LONDON: The UK capital is still seeing strong interest from Middle Eastern property buyers, even as politicians in Westminster wrangle over Brexit.
The lure of safe-haven London remains high, and is expected to strengthen rather than decrease, brokers said.
Arab buyers are lured by currency weakness, the decline in prime central London prices and robust domestic demand for homes.
As war and political upheaval roils much of the Arab world, the safe haven appeal of London remains strong.
“For people from the Middle East or Asia, looking at the UK as a safe haven investment, it is still a very safe bet, and compared to their own markets, it’s still very, very safe,” said Faisal Durrani, the head of research at the Cluttons property consultancy.
Investors from the Middle East spent $1.8 billion on commercial property in London between April 2016 and April 2017, according to CBRE data.
The lure of London is underscored by investment into second-place New York, which attracted just $884 million over the same period.
Property specialist Rupert Bowen-Jones of READ Advisors, which works with wealthy Arab buyers, said that London’s attractiveness to overseas investors has not changed.
However, some investors are more interested in putting their money into the secondary residential market, rather than into off-plan purchases.
“We have witnessed more Middle Eastern buyers seeking to acquire residential property in need of refurbishment, which is available for a much lower price, and therefore with a much lower tax bill to be settled.
“The buyer then typically refurbishes the property to their own standards and ends up with a bespoke solution for less money than if they had bought a finished product from a developer,” Bowen-Jones told Arab News.
Investing in this way can also open the door to tax advantages, such as the reduction of VAT payable when properties are renovated after two years of being vacant, under the Urban Regeneration Scheme.
“There are few Middle Eastern buyers who cite Brexit as an issue, rather they view it as an opportunity, as weakness in the market has meant there are better deals around, and the currency has been at their back to provide additional value,” Bowen-Jones added.
Middle East property investors shrug off Brexit blues
Middle East property investors shrug off Brexit blues
Stc posts record $20.7b revenue as net profit rises 12.5%
RIYADH: Stc Group announced its consolidated financial results for 2025, recording the highest revenue in its history at SR77.8 billion ($20.7 billion), up 2.5 percent from the previous year.
Net profit increased 12.5 percent after excluding non-recurring items, reflecting the strength of the group’s business model and the continued execution of its sustainable growth strategy.
The group said gross profit rose to SR37.7 billion, while operating profit reached SR14.4 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and zakat totaled approximately SR24.5 billion, marking 6.1 percent growth after excluding non-recurring items, driven by improved operational efficiency and disciplined cost and capital expenditure management.
The company announced a dividend of SR0.55 per share for the fourth quarter of 2025 in line with its approved dividend policy.
stc Group emphasized its commitment to developing employee capabilities and skills. Over the past year, it reported qualitative progress in talent development through programs such as Partner Development, Job Attachment and the stc Academy.
The group also sponsored the Human Capability Initiative conference, where it launched a public training platform aimed at equipping national talent with skills aligned with future labor market needs. The initiative underscores its commitment to building digital capabilities in the Kingdom and strengthening national competitiveness.
stc plays a key role in supporting major international events and religious occasions such as Hajj and Umrah. It continues to support national forums and major events through a reliable digital infrastructure that enhances national identity and elevates the readiness of vital sectors with high efficiency.
The group said its connectivity solutions and digital services meet international standards, contributing to the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination across sectors and reinforcing stc’s role as a regional digital enabler.
CEO Olayan bin Mohammed Alwetaid said the results demonstrate the group’s ability to achieve sustainable profit growth while diversifying income sources and strengthening digital infrastructure.
He said the company continues expanding its network to reach more than 10,800 5G sites and 3.75 million homes served by fiber, in addition to conducting the first regional trial in the 7 GHz band in preparation for 6G technologies.
The group expanded STC Bank to more than 8 million customers and signed strategic partnerships to establish AI-focused data centers with capacity of up to 1 gigawatt. It also completed strategic digital infrastructure agreements worth billions and issued $2 billion in sukuk that were more than four times oversubscribed.
In sustainability, the group’s MSCI rating rose to AA and it received a five-star EFQM certificate. It maintained its position as the strongest brand in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year.
According to the Brand Finance 2026 report, stc ranked as the strongest brand in the Middle East, third globally among telecommunications brands, and ninth in global telecom brand value, placing it among the world’s top ten telecom companies by brand strength.
