Hong Kong-based private equity firm GAW Capital Partners has completed its first investment in the UAE, purchasing a residential building in Mamsha Gardens from Aldar Properties for Dhs 586 million.
Mamsha Gardens
The building is one of seven within the Mamsha Gardens development, located in the Saadiyat Cultural District. It includes 71 units—apartments and townhouses—with a total sellable area of over 16,000 square metres.
This transaction adds to Abu Dhabi’s rising global real estate profile and highlights growing interest from Asia-based investors.
Asian interest grows
Buyers from China and Hong Kong contributed Dhs 1.5 billion to Aldar’s UAE sales in 2024, marking a sharp rise from 2022. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Aldar recorded Dhs 1.3 billion in sales to this segment, showing continued momentum.
Rashed Al Omaira, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), said, “Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a preferred destination for international real estate investment, driven by a robust regulatory framework, economic stability, and a growing pipeline of high-quality assets. The entry of new global investors reflects the maturing landscape of the emirate’s real estate sector and highlights the confidence in Abu Dhabi as a long-term, value-driven market.”
Aldar sees strong demand
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO at Aldar, commented, “This transaction underscores the strength of Aldar’s development platform and the growing appeal of Abu Dhabi’s increasingly mature real estate market to global investors – in the first quarter of 2025, 87 percent of Aldar’s UAE sales came from international buyers.”
GAW Capital’s regional debut
Christina Gaw, Managing Principal of Global Head of Capital Markets and Co-Chair of Alternative Investments at GAW Capital Partners, said, “This landmark investment reflects our positive view of the dynamic Middle East market, its potential for growth and innovation, and our trust in Aldar as a leading UAE developer. We are committed to leveraging our expertise to drive value creation and sustainable development in the region.”
The deal demonstrates Aldar’s expanding partnerships with international investors and reinforces the appeal of Abu Dhabi’s property sector as a growing destination for global capital.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
