Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund road show kicks off in the GCC

The aim of this road show is to advocate the Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund to regional investors from the GCC.

Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund is a closed-end, Bahraini fund managed by Atlas Investment Group, the Investment Banking arm of Arab Bank plc.

The Fund is a flagship real estate product for Saraya and Arab Bank designed to capitalize on the unprecedented growth and development sweeping the region reflected in the high demand for real estate and tourism, products and services.

The Fund seeks to raise $250 million through issuing 2,500 units with a par value of $100,000 per unit, of which Saraya Holdings and Arab Bank have committed to provide a seed capital of $50 million ($25 million each).

Saraya Holdings Vice Chairman, Ali Kolaghassi said

"We are confident of the Saraya Fund's appeal to regional and international investors, especially now when tourism and real estate projects are increasingly becoming more focal investment opportunities in the region." Further adding "The strategy behind the Fund is unique and creates high value investment opportunities, primarily in Saraya's real estate and tourism projects, that will positively generate income and capital gains to investors."

Omar M. Masri, Global Head of Investment Banking at Arab Bank and Managing Director of Atlas Investment Group, stated, "We believe that the Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund offers regional and international investors the opportunity to capitalise on the region's flourishing sectors of real estate and tourism, allowing them to augment and diversify their portfolios. This road show will provide us with the opportunity to showcase the investment value in the Saraya Fund to potential investors."

The Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund will primarily invest in real estate and tourism projects through direct equity investment, with an initial focus on countries in the GCC and the Levant. Saraya Real Estate Development Group (SDG), acting as Property Adviser to the Fund, will provide advisory, structuring and management services to the projects being considered by the Fund. Atlas Investment Group, with offices in Amman and Dubai, will act as the Fund Manager.

SDG is a real estate development adviser, program manager and asset manager, with offices in Amman and Dubai. Managed by a group of highly-qualified real estate and finance professionals, SDG's scope of services encompasses overall project and program management and includes technical, financial, commercial, and marketing services. SDG will also supervise the work of specialist consultants in the areas of market research, architecture, urban planning, engineering, communications, and capital raising.

Atlas Investment Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arab Bank plc, is one of the oldest, full-fledged investment banking firms in the MENA region. Serving institutional, corporate, government, and individual clients, Atlas offers a full range of financial services in the areas of corporate finance, asset management, brokerage, and research. The Asset Management team at Atlas, a leading regional investment manager, provides a range of portfolio management services and investment products. The Asset Management team has built an impressive track record, wherein it has consistently outperformed regional benchmarks.

The Saraya Real Estate MENA Fund will be placed with institutional and individual investors through Arab Bank's Global Wealth Management & Private Banking Group. The Fund is targeting institutional and individual investors, with long-term investment horizons.