Experts highlight real estate financing, foreign investment at Saudi forum

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has successfully priced a $4 billion bond issuance, divided into two tranches.

The offering was met with strong demand, attracting global investors and resulting in an order book of approximately $16 billion — four times the initial offering size, said a statement.

According to the statement, PIF issued $2.4 billion in five-year debt instruments and an additional $1.6 billion in securities with a maturity of nine-and-a-half years, under its Euro Medium-Term Note Program.

The sovereign wealth fund confirmed that the proceeds from the bond issuance will be used for general corporate purposes.

The development comes just weeks after PIF closed its inaugural Murabaha credit facility, securing $7 billion in funding. This marks a significant milestone in the fund’s broader strategy to raise capital over the coming years.

“Strong demand from international institutional investors underscores PIF’s diverse investor base, robust capital-raising strategy, and solid credit profile,” said Ahmed Alrobayan, head of public markets, Global Capital Finance at PIF.

He added: “These factors ensure uninterrupted access to global capital markets and are vital to PIF’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.”

PIF further emphasized that the oversubscription highlights the effectiveness of its capital-raising approach and reinforces its strong financial position.

In November, credit rating agency Moody’s upgraded PIF’s rating from A1 to Aa3 with a stable outlook, a move that further underscores the fund’s financial strength.

The US-based agency gives Aa3 for entities with high quality, low credit risk, and the best ability to repay short-term debts. 

According to Moody’s, the upgrade of PIF’s long-term issuer rating reflects strong credit linkage between the sovereign wealth fund and the Kingdom’s government. 

In August 2024, the wealth fund had also obtained a $15 billion revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes from a diverse global syndicate of 23 financial institutions from the US, Europe, and the Middle East as well as Asia. 

PIF, at that time, said that this credit facility is offered for an initial period of three years and is extendable for up to two additional years. 

A revolving loan is one that can be drawn, repaid and drawn again during the agreed lending period.

PIF manages $925 billion in assets, and is set to increase that to $2 trillion by 2030, a report from monitoring organization Global SWF forecast earlier in January.

JEDDAH: Abu Dhabi’s real estate market experienced a 24.2 percent year-on-year growth in 2024, with a total of 28,249 transactions, driven by sustained demand, strategic projects, and a focus on market transparency, official data revealed. 

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center reported that the UAE capital saw a 10.45 percent increase in transaction value, reaching 96.2 billion dirhams ($26.19 billion) in 2024. The sector recorded 16,735 sales transactions valued at 58.5 billion dirhams and 11,514 mortgage deals worth 37.7 billion dirhams. 

The market’s growth comes amid Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to develop a transparent property market aimed at attracting both local and global investors. This strategy helped the city secure a spot among the top five global improvers in the 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, compiled by property consultancy JLL. 

This trend is part of a broader regional push, with property markets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE undergoing reforms to better cater to global investor needs. Saudi Arabia, for instance, recently announced that foreigners can now invest in Saudi-listed companies owning real estate in Makkah and Madinah, following a landmark decision by the Kingdom’s Capital Market Authority. 

ADREC Acting Director Rashed Al-Omaira said Abu Dhabi’s inclusion in the GRETI underscores its “commitment to fostering transparency and trust within the sector.” 

“The sustained growth of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market over the past decade reflects a strategy that prioritizes market stability,” he added. 

ADREC also launched 38 new off-plan projects and completed 12 major developments in 2024, with the center adding that these projects were selected to offer a diverse range of options, designs, and price points, catering to a broad spectrum of investors. 

The market also saw a notable increase in foreign direct investment, which grew by 125 percent year on year, with the sector attracting over 7.86 billion dirhams in 2024. This investment came from 2,302 investors across 105 countries, including the US, the UK, and Kazakhstan, as well as Russia, France, and China. 

“The surge in FDI highlights Abu Dhabi’s adaptability and resilience in an evolving global economy. It is a testament to the emirate’s forward-thinking policies, investment-friendly environment, and world-class infrastructure that ensure sustainable growth,” said Al-Omaira.   

This comes as real estate markets in other key UAE cities, including Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, saw significant transaction volume growth over the past year, driven by diverse investment opportunities and rising demand for various property types.

Official data from the real estate authorities across the four emirates revealed that the total value of real estate transactions reached approximately 893 billion dirhams by the end of 2024, with more than 331,300 transactions recorded. 

Al-Omaira stated that ADREC is committed to strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a global investment hub and a model for urban living. 

“Our real estate sector is a cornerstone of the emirate’s economic vision, driving sustainable development and enhancing quality of life for residents through innovative, high-quality projects,” he added.