Saudi Arbah Successfully Exits Residential Project in Central London

The Regent Crescent high-end residential development in central London.
The Regent Crescent high-end residential development in central London.
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Saudi Arbah Successfully Exits Residential Project in Central London

The Regent Crescent high-end residential development in central London.
The Regent Crescent high-end residential development in central London.

Saudi Arbah Capital announced on Monday the successful exit for its investors of a £27 million facility for the Regent Crescent high-end residential development in central London.

The development consists of 76 housing units overlooking Regent Park in the heart of the British capital.

It is the rebuild of an 1800’s Grade 1 listed building designed by John Nash, who was the architect of Buckingham Palace.

Arbah Capital is licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in Saudi Arabia as a closed Saudi Joint Stock Company, and commenced business operations in August 2008.

In May 2018, Mahmood Al-Kooheji, CEO of Arbah Capital had said: “This is a landmark moment in Arbah Capital’s successful progress into becoming an Investment Bank which participates in carefully selected, risk adjusted, investment opportunities internationally.”

“This is just the beginning of an exciting period in our development and shortly we will be bringing further unique investment opportunities for our valued clients.”

On Monday, he stressed that “Arbah Capital has delivered on these expectations with the successful exit of the Regent Crescent project, and subsequent carefully selected investments both in the UK and US.”

This includes the £60 million investment in the mixed use Sauchiehall Building in Glasgow, and the investment of $36 million into a development of a Senior Care facility in Florida, US.

“We are very proud to have made an exit from an international investment which underlines the strength of our investment thesis and analysis, and execution capability.”

“Arbah is aiming to launch other products soon which address the key concerns that we now face and build sustainability for the future,” he revealed.

“We are currently working to acquire a core social infrastructure asset in the US, another income producing product in a very defensive sector, looking to introduce Purpose Based Student Housing into Saudi Arabia, and looking to launch a product in the Trade Finance sector,” said Al-Kooheji.

“These products we believe are innovative and in defensive areas, which will provide investors with a degree of stability and comfort, at a time of such great volatility in other markets.”



EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
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EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The European Union said on Thursday it agreed with the United Arab Emirates to launch free trade talks, amid the upheaval and uncertainties created by US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs. He has since walked back some of the tariffs.

“Today, (the European Commission) President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement,” the EU said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The talks will focus on trade in goods, services, investment and deepening cooperation in strategic sectors including renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials, the EU said.

The UAE's president said the decision to initiate negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU reflects a shared determination to unlock the full potential of cooperation and advance their economic, trade, and investment ties in support of development aims.

“The CEPA would create new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and EU, increase trade and investment flows, and strengthen partnerships between the business communities of both sides,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on his X account.

He emphasized that UAE-EU relations are founded on a common vision of stability, growth, and prosperity.

By reducing tariffs and unnecessary trade barriers and improving market access for goods and services, the pact is expected to foster opportunities in key sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence, UAE's state news agency (WAM) said.

The EU is the UAE's second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the Emirati total non-oil trade. The wealthy Gulf state is also the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa, WAM added on Thursday.