Blue Owl Capital has expanded further into the Middle East with the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi.
The new office will be located in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre, “strengthening” the firm’s regional footprint in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the firm said.
“Over the last decade, the Middle East has emerged as both a strategic global market and a sophisticated investor across asset classes, particularly alternatives,” said Haitham Abdulkarim, managing director and senior executive officer of Blue Owl’s Abu Dhabi office.
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Blue Owl joins a growing number of alternative asset managers that have opened offices in the Middle East despite ongoing conflict in the region. In April, Barings opened an office in Abu Dhabi following the successful launch of its Dubai office in 2024, while Bain Capital selected Abu Dhabi as its regional hub.
The new office will serve as Blue Owl’s regional headquarters as the firm expands its presence in the UAE, it said.
Blue Owl is an alternative asset manager with $315bn (£235.3bn) in assets under management. The firm is headquartered in New York, with the Abu Dhabi office being its seventh location across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and its 23rd globally.
“Today’s announcement reflects our conviction in this incredibly important area and our commitment to strengthening the relationships we have developed over many years,” said Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz, co-chief executive officers of Blue Owl. “This is not a new market for us; it represents the next phase of our growth in the region.”
