Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Lunate have announced a strategic partnership to establish the Gulf Logistics Infrastructure Development Enterprise (GLIDE), a $5 billion platform dedicated to developing, acquiring, and managing Grade A logistics assets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The GLIDE platform aims to address the growing demand for modern logistics facilities in the GCC, driven by factors such as economic diversification, increased e-commerce activity, and the expansion of manufacturing sectors. The platform will focus on greenfield developments, selective portfolio acquisitions, and sale-and-leaseback transactions with leading regional businesses.
Blackstone brings its global expertise in logistics real estate, managing over 1.2 billion square feet of logistics assets worldwide, while Lunate offers deep regional insights and investment capabilities. Together, they plan to deploy capital into high-quality warehouse assets across the GCC, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The GCC logistics market is experiencing significant growth, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.1% from 2024 to 2033. This growth is fueled by the region’s economic transformation, characterized by pro-growth policies, favorable demographic shifts, and broad-based economic diversification.
Despite this growth, there remains a notable infrastructure gap in Grade A logistics facilities, creating compelling investment opportunities for platforms like GLIDE to meet the rising demand for modern logistics infrastructure.
GLIDE is expected to attract additional strategic partners from the region and will operate with dedicated teams across the GCC to support its growth and development. The platform’s focus on high-quality logistics assets positions it to play a pivotal role in enhancing the region’s logistics infrastructure and supporting the broader economic objectives of the GCC countries.
As the GCC continues to evolve into a global logistics hub, the GLIDE platform represents a significant step toward building the infrastructure necessary to support the region’s dynamic economic landscape.
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