Region in Focus: Middle East

In 2024, Brookfield, together with institutional partners, agreed to invest in GEMS Education. Founded in 1959 in Dubai, GEMS is a global operator of private K-12 schools, with more than 135,000 students enrolled in 61 schools across the UAE, Qatar and the U.K. The company is the largest operator of private K-12 schools in the Middle East and offers various international school curricula with adjacent services including student transportation and after-school activities. Read press coverage.

In 2024, Brookfield acquired Network International, the market-leading digital payment processor in the Middle East and Africa. The business has a strong record of growth supported by an integrated technology-enabled platform covering the entire payments value chain. The company also has a diversified customer base, servicing more than 150,000 merchants and 200 financial institutions across more than 50 countries. Read press coverage.

In 2022, Brookfield acquired Magnati, the second largest payment processor in the United Arab Emirates.  As a payment processor to over 30,000 merchants in the region, Magnati is well-positioned to benefit from growing e-commerce demand and digital disruption within the payment space. Brookfield partnered with First Abu Dhabi Bank—a long relationship of ours and one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East—to enhance the business’ technology offerings and accelerate its growth to become a regional leader in the payments sector. Read press coverage.

In 2024, Brookfield and Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) agreed to sell a 49% stake in ICD Brookfield Place to Olayan Financing Company and Lunate. ICD Brookfield Place is a world-class commercial and retail property located in the Dubai International Financial Centre. The mixed-use real property provides high-quality space to major global financial institutions, law firms and multinational corporations. Read press coverage.

In one of the largest ever global energy infrastructure transactions, a consortium of investors—including Brookfield—acquired a 49% stake in ADNOC’s natural gas pipelines. This highly strategic energy infrastructure serves as the critical link between the UAE’s low-cost natural gas supply and robust in-country demand. Read press coverage

In 2019, a Brookfield affiliate acquired a joint control stake in a portfolio of three high-end mixed-use real estate assets located along Dubai’s coastline and the prime suburb of Jumeirah. The portfolio includes retail, office and entertainment assets, with lifestyle destinations including The Beach, City Walk and J1 Beach. Strategic repositioning and development projects are underway to drive further value across this portfolio. Read press coverage