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Based on the most helpful WSO content, Abu Dhabi's finance scene is indeed more dominated by private equity and sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). However, there are some notable hedge funds and investment opportunities in the region:

  • Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs): Major players include ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority), Mubadala, and other smaller SWFs. These organizations often have hedge fund-like investment strategies and hire through structured processes, often recruiting from US/UK investment banking programs.

  • Private Equity: The region has a strong presence of private equity firms, with notable names like Investcorp and Gateway Partners. These firms sometimes engage in hedge fund-like activities, especially in terms of investment strategies.

While the hedge fund presence might not be as pronounced as in other global financial hubs, the investment landscape in Abu Dhabi is robust, with significant opportunities in both private equity and sovereign wealth funds.

Sources: Non US/Europe IB/PE Overview, Any Apes Done a Stint in Abu Dhabi?, Non US/Europe IB/PE Overview, What is it like to work at a sovereign wealth fund?, Anyone know about Maranon Capital?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

The whole region (MENA) has historically been heavily controlled by PE, even though you may not hear about them, most of the companies you see in the middle east are owned by PE funds and they make great money. Hedge funds however are quite new to the region but seems like the logical move especially with the concentration of wealthy individuals. Brevan Howard has the largest office there with ~100+ employees in Abu Dhabi, with Balyasny and Millennium also having a presence. The offices are small and hiring is competitive, especially as in accordance with UAE law a certain percentage of employees need to be UAE nationals.

 

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