Aldar becomes official real estate partner of DP World Tour
Golf courses, and golf course real estate, form a key part of Aldar's portfolio. The company owns Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the host venue of the $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and the Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
DP World Tour🤝 @Aldar
Introducing DP World Tour's Official Real Estate Partner, Aldar. From creating world-class communities to supporting championship golf across the globe, the UAE-based property developer and investor has agreed a multi-year deal that runs until the end of… pic.twitter.com/rlDHr7Zsry
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 15, 2025
Aldar boosts sports sponsorship
Aldar will also be an Official Partner to an initial four tournaments on the DP World Tour schedule this season – the Porsche Singapore Classic, the Volvo China Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, with the opportunity to add further tournaments year on year.
As an official partner, Aldar will leverage the DP World Tour's global reach, and Jonathan Emery, Chief Executive Officer at Aldar Development, commented: 'We see golf as more than just a sporting activity – it's a lifestyle that brings people and communities together. Our partnership with the DP World Tour allows us to connect with a global audience, while also promoting the game within local communities in the UAE.
'As we continue to expand at home and abroad, we look forward to showcasing our world-class destinations and creating exceptional experiences both on and off the course.'
Aldar, which also expanded its global footprint to Dubai, Egypt and the UK, has launched multiple projects outside Abu Dhabi, where it has developed some of the most iconic destinations, including Yas Island and Saadiyat Island.
It has delivered over 35,000 homes since its inception and also owns and manages a diverse portfolio of recurring income assets valued at more than $11 billion. Apart from golf courses, this includes hotels, shopping malls, offices, schools, and warehousing.
Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, added: 'Aldar joins an illustrious list of UAE-headquartered companies who are utilising the DP World Tour as a platform to grow their business internationally. As an Official Real Estate Partner of Golf's Global Tour, Aldar can now strengthen its role in the international sports and lifestyle sector and showcase its rapidly growing property portfolio in priority markets across the globe.
'Our partnership platform remains highly attractive to globally minded brands, with annual partnership revenues increasing by 90 per cent in just five years. We have started 2025 with excellent momentum. Golf's popularity continues to grow and we will be working closely with Aldar to make sure that they can capitalise on this trend.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
UAE dominates Forbes list with 49 of Middle East's top 100 travel and tourism leaders
12 Aug 2025 00:08 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)A total of 49 UAE-based leaders have secured places on the 2025 list of the Middle East's Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders compiled by Forbes Middle East. The ranking spotlights figures driving the most ambitious destinations, hotels, airlines, airports, and tourism initiatives, and reflects the sector's rapid momentum fuelled by government strategy, record investment, and bold Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, topped the list for the fourth consecutive year. Other prominent UAE-based leaders in the ranking include Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT – Abu Dhabi, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group; Mohamed Abdallah Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral; Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports; Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General Elect of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Antonoaldo Neves, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, Elena Sorlini, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, and Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of UAE's dominance was followed by Saudi Arabia with 24 leaders on the list, Egypt with seven, Oman with five, and Jordan and Morocco with four each. Qatar and Bahrain each contributed three leaders, while Kuwait and Tunisia had one representative apiece—from Kuwait Airways and the Tunisian National Tourist Office, Middle East said it assessed candidates from both the public and private sectors based on organisational scale—measured by revenues, asset values, hotel keys, and passenger numbers—alongside professional achievements, experience, and overall impact on the year's list also spotlighted regional milestones, including Miral's announcement of the Middle East's first Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, developed in partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The park will be the seventh Disney resort worldwide. Other entries reflected a focus on heritage preservation and eco-tourism, such as projects led by Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Company, Boutique Group, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and newcomer ENVI Lodges. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
China's BRI investments hit $124bln in H1 2025, with Middle East in strategic focus
Chinese investments under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached a record $124 billion in the first half of 2025, with the Middle East playing a leading role in deals tied to energy transition and digital infrastructure, even as construction activity in the region saw a sharp pullback. According to the 'China Belt and Road Initiative Investment Report 2025,' produced by the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) at Griffith University in collaboration with the Green Finance & Development Centre (GFDC) of FISF, People's Republic of China, total construction activity in the Middle East declined from the previous year. Yet, Saudi Arabia and the UAE still ranked among the top five global recipients for construction volume, securing $7.2 billion and $7 billion, respectively. 'This is a short-term shift and does not explain any trends,' said Christoph Nedopil, GFDC director and author of the report, adding that the Gulf continues to remain strategically relevant for Chinese companies, particularly as BRI investments pivot toward green energy, metals processing, and high-tech manufacturing. Record surge China's BRI activity in the first half of 2025 included $66.2 billion in construction contracts and $57.1 billion in non-financial investments — nearly matching the initiative's total for all of 2024. The surge was powered by big-ticket projects in Nigeria, Kazakhstan, and Thailand across energy, mining, and technology. 'The extreme surge in H1 2025 might be explained by a few very large deals, which might have just happened in this time,' Nedopil said. 'Overall, we have seen a growing engagement trend by China in the BRI countries over the past years.' Among the drivers, he pointed to three strategic motivations: 'A stronger desire by Chinese companies to be closer to their customers and thus invest closer to the markets where they sell their goods; a desire to de-risk trade and reduce reliance on exports from China; and a need to invest in local markets to meet local content requirements (e.g., for minerals processing).' A notable development was the growing role of private Chinese enterprises in BRI deals — a marked shift from the earlier dominance of state-led megaprojects. Companies such as Longi Green Energy, East Hope Group, and Xinfa Group led outbound investment activity, including in key Gulf economies. 'The engagement by privately owned Chinese companies in BRI countries has been rising over the past years due to their stronger global positioning as technology leaders,' Nedopil explained. 'At the same time, a number of Chinese private companies have gained relevant experience to work in more difficult economic and governance environments, which is also particularly relevant in the mining sector.' Middle East's strategic fit Despite a drop in construction activity overall, the Middle East's strategic alignment with China's BRI priorities—particularly around clean energy, resource processing, and digital infrastructure—remains strong. In Saudi Arabia, Harbin Electric signed a $1.6 billion deal to construct a gas-fired power plant. Meanwhile, Egypt secured a $700 million investment from Xinyi Glass Holding to build a solar PV glass manufacturing facility, signaling expanded cooperation in clean tech manufacturing. Energy continued to dominate Chinese BRI engagement, accounting for 35 percent of the total. While green energy investments hit a new high of $9.7 billion in H1 2025, oil and gas still outpaced renewables with over $30 billion in fossil-fuel-backed deals. One of the largest was the $20 billion Ogidigbon Gas Park in Nigeria. 'Host countries need to take their responsibility on sustainable development as seriously as Chinese investors,' Nedopil said. 'Without clear agency from host countries to attract sustainable investments, Chinese partners will likely also provide non-green engagement as long as it is legal.' Beyond construction Transport-related BRI activity continued its decline, falling to just 7.2 percent of total engagement, the lowest since the initiative's launch in 2013. In contrast, sectors like technology, manufacturing, and mining gained momentum. Chinese investments in these areas more than doubled to $23.2 billion in H1 2025, fueled by demand for electric vehicles, batteries, and green hydrogen. Among the standout deals were Longi's €7.6 billion hydrogen project in Nigeria and China Aviation Lithium Battery's $2.1 billion EV battery facility in Portugal. Metals and mining also saw record engagement. China invested $24.9 billion in the sector in H1 2025, with Kazakhstan receiving the lion's share—$12 billion for aluminium and $7.5 billion for copper. IMEC vs. BRI With the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) gathering momentum, questions remain over whether it will challenge or complement BRI's footprint in the Gulf. 'Currently, China's engagement in most countries has become less focused on transportation compared to earlier years,' said Nedopil. 'India itself is also not a BRI country. Meanwhile, over the years, many transport corridors have been worked on in this region, not least through CAREC. While IMEC was announced in 2023, the implementation of IMEC projects will strongly depend on the ability of regional players and the US to collaborate, which at this point carries some uncertainty.' Outlook: steady and strategic Looking ahead, the report forecasts a moderation in Chinese BRI engagement in the second half of 2025. Fewer megadeals are expected, but the number of deals is likely to remain strong - especially in strategic sectors. 'For the rest of 2025, we see stabilisation of Chinese BRI engagement with a focus on BRI engagement in renewable energy, mining and new technologies,' Nedopil noted in the report. He added that 'potential future engagements remain in six project types: manufacturing in new technologies (example, batteries), renewable energy, trade-enabling infrastructure (including pipelines, roads), ICT (example, data centres), resource-backed deals (example, mining, oil, gas), and high visibility or strategic projects (example, railway, ports).' With rising geopolitical and trade uncertainties, Chinese firms are expected to further diversify and deepen their overseas footprint—particularly through the so-called 'New Three' industries: EVs, batteries, and renewable energy. 'The ability of Chinese companies to expand abroad has been shifting to more private sector companies that are engaging in investment,' said Nedopil. 'They have, over the past years, acquired the capital and the know-how how to invest in overseas markets.' (Reporting by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
New licensing options, FDI surge power DMCC's growth
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2025, adding more than 1,100 new companies to its global business district as it capitalised on rising foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and the launch of new licensing structures tailored to global investors. The new additions lift DMCC's total membership close to 26,000, reinforcing its status as a leading hub for trade, technology and investment. The growth was fuelled by heightened demand from overseas markets such as the United Kingdom, Türkiye and China, which together accounted for some of the highest registration gains in recent years. The UK saw a 23 per cent increase in company numbers to nearly 2,200, Türkiye registered a 22 per cent rise to about 700 firms, and Chinese membership climbed almost 10 per cent to nearly 1,000. These gains align with Dubai's position as one of the world's top destinations for FDI inflows, with DMCC contributing 15 per cent of the emirate's annual total. Two new licensing categories — Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Holding Company licences — have emerged as a major draw for investment firms, family offices and multinational corporations. The SPV licence offers a flexible vehicle for asset holding, capital raising and cross-border structuring, while the Holding Company licence enables centralised oversight of regional operations and portfolio companies. Both are designed to accommodate a broad range of investment strategies, from private equity to high-growth venture capital, making DMCC a preferred jurisdiction for structuring international investments. Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman and chief executive officer of DMCC, said the results reaffirm the appeal of its business model. 'With more than 1,100 new companies joining in the first half of the year — driven by robust growth from China, Türkiye, and the UK — DMCC is now rapidly approaching 26,000 member companies. We are intensifying our focus on high-growth sectors while expanding our ecosystems, service offering, and physical infrastructure to support the next wave of innovation-led investment,' says Ahmed bin Sulayem The licensing reforms have also strengthened DMCC's role as a hub for high-growth industries. The DMCC Crypto Centre saw a 38 per cent year-on-year increase to more than 700 companies, bringing the total number of technology firms in the district to over 3,300. Notable entrants include and Animoca Brands, which set up their first regional offices in the free zone. DMCC also announced the construction of Crypto Tower, a 17-storey landmark in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) that will house blockchain incubators, an AI innovation floor and specialised financial services. In addition, DMCC is developing a new quantum technology ecosystem — DMCC Quantum — aimed at positioning Dubai as a gateway for advanced computing investment. These moves build on the free zone's expanding role in Web3, artificial intelligence, gaming and blockchain applications. Beyond technology, DMCC remains a key player in commodities trade. The Dubai Diamond Exchange, which now hosts over 1,350 companies, marked the milestone of one billion carats traded through the UAE over the past five years. The launch of the DMCC Water Centre and a strategic partnership with AQUA-INDEX to create the world's first water-backed digital asset token illustrate DMCC's push into emerging commodities and sustainability-linked investment. The free zone's international expansion strategy is also delivering results. In Southeast Asia, DMCC appointed Hawksford as its international sales partner in Singapore to enhance market penetration. In China, partnerships with Beijing Innovation Service Hub and Beijing Chaoyang CCPIT are expected to deepen trade and investment flows. Real estate development underpins DMCC's ability to accommodate FDI-driven growth. In Uptown Dubai, the free zone broke ground on two new Grade A commercial towers offering 62,000 square metres of office space, as well as Mercer House, a luxury twin-tower residential project featuring Dubai's first private urban beach club. In JLT, DMCC and Signature Developers began construction of W Residences by Marriott International, further enhancing the district's mixed-use appeal. Deputy CEO and chief operating officer Feryal Ahmadi said the results stem from DMCC's long-term planning. 'From real estate to technology and trade, every layer of our district is designed to meet global demand. As we move into the second half of the year, we will continue to expand our services, accelerate infrastructure delivery and unlock new opportunities for growth across all sectors, ' says Ahmadi. With a growing global footprint, sectoral diversification, and infrastructure pipeline, DMCC is positioning itself to capture the next wave of FDI across emerging and established industries, while reinforcing Dubai's role as a magnet for global capital, investment experts said. The strong first-half results follow a record-breaking 2024, when DMCC attracted over 2,000 new companies and launched initiatives such as the DMCC Sustainability Hub.
