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Arab Capital focuses attention on the Spanish Real Estate market, intensifying its commitment to the national 'Brick'.

Financial interest from Arab nations is not limited to Telefónica. Investors from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar are broadening their focus to the Spanish real estate sector. In recent months, they have intensified their participation in companies and businesses related to tourism, luxury residential property and, especially, in the hotel sector. 

According to various industry sources consulted in this regard, the number of transactions in which these investors are involved has grown significantly. Although some of them already had an indirect presence in companies in the Spanish real estate market, the novelty lies in their commitment to direct investment and the taking of more substantial stakes in companies with Spanish capital. "They come mainly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt," say sources consulted by EL MUNDO, "However, following their trail is not always easy, since they often invest in unlisted companies, whose information is more opaque," the same sources add. 

Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, the Balearic Islands and Valencia are the locations most in demand by this profile of investors, who find in the Spanish real estate sector a strategic point to diversify their investments beyond oil. Until now, this type of investor had focused more on other European countries such as the United Kingdom or France, with London as the focal point for years. 

Gradually, however, their interests are changing, and Spain's sun and beach offer is presenting itself as an attractive opportunity for them. "Currently, we see them very active in the hotel sector," says another source consulted. One of the most outstanding operations in this direction materialized last summer, when the European Commission approved the acquisition of 17 hotels, owned by Equity Inmuebles and managed by Meliá, by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund (ADIA), for a total of 600 million euros. This transaction is one of the most significant in this sector in Spain in the last year. 

Another outstanding transaction involved the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, owned by the Andorran Reig family, which was acquired by the Saudi fund Olayan for approximately 240 million euros. This group already owned 50% of the Hotel Ritz in Madrid.