Teamwork, as they say, makes the dream work. The adage also appears to hold for investors such as Antony G, a Dubai resident who owns a portion of several multifamily apartment complexes in the US.
The British citizen, who asked that only his first name be used for privacy reasons, takes the syndicated approach to property investment.
Real estate syndication – pooling money with others for mutual returns – allows buyers to gain access to large properties that may be out of their reach, using smaller investments than if they were to buy outright.
With sums starting at $50,000, these projects offer a lower-risk route to passive income without the burden of day-to-day maintenance.
Antony owns houses across the Midwest, but being part of a syndication lets him expand his portfolio, he says.
“I already invest in other real estate. Syndication gives me bigger reach to other markets and larger apartment complexes,” he tells The National.
He is one of many regional residents seeking their own American dream – owning a piece of US real estate.
More companies are now offering these options to investors in the UAE and the Middle East.
Among them is Glenwood Equity, the property investment management company that Antony uses. It has worked with more than 500 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) over the past seven years to invest in property across the US, says co-founder and managing partner Rebecca Moreira.
“We help international investors, primarily Middle Eastern-based investors, access highly curated and principal-protected co-investments across a variety of commercial real estate asset classes in the US,” she says. “Investors come to us when they are looking for global diversification in hard assets in established markets.”
The company requires a minimum investment of $100,000 (Dh370,000). “However, most investors invest on average $300,000 with us on each project,” Ms Moreira says.
Glenwood Equity focuses on apartment complexes with more than 150 units, called multifamily properties in the US. As of this year, it has added land and new development options, including hotels, industrial space, healthcare complexes and data centres.
The company's syndicated properties include a short-term investment of six to nine months on a rezoning project over 92.7 hectares of waterfront land, offering return of 24 per cent per annum.
In January, it merged with US-based private wealth management company Patel Family Office to expand across the GCC and Turkey. The move caters to growing international investor demand for properties in the US, Ms Moreira says.
“The US is a leader in capital outflows from the Middle East and co-investments are a strategy that investors look for to share the risk and increase diversification during economic uncertainty,” she says.
The GCC’s strong economic growth last year resulted in “healthy levels of international investments by state-owned entities across global real estate markets [and] is expected to continue in the near term, albeit they will tread with caution”, real estate advisory JLL forecast in January.
Overall, the US attracts more than $30 billion in investment from the Middle East, the report said.
The $20 trillion US commercial real estate industry has been resilient so far this year, JP Morgan said in a May outlook report.
Multifamily properties remain strong, with the national vacancy rate at 3.9 per cent in April, compared with 4.5 per cent at the end of 2022. Retail and industrial properties are also strong, although demand for office space has declined.
Syndicated investments, like outright property purchases, are typically illiquid investments held for the medium term.
“It is not uncommon for an asset to appreciate between 30 per cent to 40 per cent. If responsible financing has been used, equity investors have enjoyed equity multiples of two and three times over four years,” Ms Moreira says.
Besides capital appreciation, investors can also receive cash flows over the investment period, she adds.
“Cash on cash returns could be anything from 5 per cent to 9 per cent. The capital appreciation return on the sale could be between 30 per cent to 70 per cent.”
Dubai luxury property buyer trends – in pictures
Investors do not sacrifice their risk tolerance for these returns, she says.
“The investment analysis is made on in-place financials or pro forma numbers with a robust rationale so investors can directly evaluate potential returns [over] a particular time frame,” she says.
“This is unlike angel investing or VC [venture capital] investing, for example, where many of those investments are made with speculation and uncertainty of what or when the return will be.”
But investing in US real estate may carry other benefits for those with more cash to hand – such as a green card. The EB-5 Investor Visa Programme, the US version of a golden visa, offers permanent residency to those investing between $800,000 to $1,050,000, depending on the area, in a project that creates at least 10 new jobs.
LCP Group, a US-based private real estate investment manager that has an office in Dubai, puts together multi-investor property deals for international clients. Some projects come with an EB-5 immigration option.
“LCP has capitalised more than $500 million in debt and equity transactions, with an aggregate value of more than $5 billion, through its EB-5 investment programme,” says Denis Karasev, vice-president of the EB-5 division.
LCP has structured more than a dozen EB-5 projects that employed more than 34,000 workers and set about 1,000 foreign investors from 32 countries on the path to a US green card, Mr Karasev says.
Its clients hail from nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India, the Philippines, France, Germany and the UK.
When buying via a syndicate, it is really important to understand your obligations and restrictions as an investor
Keren Bobker,
independent financial adviser and senior partner at Holborn Assets
LCP’s projects across the US include hotels operating under the Hilton and Marriott brands, as well as a golf course, student housing, a bus terminal and a 400-unit multifamily apartment building.
Depending on the investment, LCP’s clients can invest in projects for between $50,000 and several million dollars, Mr Karasev says.
“While the target returns to investors that invest in an LCP project may vary depending on the investment, we have historically paid approximately 15 per cent to over 25 per cent returns in recent years,” he says.
The average investment period is three to five years.
However, as with any asset class, investors must pay close attention to where they are putting their money.
In April, four apartment buildings valued at $229 million in Houston, Texas, were foreclosed after the investor, Applesway Investment Group, defaulted on its loans, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Investors must thoroughly examine any potential deal, says Keren Bobker, an independent financial adviser and senior partner at Holborn Assets in Dubai.
Consider the quality of the property, the general area and the availability of tenants. For new builds, add due diligence on the developer and its track record, and seek completion guarantees.
“When buying via a syndicate, it is really important to understand your obligations and restrictions as an investor. Can you sell easily? What if other investors want to get out? Are the management licensed and experienced? There should be a watertight contract and that needs to be read in detail and understood,” Ms Bobker says.
“Specific rules apply to real estate syndicates in the US that are set up as investment vehicles. Any business that manages syndicates must be registered with the SEC for investors’ protection. If someone wants to do this privately with a group of friends or family, they should still have proper agreements drawn up by a lawyer to protect the interests of all parties.”
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Mann%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adam%20Driver%2C%20Penelope%20Cruz%2C%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Patrick%20Dempsey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more about the coronavirus
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
UAE%20FIXTURES
%3Cp%3EWednesday%2019%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3EFriday%2021%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3ESunday%2023%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2026%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2029%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3ESunday%2030%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Third%20position%20match%3Cbr%3EMonday%201%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
