Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties has entered Sharjah’s residential market: on 15 October the company announced a Dh1.1 billion forward purchase agreement with Arada for nine residential buildings in the Aljada community. The deal is Aldar’s first real estate investment in the emirate and extends its develop-to-hold pipeline to Dh21 billion.
Deal structure
Under the agreement Aldar is acquiring three residential blocks comprising nine buildings and more than 1,100 units. Assets will be delivered by Arada in the fourth quarter of 2029. This is a forward purchase — a commitment to buy a completed asset in the future at terms agreed today, which fits a develop-to-hold model: the developer locks in the price now and receives a ready-to-rent building later.
The homes will cater primarily to end-users and long-term renters looking for quality housing at accessible price points in an established integrated community, both sides said.
“Sharjah is a large and growing residential market, and Aljada provides an attractive entry point through one of the emirate’s leading master-planned communities,” said Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar. The investment, he said, is “closely aligned with our develop-to-hold strategy, adding scale to our residential for rent portfolio while broadening our exposure to a new market.”
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, described the transaction as “a strong vote of confidence in both Aljada and the Sharjah residential market more broadly,” adding that a developer of Aldar’s calibre choosing Aljada for its first Sharjah project reflects the quality of what has been built so far.
Aljada at a glance
Aljada is Arada’s flagship mixed-use master development in Sharjah. It covers 2.2 million sqm and is expected to comprise around 25,000 residential units at full build-out, with an anticipated gross sales value of AED 35 billion, according to Arada. Residential handovers have been underway since 2021, with more than 8,800 units delivered across several districts.
The community already has working infrastructure: the Madar family entertainment district, two international schools, two hotels, the Nest student housing complex and more than 300,000 sq ft of occupied retail space. Continued development, including Arada CBD and Madar Mall, will add further commercial, retail and leisure components.
Aljada sits near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Dhaid Road and is seven minutes from Sharjah International Airport and about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport — historically an important argument for renters who work in Dubai but prefer more affordable housing.
Why it matters for Aldar: a rental play
For Aldar the deal is a geographic expansion beyond Abu Dhabi. With this purchase the group’s develop-to-hold pipeline reaches AED 21 billion. The strategy differs from the classic off-plan-for-sale route: Aldar invests in construction (or forward-purchases) and then holds the residential asset for rental cash flows — a model more UAE developers are using to diversify revenue and reduce dependence on the sales cycle.
For retail investors it is an indirect signal: institutional players still see long-term rental yield in UAE residential — a view also supported by data on the Dubai housing market. We take a closer look at how real Dubai real estate ROI is calculated in 2026 and which costs quietly erode it in a separate guide.
This is not the first Aldar–Arada deal. The two companies had already announced a Dh15 billion partnership for projects in Abu Dhabi; both sides say they will continue to look for joint opportunities.
What it means for Sharjah and expats
For Sharjah the transaction is another confirmation that the emirate is moving from being a “dormitory” alternative to Dubai towards a destination that attracts major developers from other emirates. For expats and buyers who look at Sharjah as a cheaper alternative to Dubai, a bigger pool of professionally managed rental housing inside an established community is a potential plus on supply quality.
A separate practical angle is for those who see property as an investment and a path to residency. UAE Golden Visa in 2026 accepts mortgaged and off-plan properties if the price is at least AED 2 million by DLD valuation, which specifically drives demand for large, infrastructure-complete communities such as Aljada.
Based on the Arada press release of 15 October 2026 and Gulf News Property reporting.
