Key Takeaways
- • Advent International, a global private equity firm with $109 billion in assets under management, has opened an office in Abu Dhabi's Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial hub, led by Mehdi Iraqi.
- • The office follows Advent's recent openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong and is designed to deepen engagement with Middle East investors and support existing portfolio companies, according to the firm's statement.
- • ADGM's assets under management grew 54 per cent annually in the first half of 2026, with asset managers operating there overseeing more than $2.1 trillion collectively.
- • The Advent opening joins recent ADGM entries by New Mountain Capital, Capital Group and Eurazeo, reflecting continued institutional interest in the UAE capital despite uncertainty linked to the Iran war.
- • ADGM reported 49,027 professionals based on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, a 34 per cent increase on the same period last year.
Summary
Advent International, a global private equity investor managing more than $109 billion in assets, has opened an office in Abu Dhabi's Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial hub, the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. The office will be led by Mehdi Iraqi and joins a growing list of international financial institutions establishing a presence in the UAE capital. The opening follows a series of recent Advent openings globally, including in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Set up in 1984, Advent has made 460 investments in 45 countries and now operates 18 offices worldwide, including Abu Dhabi.
Advent said the new presence builds on its long-standing relationships across the Middle East, giving it a local base to deepen engagement with investors, support existing portfolio companies and explore potential investment opportunities. James Brocklebank, managing partner and co-chair of Advent's global executive committee, said that having colleagues based locally enables the firm to be closer to the institutions and long-term partners that support its work.
The move comes as a growing number of global financial institutions launch operations at ADGM, despite uncertainty arising from the Iran war, according to The National. Earlier this month, New Mountain Capital, a New York-based alternative investment firm, said it was opening an office in ADGM to strengthen its Middle East presence. Capital Group, which manages $3.6 trillion, secured a licence from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM to operate as a regulated investment manager. Paris-listed Eurazeo, with €40 billion ($45.2 billion) in assets under management, has also opened an office in the free zone as part of its regional expansion.
ADGM said assets under management in the centre grew 54 per cent annually in the first six months of 2026, with 49,027 professionals now based at Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, up 34 per cent on the same period last year. Asset managers that established operations there in the first half of the year collectively oversee more than $2.1 trillion in global assets. Other firms the centre has attracted in recent months include Blue Owl Capital, Vista Equity Partners, Man Group, Barings, Bain Capital, Cantor and Adapt Investment Managers. Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said Advent's decision reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi's proposition as a leading destination for global investment firms.
Advent said the new presence builds on its long-standing relationships across the Middle East, giving it a local base to deepen engagement with investors, support existing portfolio companies and explore potential investment opportunities. James Brocklebank, managing partner and co-chair of Advent's global executive committee, said that having colleagues based locally enables the firm to be closer to the institutions and long-term partners that support its work.
The move comes as a growing number of global financial institutions launch operations at ADGM, despite uncertainty arising from the Iran war, according to The National. Earlier this month, New Mountain Capital, a New York-based alternative investment firm, said it was opening an office in ADGM to strengthen its Middle East presence. Capital Group, which manages $3.6 trillion, secured a licence from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM to operate as a regulated investment manager. Paris-listed Eurazeo, with €40 billion ($45.2 billion) in assets under management, has also opened an office in the free zone as part of its regional expansion.
ADGM said assets under management in the centre grew 54 per cent annually in the first six months of 2026, with 49,027 professionals now based at Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, up 34 per cent on the same period last year. Asset managers that established operations there in the first half of the year collectively oversee more than $2.1 trillion in global assets. Other firms the centre has attracted in recent months include Blue Owl Capital, Vista Equity Partners, Man Group, Barings, Bain Capital, Cantor and Adapt Investment Managers. Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said Advent's decision reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi's proposition as a leading destination for global investment firms.
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