MENA industrial market on the rise

Real estate markets across MENA will see a significant shift in emphasis over the next few years, with far greater attention being focussed on the light industrial/logistics market, according to the latest House View on MENA real estate market from Jones Lang LaSalle, the leading global real estate advisory firm.

By (WAM)

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Published: Sun 12 Dec 2010, 4:01 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 10:07 AM

“This is consistent with government initiatives to expand the volume of trade which forms an integral component of efforts to diversify the region’s economic base from the oil and gas sector,’ the December report says.

The final edition of Jones Lang LaSalle MENA’s 2010 House View highlights how light industrial/logistics will be one of the best performing sectors in the real estate market across MENA over the next few years.

The report notes that light industrial/logistics will be one of the best performing sectors

of the real estate market across MENA over the next few years. This sector has not witnessed the same level of speculative construction as the residential, commercial and hotel sectors of the market. There remains strong underlying demand for quality light industrial and logistics units.

This demand, the report adds, will be enhanced by continued investment in major new transport infrastructure including seaports, airports and important new rail initiatives across the GCC.

Given its strategic significance to the overall economy, the light industrial/logistics market has been tightly controlled by individual governments in the MENA region. While there are increasing opportunities for private sector investment in this sector, the barriers to entry remain higher than in other sectors of the real estate market.

There has been increased interest in this sector from a range of regional and international investors and developers over the past two years. Despite the difficulties in accessing this market, Jones Lang LaSalle expects this interest to be reflected in higher levels of sales activity in this emerging class.

“Investor interest is likely to be strongest for those properties securely leased to major international occupiers on long-term leases. The light industrial/logistics market offers more opportunities for investors looking for secure, long-term income producing assets than other sectors of the real estate market.


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