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Dubai-based real estate developer Damac Properties has announced a partnership with Chelsea Football Club, in which Damac will act as an official property development partner for the London-based club.

The partnership includes collaboration on Chelsea Residences by Damac, an upcoming football-themed real estate project located in the Dubai Maritime City area.

The development will offer over 1,400 residential units with seafront views and will have Chelsea-branded amenities.

In an official statement, Damac said it will feature on Chelsea Football Club’s men’s and women’s shirts for the remainder of the 24/25 season.

Damac’s move comes after Dubai’s real estate activity reached record activity levels last year, with over 180,900 real estate transactions worth AED522bn ($142bn) taking place.

In March, the developer announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Adib) to offer financing solutions for off-plan properties once construction reaches 35% completion.

In an official statement, Damac said it is the first developer to offer such a financing option.

The initiative aims to make premium real estate accessible to a broader pool of buyers, said Amira Sajwani, managing director of sales and development at Damac.

In February, Damac also completed its largest sukuk transaction to date, raising $750m with a 3.5-year senior unsecured trust certificate.

The sukuk, which has a profit rate of 7% a year, will mature on 26 August 2028.

The offering received substantial interest from both international and local investors.

Dubai’s heightened real estate activity is in line with GlobalData’s forecast that the construction industry will register annual growth of 3.9% in 2025-27, supported by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, oil and gas, housing, industrial and tourism projects. 

The residential construction sector is expected to record an annual average growth rate of 2.7% in 2025-28, supported by private investments in the residential housing sector, along with government initiatives to meet rising housing demand.

MEED’s May 2025 report on the UAE includes:

> COMMENT: UAE is poised to weather the storm
> GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: UAE looks to economic longevity
> BANKING: UAE banks dig in for new era
> UPSTREAM: Adnoc in cruise control with oil and gas targets
> DOWNSTREAM: Abu Dhabi chemicals sector sees relentless growth
> POWER: AI accelerates UAE power generation projects sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Dubai construction continues to lead region
> TRANSPORT: UAE accelerates its $60bn transport push
> DATABANK: UAE growth prospects head north