UAE: Developer Aldar has partnered with UK-based proptech firm Lavanda to facilitate flexible short term stays for visitors to the Middle East.
Aldar has launched its Cloud Living initiative, a short-term leasing platform that provides flexible stay options in homes within Aldar’s integrated communities. The vision underpinning the Cloud Living platform, and the goal of the strategic partnership between Aldar and Lavanda, is to create “new residential concepts in Abu Dhabi that put customer experience and innovation at the heart of living in, and visiting, the region”.
The Cloud Living platform offers flexible stay options with all-in-one pricing and no hidden costs or utility bills. Listings range from studios to three-bedroom furnished apartments, with fully flexible leases ranging from as one night to yearly agreements.
Cloud Living is targetting professionals, ex-pats and tourists. Its initial listings, at Arc Towers and The Bridges, will offer access to central Abu Dhabi, the Corniche, and the cultural and entertainment attractions on Saadiyat Island.
The platform will operate under a new regulatory framework that has been developed after collaboration and consultations between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and key stakeholders from the private sector, including Aldar and Lavanda.
Hamad Mohammed Saeed Alsudain, licensing & regulatory compliance department director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Cloud Living is an industry-first case study in how real estate, tech and the public sector should be collaborating to design and deliver socially and economically impactful solutions that improve the experience of customers and challenge the status quo. We are excited to have collaborated with Aldar and Lavanda to create the regulatory framework and infrastructure that provides the basis to understand the potential impact that this new format of more accessible, more flexible and more affordable accommodation can have within the region.”
Maan Al Awlaqi, executive director – strategy and transformation at Aldar, said: “The launch of Cloud Living is testament to our commitment to develop new products and solutions that satisfy our customers’ desires. It also meets the needs of Abu Dhabi’s rapidly evolving real estate market and contributes to the rise of the global gig economy which is set to reach $347 billion by the end of 2021.”
“We understand that convenience and flexibility are vital when choosing a home or booking a vacation, and that is exactly what Cloud Living offers. Whether you are a digital nomad who can work from anywhere, a family that is relocating, or a tourist, this platform has been designed to provide flexible stay options without long-term commitments. We look forward to welcoming guests to our most sought-after destinations in Abu Dhabi soon,” he added.
Frederik Lerche-Lerchenborg, CEO of Lavanda, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Aldar and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi on this hugely important initiative for the region. As demand for greater flexibility and digital-first customer experiences continues to sweep the industry and shape its future, so does Lavanda’s technology become increasingly critical to the effective management of institutional real estate. We’re very excited to build upon this launch and explore what the future has in store.”
Lerche-Lerchenborg will be presenting the findings of a Lavanda and Greystar white paper about urban living trends at IHM’s Recharge event, which is taking place in Paris on March 28 and 29. Click here to find out more.
