12 Sep 2025

Evergrande's liquidators have received preliminary bids for their majority stake in the company's property services unit, valued at around USD 1.28 billion. Final offers are expected by November, following confidentiality agreements with multiple interested parties. Shares surged after the announcement but moderated by mid-week. State-owned companies are reportedly interested, although some have denied bidding. Evergrande Services has been heavily affected by China's ongoing real estate slowdown, with stock prices dropping over 95% since 2021. The sale is part of the broader effort to stabilize Evergrande and reduce its debt.Read more

12 Sep 2025

GFS Developments, a Dubai-based real estate developer, inaugurated a new office in Frankfurt, Germany, aiming to connect European investors with Dubai's growing property market. The launch event featured discussions on Dubai's real estate trends, including increased transaction volumes, rising investor numbers, and a strong pipeline of off-plan projects. The company also showcased its latest residential project, Coventry Living, and emphasized Dubai's appeal due to tax advantages, investor protections, and infrastructure development.Read more

11 Sep 2025

Zambia's High Court ruled that Standard Chartered does not have to pay USD 500,000 in compensation to a former client over a defaulted Chinese property bond. While the bank was found not to have violated local laws in 2022, it was ordered to cover the client's legal costs due to falling short of its own conduct standards. The SEC had previously sanctioned the bank for failing to disclose key information and using restrictive contract clauses. Both parties can appeal. Standard Chartered has a nearly 120-year history in Zambia and is considering selling its local operations.Read more

11 Sep 2025

Cottonwood Group, a private equity real estate firm, has closed a USD 1 billion fund focused on special situations across U.S. commercial property. The fund, which exceeded its USD 500 million target, combines capital raised through pooled funds and separate accounts. Around USD 300 million has already been invested through structured loans with the option to acquire assets if defaults occur. The vehicle has delivered a return of nearly 20 percent so far. With investments spanning logistics, multifamily, data centers, and mixed-use assets, the strategy highlights rising investor appetite in a market facing refinancing stress.Read more

10 Sep 2025

BEYOND Developments, a Dubai-born real estate brand under OMNIYAT GROUP, has been announced as a global sponsor of the DP World Asia Cup 2025, hosted in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament features eight nations, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, and will take place across Dubai International Stadium and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The sponsorship reflects BEYOND's commitment to creating destinations that connect, inspire, and elevate living experiences, while the event highlights the UAE's growing role as a world-class hub for international sports.Read more

10 Sep 2025

Homes England has teamed up with Vistry Group to create a new joint venture called Hestia, aimed at accelerating the development of large, mixed-tenure communities in England. Backed by a combined investment of GBP 150 million (around USD 203.58 million), Hestia will focus on residential projects ranging from 400 to 3,000 homes each. The initiative aligns with the UK government's target of building 1.5 million homes in this parliamentary term and also seeks to support smaller housebuilders while promoting social and affordable housing.Read more

10 Sep 2025

Permira and Blackstone have taken a USD 525 million minority stake in Dubai-based real estate classifieds platform Property Finder, reflecting continued investor interest in the emirate's property market. General Atlantic, an early investor since 2018, has partially exited while maintaining a significant stake. The deal will give Property Finder access to global expertise from all three private equity firms as it expands across the Middle East and North Africa. The platform is also targeting growth in Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid a shifting Dubai property market.Read more

10 Sep 2025

Office developers in China are facing record-high vacancy levels in top-tier cities and are resorting to rent reductions and added incentives to attract tenants. Cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai have some of the highest vacancy rates, with landlords offering concessions such as cheaper utilities and subsidies for electric vehicle charging. Market analysts say weak corporate demand, cost-cutting, and multinationals scaling back have pushed leasing activity down. Developers are also relying on flexible lease options, but a prolonged market correction is still expected given oversupply and slowing economic momentum.Read more

09 Sep 2025

Ethiopia has inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydropower project in Africa, designed to supply electricity to millions and strengthen regional energy networks. While the dam promises economic growth and energy access, it has escalated tensions with Egypt, which depends on the Nile for 90% of its water and fears shortages and future upstream projects. Sudan seeks agreements but may benefit from the dam. Funded largely by Ethiopia, the project has become a national unifying symbol, even as rural populations remain partially unconnected to the national grid.Read more

09 Sep 2025

PRS REIT confirmed that U.S. private equity giant KKR has joined its formal sale process, which already includes a takeover bid from Long Harbour. While no formal offer has yet been made, KKR's entry lifted PRS REIT's shares by 8.8% to 106.6 pence, topping the FTSE mid-cap index. Long Harbour's existing cash offer, submitted in June, values the REIT at £631.6 million, or 115 pence per share. Analysts say weak UK valuations are drawing U.S. investors, with KKR pursuing multiple British firms this year. PRS REIT, focused on family rental homes, launched its sale process after a strategic review in late 2024.Read more