Gate Capital News Letter | Issue 733

Sustainable Infrastructure Holding Co. (SISCO Holding) completed on Jan. 12 the acquisition of a 51% ownership stake in Port Services & Storage Co. Limited (PSS) for an agreed purchase price of SAR 132.6 million

SISCO Holding explained that the transaction includes an initial cash payment of SAR 91.8 million, in addition to conditional performance-based payments of up to SAR 40.8 million, subject to the achievement of specific financial targets over the next two years.

Abu Dhabi conglomerate IHC and the United States’ global investment arm, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, have signed a deal to jointly invest in the emerging and frontier markets.

The two entities will work together to identify, underwrite and execute investments. They are expected to work on initiatives in markets outside the US, including projects that align with major global trade and connectivity corridors.

Arcapita Group Holdings Limited, the global alternative investment firm, has entered a joint venture partnership with Cloud Capital to acquire a 21-megawatt data centre in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with plans to expand its capacity to 31MW.

Cloud Capital is a leading global data centre investment management firm with a diversified portfolio of 26 high-quality data centre assets totalling more than$5.5 billion in assets under management, with long-standing relationships with top-tier tenants in the sector.

Growth in the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) region is expected to reach 3.6% in 2026, improving further to 3.9% in 2027, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report released on Tuesday.

Mal, an AI-driven Islamic digital bank founded by fintech entrepreneur Abdallah Abu-Sheikh, has secured a $230 million strategic investment led by BlueFive Capital, with participation from strategic investors and family offices.

Flooss, Bahrain’s leading Sharia-compliant digital consumer financing platform, has secured a $22 million credit facility, structured by Shorooq, a leading Abu Dhabi-headquartered investment firm regulated by the FSRA as a Fund Manager.

Jadwa Investment announced the launch of its flagship private credit fund, Jadwa GCC Diversified Private Credit Fund, with a target size of up to SAR 750 million ($200 million).

In a statement, the company said the fund has successfully completed its first close at over SAR 300 million ($80 million) and has already deployed capital into its first two investments, in partnerships with regional fintech platforms Lendo and JeelPay. Two further investments are expected to close in the first half of 2026.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is transferring nearly $12 billion worth of gaming company shares—including stakes in companies such as Nintendo and Bandai Namco—to its subsidiary, Savvy Group, Bloomberg reported, citing a document it reviewed.

Governata, Saudi Arabia’s first enterprise Data Management and Governance platform, has raised $4 million in Seed Funding from leading venture capital firms and prominent angel investors. This milestone marks a significant step in the Kingdom’s shift toward a data-driven, AI-enabled economy.

Merak Capital, a Saudi-based investment firm licensed by the Capital Market Authority, has led a SAR 2.2 million ($600,000) seed round in Khosouf Studio, a UAE-based independent game developer specialising in premium PC, console, and virtual reality titles.

Phaze Ventures today announced our participation in eMushrif’s $7.5 million funding round, backing the team again as they accelerate their next phase of growth. The round was led by Jasoor Ventures and also saw participation from Annex Investment, Ithca Group, IDO Investment, and a number of other prominent private investors.

Solico Group, one of the Middle East’s trusted food manufacturers, has expanded its regional footprint with the launch of SoFood, an AED130 million ($35.4 million) purpose-built production facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai.

Al Kuzama Trading Co. acquired a 30% stake in TwentyFour Cafe Co., a limited liability company operating in the beverages sector, for SAR 39 million, according to a statement to Tadawul.

SKH Family Office, registered with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of The Cove Rotana Resort in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah from Orascom Development Holding.

The UAE Creators HQ and Silicon Valley venture capital firm 500 Global have unveiled a major new push to scale creator-led startups, with companies supported through their latest accelerator now collectively valued at more than $130m.

French oil major TotalEnergies TTEF.PA has formed a 50-50 joint venture with Bahrain’s Bapco Energies called BxT Trading, it said on Wednesday. The Middle East-focused venture will trade in relation to products from Bapco’s 267,000 barrels-per-day Sitra refinery.

Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co.’s (AMAK) board of directors approved today, Jan. 14, the establishment of a wholly owned simplified joint-stock subsidiary, capitalized at SAR 100 million, according to a statement to Tadawul.

Vennre, the private markets investment platform headquartered in Riyadh and London, has announced its first real estate deal in Saudi Arabia, thus marking a milestone in the firm’s expansion within the kingdom.