United Arab Emirates-based developer Arada is planning to acquire an 80% stake in Thameside West, a new Dh12bn ($3.29bn) mixed-use development project in London, UK.
The stake is being acquired from private developer Keystone and marks Arada’s second significant investment in the London residential sector in less than two months.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
In September, Arada purchased a 75% stake in local developer Regal.
The Thameside West initiative sits on what is regarded as central London’s longest undeveloped riverfront, offering views towards Canary Wharf and Greenwich Peninsula.
The development connects with both the Lea Valley Regeneration Area and wider Royal Docks.
Thameside West will cover a 47-acre area and includes plans for more than 5,000 homes and extensive green space. Half of the land is set aside for green space alongside 1km of waterfront.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe Thameside West site, master-planned by Foster + Partners and already granted development consent, will deliver 1,000 homes in its initial phase, with construction scheduled to start in 2027.
Foster + Partners founder and executive chair Norman Foster said: “Thameside West is a place where architecture, nature and infrastructure come together in balance. Half the master plan is dedicated to green space, including more than a thousand trees and a kilometre of active waterfront, creating a setting that is both restorative and dynamic.”
Arada will collaborate with the London Borough of Newham, the Greater London Authority, and Transport for London to develop the former industrial site.
The location also provides connections to multiple transport networks, including Silvertown Tunnel, Custom House station (serving the Elizabeth, Jubilee, and Docklands Light Railway lines), the IFS Cable Car, and the City Airport.
Arada’s involvement brings its residential pipeline in London to 15,000 homes. The company aims to increase this figure to 30,000 units over three years.
Arada chair Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “Our entry into this market was grounded in our unwavering faith in London and its attractiveness as one of the world’s leading capital cities.
“Thameside West represents a unique opportunity to create a landmark riverside development, and we look forward to working with our partners and utilising our longstanding track record in large-scale, amenity-rich residential schemes to unlock the delivery of new housing for London.”
GLA Land and Property, which owns a significant portion of the site alongside Arada, will work closely with the developer to advance Thameside West.
Keystone, the site’s previous owner, also played a key role in advancing planning for the project.
London housing and residential development deputy mayor Tom Copley said: “I am delighted that Arada is investing in London to transform Thameside West – one of the key sites within the Royal Docks.
“Working together we will be able to deliver at least 5,000 new homes, 35% of which will be affordable as part of a thriving new neighbourhood in the heart of this historic part of East London.”
