UAE-based real estate developer Arada has acquired a 75% stake in UK residential developer Regal in a deal valued at AED2.5 billion ($681 million), marking its entry into the London market. The acquisition represents Arada's second international expansion following its move into Australia in 2024 and provides the company with an immediate platform to operate in one of the world's leading property markets. Regal will be rebranded as Arada London as part of the transaction.

The deal accelerates the delivery of Regal's existing 10,000-unit residential pipeline across 11 projects in London. Arada plans to more than triple this pipeline over the next three years, leveraging Regal's 30-year track record and 150-person team. The UK developer has previously delivered more than 4,000 homes and 1 million square feet of commercial space, with current projects including Fulton & Fifth in Wembley, which comprises 876 homes with 40% designated as affordable housing.

Arada's expansion into London aligns with its strategy of geographic diversification beyond its strong UAE base. Since its founding in 2017, the developer has launched 10 projects in the UAE, including the Aljada megaproject and Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah. The company's portfolio across the UAE and Australia amounts to over AED95 billion with more than 42,000 units, of which 10,000 have been delivered to date.

The acquisition comes as Gulf investors continue to deploy capital internationally amid strong property markets in their home regions. Arada is owned by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah, and Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. The investment also coincides with the UK government's push to increase housing supply, though rising construction costs present challenges to delivery targets.

King Charles has joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a previously unpublicized podcast recording focused on global conservation efforts. The 22-minute episode, titled "Unearthed: The Need For Seeds," was recorded in the private gardens of Windsor Castle in July and features the monarch alongside Blanchett and Kew seed scientist Dr. Elinor Breman. This marks only the second podcast recording in the King's public life, demonstrating his continued commitment to environmental causes that have defined much of his royal work.

The conversation centered on the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, West Sussex, which King Charles originally opened in 2000 and has maintained an active interest in since. The facility represents one of the world's most ambitious conservation projects, having collected, cleaned, dried and stored nearly 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 plant species in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both the King and Blanchett, who became Wakehurst's first ambassador last year, emphasized the critical importance of this work in preserving global biodiversity.

During the discussion, Blanchett expressed concern about the rapid loss of natural habitats, noting that "97 percent of wildflower meadows have been decimated" in recent decades. She highlighted the disconnect between perceived natural beauty and actual ecological fragility, stating that "there is an urgency to the work that the seed bank does." The King echoed this sentiment, reflecting on his long-standing awareness of environmental degradation, particularly the damage to flower-rich meadows since the postwar period.

The podcast also touched on broader conservation challenges, including the need for increased funding and public awareness. Blanchett pointed to the frustration of seeing "so many extraordinary initiatives right there ready to be scaled up" but lacking financial support and direction. King Charles acknowledged both the progress made and the need to accelerate conservation efforts, stating that while the seed bank's work is "wonderful," the process must speed up to address escalating environmental threats facing plant species worldwide.