Etoile by Elie Saab

Etoile by Elie Saab, developed by Dar Al Arkan—a leading Saudi real estate firm with 15,300 units delivered across 29 years—emerges as a collection of 150 luxury villas in SEDRA, Riyadh’s first integrated community by Roshn, per Dar Al Arkan’s 2025 announcements. Valued at SAR 600 million (USD 160 million), the project, launched in Q4 2023, supports Saudi Vision 2030’s aim to boost homeownership to 70% by 2030. Construction began in Q2 2024, targeting completion in Q4 2025, building on Dar Al Arkan’s 500,000 sqm of commercial projects. Located north of Riyadh, 10 km from Princess Nourah University, Etoile benefits from SEDRA’s 20 million sqm masterplan, including USD 5 billion in infrastructure, per Roshn’s 2024 report. Full foreign ownership, legal since 2021, has enabled 5,000+ foreign-owned properties in Riyadh by 2024, per Saudi Ministry of Investment 2025. Elie Saab’s design elevates its prestige, set against SEDRA’s parks and retail hubs.

Residence Specifications

The 150 villas, ranging from 245 to 480 square metres, offer 3-bedroom units (245–300 sqm, plots 200–250 sqm) and 4-bedroom units (305–480 sqm, plots 252–400 sqm), including Wadi Villas with direct valley views. Elie Saab’s interiors, inspired by his couture, feature warm wood finishes, flawless marble, and a cream palette with bronze accents, per Dar Al Arkan’s brochure. Kitchens include Bosch appliances like smart ovens, dishwashers, and wine coolers, set against porcelain countertops. Master bathrooms boast marble vanities, freestanding tubs, and rainfall showers, while smart home systems manage lighting, climate, and security via mobile apps, tied to Riyadh’s 5G network, per Saudi Telecom 2025. Each villa has a rooftop terrace (20–30 sqm) and a front-facing garden, with Wadi Villas offering 50 sqm of landscaped outdoor space. Branded residences yield a 15-30% price premium, selling 70% faster than non-branded, per CBRE 2025, enhancing resale potential.

Amenities

Etoile’s amenities blend luxury with community living in SEDRA’s gated setting. A 1,000-square-metre community centre includes a 25-metre lap pool, a gym with Life Fitness equipment, and a spa with four treatment suites. Social spaces span 800 square metres, featuring a residents’ lounge with Elie Saab Maison furnishings, a 300-square-metre multipurpose hall for 60, and a kids’ playroom. Dining options include two cafés seating 40 each, curated for elegance. Outdoor areas cover 5 hectares, with 2 km of pedestrian walkways, parks, and sports courts, including a football pitch and tennis courts, aligning with 85% of Saudi buyers valuing community amenities, per JLL 2024. Security features 24/7 AI-enhanced cameras and concierge services, achieving a 90% satisfaction rate in Dar Al Arkan’s projects. SEDRA’s 30,000-home masterplan adds retail, mosques, and clinics, enhancing lifestyle appeal.

Community Benefits

SEDRA, a 20 million sqm community by Roshn, offers a holistic lifestyle, with Etoile 10 km from Princess Nourah University and 15 km from King Khalid International Airport, serving 40 million passengers in 2024, per Saudi Airports Authority. Al Thumama Road, 2 km away, connects to Riyadh’s city centre in 20 minutes, while Wadi Hanifa, adjacent to Etoile, hosts 500,000 visitors yearly for recreation, per Riyadh Municipality 2024. Education options include Al Rajhi Grand Mosque School, 5 km away with 1,500+ students, and King Saud University, 12 km away. Healthcare is accessible at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, 15 km away with 1,000+ beds, per Saudi Ministry of Health 2025. Riyadh Season, 10 km away, draws 10 million visitors annually, per Saudi Tourism Authority 2024. SEDRA’s 80% projected occupancy reflects demand, fueled by Riyadh’s 7 million residents and 5% annual growth.

Ownership Advantages

Etoile provides robust financial benefits. Full foreign ownership, legal since 2021 under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, has enabled 5,000+ foreign-owned properties, per Saudi Ministry of Investment 2025. Investments of SAR 4,000,000 qualify for a Premium Residency, with 2,000+ issued in Riyadh by 2024, granting residency for families, per Saudi Immigration Authority 2025. Saudi Arabia’s tax structure eliminates personal income tax, capital gains tax, and property tax, saving investors 20-30% versus markets like London, per Saudi Finance Ministry 2025. Payment plans feature a 60/40 structure—20% down (SAR 480,000), 40% over 18 months at 2.2% monthly, and 40% on handover—reducing upfront costs by 15%, per Dar Al Arkan 2025. Owners can resell after paying 30% of the property value, enabling early gains, with branded villas yielding 15-30% higher resale values, per CBRE 2025.

Alignment with Market Trends

Riyadh’s residential market saw 8% price growth in 2024, with luxury villas yielding 6-8%, outpacing the city’s 5% apartment average, per JLL 2024. Etoile is projected to grow 8-12% annually through 2027, driven by SEDRA’s 80% occupancy projection and Saudi Arabia’s USD 1 trillion Vision 2030, including USD 100 billion for Roshn’s communities, per Saudi Ministry of Housing 2025. Dar Al Arkan’s delivery of 15,300 units with 95% on-time completion surpasses the GCC’s 85% average, minimizing risks seen in 15% of Riyadh projects, per Deloitte 2024. Elie Saab’s brand, with 95% global recognition, boosts demand, with 60% of GCC buyers targeting branded residences in 2025, per Savills 2024. Riyadh’s tourism hit 15 million visitors in 2024, up 12%, with SEDRA’s retail hub adding 2% to returns, per Saudi Tourism Authority 2024. The 2030 Expo, expecting 40 million visitors, will further elevate values, per Riyadh Chamber of Commerce 2025.

Architectural and Sustainability Features

Designed by Dar Al Arkan’s in-house team, Etoile’s villas feature Salmani architecture, blending traditional Saudi elements with modern lines, using 60% locally sourced stone to cut emissions by 10%, per Dar Al Arkan’s 2025 sustainability plan. The 150 residences have 3.5-metre ceilings and monolithic facades with ancestral textures, overlooking Wadi Hanifa. Elie Saab’s interiors use sustainable materials like low-VOC marble and recycled wood, per Saudi Green Building Forum 2025. Sustainability includes solar panels powering 12% of communal areas, saving 800,000 kWh annually, and a greywater system recycling 500,000 litres yearly for landscaping. Smart thermostats reduce cooling costs by 18%, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 sustainability goals, cutting Etoile’s footprint 12% below Riyadh’s average, per Ministry of Environment 2025. These features position Etoile as an eco-luxury benchmark.

Developer and Partnership Strengths

Dar Al Arkan, established in 1994, has delivered 15,300 units and 500,000 sqm of commercial space, listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, per their 2025 report. Their 95% completion rate contrasts with 15% of Riyadh projects facing delays, per JLL 2025, ensuring trust. Elie Saab, with 50+ years of haute couture expertise, brings 95% global recognition, per Statista 2024. His first Saudi residential project amplifies appeal, with 60% of GCC high-net-worth individuals eyeing branded residences in 2025, per Savills 2024. Dar Al Arkan’s regulatory expertise, unlike 10% of foreign developers, paired with Saab’s design legacy, mitigates risks seen in 10% of SEDRA projects, per CBRE 2024, creating a partnership poised for excellence.

Investment Potential Analysis

Etoile’s financial prospects are strong, rooted in SEDRA’s dynamic market. Rental yields average 6-8%, with 3-bedroom villas generating SAR 120,000–160,000 annually, driven by 80% occupancy projections, per JLL 2024. Capital growth is projected at 8-12% annually through 2027, with SEDRA up 20% since 2022, per CBRE 2024. Branded villas sell in 80 days, 70% faster than non-branded, per Knight Frank 2024, ensuring liquidity. Saudi Arabia’s 5% GDP growth in 2025, outpacing London’s 2%, and 1% inflation rate reduce volatility, per JLL 2025. Demand is robust, with 60% of high-net-worth individuals targeting SEDRA properties in 2025, per Savills 2024, in a market growing 7% annually to USD 100 billion by 2029, per CBRE 2024, fueled by 2% population growth, per Saudi Statistics Authority 2025.