Gateway Markets.

Our aim is to have a presence in the markets we believe will be the most resilient and best performing around the world. Relative to their national average, Gateway Markets typically experience higher population growth; have the most appealing employment prospects; are more resilient through property and economic cycles; and attract more global investment capital.

To identify the Gateway Markets most relevant to our strategy and capabilities, we evaluate key metrics including economic, business climate, geopolitical risks, urbanisation potential and capital market indicators. We also evaluate global cities on additional metrics such as demographics, demand drivers, property fundamentals, unique attributes, policy and planning frameworks and our partnership presence in a target market.

Continental Europe.

The market expects 2023 to be the 'year of the catch-up' and 2025 to be the 'year of the investor' as a potential rebound from the current recession, coupled with a supply squeeze, creating a new wave of opportunity for investors.

With regard to London, in the UK's tight labour market and with flexible working now embedded, developers, transport bodies and local authorities are combining to make offices a destination. In addition to high standards of sustainability, occupiers now want offices that are bright, airy and attractive, and surrounded by shops, bars, gyms and restaurants. This is undoubtedly an exciting time to be in real estate across Continental Europe.

Middle East.

Pent-up demand from travellers and increased spending by residents led the post-pandemic recovery of the real estate sector in Dubai. Amidst global economic uncertainty and recessionary fears, Dubai’s status as a safe haven has attracted investors to the market throughout 2022.

Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.6% in Q3 2022 and is expected to grow by 8.3% in Q4 2022, before moderating to 3.7% and 2.3% in 2023 and 2024 respectively, according to the World Bank. The post-COVID recovery of the real estate sector is led by increasing tourist demand and government spending on infrastructure projects such as the Riyadh Airport expansion, among others.

United States.

With 25+ years of experience investing in the global markets, M&G combines local market knowledge and long‐standing relationships to identify, evaluate, and manage investments for its clients. M&G seeks best‐in‐class partners and has developed an extensive operating partner network of leading real estate companies across the US.

These partnerships provide additional access to off‐market opportunities, augment M&G’s local presence, enhance market underwriting and M&G’s due diligence and asset management through the life of investments.

Smart Cities.

We believe technology and data, infrastructure and service systems can be used to enhance the way our cities work. However, our cities and urban areas need to be more than 'smart', they need to be liveable, healthy and sustainable places.

Technological solutions such as big data and the internet of things are a part of the solution but so too are strong regulatory and governance frameworks.

Smart solutions, including smart cities will be delivered when urban environments and cities deliver superior environmental, social and

economic outcomes for our communities.

What is a Smart City?

A smart city is where traditional networks and services are made more flexible, efficient and sustainable with the use of information, digital and telecommunications technologies, to improve how a city operates.

Using data to measure and improve the performance of urban systems lies at the heart of the concept.

Smart cities should provide their citizens with the following:

Data as a utility – providing an ability to collect, communicate and analyse data
Smart Infrastructure – using smart infrastructure technologies to provide more intelligent services
Smart technology enablers – using the Internet of Things to lay the groundwork for the digital economy to evolve
An agile master planning system – this creates the capability to adopt and harmonise emerging innovations and disruptive technologies

A broader context needs to be considered when discussing the need for smart cities. Urbanisation is occurring at a rate faster than any time in history.

The World Economic Forum has estimated that 60 per cent of the areas where the world’s urban dwellers will live in 2030 are yet to be built. According to this analysis, $US3.7 trillion will need to be invested into new infrastructure globally every year until 2050.