LOGISTICS-

AD Ports Group has opened its first international office in China as it looks to deepen trade and investment ties with the world’s second-largest economy, according to a press release. The new Beijing office will coordinate commercial activity across China and the broader Asia region, and its subsidiary Noatum Logistics will also operate a new commercial branch for the Beijing-Tianjin market, the group said.

Not their first rodeo in China: The new office builds on existing ties between AD Ports and China. China’s Cosco Shipping already operates a container terminal at Khalifa Port via a JV with AD Ports. AD Ports also co-manages an economic zone in Abh Dhabi alongside Jiangsu Overseas Cooperation Investment Company. More recently, it signed an agreement with China’s Ningbo Zhoushan Port to develop an automotive logistics network between China and MENA.

ENERGY-

Banks financing Masdar, Iberdola’s East Anglia project revealed: State-owned renewables firm Masdar and Spanish energy firm Iberdrola secured funding for the 1.4 GW East Anglia 3 offshore wind project in the UK from 23 banks and Denmark’s export credit agency (EIFO), according to a press release. The financing — which was 40% oversubscribed — marks the largest ever for Masdar. It was announced earlier this month.

Who else is involved? BBVA, HSBC, ING, NatWest, SMBC, MUFG, Bank of China, Crédit Agricole, CaixaBank, Santander, BNP Paribas, Helaba, Barclays, ANZ, Rabobank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, ICO, Abanca, Kutxabank, Standard Chartered, Bank of Ireland, CIC, and Siemens Bank were all involved in the transaction.

Refresher: Last month, the two announced they would jointly invest in the 1.4 GW windfarm in the UK. Each will hold a 50% in the facility which is set to generate enough electricity to power 1.3 mn UK homes. Initial operations are slated to begin in 4Q 2026. The project, East Anglia Three, is being developed by ScottishPower Renewables, the UK arm of Iberdrola, under the larger East Anglia Hub program..

FINANCIAL SERVICES-

CBUAE launches second JV this week: The Central Bank of the UAE (CVUAE) and Emirati digital payments firm Mercury are forming a financial market infrastructure-focused JV, according to a press release (pdf). The JV, Unitey Business Services, will implement the CBUAE’S financial infrastructure transformation program and boost market resilience and operational efficiency.

Background: The central bank earlier this week also launched a JV with AI firm Presight to deploy AI-powered technology platforms for the UAE’s financial market tech stack.

BUSINESS-

Prologis sets up shop in DIFC: Prologis, a US-based real estate investment trust focusing on logistics facilities, established a new office in Dubai International Financial Center, according to a press release. The new center will be its regional base for facilitating private capital investments in logistics facilities, as well as in the energy and data center sectors in MENA. Umair Naqvi (LinkedIn) will head up the office and focus on partnerships with sovereign wealth funds and family offices for the firm, which currently manages USD 205 bn in assets.

REAL ESTATE-

ndia’s Casagrand expands to UAE with Dubai Islands residential project: Indian real estate developer Casagrand is launching in the UAE with a residential project on Dubai Islands, the details of which will be announced soon, according to a press release. The project comes as part of a broader plan to deliver 6 mn sqft of residential and mixed-use space in the UAE over three years. Its launch in the UAE marks its first international expansion.

STARTUPS-

Tokenized assets marketplace Toyow has secured USD 10 mn in funding from investment firm Nimbus Capital to expand in the UAE and EU, according to a press release. Toyow launched operations in the UAE a few months ago, with some USD 500 mn worth of real estate tokenization discussions already underway with developers in Dubai. The company is also looking to expand its platform infrastructure and bring onboard institutional asset originators.

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