Homes England has teamed up with Vistry Group to create a new joint venture called Hestia, aimed at accelerating the development of large, mixed-tenure communities in England. Backed by a combined investment of GBP 150 million (around USD 203.58 million), Hestia will focus on residential projects ranging from 400 to 3,000 homes each. The initiative aligns with the UK government's target of building 1.5 million homes in this parliamentary term and also seeks to support smaller housebuilders while promoting social and affordable housing.Read more

Permira and Blackstone have taken a USD 525 million minority stake in Dubai-based real estate classifieds platform Property Finder, reflecting continued investor interest in the emirate's property market. General Atlantic, an early investor since 2018, has partially exited while maintaining a significant stake. The deal will give Property Finder access to global expertise from all three private equity firms as it expands across the Middle East and North Africa. The platform is also targeting growth in Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid a shifting Dubai property market.Read more

Office developers in China are facing record-high vacancy levels in top-tier cities and are resorting to rent reductions and added incentives to attract tenants. Cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai have some of the highest vacancy rates, with landlords offering concessions such as cheaper utilities and subsidies for electric vehicle charging. Market analysts say weak corporate demand, cost-cutting, and multinationals scaling back have pushed leasing activity down. Developers are also relying on flexible lease options, but a prolonged market correction is still expected given oversupply and slowing economic momentum.Read more

Ethiopia has inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydropower project in Africa, designed to supply electricity to millions and strengthen regional energy networks. While the dam promises economic growth and energy access, it has escalated tensions with Egypt, which depends on the Nile for 90% of its water and fears shortages and future upstream projects. Sudan seeks agreements but may benefit from the dam. Funded largely by Ethiopia, the project has become a national unifying symbol, even as rural populations remain partially unconnected to the national grid.Read more

PRS REIT confirmed that U.S. private equity giant KKR has joined its formal sale process, which already includes a takeover bid from Long Harbour. While no formal offer has yet been made, KKR's entry lifted PRS REIT's shares by 8.8% to 106.6 pence, topping the FTSE mid-cap index. Long Harbour's existing cash offer, submitted in June, values the REIT at £631.6 million, or 115 pence per share. Analysts say weak UK valuations are drawing U.S. investors, with KKR pursuing multiple British firms this year. PRS REIT, focused on family rental homes, launched its sale process after a strategic review in late 2024.Read more

Emaar Misr for Development has entered into an agreement with Saudi and Emirati partners to develop a large-scale tourism project on Egypt's Red Sea coast. The project, named Marassi Red Sea, is expected to attract investments of around INR 900 billion (USD 18.58 billion). It is designed to cover an area of 170 square kilometres and aims to generate USD 100-200 million in annual revenues through tourism-related activities. The project was first revealed earlier this year and is being viewed as part of Egypt's wider strategy to attract foreign investment amid ongoing economic challenges.Read more

Blackstone's GBP 489 million (USD 660.8 million) offer for Warehouse REIT has become unconditional, clearing a key step toward completing the acquisition of the UK-based logistics property trust. The U.S. private equity group raised its bid to 115 pence per share in July after initially proposing GBP 470 million earlier in the year, a move that convinced Warehouse REIT's board to change its recommendation from rival bidder Tritax Big Box REIT. The bidding contest ended in August when Tritax withdrew its GBP 485.2 million cash-plus-stock proposal. Blackstone's successful bid highlights the strong investor interest in logistics real estate driven by ecommerce demand.Read more

The Philippines has introduced a new law allowing foreign investors to lease private land for up to 99 years, replacing the previous 50-year lease term with a 25-year extension. This move aims to enhance the country's competitiveness in attracting long-term offshore funding for commercial and industrial projects. The law addresses investor concerns about lease contract stability, especially for multi-decade investments, as the Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign ownership of private land.Read more

The South Korean government introduced stricter mortgage regulations in Seoul this past week, alongside plans to increase affordable housing supply in the capital. The loan-to-value ratio in affluent areas such as Gangnam and Yongsan has been reduced to 40% from 50%. Authorities also outlined a strategy to utilise land owned by state-run developers and ease redevelopment rules to address the persistent housing shortage.Read more

Emirati property developers have intensified efforts to attract British investors to Dubai, with the pound's strength against the dirham making property purchases significantly cheaper. The dollar-pegged dirham, hit by U.S. tariffs, has lost about 8% against sterling since January, effectively giving UK buyers a discount. Developers including Binghatti, Danube, Aldar and Damac have opened sales offices in London, introduced flexible payment options and even launched branded projects to target this demand. British buyers have since overtaken Indians as Dubai's top foreign investors.Read more