Arada Unveils Upscale 4,000-Unit Residential Community in Sharjah

Front view of Sendian Parks Villa. Masaar, Arada’s third project, which is valued at AED8billion and located in the Al Juwaiza’a district of New Sharjah. Courtesy Arada
Front view of Sendian Parks Villa. Masaar, Arada’s third project, which is valued at AED8billion and located in the Al Juwaiza’a district of New Sharjah. Courtesy Arada
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Arada Unveils Upscale 4,000-Unit Residential Community in Sharjah

Front view of Sendian Parks Villa. Masaar, Arada’s third project, which is valued at AED8billion and located in the Al Juwaiza’a district of New Sharjah. Courtesy Arada
Front view of Sendian Parks Villa. Masaar, Arada’s third project, which is valued at AED8billion and located in the Al Juwaiza’a district of New Sharjah. Courtesy Arada

Sharjah-based real estate developer Arada has announced the launch of Masaar, the developer’s third project, with a sales value of AED8 billion (USD2.2 billion).

The 19 million square foot upscale project will include 4,000 villas and townhouses in total, all set in eight gated districts linked by Masaar’s signature feature, a lushly landscaped and walkable ‘green spine’.

Construction on Masaar will begin in the second quarter, and the first homes are scheduled to be handed over in the first quarter of 2023.

"Masaar offers a path to the ultimate lifestyle transformation, and a major addition to Sharjah’s residential landscape. It is a serene, exclusive and forested environment that also offers all the comforts of a modern urban district, offering you the best of both worlds,” Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of Arada, said.

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, vice chairman of Arada, said, "Masaar has been designed to make its residents happier and healthier, while at the same time providing substantial benefits for the environment.

“The abundance of green space, and an active lifestyle will also help to reduce the stresses of urban life, especially at a time when the importance of safety and security has never been higher. We believe that by uniting people with nature, this community will set a new standard for living in the UAE."

He told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that funding is occurring through a combination of shareholders, banking loans, and sales revenues.

So far, Arada has acquired SAR2.3 billion (USD613 million) from the banking funding. “In case any additional funding is needed, the options will be discussed with our partners in the banking sector,” Prince Khaled added.

The Arada Vice Chairman further assured that all buyers from the GCC countries and other Arab countries may purchase properties in Masaar on the basis of the freehold system while buyers from other nationalities may purchase on the basis of the leasehold ownership.



OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.