GFH Bank has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Octo Management Consultancies to jointly develop a $300 million logistics and industrial real estate platform across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The agreement, announced on June 9 during the 2026 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, aims to capitalize on the strong growth potential of the GCC's logistics and industrial sectors. The market continues to benefit from the rapid expansion of e-commerce, supply chain localization initiatives, manufacturing growth, and significant infrastructure investments across both countries.
Under the partnership, GFH will serve as the investment manager and development partner for the platform. The initiative will focus on logistics and industrial real estate opportunities, including large-scale warehouses, multi-tenant industrial facilities, cold storage assets, and distribution centers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The investment strategy will primarily target development-stage projects, combining build-to-suit and speculative developments to address rising occupier demand while creating long-term value for investors.
Commenting on the partnership, Luay Ahmadi, Managing Director and Global Head of Institutions at GFH, said the collaboration reinforces GFH's position as a leading regional developer and manager of industrial and logistics assets. He noted that the logistics sector in both markets continues to benefit from economic diversification programs, expanding trade activity, and growing demand for modern warehousing and distribution infrastructure.
Ahmadi added that the partnership aligns with GFH's strategy of investing in sectors with strong long-term fundamentals while delivering attractive opportunities through disciplined development and asset management. He also highlighted the bank's intention to leverage its regional expertise and execution capabilities to build a high-quality portfolio of institutional-grade logistics assets across the two markets.
Jekaterina Cernova, Founder of Octo Management, described the venture as a landmark initiative focused on one of the region's most dynamic and rapidly expanding sectors. She said the platform will provide investors with access to high-quality logistics and industrial assets supported by strong market fundamentals and GFH's extensive wealth and investment management experience.
The platform is expected to pursue projects offering attractive risk-adjusted returns through a combination of development expertise, active asset management, and disciplined market selection.
GFH currently manages approximately $24 billion in assets and funds, with investments spanning the GCC, the United States, and Europe across sectors including logistics, healthcare, education, technology, and real estate.