Aldar Properties has sold a premium residential building at Mamsha Gardens in Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong-based GAW Capital Partners for AED586 million (approx. $160 million), marking the Asian private equity firm’s first investment in the UAE.
The asset, located within the Saadiyat Cultural District, comprises 71 apartments and townhouses with a sellable area of over 16,000 sq. metres. It is one of seven buildings in Aldar’s Mamsha Gardens development.
The transaction comes as Abu Dhabi’s real estate market witnesses rising interest from Asian investors, particularly China and Hong Kong. In 2024 alone, buyers from these markets contributed AED1.5 billion to Aldar’s UAE development sales — a 30x jump over 2022 figures. The momentum has carried into 2025, with AED1.3 billion in sales already recorded in Q1.
Rashed Al Omaira, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), attributed the uptick in foreign investor activity to regulatory stability and a robust asset pipeline. “Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a preferred destination for international real estate investment… 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,” he said.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar Properties, said the deal highlights the appeal of the company’s development platform and Abu Dhabi’s property sector. “In the first quarter of 2025, 87 percent of Aldar’s UAE sales came from international buyers. The entry of Gaw Capital Partners… reflects Abu Dhabi’s economic growth expectations and its status as a go-to investment destination,” he said.
Gaw Capital, a prominent player in Asia’s real estate private equity space, is looking to expand its footprint in the Middle East. “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,” said Christina Gaw, Managing Principal and Co-Chair of Alternative Investments at the firm.
The transaction also reinforces Aldar’s strategy of partnering with institutional investors to diversify its capital base and monetise assets. The company has been increasingly tapping into international demand, driven by Abu Dhabi’s economic resilience, attractive yields, and expanding expat population.
–Input WAM
