Amit Arora heads Arada’s new hospitality division, formerly from Erth Abu Dhabi
Arada has taken a significant step in its growth strategy by consolidating its lifestyle assets into a distinct division. This move, led by new leadership, marks a pivotal moment as the master developer expands beyond its core residential business. The newly formed Hospitality and Entertainment division encompasses a variety of thriving sectors, including Wellness, Hospitality, the company’s F&B operations, and Events.
The new division is headed up by Amit Arora, the new Chief Operating Officer, who recently joined the company from Erth Abu Dhabi. A hospitality veteran with 28 years of experience in the UAE, Germany, and the US, Arora has previously held leadership roles at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Emaar Hospitality, and FIVE Holdings.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Amit to Arada, where he will streamline, strategise and drive an increasingly important part of our business. The new Hospitality and Entertainment division will allow us to grow our diversified income streams still further, and to deliver on our promise of creating spaces that enable people to live happier, healthier and more meaningful lives.”
Amit Arora, Chief Operating Officer of Arada, said: “Arada continues to see exceptional growth across a wide range of verticals, and I’m excited to be joining the company at such a promising time. I look forward to working with the Arada team to realise the potential not just of our existing units but the range of new partnerships and products that we are set to announce in the near future.”
The Wellness unit includes Wellfit, the fastest-growing large-scale gym operator in the UAE. Wellfit runs three flagship fitness centres across Dubai and Sharjah and has reached over 12,000 memberships since launching in 2021. The master developer’s Hospitality pipeline oversees existing partnerships with brands such as Armani, The Address, Vida, and Rove, with further tie-ups to be announced later in 2024.
Other components of the Hospitality and Entertainment division encompass the oversight of various ventures, such as managing the Nest accommodation complex at Aljada; Manbat, a social initiative between the firm and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, aimed at bolstering food security in the UAE by linking Emirati farmers with consumers; and Events, responsible for coordinating a diverse array of corporate, consumer, and lifestyle events, including the World Skate Championships, within and beyond the brand’s communities.
The new division also incorporates Arada’s F&B operations, which includes Australia’s Boost Juice, the company’s first Master Franchise Agreement partner, and Hungry Wolves, the healthy-eating café/restaurant concept. In addition, the Hospitality and Entertainment division will include all of Arada’s new non-residential business.
Launched in 2017, Arada now oversees five developments across Sharjah and Dubai with a total value of AED60 billion. The master developer has delivered over 9,000 homes since inception and reported a 100% increase in sales in 2023 compared to the previous year’s AED7.02 billion.
