Newsletter October 2026: Arabian Hills, Abu Dhabi and RCI Private Capital

Insights & News · 14 October 2026

Royal Contract Investment's October 2026 newsletter covers progress at Arabian Hills, Abu Dhabi's expanding ambitions, and the launch of RCI Private Capital — our new distressed real estate strategy in Dubai.

A Personal Message from Our CEO

Dear Investors and Business Partners,

The past months have been an extraordinary period for all of us. The developments and unrest across the region have naturally also had an impact on the United Arab Emirates. At times, these have been unusual, uncertain, and occasionally even unsettling circumstances.

Nevertheless, speaking from my personal experience, I can say that despite everything, we have always felt safe here in Dubai. In my view, the United Arab Emirates has once again demonstrated its resilience and the strength of its economic foundations. I therefore remain fully confident in the future of the UAE. In fact, I believe that Dubai and the Emirates will ultimately emerge from this period even stronger.

Naturally, changing market conditions also bring new challenges. At the same time, such periods can create interesting financial opportunities. With this in mind, we have introduced our latest investment product at Royal Contract Investment: Distressed Deals. This new investment structure has been developed to respond to specific opportunities within the real estate market.

Within our own organisation, we have certainly not been standing still over the past few months. I am proud to announce that we have completely renovated our office in Dubai. This represents another positive step in the continued development and professionalisation of Royal Contract Investment.

However, our ambitions extend far beyond a renovated office or new investment opportunities. Every day, we continue building Royal Contract Investment. Both publicly and behind the scenes, we are continuously working to improve our organisation, expand our activities, and strengthen the services we provide. I am particularly proud of our growing team, whose dedication, commitment, and hard work contribute to the continued development of our company and the relationships we maintain with our partners.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all our investors and partners for the trust they place in Royal Contract Investment. We greatly value that trust, and it continues to motivate us every day to bring out the very best in our organisation.

Kind regards,
Rick Knuistingh Neven
Chief Executive Officer, Royal Contract Investment LLC

Arabian Hills: On Track for 2027

We are pleased to share a positive update on the progress of Arabian Hills, one of the major real estate developments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Despite the developments and uncertainties that have affected the region in recent months, Arabian Hills has experienced no delays. The project continues to progress according to its original schedule. As we approach the end of 2026, an important milestone is drawing closer: the planned commencement of construction in early 2027.

Behind the scenes, extensive preparations are underway for this next phase. For Royal Contract Investment and our partners, this represents an important step in the continued development of the project. It will mark a significant moment when years of planning and preparation begin to take visible shape.

Arabian Hills Estate — development continues

In addition to our own project schedule, there have been positive developments within the wider Arabian Hills Estate master development. According to the official project developer, the roads and infrastructure for the first phase have now been completed. Meanwhile, preparations and further planning are underway for the next development phases.

This makes Arabian Hills Estate one of the largest planned residential communities in the United Arab Emirates. The development is designed to create a premium residential environment featuring spacious plots, exclusive villas, lagoons, landscaped green spaces, and a wide range of recreational facilities.

Abu Dhabi: A Capital with International Ambitions

While Dubai has long been internationally recognised for its impressive skyline and major real estate developments, Abu Dhabi is increasingly establishing its own position on the global stage. As both the capital and the largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi plays a central role in shaping the country's economic future.

The emirate continues to invest extensively in infrastructure, tourism, culture, entertainment, and new residential communities. A key part of this vision is the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.

Disneyland is coming to Abu Dhabi

One of the most remarkable announcements has been the planned development of Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. The future Disney Theme Park and Resort will become the first Disney theme park in the Middle East and the seventh Disney resort destination worldwide.

Existing attractions such as Ferrari World, SeaWorld, and Yas Waterworld already contribute significantly to Abu Dhabi's development as an international tourism destination. The project is currently in its development phase, and an official opening date has not yet been confirmed.

Billions in infrastructure and entertainment investment

These investments are intended to support new attractions, the expansion of existing entertainment destinations, and additional hotel capacity. The partnership programme covers infrastructure, transportation, and public facilities, scheduled to be brought to market during 2026 and 2027.

For Royal Contract Investment, these developments are particularly interesting. We closely monitor Abu Dhabi's economic and infrastructure development and recognise how the emirate continues to strengthen its position as an international destination for living, working, and doing business. At the same time, we recognise that large-scale real estate developments require time, careful planning, and continuous collaboration.

New at RCI: Private Capital — Distressed Deals

Changing market conditions bring challenges, but they can also create exceptional opportunities. With this in mind, Royal Contract Investment has developed a new investment strategy: RCI Private Capital — Distressed Real Estate.

Over the past years, Dubai has established itself as one of the world's most internationally oriented real estate markets. At the same time, recent developments across the region have demonstrated that even a strong real estate market can experience uncertainty and changing circumstances. It is precisely during such periods that opportunities may arise which are less commonly available under normal market conditions.

What are distressed deals?

A distressed deal is a real estate transaction in which a property owner is willing to sell a residential property or investment asset below its current market value, often due to financial obligations or an immediate need for liquidity.

In Dubai, many real estate developments are sold before construction has been completed — commonly referred to as off-plan real estate. Buyers typically make several instalment payments to the developer throughout the construction period. As a development approaches completion and handover, substantial payment obligations may become due.

Not every buyer is able or willing to meet these financial commitments at that particular moment. This may result from changing personal or financial circumstances, delays in mortgage financing, or an unexpected need for immediate access to capital. In such situations, some property owners choose to sell their assets at a discount in order to settle their financial position within the required timeframe.

Our strategy: acquiring real estate below market value

Within RCI Private Capital, our primary focus is on properties located in Dubai's premium and highly desirable residential areas. Through our established network of developers, real estate professionals, and investors, we gain access to opportunities that are not always available through conventional property sales channels.

These figures represent our investment objectives and do not constitute guaranteed discounts.

Following an acquisition, we evaluate whether additional improvements could enhance the property's marketability. These improvements may range from premium interior furnishing and minor renovations to fully preparing an apartment for resale. The property is subsequently repositioned within the market, with the objective of achieving a sale on favourable terms.

Our areas of interest include prominent locations such as Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Bluewaters Island, and Jumeirah Beach Residence.

RCI invests alongside its partners

An important principle of our new investment structure is that Royal Contract Investment also participates financially. We have developed a model in which investments are organised into separate investment blocks. Under the proposed structure, RCI contributes 25% of the capital, while the remaining 75% is allocated to participating investors.

Through this approach, we aim to align our own financial interests with those of our investment partners. Within this structure, capital may be deployed towards the acquisition, settlement, and potential improvement of multiple real estate assets. The actual composition, allocation, and conditions of each investment block will depend on the relevant investment structure and contractual agreements.

Participating in RCI Private Capital

Depending on the selected structure, investment amount, and specific project conditions, different profit-sharing arrangements may apply. Actual distributions are subject to the applicable contractual arrangements and investment performance and are not guaranteed. This article summarises our October 2026 newsletter and is provided for information only; it is not an offer, a solicitation, or investment advice.

Looking Ahead and Seizing Opportunities

At Royal Contract Investment, we believe that changing market conditions should not be viewed solely through the lens of uncertainty. By closely monitoring market developments, carefully evaluating potential opportunities, and taking action at the appropriate time, new possibilities may emerge.

With RCI Private Capital, we are introducing a new investment activity alongside our existing real estate developments and investment projects. We are proud of this next step in the continued development of Royal Contract Investment.