Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest listed developer, reported a 43 per cent rise in its 2024 profit, as a sharp increase in UAE sales to overseas and resident buyers drove revenue amid a boom in the emirate's property market.
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the company for the 12 months to the end of December rose to Dh5.6 billion ($1.49 billion), the company said in a statement on Monday to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
Revenue and rental income during the reporting period was up by more than 62 per cent on an annual basis to Dh23 billion.
Aldar’s full-year sales reached a record high of Dh33.6 billion, up 20 per cent from the previous year. UAE sales to overseas and foreign resident buyers hit Dh22.2 billion at the end of last year, accounting for about 78 per cent of total sales, a sharp increase from 66 per cent contribution in 2023, the company said.
“During 2024, Aldar delivered exceptional operational and financial performance against the backdrop of a thriving domestic real estate market, which is being enabled by government policies that ensure the UAE is one of the world’s most attractive destinations for both individuals and businesses to call home,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Aldar Properties.
The UAE has introduced initiatives such as residency permits for retired and remote workers and also expanded the 10-year golden visa programme as part of efforts to boost its appeal to international investors.
Last year, Dubai recorded real estate deals worth Dh761 billion, up 20 per cent compared to 2023, with the total number of transactions for the year increasing by 36 per cent to reach 226,000, according to the latest data provided by Dubai Media Office.
In Abu Dhabi, the value of total real estate deals last year climbed 10 per cent on an annual basis to Dh96.2 billion, with the number of transactions rising by about 24 per cent to 28,249, according to Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre data.
"Since 2020, our net profit has more than tripled, return on equity has doubled to 16.1 per cent, total assets have doubled, and development sales are nearly 10 times higher than 2020 levels," Faisal Falaknaz, Aldar's chief financial and sustainability officer told reporters during a media call.
Aldar had total assets of nearly Dh86 billion at the end of 2024 as compared to Dh73 billion at the end of 2023.
The company will continue to launch a number of new projects this year in Abu Dhabi, including Al Fahid Island development as well as projects in Yas and Saadiyat Islands and a new mega development in Dubai at the end of the first quarter. It unveiled 12 projects last year.
In 2023, Aldar acquired Al Fahid Island, a 3.4 million square metre land bank, for Dh2.5 billion to expand its portfolio.
Aldar continues "to be very optimistic about the market going forward, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and you should expect busy, if not busier, calendar this year as well", Mr Falaknaz added.
The UAE accounts for 80 per cent of Aldar's business currently and it will "continue will focus on solidifying our position here", he said.
Saudi Arabia is also an "interesting" market and when the right opportunity comes up, it aims to expand in the kingdom.
"We are building up on the existing international platforms we already entered, [such as] Egypt and LSQ [London Square], the latter of which has had a busy year in terms of land acquisitions in London, and we will be very focused on now activating those land opportunities."
In 2023, Aldar acquired UK developer London Square for Dh1.07 billion, marking its first acquisition outside the Mena region.
London Square sales totalled Dh1.7 billion for the full year, while sales in Egypt through its subsidiary Sodic (The Sixth of October for Development and Investment) reached Dh3.5 billion, according to the statement.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
RESULTS
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
