Middle East investment in London set to rise 30% in 2018
Middle Eastern investment in London is expected to top £1.38 billion ($1.75 billion) in 2018, up 30 percent on last year's activity, according to real estate firm Savills. The total is also 9 percent higher than 2016 as key deals included Dubai-based investor, SRG Holding Limited, acquiring the freehold interest in Victoria Beckham's global headquarters in Hammersmith Road for £16.8 million. Savills also said it advised Soor Capital on acquiring Austin Friars, for £39.05 million in the group’s first investment in the UK. Hassan Farran, director in the cross-border investment team at Savills, said: “There has been a notable uptick in transactional activity by Middle Eastern investors in London in 2018 when compared to the 18 months that immediately followed the EU referendum. "These investors, many of whom are active in the UK and mainland Europe, are attracted to London’s liquidity and comparative value, and the resilience London’s investment market continues to demonstrate.” Last month, Cluttons said the ‘discount' for dollar-based buyers, which covers most GCC states, stood at around 29 percent for London residential property, when compared to the market peak in Q3 2007. According to Cluttons about half of all residential transactions in prime central London are to international buyers. Of this group, 15-20 percent are from the Middle East.
Tags : INTERNATIONAL