Gaw Capital Partners and Dubai-based GFH Partners have formed a joint venture to launch a new industrial and logistics platform in the United Arab Emirates. Gaw Capital will take a majority stake in the partnership, which aims to act as a bridge for Asian investors to access the UAE’s expanding property market.

The venture will focus on high-quality industrial developments, starting with seed assets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Construction and development will be managed by Manrre Developments, a partnership between GFH and Palmon Group.

Harry Ip, Managing Director of Gaw Capital, said: “We are thrilled to enter UAE’s flourishing industrial and logistics market, supported by strong fundamentals, the surge in structural demand driven by government-led initiatives, and heightened global interest in the logistics and industrial asset class. Leveraging the expertise from GFH Partners, this partnership positions us as one of Asia’s leading forerunners in delivering prime industrial facilities in the UAE, providing investors with exposure to a fundamentally undersupplied market.”

Nael Mustafa, CEO of GFH Partners, commented: “GFH Partners brings on-the-ground specialists, experienced local operators, and a strong track record managing logistics and industrial assets across the GCC. This joint venture allows us to scale that regional expertise even further, capitalizing on the UAE’s robust industrial growth trajectory. Through this partnership with Gaw Capital, we are combining regional insight with global capability to unlock new opportunities in the UAE’s expanding industrial and logistics sector.”

The launch aligns with the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. These policies include tax and customs duty exemptions alongside relaxed foreign ownership rules to attract investment. The UAE population is also projected to reach 12.2 million by 2030, supported by Golden Visa incentives.

Current demand for logistics space is high, with occupancy in Dubai exceeding 97% and rents rising 33% year-on-year. This marks Gaw Capital’s first entry into the UAE logistics market. As of Q3 2025, the firm manages over US$3.4 billion in logistics assets globally, with a portfolio spanning 3.8 million square metres across China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Australia.