According to the research, recent deals mean French buyers have now purchased £100.6m of office buildings, hotels, industrial units, and other commercial property assets in the city in the last year and a half.

In Aberdeen, French buyers have also been behind some of the most significant deals within the last two years. This includes the sale of Helmerich & Payne’s – formerly KCA Deutag – Aberdeen headquarters, Alderan’s £28.5m purchase of Total E&P’s site on Moss Road, as well as the Travelodge Aberdeen Central, located in Bridge Street.

Most of the investment in Aberdeen made by French buyers is accounted for by open-ended property investment funds - These are known as Société Civile de Placement Immobiliers (SCPIs).

Since the conclusion of the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been investing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, with their purchases in the last year and a half including the 3T Survivex facility in Dyce.

Earlier in 2026, research from the independent commercial property consultancy found that French investors were one of the most active international buyers within Scotland’s commercial property market, accounting for £450m of investment since 2024.

Douglas Binnie, capital markets partner at Knight Frank, said: “French investors have been very active in Scotland, and particularly Aberdeen. On the relatively rare occasions where they haven’t been successful in acquiring an asset in the city, they have usually been among the underbidders.

“SCPIs have been involved in a number of deals in Aberdeen – particularly for the some of the city’s larger assets that have traded hands in recent years.”

Binnie added: “These buyers tend to favour cleaner properties, with minimal asset management requirements, which can provide a return of at least 7%, which is achievable in Aberdeen on assets that meet their preferred criteria.”

Matt Park, partner at Knight Frank Aberdeen, said: “A big part of the attraction is the value on offer in Aberdeen, with yields higher than the UK average and even other parts of Scotland. Buyer and seller expectations are comparatively aligned in the Granite City, which is making deals quicker to reach, and buyers are able to secure quality assets on double-digit returns in some cases.

“At the same time, after a few subdued years the occupier market has started to show signs of stability.”

Park added: “Aberdeen had its best quarter for take-up since 2019 in the second quarter of this year, and a higher oil price and potentially more supportive policy from government should help give confidence to the energy sector which still accounts for the vast majority of activity in the city.”