The Aldar Arada partnership will create major residential and mixed-use projects across Yas Island and Seih Sdeirah in Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI: The Aldar Arada partnership is set to unlock approximately AED15 billion worth of new property developments across Abu Dhabi, combining projects on Yas Island with a major mixed-use community at Seih Sdeirah.
Announced on September 30, 2026, the agreement also marks Arada’s first entry into Abu Dhabi’s property development market.
New community planned at Seih Sdeirah
Under the initial agreement, Aldar and Arada will establish a joint venture to develop a large-scale community at Seih Sdeirah, located on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border.
The project will span up to 1.5 million square metres of land and is expected to feature villas, townhouses, retail outlets and recreational facilities. Arada will lead development and construction management, while both companies will jointly handle branding and sales.
The scale of the development gives the partners an opportunity to create a new residential destination positioned between two of the UAE’s largest cities.
Arada enters Yas Island property market
The Aldar Arada partnership also includes Arada’s acquisition of three residential development plots from Aldar on Yas Island.
Two of the plots are canal-facing, while the three sites together cover more than 27,500 square metres. Their combined gross floor area is almost 130,000 square metres, according to the companies.
Arada plans to use the land for new residential projects, expanding the housing options available on Yas Island while bringing its community-focused development approach to Abu Dhabi for the first time.
First phase could lead to wider UAE collaboration
The Yas Island and Seih Sdeirah projects represent only the first phase of the agreement. Aldar and Arada said they intend to explore further opportunities across different sectors, asset classes and locations in the UAE.
Aldar brings an established Abu Dhabi development platform and significant land holdings to the deal, while Arada has built large communities in Sharjah and expanded into international markets.
The Aldar Arada partnership therefore gives both developers a platform to combine their respective strengths while responding to continued demand for residential and lifestyle-led projects in the UAE capital.
What the AED15 billion deal means for Abu Dhabi
The partnership comes as Abu Dhabi continues to record strong property activity. Real estate transactions in the emirate reached AED117 billion during the first half of 2026, up 112 per cent year on year, according to figures cited by The National from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
Impact to expect
The agreement could significantly expand Abu Dhabi’s residential pipeline, particularly around Yas Island and the Abu Dhabi-Dubai corridor, while introducing another major UAE developer to the capital’s property market.
