UAE + Saudi team up on food security, another Indian infrastructure player comes to the UAE, Omla launches in Umm Al Quwain, Partners Capital opens in Abu Dhabi

GCC food security tie-ups accelerate

GCC food security and supply-chain consolidation efforts are continuing to pick up pace. Fresh produce importer NRTC Holding Group signed an MoU with Saudi agribusiness Dava Agricultural to collaborate on fresh produce sourcing, agricultural trade, and supply-chain operations across the GCC, according to a press release.

Why it matters: The tie-up links one of the GCC’s largest fresh produce distribution networks with one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest hydroponic greenhouse operators. NRTC handles around 1 mn tonnes of fresh produce annually, while Dava currently produces roughly 170 tonnes of vegetables daily from hydroponic greenhouses in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand capacity further over the coming years.

IN CONTEXT- The move comes as GCC governments and companies step up cross-border food security and supply-chain cooperation amid ongoing regional disruption. Earlier this week, DP World and ADQ-backed Al Dahra announced plans to explore investments in GCC port infrastructure as pressure grows to secure regional food flows while the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.

Indian builders continue piling into the UAE

Indian infrastructure investor Nisus Finance is expanding into the UAE construction market through its subsidiary New Consolidated Construction Company Limited (NCCCL), according to a press release. NCCCL says its UAE operation will serve as a wider GCC hub for construction, infrastructure, and real estate activities, with a phased expansion strategy focused on partnerships and cross-border projects.

Meet the entrant: Nisus Finance acquired NCCCL last year with the aim of expanding the company across India and the GCC. NCCCL has delivered more than 200 mn sq ft of residential, commercial, healthcare, industrial, and data center projects, with an active order book exceeding AED 1.15 bn.

The expansion adds to a growing wave of Indian developers and contractors deepening their UAE footprint. State-owned NBCC was among the latest entrants, joining firms including Sunteck Realty, Casagrand, Shapoorji Pallonji, and Mantra Properties in expanding into the UAE market.

Why the GCC? Construction and transport projects under execution across the GCC are approaching USD 951 bn, while the broader regional pipeline now exceeds USD 2 tn, driven largely by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Nisus said NCCCL’s UAE entry comes at a time of “renewed confidence” in the country’s long-term development trajectory.

New digital bank coming to Umm Al Quwain

Omla gets CBUAE green light: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) granted in-principal approval to Omla Community Bank, a new digital-first lender backed by Abu Dhabi Capital Group subsidiary Alternative Venture Capital and payments processor Mint Gateway, state news agency Wam reports. The bank will be headquartered in Umm Al Quwain, with plans to roll out its services countrywide.

The bigger picture: Founded by Mint Gateway Chairman Abdulrazzaq Al Abdulla, Omla is positioning itself as a community bank targeting SMEs, micro-businesses, and workers. It joins a group of digital lenders including Wio Bank, Al Maryah Community Bank, and IHC’s latest venture Reem Bank, which target micro-enterprises and underserved segments.

Another global asset manager heads to Abu Dhabi

Global investment firm Partners Capital is opening an Abu Dhabi office in another vote of “trust in the UAE’s leadership and the institutions they have built,” according to a press release. The move comes alongside an MoU with the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council focused on investment collaboration and family businesses. Partners Capital manages more than USD 75 bn in assets and advises institutions and family offices globally, including Oxford and Cambridge universities, INSEAD, and the Guggenheim Foundation.

The queue into Abu Dhabi keeps growing: Global asset managers and hedge funds are still flocking to Abu Dhabi despite regional headwinds. US asset manager Capital Group is among the latest entrants, while UK hedge fund giant Man Group is also pursuing an ADGM license as it eyes a future Abu Dhabi presence.

Trukker locks in USD 300 mn cross-border funding with ADCB

Saudi-headquartered digital freight network platform Trukker secured a USD 300 mn cross-border securitization facility, with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) acting as sole arranger and lender, according to a press release. Trukker will use the financing for working capital to support the company’s operations and expansion plans, including scaling its digital freight network and optimizing its carrier ecosystem across regional markets.

Not your typical bank loan: The non-recourse facility is backed by Trukker’s trade receivables across multiple markets and is structured across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, making it one of the region’s first multi-jurisdictional, asset-backed securitizations. The structure effectively converts future customer payments into tradable financing backed by institutional capital, rather than a conventional loan.

Why it matters: The financing reflects growing bank appetite for exposure to large, revenue-generating digital platforms operating across multiple MENA markets, as well a broader shift toward structured credit tied to operating performance — with companies like Trukker increasingly turning to structured, receivables-backed securitization instead of relying solely on equity funding. Over time, this could provide an alternative funding route for scaled startups with predictable cashflows and cross-border operations.

ADVISORS- White & Case LLP and Paul Hastings provided counsel, while HSBC acted as facility security trustee and account bank across the different jurisdictions.