UAE Edition 
MENA+ Edition 
Egypt Edition 
Saudi Edition 
AI + Innovation (MENA) 
Logistics (MENA) 
Share
Read Full Issue 
GFH exits USD 130 mn in US assets
GFH Partners — the Dubai-based global asset management arm of Bahraini GFH Financial Group — has exited a USD 130 mn portfolio of US-based logistics and industrial assets, with investor returns expected to exceed 10%, according to a press release.
The firm has been building a sizeable American real estate book since 2023: It closed a USD 300 mn logistics and industrial fund in 2024, deployed USD 450 mn into medical clinics and student housing in late 2023 and early 2024, and later added a further USD 300 mn student housing acquisition that took that portfolio's AUM to USD 900 mn. It’s also still deploying fresh capital across niche segments including cold storage, build-to-suit industrial facilities, and transportation logistics, making this less a pullback and more like active portfolio management.
REMEMBER- The firm was looking to increase its assets under management by at least USD 1 bn in 2026, aiming to reach USD 7.5 bn by year-end. It also had plans to open three new funds in 1Q, as well as acquire income-generating assets in Saudi Arabia, and launch a new storage facility development in Riyadh.
MGX, BlackRock finalize USD 40 bn Aligned Data Centers takeover
MGX closes USD 40 bn Aligned Data Centers acquisition: Abu Dhabi state AI investor MGX and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have completed their USD 40 bn acquisition of Aligned Data Centers — one of the largest data center buyouts on record — from Macquarie Asset Management and its partners, the firms said in a statement.
REMEMBER- The transaction marks the first investment under the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), which is a vehicle launched by MGX, BlackRock, GIP, Microsoft, and Nvidia to deploy capital into AI infrastructure. The platform aims to mobilize some USD 30 bn in equity, potentially reaching USD 100 bn including debt.
MGX has plenty to spend, recently raising over USD 50 bn from regional sovereign funds, global pension funds, and other institutional investors to speed up deployment across AI infrastructure and technology. The AI investor is targeting more than USD 100 bn in assets and plans to deploy as much as USD 10 bn annually over the next few years.
Empower expands district cooling network with new Al Sufouh Plant
Emirates Central Cooling Systems (Empower) is expanding its district cooling capacity in Dubai, awarding a construction contract for a 23.4k refrigeration tons (RT) plant in Al Sufouh 2, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). Building work is already underway, and the facility is scheduled for completion in 3Q 2027. Capacity will go toward commercial, residential, and office buildings in the area.
DP World secures EUR 25 mn for Romania port
DP World is electrifying its Constanța South Container Terminal (CSCT), the main container facility at Romania's largest seaport, under a EUR 100 mn green upgrade, backed by a EUR 25 mn EBRD senior loan and a EUR 19.8 mn EU grant. The work covers power networks, cold ironing for docked ships, transformer stations, grid connections, and a shift to electric cranes and terminal tractors, cutting emissions at one of the Black Sea's busiest transport hubs. DP World’s CSCT unit runs the terminal under a concession lasting until 2049.
Another Jaywan development
Majid Al Futtaim has started accepting Jaywan cards across more than 200 locations in the UAE, becoming one of the first major retailers to fully roll out the country’s national payment scheme across its physical network, according to a press release. Customers can now use Jaywan cards at the group’s retail, entertainment, and hospitality destinations, with online acceptance set to follow in the coming weeks.
ICYMI- Jaywan is gaining ground. Earlier this week, the Central Bank of the UAE said that every licensed bank and financial institution will start issuing Jaywan cards via a phased rollout. The cards process domestic transactions locally through UAESwitch instead of routing them through Visa or Mastercard's networks, which officials have said cuts processing costs and keeps payment data onshore.
