Dar Global Eyes Dedicated Dubai Real Estate Fund As It Targets Global Acquisitions
Dar Global is considering launching a dedicated Dubai real estate investment fund as it looks to acquire property assets across the Gulf, Europe and the United States, the London-listed developer said on Monday.
Its investment management subsidiary, Dar Global Capital Partners (DGCP), said it was evaluating opportunities in Dubai alongside a broader international acquisition strategy focused on securing properties at attractive valuations and generating returns through asset improvements and repositioning.
The company has not disclosed a proposed fund size, launch date or potential acquisition targets.
DGCP’s international investment mandate covers the GCC, Europe, the UK and the US, with a focus on acquiring properties that offer opportunities for value creation through operational improvements and strategic repositioning.
The company said its investment criteria would prioritise attractive entry valuations, downside protection and long-term returns.
DGCP, which operates from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), targets sovereign investors, institutions and wealthy private clients.
Dar Global also announced the appointment of its chief executive, Ziad El Chaar, as chairman of DGCP, strengthening the link between the developer’s international property operations and its investment management business.
“Through Dar Global, we built an international platform serving investors from more than 125 nationalities,” El Chaar said in a statement on Monday.
“With DGCP, we are taking the natural next step by establishing an institutional-grade, regulated vehicle that enables investors to access compelling cross-border real estate investments through a disciplined, value-oriented framework.”
“While we pursue acquisitions across leading global gateway cities, Dubai’s exceptional fundamentals offer strong potential for targeted capital deployment.”
The move comes as Dar Global expands a development portfolio valued at approximately $23 billion (AED 84.5 billion) in gross development value, spanning luxury residential, hospitality and branded property projects across international markets.
The London-listed company, the international arm of Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan, has built much of its business around partnerships with global luxury brands, including the Trump Organization, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Fendi.
Dar Global’s international expansion plans
The announcement follows an earlier push by Dar Global to expand beyond luxury property development into investment management, allowing it to pursue larger projects using external capital.
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business in July, El Chaar revealed that the company had acquired an asset management business in the DIFC, providing a platform to raise funds from outside investors.
“This allows us as a developer to grow much bigger because we can contribute a small portion of the project and the rest can come from investors,” he said at the time.
El Chaar also identified London’s struggling prime property market as an attractive entry point for Gulf investors, arguing that weaker prices offered opportunities to acquire high-value assets with long-term potential.
“London will always be London. Central London will always be Central London,” he previously told Arabian Business.
He also outlined plans to enter the US property market through investment funds and partnerships with local developers, rather than pursuing projects independently.
“In the US, because we don’t have any experience in the US, we are very realistic,” he said in July. “Development business is a local business. You need a local partner.”
The developer has also been expanding its branded luxury property portfolio across the Gulf, including Trump-branded developments in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
In a separate interview with Arabian Business in June, El Chaar dismissed concerns that political controversy surrounding US President Donald Trump could affect demand for the company’s luxury developments.
“Are we listening to TikTok or are we listening to the reality?” he said, insisting that wealthy buyers continued to see value in the Trump brand despite online criticism.
The group’s expansion into asset management could allow it to acquire and manage properties beyond its existing development pipeline, while attracting external capital to support larger investments.
The proposed Dubai fund remains under consideration, with no confirmed capital commitments or investment timetable announced.