A major Gulf investment company has focused itself on Saudi Arabia's booming economy aiming to invest in Saudi properties, in addition to its sustained interests in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

"Aside from the Kingdom's construction sector, with SR3 trillion worth of projects planned in the next five years which we are closely monitoring for our investment, we are also considering investments in companies in the oil and gas, water and telecom sectors," Karim El-Solh, CEO, Gulf Capital, told Arab News in an interview at the Jeddah Hilton.

"While we already have investments in companies involved in these sectors, we'll be looking forward to increasing them and also considering four other key sectors — construction, health care, education and logistics that are growing rapidly — for our future investments," El Solh said, who has over 14 years experience in investment banking, private equity and asset management.

Gulf Capital Private Joint Stock Company, incorporated in Abu Dhabi in May 2006, has 300 regional shareholders, 40 of them Saudis.

"The total equity capital raised was AED1.225 billion ($330 million) from 300 regional shareholders," he said. Sixty percent of it is subscribed by UAE institutional and individual investors and the remaining 40 percent by other regional shareholders. Gulf Capital's private share offering was more than five times oversubscribed, a rare feat for a private placement, thus highlighting "the firm's unique positioning and solid business model."

Gulf Capital was set up with a clear focus: To launch the most dynamic and sophisticated investment firm focused on investing in the GCC and MENA regions. This ambitious goal is backed by one of the largest equity capital bases in the industry, a diversified shareholding representing some of the most prestigious and sophisticated investors in the region, a ground-breaking industry advisory board and a team of seasoned professionals. In parallel to the core business focus of private equity, a real estate team has been developed to source, study, manage, and invest in and to create real estate opportunities and developments, spanning from residential to commercial and office prospects throughout the regions.