Bain Capital and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) have formed a strategic partnership to establish alternative investment platforms in the Emirate.
The US-based global investment firm and ADIO will identify co-investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi and the broader region, working closely with local partners and sovereign entities to deploy capital in “transformative projects”.
Bain Capital said the new partnership, which will see it expand to Abu Dhabi, seeks to develop a “locally anchored asset management ecosystem that drives regional capital deployment and deepens the emirate’s financial capabilities”.
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With a focus on alternative investment platforms, digital infrastructure, transition finance, and capital solutions that support high-growth companies in sectors such as healthcare, financial technology and aviation, the partnership will engage ecosystem stakeholders, including sovereign capital partners, institutional investors and academic institutions.
The collaboration is supported by ADIO’s recently-launched fintech, insurance, digital and alternative investments (FIDA) cluster, which is a new strategic initiative designed to build next-generation financial infrastructure across alternative investments, digital assets, portable savings, transition finance, and SME capital platforms.
FIDA is expected to contribute an additional AED 56bn (£9.4bn) to GDP growth, as well as create 8,000 skilled jobs and attract at least AED 17bn in investments by 2045.
“Our work with Bain Capital reflects a shared ambition to build a future-ready financial ecosystem from Abu Dhabi,” H.E. Badr Al-Olama, director general of the ADIO, said.
“As a key partner under the FIDA cluster, this collaboration supports a broader vision towards advancing the emirate’s financial infrastructure.”
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Bain Capital said its expansion into Abu Dhabi also strengthens the broader economic relationship between the US and the United Arab Emirates.
“Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, business-friendly environment, and commitment to innovation make it an ideal base for expanding our regional footprint,” said David Gross, co-managing partner at Bain Capital.
“We look forward to working with ADIO to identify compelling investment opportunities and contribute to the development of a world-class financial services sector that benefits investors, entrepreneurs, and communities across the region.”
Bain Capital manages investments across private equity, venture capital, credit and real estate, and has approximately $205bn (£153.2bn) in assets under management.
A number of private markets firms have been opening offices in Abu Dhabi this year as they identify opportunities in the region, with KKR establishing a presence in the city in November, while Davidson Kempner and Monroe Capital announced office openings in October.
