Abu Dhabi's Aldar Properties is selling the Abu Dhabi Golf Club Complex and the Westin Hotel to an unnamed financial buyer for Dh180 million (Dh49m).
The sale price was a 13 per cent increase on the price the company paid for the asset as part of a wider deal with Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development Company two years ago. The complex also includes 46,542 square metres of residential development land.
“We are very pleased to have successfully conducted the sale of this luxury hospitality complex, a testament to our team’s ability to create value through active management, despite challenges to the hospitality and tourism industry from Covid-19,” Jassem Busaibe, chief investment officer of Aldar Properties, said.
Aldar Properties, the UAE's biggest listed property developer with $10 billion in assets and a 75 million square metre land bank, said the sale of the complex is in line with its asset management strategy of pursuing profitable exits from investments and redeploying the capital elsewhere.
"We will continue to pursue opportunities for significant growth and further diversification of the Aldar Properties portfolio,” Mr Busaibe said.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Club hosts the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which has been part of the PGA European Tour since 2006. It houses an 18-hole championship and a nine-hole garden course, which is licensed and has a technical service agreement with Troon International.
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa is a five-star hotel with six restaurants, 172 rooms, conference facilities and a spa. The hotel was built in 2011.
Earlier this month, Aldar Properties also sold two district cooling companies to Abu Dhabi's National Central Cooling Company, known as Tabreed, for Dh963m. Following publication of its third quarter results in November, when it reported an 8 per cent increase in net profit to Dh416m on the back of a 30 per cent jump in sales to Dh2.1bn, chief financial officer Greg Fewer told reporters the company can use its strong balance sheet to take advantage of potential market disruption.
“If you look historically through our history here in the Abu Dhabi real estate sector, times of crisis and dislocation always give rise to opportunities for corporate action or combination,” he said.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
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Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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