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.
“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.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
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
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates