InvestGB and Investcorp Strengthen Alliance to Boost Shariah-Compliant Real Estate Investments

It’s no secret that partnerships in the finance world can make all the diference, especially for startups or investors looking to gain a foothold in high-value sectors. Take the latest move by InvestGB and Investcorp, two heavyweights in the MENA and global investment scene, who are strengthening their strategic alliance to unlock a wider suite of shariah-compliant real estate investment opportunities. If you’re curious about how institutions are opening doors to resilient, alternative assets for our region, then this one’s worth a closer look.

As I’ve seen again and again at Arageek, cross-border collaborations tend to spark innovation – you can practically feel the energy when two firms with complementary strengths come together. Here, InvestGB, fully owned by Kuwait’s Gulf Bank, is determined to serve up fresh shariah-compliant projects to its high-net-worth and institutional clients. Their secret sauce? A knack for teaming up with major partners, like Investcorp, and a clear focus on asset classes that don’t just look impressive on a spreadsheet but also stand strong through market wobbles.

Since the start of their partnership, InvestGB hasn’t exactly been sitting on its hands. In fact, the company’s already committed capital to U.S. properties with a particular taste for light industrial facilities and student housing. You might think student housing is a bit niche, but given the steady demand and robust fundamentals in American university towns, I reckon that’s a spot on choice. Noorah AlSane, who heads up the real estate game at InvestGB, commented that this tie-up allows clients access to a more “diversified” and shariah-compliant portfolio – and, honestly, it’s a far cry from the one-size-fits-all boxes many wealth managers are still selling.

On the flip side, Investcorp isn’t some upstart. According to Real Capital Analytics, it ranks among the top five cross-border buyers of U.S. real estate over the last half-decade, with a staggering 98% of its American holdings focused in just two areas – industrial and residential. That’s not just throwing darts at a board; it’s methodical, to say the least. Mohammed AlSada, Managing Director at Investcorp, points out the firm’s thirty-year track record in real estate and notes that their approach has already scaled to over 20,000 student housing beds in roughly 30 deals. Pretty impressive numbers, though if I’m being candid, I’m not always convinced by “core-plus and light-value-add” jargon – sometimes it all boils down to how well you manage the properties week in, week out.

That said, the duo are plotting further moves together, including new offerings in student housing – a sector which isn’t always glamorous but can be a gold mine if done right. And believe it or not, the drive here really seems to be about resilience and sustainable returns, which is something startups around here are crying out for too.

Now, I’ve seen firsthand at Arageek how new opportunities like these can give the region’s entrepreneurs a much-needed boost. Sometimes, it’s not just the investment that matters but the fresh perspectives and what you can learn by watching how the ‘big fish’ handle big bets across borders.

For the uninitiated, InvestGB operates with a decent capital base of 10 million Kuwaiti Dinars and prides itself on its ethics and team of experienced professionals. Meanwhile, Investcorp manages assets to the tune of roughly $60 billion – a figure that might make your head spin, especially when you consider their global spread with offices from New York to Singapore.

So, whether you’re chuffed to bits about shariah-compliant finance or just keen to watch how the region’s major players keep pushing the envelope, this strengthened partnership is certainly one to keep an eye on. While the paperwork and legal phrasing around all these investments is a bit of a faff (let’s be honest), the doors being opened, the networks being forged, and the sheer ambition on display? That’s something that should energise all of us in the MENA startup world, even if you’re still just kicking off your first venture.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!

✉️ Send Us Your Story 👇

https://en.arageek.com/send-us-your-story-or-a-news-tip