Akala Hotel & Residencesby Arada at DIFC

Arada is a UAE headquartered master developer founded in 2017. The company first established its reputation in Sharjah, where it moved quickly from residential communities into large scale mixed use destinations, before expanding into Dubai and later international markets. Its leadership includes Chairman His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Vice Chairman HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, and Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Alkhoshaibi.

The business began with Nasma Residences in Sharjah, its first residential community, before launching Aljada later in 2017. Aljada became the defining scheme in Arada’s early growth, bringing together homes, retail, hospitality, education, offices and leisure within a major urban district. Nasma Residences has been completed, while substantial parts of Aljada have been delivered and continue to mature as an active mixed use destination.

Arada’s strategy has evolved considerably since those first launches. The company moved into nature led master planning with Masaar, a forested villa and townhouse community in Sharjah, then entered Dubai in 2022 with Jouri Hills at Jumeirah Golf Estates. It has since pushed further into luxury waterfront residences, branded living, hospitality and wellness focused real estate.

By the end of 2025, Arada had launched 11 projects in the UAE and delivered more than 10,000 homes. Its wider business has also expanded beyond residential construction into hospitality, fitness, wellness, entertainment and investment activities, giving the company a broader operating platform than a conventional homebuilder.

Internationally, Arada has expanded into Australia and the United Kingdom, while its core UAE real estate activity remains concentrated in Sharjah and Dubai. This combination of master planned communities and increasingly specialised luxury schemes now defines its position in the market.

Arada Projects in the UAE

Sharjah remains central to Arada’s identity. Aljada is its largest urban destination and continues to add new residential and commercial components. In March 2026, The Gate 6 became one of the latest residential launches within the community, with construction already under way. Masaar follows a different model, built around lower density neighbourhoods, extensive landscaping and outdoor living. The original Masaar is approaching full completion, while Masaar 2 sold out shortly after launch in 2025 and is under construction.

Masaar 3 is the newest major chapter in this strategy. Launched in 2025, the community contains villas and townhouses arranged around extensive woodland and recreational spaces. New phases continued to reach the market during 2026, including Layan, reinforcing Arada’s position as one of Sharjah’s principal master developers.

Dubai has become increasingly important to the company’s growth. Jouri Hills at Jumeirah Golf Estates was Arada’s first Dubai project and introduced its villa led approach to one of the city’s established golf communities. The sold out enclave contains townhouses, villas and larger mansions, representing an important transition from Sharjah master planning into Dubai’s premium residential sector.

The next step was substantially more design led. Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah is developed by Arada, with interiors by Armani/Casa and architecture by Tadao Ando. Construction is under way, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. The collaboration illustrates Arada’s move into internationally branded, ultra luxury waterfront residences while keeping development responsibility with Arada.

W Residences at Dubai Harbour extends that branded residence strategy. Arada is the developer, while the W brand is used under licence in collaboration with Marriott International. The three tower waterfront scheme is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2027, placing Arada within one of Dubai’s most prominent luxury coastal districts.

More recent launches indicate another shift. Akala, unveiled in 2025 between DIFC and Downtown Dubai, combines residences, hospitality and precision wellness. In January 2026, Arada introduced Inaura Hotels & Residences in Downtown Dubai, a fitness led hospitality and branded residence concept designed by MVRDV. Together, these schemes suggest that future Arada off plan projects in Dubai will place greater emphasis on wellness, service and distinctive design rather than conventional apartment formats.

For buyers considering Arada properties for sale, the company now spans several distinct segments: established Sharjah communities, family villas, luxury Dubai residences and branded hospitality led homes. That breadth, combined with a substantial delivered track record, makes Arada one of the more significant UAE based real estate businesses to emerge over the past decade.