Investcorp stays on US drive, AD Ports locks in Congo terminal buildout, Alpha Dhabi + Orascom partner on desalination

Investcorp keeps piling into US industrial real estate

Abu Dhabi-listed Investcorp Capital deployed more than USD 200 mn into yet another US industrial real estate portfolio, according to a press release. The roughly 1.4 mn sq ft, 19-property portfolio spans Texas, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, with locains scattered across major logistics and distribution corridors tied to regional and national supply chains. Assets leased cover logistics, manufacturing, distribution, industrial services, and consumer-related sectors.

The rationale: The firm said US industrial real estate remains “one of the most resilient real asset sectors globally,” supported by evolving supply chains, domestic manufacturing activity, and continued demand for logistics infrastructure. The portfolio is about 97% occupied.

REMEMBER- We’ve been covering Investcorp’s growing US real estate streak for some time now, including a USD 400 mn US industrial portfolio acquisition last year and a separate USD 200 mn deployment into US senior living and multifamily assets last month. The company previously said it plans to deploy at least USD 6 bn during FY 2025/26.

AD Ports locks in Congo terminal buildout

AD Ports advances Congo port construction: Abu Dhabi-based ports operator AD Ports Group has awarded three contracts worth AED 735 mn for the Noatum Ports Pointe-Noire Terminal in the Republic of the Congo, moving the project ahead toward construction, which is expected to wrap up in around two years. The marine and topside works contracts went to MAR Contracting Sarlu and MBTP SA JV, while a crane contract went to Chinese port equipment manufacturer ZPMC.

ICYMI- The group has secured a 30-year, extendable concession for the New East Mole Terminal in 2023 and committed USD 500 mn over the concession period, then brought CMA CGM into the project in 2025. The group’s Africa footprint now spans Egypt, Tanzania, Angola, Cameroon, and Congo, with additional maritime shipping services across West and East Africa.

Alpha Dhabi, Orascom team up on desalination

Alpha Dhabi Holding subsidiary Trojan Construction Holding and Orascom Construction are teaming up to launch Everwater for Treatment Systems, a new Abu Dhabi-headquartered company targeting large-scale water infrastructure projects across the region, according to a press release (pdf).

The plan: The 50:50 venture will provide EPC and operation and maintenance services, with a 300k cbm/d desalination plant already in final negotiations. Water desalination facilities, critical in Gulf countries and producing around 80% of daily drinking water needs in the UAE, were among those threatened to be targeted in the regional war.

BACKGROUND- Orascom already has a roster of major water infrastructure projects under development in the region, including a USD 5.8 bn desalination plant in Jordan. It is also part of a consortium with Adnoc and Taqa which will develop a USD 2.4 bn large-scale seawater treatment project in Abu Dhabi. Once finished, it will have a capacity of 520k cbm/d.

Going artificial

The cabinet has greenlit a federal framework for the rollout of agentic AI across ministries, according to a statement. The first phase will transition federal services across four categories — citizens, residents, businesses, and the general public. The framework will require ministries to restructure their organizations, set targets for efficiency and productivity, and follow up with AI-powered metrics.

A training program for gov’t personnel: In line with the government’s recent decision to deploy agentic AI across 50% of government services, the cabinet also gave the go-ahead to train 80k federal employees in agentic AI.

CBUAE paves way for Mal’s banking license

Abu Dhabi-based AI-powered Islamic digital finance platform Mal has received in-principle approval to set up a licenced bank from the Central Bank of the UAE, Wam reports. This moves Mal closer to establishing what it calls the world’s first AI-native Islamic bank.

REMEMBER-The firm closed a USD 230 mn seed round earlier this year. The capital went towards accelerating product development along with licensing and regulatory approvals.