Saudi Company Acquires US Medical Campus

Saudi Company Acquires US Medical Campus
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Saudi Company Acquires US Medical Campus

Saudi Company Acquires US Medical Campus

Saudi-based Arbah Capital has announced its investors’ acquisition of the Commonwealth Campus, a $59m high income-producing diversified medical campus in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, United States.

The Campus includes prominent tenants such as Ambrosia Treatment Centers Group, Temple Health University, and Northeastern Partners.

Arbah, a financial investment company licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority, said it was able to secure the acquisition at a significant discount to the market valuation carried out by the US CBRE Group, providing further security to its investors.

Philadelphia is known as a medical and education hub and 1/5 of all US physicians have trained there.

The property itself has undergone more than $23m in recent refurbishment including a brand new building on site, which will open as a new outpatient facility for Ambrosia, and a wellbeing center, which is due to open in January 2021.

Arbah CEO Mahmood al-Kooheji has stated that the company’s main strategy is to find the right growth sectors for its investors and organize the investments in these sectors with leading partners who have a proven track record.

Arbah’s reputation and professionalism attract prominent partners to offer investments with added-value to its investors, he added.

The company is very proud to have once again found and executed such an excellent investment in a growing sector and with the best partner, Hampshire Stateside.

Hampshire Companies manage more than 270 properties and have Assets Under Management (AUM) of over $2.4bn in the US.

This investment reflects Arbah’s strategy of acquiring distinctive assets within excellent locations in defensive sectors like social infrastructure and industrial real estate, reflecting its investment strategy in finding exclusive high-quality opportunities for its investors, Kooheji noted.



After Trump’s Victory, Arab Demands for Competitive Advantages Due to Regional Tensions

Donald Trump addresses his supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. (EPA)
Donald Trump addresses his supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. (EPA)
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After Trump’s Victory, Arab Demands for Competitive Advantages Due to Regional Tensions

Donald Trump addresses his supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. (EPA)
Donald Trump addresses his supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. (EPA)

With the election of Donald Trump as US president, the global economy has gained direction for the coming years. Trump’s policies favor corporate tax cuts, increased investment, and expansionary monetary policies. He also promotes local production to boost job creation, which involves imposing significant tariffs on trade partners, particularly in Asia. This approach could trigger a trade war, affecting inflation in both the US and worldwide.

The US economy is already grappling with high prices, slower economic growth, and rising unemployment, alongside a national debt nearing 99% of GDP. This backdrop underscores the importance of economic issues in the recent election.

For the new US administration, domestic concerns will not be the sole priority. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially recent Middle Eastern conflicts, will also impact the US economy. To gain regional insights, Asharq Al-Awsat consulted economists from various Arab nations on their expectations and requests from the US president regarding the Middle East.

Priority of Regional Stability

Dr. Mohamed Youssef, an Egyptian economist, emphasized that regional stability is crucial, benefiting the economy and paving the way for resolving complex issues like the Nile Dam dispute affecting Egypt. He highlighted the American role in fostering calm in the region.

Iraqi economist Durgham Mohamed Ali noted that US relations vary across the Middle East; while Lebanon and Yemen remain outside current US alliances, Sudan and Somalia require international aid to rebuild infrastructure.

Competitive Advantage for Arab Countries

Ahmed Moaty, a global markets expert from Egypt, suggested that reduced US tariffs would improve Arab economies’ competitiveness. However, he pointed out the American high debt could motivate the administration to impose tariffs to protect local industries and reduce imports. Ali observed that US tariffs are interest-driven and selective, favoring allies like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea while being stringent toward BRICS members, such as China, Brazil, and South Africa. He linked tariff policies to regional geopolitics, especially the conflicts involving Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran, which could influence US economic decisions.

Dr. Mohamed Youssef also argued that easing US-China competition could benefit the global economy, as high tariffs on Chinese goods reduce China’s growth, decreasing demand for key commodities like oil.

Ibrahim Al-Nwaibet, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Value Capital, predicted that a Republican win could positively impact oil and interest rates, revitalizing the petrochemical and trade finance sectors.

On currency, Moaty noted the strong US dollar pressures emerging markets, especially in the Middle East. He suggested offering US Treasury bonds with higher yields to Arab countries as a counterbalance. Ali added that the dollar’s strength poses challenges for countries heavily reliant on US currency amid global liquidity shortages.

The BRICS Bloc

Ali also mentioned the high levels of US debt, explaining: “In general, the entire world is concerned about rising US debt, slowing growth rates... and is wary of the BRICS alliance, which some Arab countries hope to join. The question remains whether a cold economic war will ensue.”

Youssef also discussed the BRICS, which could play a role in attracting the new US president’s attention to countries joining the alliance. He added: “This may provide new competitive advantages for countries in the region, particularly as countries like Egypt, the UAE, and Iran recently joined BRICS, while Saudi Arabia is still evaluating the benefits of such move.”