumped 0.61 per cent to €3.28 ($3.49) at 8:23pm UAE time following today's announcement. Riyadh-based Dar Al Arkan focuses on luxury developments and commercial centres in major cities across the kingdom. Dar Global was established in 2017 to develop the company's international assets.

In February last year, Dar Global was listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange to expand its investor base.

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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Wed, Aug 29:

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  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

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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

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Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

THE SPECS

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Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

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Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

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Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

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Ability to sleep well diminishes

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Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

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Age: 23

Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering

Favourite hobby: playing the piano

Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"

Family: Married and with a daughter

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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 445bhp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh474,600

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November 30, December 1-2
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Friday, December 1:

9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates

Updated: April 22, 2024, 4:25 PM