Mubadala Capital and Abu Dhabi-based developer Aldar are launching an investment management platform focusing on real estate and infrastructure, according to a press release (pdf). The new platform — Aldar Capital — is targeting USD 1 bn from its first fund, which it aims to launch in 2026, with capital coming from both players, before potentially scaling to several bns of USD in assets under management.

Based in ADGM, it will channel international institutional capital into real estate and infrastructure prospects in the UAE and GCC region. It is also set to invest in residential and office buildings, logistics, and other assets, Bloomberg reports, citing Aldar CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi.

The platform will cater to institutional investors like sovereign wealth funds, ins. firms, family offices, pension funds, and funds of funds. “Institutional investors are increasingly prioritizing real assets for their diversification benefits and long-term income potential,” Mubadala Capital’s CEO Hani Barhoush said. “We have received significant inbound interest from a number of our existing investors who want exposure to the region,” Barhoush told the news outlet.

The team will initially include 20 people from Mubadala and Aldar, with plans to increase headcount over time.

Not their first real estate rodeo: Mubadala Investment Company and ADX-listed Aldar Properties partnered with California-based Ares Management back in 2023 to set up a USD 1 bn private real estate fund targeting openings in the UK and Europe.

REMEMBER- Mubadala Capital is looking to capitalize on real estate prospects and global demand for the sector. It partnered with London-based alternative asset manager Cain International to invest bns of USD in luxury property. The sovereign entity, which acquired a controlling stake in Fortress Investment Group in May 2024, is also part of a USD 1 bn investment partnership backed by its parent company, Mubadala Investment, with a portion earmarked for real estate strategies.

A first for Mubadala: The move would mark the first time the sovereign wealth fund-owned player has looked to secure third-party funding in the UAE, mimicking a model it uses abroad, the news outlet notes.

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