Full-speed ahead for Saudi ECM + DCM transactions

Saudi’s capital markets are very much in the spotlight, with a total of three ECM and DCM transactions in motion, including Alinma’s second issuance this month — while Abu Dhabi capital keeps rolling up assets at home and across Europe. Further afield: The regional conflict is starting to leave fingerprints on hotel investment.

The retail tranche of Saudi IT player Dar Al Balad’s IPO was 3.75x covered, drawing SAR 231 mn (USD 62 mn) in orders from over 90.2k investors at an offer price of SAR 9.75 per share, according to a Tadawul disclosure. The retail portion of the IPO accounts for 30% of the total shares on offer. The company had priced its IPO at the top of its guidance range, implying a transaction value of SAR 205 mn (USD 55 mn) and a company valuation of SAR 682 mn (USD 182 mn).

ADVISORS- AlJazira Capital is quarterbacking the transaction as financial advisor, lead manager, and underwriter. It is also acting as joint bookrunner alongside Emirates NBD. Baker McKenzie is counsel.

Saudi real estate developer Dar Al Arkan will issue USD-denominated senior unsecured sukuk, with investor calls starting earlier this week, according to a Tadawul disclosure. The issuance follows a trend S&P expected to see among private-sector companies looking to increase their USD-denominated issuance as they seek long-term, fixed-rate financing for big projects.

ADVISORS- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Al Rayan Investment, Arqaam Capital, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, JP Morgan, Mashreq, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Warba Bank are all acting as joint lead managers and bookrunners.

Alinma Bank is tapping the USD debt market for the second time this month with a USD-denominated sustainable AT1 issuance, according to a Tadawul disclosure. The shariah-compliant lender had also kicked off an issuance of SAR-denominated AT1 sukuk earlier this month under an existing SAR 5 bn program. The issuance wrapped on Sunday.

ADVISORS- The bank tapped Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Alinma Capital, Arqaam Capital, ASB Capital, Citi, DBS Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, and Warba Bank as joint lead managers.

The institutional tranche of Egyptian firm Korra Energi’s IPO was 2.7x covered on the first day of bookbuilding, according to a bourse filing (pdf). Korra is selling an 11% stake on the EGX, with 60% of the offering earmarked for institutional investors. The remaining 40% of shares goes to retail subscriptions, which opened yesterday and will run until 25 May. Individual investors can book up to 2 mn shares each and no less than 1k.

!_InsertLien_!

Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment platform BlueFive Capital is expanding its buy-and-build ambitions across ins. and mobility through new acquisitions in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Up first: The firm locked in a binding 42% stake in Tadawul-listed Gulf General Ins. (GGI) via a restructuring agreement that will recapitalize the Saudi insurer, according to a press release (pdf). GGI will cut its capital by nearly 60% to SAR 124 mn (USD 33 mn) to wipe out accumulated losses before issuing new shares to BlueFive and existing substantial shareholders. BlueFive Capital is being advised by SNB Capital and A&O Shearman, while GIB Capital and AS&H Clifford Chance are acting for GGI.

A rollup play will likely follow: “GGI is the first step in our vision to build the first global leader in ins. out of the Middle East,” founder and CEO Hazem Ben-Gacem said. BlueFive will pursue a buy-and-build strategy, initially focused on the GCC, before expanding into other high-growth markets, particularly shariah-compliant insurers.

Mobility moves: BlueFive separately said (pdf) it acquired a 49% stake in fleet-management and mobility company Massar Solutions from Taqa. Massar manages more than 8.5k vehicles across the UAE and Saudi Arabia and plans to expand into Oman and Bahrain. The Massar acquisition is part of a wider strategy to build a regional mobility platform that integrates leasing and transport services under a single ecosystem, as Gulf investors increasingly chase fragmented sectors with consolidation potential.

AD Ports signed a EUR 70 mn agreement to buy 100% of Germany-based MBS Logistics’ core business, effectively tightening its grip on the global freight business through the heart of Europe's logistics network, according to a press release (pdf). AD Ports will fold the freight forwarder into its growing Noatum Logistics platform, adding 26 offices to Noatum Logistics’ existing network of 80 offices across 26 countries. AD Ports took over Noatum back in 2023 for USD 680 mn.

Gulf hotel investment has slipped into pause mode as the regional conflict drags on, with analysts now modelling 20-25% declines in UAE hotel valuations if the war runs into late 2026, Skift reports. Most deals are being pushed back rather than killed, and the construction pipeline — anchored by Saudi giga-projects and UAE branded resorts — remains intact. But transactional appetite has cooled as occupancy slumps and airline capacity sits at roughly 80% of pre-war levels.

Why it matters: This is the first hard read on second-order damage to a hospitality investment thesis that underpins a large share of GCC non-oil FDI — and it lands just as Saudi pushes through its Tourism Investment Forum and Diriyah ramps up contracting.

PIF to sell minority stake in Newcastle United? The PIF is reportedly pitching a minority share of Newcastle United to potential investors as part of its stadium fundraising efforts, Reuters reports, citing three unnamed sources. The jury is still out on whether the sovereign wealth fund will opt to revamp the Premier League club’s stadium — St. James’ Park — or establish a GBP 1 bn multi-sport, 70k-seater stadium.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING TODAY-

Abu Dhabi-based proptech firm eVoost AI pulled in USD 2.2 mn in fresh funding to finance expansion plans in new and existing markets, as well as new product development. The round drew capital from a Mubadala Investment-backed syndicated vehicle tied to Hub71. The raise was led by Spain’s First Drop VC, with angel investors tied to the UAE and Romania also taking part.

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