Gate Capital News Letter | Issue 734

CE-Ventures, the corporate venture capital platform of Crescent Enterprises, today announced its participation in the Series A funding round for Think Bioscience (“Think Bio”), a biotechnology company pioneering novel approaches to historically challenging drug targets.

The oversubscribed USD 55 million round was led by Regeneron Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Janus Henderson Investors, with participation from CE-Ventures, MBX Capital, T.A. Springer, and YK Bioventures, alongside returning investors AV8 Ventures, CU Innovations, and Buff Gold Ventures.

Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company Masdar announced on Friday that its consortium with Al Khadra Partners, Korea Midland Power Co. (KOMIPO) and OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), has reached financial close on the Ibri III Solar Independent Power Project (IPP), Oman’s first utility-scale solar and battery storage development.

Project finance was secured from Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Masdar said in a press statement.

Abu Dhabi sovereign ‍wealth fund Mubadala ‍is targeting opportunities in artificial ​intelligence and robotics, viewing the sectors as a major ⁠source of industrial growth and a guide for ⁠future investments, its ‌group CEO said on Tuesday.

The $330 billion fund has been expanding its technology portfolio ⁠in recent years, with stakes in companies spanning semiconductors, data centres and AI infrastructure.

The GCC economies have entered 2026 with renewed growth momentum, underpinned by a broad-based expansion in non-oil activity and a gradual recovery in hydrocarbon production, with the UAE emerging as one of the region’s strongest performers.

Dubai Holding, a diversified global investment company with investments in more than 30 countries, today announced the acquisition of the five-star Jumeirah Mallorca in Spain.

Dubai-listed Unikai Foods has received a cash offer from a Kuwaiti buyer proposing to acquire a majority stake in the company for between AED 128 and AED 131 million ($35 million).

Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company Masdar announced on Friday that its consortium with Al Khadra Partners, Korea Midland Power Co. (KOMIPO) and OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), has reached financial close on the Ibri III Solar Independent Power Project (IPP), Oman’s first utility-scale solar and battery storage development.

Project finance was secured from Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Masdar said in a press statement. The statement didn’t disclose the transaction details but said the facilities will cover a substantial part of the total project cost of around $300 million.

Red Sea International Company has announced that its key subsidiary, The Fundamental Installation for Electric Work Company, has signed an agreement with The Saudi Investment Bank to secure multi-purpose funding facilities worth SAR200 million ($53.3 million).

Grove, a Riyadh-based technology company specialising in the fresh-produce sector, has successfully closed a $5 million Seed funding round led by Outliers VC with participation from a group of angel investors.

OpenCX, an AI-native enterprise customer communication platform, has raised $7 million in a funding round led by Y Combinator (participating for the second time) and X by Unifonic, with participation from MENA’s leading investment firm Shorooq.

Safanad, a Riyadh-based principal-led investment company that builds world-class businesses, has announced that it is accelerating the growth of its US digital infrastructure platform, Element Critical, through the launch of a new US data centre platform supported by $1 billion from top US institutional investment partners.

Egyptian real estate developer Marakez has secured a 3 billion Egyptian pounds ($63.3 million) financing facility from Kuwait Finance House – Egypt (KFH-Egypt) to expand the commercial component of its 200-acre District 5 mixed-use development in New Cairo, the company said.

Qatar Investment Authority and Goldman Sachs have ‍signed a ‍preliminary agreement to expand their strategic partnership, targeting $25 ​billion in investments by the Gulf wealth fund in Goldman-managed ⁠vehicles and co-investment opportunities.

Alta Semper, a London-based private equity firm focused on healthcare and consumer investments across growth markets, has announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Nature’s Rule, a leading sports nutrition and dietary supplements company headquartered in the UAE, with an established manufacturing presence in Egypt.

GFH Partners, a Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) headquartered investment manager and the global real estate investment arm of GFH Financial Group, has announced that it has successfully completed its co-investment in Cold-Link Logistics – one of the 10 largest privately-held temperature controlled logistics platforms in North America – in consortium with Slate Asset Management, a global investor focused on essential real estate and infrastructure, and funds managed by Hamilton Lane, a leading global private markets investment firm.

Adnoc Gas, a major unit of Abu National Oil Company (Adnoc) and its subsidiaries today (January 19) announced the signing of a sales and purchase agreement valued at between $2.5 billion – $3 billion for a period of 10 years with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

EDGE Group and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings have agreed to establish a joint venture focused on the collaborative development of advanced defence technologies, reinforcing long-term industrial cooperation between the UAE and Qatar.

The Arab Energy Fund has acquired a minority stake in Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Petroleum Supply Co., backing one of the Kingdom’s largest private energy solutions providers as it looks to expand across the Middle East and beyond.