Private Equity Firms in the UAE

Ardian is a leading global private investment house headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1996 by Dominique Senequier as AXA Private Equity, the firm became independent in 2013 and rebranded as Ardian. Today, it is majority-owned by its employees, reflecting a commitment to long-term alignment with clients and stakeholders. With over $176 billion in assets under management or advisement, Ardian operates across private equity, real assets, and credit. Its private equity expertise includes buyouts, expansion capital, and secondaries, while its real assets portfolio encompasses infrastructure and real estate investments. Ardian also offers customized solutions tailored to institutional and private wealth clients. Ardian maintains a global presence with 19 offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, employing over 1,050 professionals. The firm's investment approach emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and value creation, aiming to support companies in achieving long-term growth and positive impact.

BlueFive Capital, founded in late 2024 by Hazem Ben-Gacem—former co-CEO of Investcorp—serves as an alternative investment platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM, with offices in Bahrain and London. It connects capital from the GCC, Asia, and Latin America with high-impact opportunities in emerging and mature markets, aiming to foster long-term value through strategic, technology-driven consolidation in financial services. Operating across three distinct entities—BlueFive Financial, BlueFive Asset Management, and BlueFive Advisory—the firm pursues a multi-faceted strategy. BlueFive Financial focuses on permanent-capital consolidation of insurance, private wealth, and public-market brokerage firms in the Global South; Asset Management oversees closed-end funds for private equity, real assets, and credit; and Advisory offers institutional M&A, capital raise, and debt-placement counsel. Since closing its debut private equity fund at US $2 billion in July 2025 and completing a US $120 million founding shareholders round, BlueFive reached US $650 million AUM and acquired Dubai’s Neo Capital platform. With a 27-person team spanning London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Bahrain, Singapore, and Beijing, BlueFive targets high-growth sectors like healthcare, tech, hospitality, aviation, industrial, and financial services across GCC, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Hayfin Capital Management LLP, founded in 2009, is a premier European alternative asset management platform specializing in providing critical debt, equity, and hybrid capital solutions tailored to meet diverse financing needs for corporates—including both sponsor-backed and non-sponsor entities—as well as real asset owners. The firm employs a value-investing approach across multiple strategies including Direct Lending, Special Opportunities, High-Yield Credit, Securitized Credit, and Private Equity Funds.Headquartered in London, Hayfin has expanded its global footprint with 13 offices spanning Europe, the United States, and a growing presence in Asia. Since inception, Hayfin has invested over €50 billion of capital across more than 500 portfolio companies, managing approximately €35 billion in assets under management. The firm’s investment philosophy combines deep market expertise, disciplined risk management, and a commitment to responsible investing, as evidenced by its signatory status to the Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI).Hayfin’s management team, including co-founders Tim Flynn (CEO) and Mark Tognolini (COO), emphasizes long-term partnership with clients and investors, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

Intermediate Capital Group plc (ICG), founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, UK, is a global alternative asset manager providing private debt, structured capital, private equity secondaries, credit, and real assets solutions. With over three decades of experience, ICG manages approximately US $123 billion in assets across institutional client mandates and proprietary strategies. ICG serves a diverse set of investors by offering flexible capital across the capital structure—from structured loans and mezzanine finance to real assets financing and secondary private equity solutions. Its global footprint and sector-hybrid platform enable it to source local opportunities, partner with founders, owners, and sponsors, and deliver sustainable value. With 686 employees operating across 21 locations worldwide, ICG combines centralized leadership from London and regional expertise in major markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East to execute disciplined, long-term client-driven solutions.

Jadwa Investment is a leading investment management and advisory firm in Saudi Arabia. Headquartered in Riyadh with offices in Jeddah, Al‑Khobar and Dubai, it operates as a Shariah‑compliant multi‑service asset manager. Its diverse client base includes government entities, institutional investors, family offices and high‑net‑worth individuals.Jadwa was incorporated on 21 August 2006 and began business operations in February 2007. Over the years it has grown into Saudi Arabia’s best‑performing public equity manager and one of the largest private‑equity investors.The firm manages a broad range of asset classes including public equity, private equity, real estate, private credit and money‑market funds. It manages about $22.7 billion in assets under management (AUM).Headquartered at Sky Towers on King Fahad Road in Riyadh, the firm offers its services through a dedicated contact centre and regional offices.

Natixis Investment Managers is one of the world’s largest asset management firms, known for its multi-affiliate model that provides access to over 15 independent investment managers. This decentralized structure enables a broad array of active investment strategies, including equities, fixed income, multi-asset, private assets, and ESG solutions tailored to client-specific needs. Headquartered in Paris with offices in more than 25 countries, Natixis Investment Managers oversees approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024. It serves a diverse clientele including institutional investors, fund managers, corporations, and private individuals. The firm is part of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France, offering it a strong financial foundation and global reach. Dedicated to responsible investing, Natixis promotes sustainability through its affiliates such as Mirova and Ostrum Asset Management, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their investment processes. This commitment supports long-term value creation and contributes positively to global economic and social development.

Founded in 1939, Neuberger Berman is a private, independent, and employee-owned investment management firm headquartered in New York City. With a commitment to active management and long-term client partnerships, the firm offers a broad range of investment strategies, including equities, fixed income, private equity, hedge funds, and multi-asset solutions. Neuberger Berman serves a diverse clientele comprising institutions, advisors, and high-net-worth individuals globally. The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes fundamental research and a client-centric approach. Its private equity division, NB Private Markets, has a team of over 300 professionals across 17 offices worldwide, focusing on co-investments, secondaries, and direct investments. In 2025, Neuberger Berman closed its NB Strategic Capital Fund II with over $4 billion in commitments, underscoring its leadership in GP-led secondary transactions. Operating from offices in 39 cities across 26 countries, Neuberger Berman's global presence enables it to access a wide array of investment opportunities. The firm's dedication to sustainability is evident through its commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. With a workforce of approximately 3,100 employees, Neuberger Berman continues to prioritize delivering superior investment outcomes for its clients.