Dubai has emerged as a leading global hub for private equity due to its strategic location bridging Asia, Europe, and Africa, its stable regulatory environment, and its pro-business policies. The city offers access to deep pools of regional capital, a growing base of institutional investors, and strong connectivity to high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Combined with world-class infrastructure, a favorable tax regime, and an increasingly sophisticated financial ecosystem, Dubai provides an ideal platform for private equity firms to source deals, manage portfolios, and attract international partners.
1. SHUAA Capital
Overview: SHUAA Capital is a Dubai-based investment firm with decades of experience in asset management and investment banking across the Middle East. It has played a central role in the region’s financial markets, pioneering new products and platforms while building a diversified client base of institutions, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm operates with a mandate to deliver innovative financial solutions and create sustainable value across public and private markets.
Focus: The firm focuses on public and private market investments, real estate development, and fixed income strategies, while also providing capital markets services such as advisory, underwriting, and securities trading.
2. Ninety Nine Holding
Overview: Ninety Nine Holding is a global investment company headquartered in the UAE that positions itself as a long-term partner for businesses in high-growth sectors. It emphasizes foresight and disciplined analysis to back innovative companies, with a philosophy centered on building lasting value for both investors and portfolio companies. The firm seeks to be a bridge between capital and opportunity by aligning with transformative industries and entrepreneurs.
Focus: The firm concentrates on private equity, venture capital, and direct investments in businesses with strong growth potential, while also engaging in wealth management and advisory services.
3. Monterock International
Overview: Monterock International is a multinational investment holding company with more than two decades of experience investing across global markets and sectors. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, the firm positions itself as an innovative and reliable investment partner focused on creating long-term value. Monterock combines financial expertise with entrepreneurial vision, supporting businesses through capital, strategic guidance, and operational insight. Its platform spans multiple industries, reflecting a diversified approach designed to capture sustainable growth opportunities worldwide.
Focus: Monterock focuses on investments in hospitality, food and beverage, real estate, and sustainable technologies. The firm applies a private-equity-style investment philosophy, emphasizing value creation, operational excellence, and brand development. Monterock also engages in strategic consulting and advisory initiatives, leveraging its sector experience to help portfolio companies scale and optimize performance while pursuing initiatives aligned with long-term, sustainable growth.
4. SNB Capital (DIFC) Limited.
Overview: SNB Capital is the investment banking, asset management, and wealth arm of Saudi National Bank, rooted in Shariah-compliant finance and regional markets. It emerged formally from the merger of Samba and NCB, positioning itself as one of Saudi Arabia’s largest asset managers.
Focus: The firm focuses on asset management across public equity, fixed income, alternative funds, and private investments; wealth management and private banking; and full investment banking services including capital raising, M&A, and advisory.
5. NBK Capital Partners
Overview: NBK Wealth is part of the National Bank of Kuwait group, offering private banking and wealth management services to high-net-worth clients. It leverages the bank’s regional presence and investment infrastructure to deliver holistic fiduciary solutions.
Focus: The firm’s core activities are advisory, investment management, financial planning, and portfolio structuring, with an emphasis on customized strategies and access to alternative investments including private equity for qualified investors.
6. Allied Investment Partners (AIP)
Overview: Allied Investment Partners is a UAE-based investment firm founded in 2007 and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority. The firm offers a broad suite of financial services including asset management, wealth management, corporate finance, investment banking, and research, aiming to serve institutions, family offices, and high-net-worth clients.
Focus: AIP emphasizes diversified investments across both public and private markets, structured products, alternative investments, and advisory mandates such as M&A, capital raising, and valuation services.
7. Amanat Holdings
Overview: Amanat is a publicly listed investment company that positions itself as the region’s gateway to sustainable investing. It is focused on acquiring, scaling, and operating companies in the healthcare and education sectors across the MENA region, leveraging a hands-on approach to build platforms and drive value.
Focus: The firm targets healthcare and education investments, pursuing platform builds, add-on acquisitions, and operational enhancements to unlock long-term growth, while emphasizing ESG alignment and stakeholder value.
8. Fajr Capital
Overview: Fajr Capital is a sovereign-backed private equity firm headquartered in Dubai, with operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Its shareholders include Abu Dhabi’s investment arms and other sovereign funds, and it invests across a broad geography in sectors such as healthcare, consumer, and infrastructure.
Focus: The firm focuses on growth equity, buyouts, and impact-oriented private equity investments in the GCC and Southeast Asia, working closely with management to scale operations and capture exit value.
9. Raibal
Overview: Raibal Holding is a multi-family office and private holding company based in Fujairah, UAE, established around 2020. It invests across multiple sectors, such as agriculture, real estate, food & beverage, and trading, managing diversified assets for its clients and owners.
Focus: The firm centers on making direct investments and holding stakes across a portfolio of real assets and operating businesses across sectors with regional exposure, acting as a long-term capital partner.
10. Pinnacle Capital
Overview: Pinnacle Capital is an independent investment management firm based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, established in 2021 and licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority. Built with the ambition to lead the evolution of the Kingdom’s financial landscape under Vision 2030, the firm serves as a strategic partner in alternative investments and advising solutions for both domestic and international clients.
Focus: Pinnacle Capital offers a diversified platform that includes venture capital for early-stage technology companies, catalyst funds aimed at enhancing value in public companies, private-equity aggregation strategies focused on creating national champions, infrastructure equity investments structured via public-private partnerships, and arranging services such as IPO strategic advisory, mid-market M&A, private placements, and debt restructuring.
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