US-based direct lender and private credit manager Golub Capital is setting up operations in Abu Dhabi, aiming to capitalise on the region’s growing financial landscape and its deep-pocketed wealth funds, according to a report by Reuters.
The firm, which manages over $70bn in assets as of 1 October, has secured preliminary approval to operate in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the city’s financial free zone. The firm also announced the appointment of Naser Almutairi as its managing director for the Middle East.
The move coincides with the kick off of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, a premier gathering of global and regional financial leaders in the UAE’s capital.
Abu Dhabi, home to 90% of the UAE’s oil reserves, has intensified efforts to diversify its economy, positioning ADGM as a global financial hub. While ADGM lags behind Dubai’s more established DIFC, its assets under management reached $157.2bn by the end of June, attracting prominent firms like Ray Dalio’s family office, hedge fund Brevan Howard, and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager.
Golub Capital’s entry into ADGM aligns with its strategy to strengthen regional ties and tap into opportunities driven by Abu Dhabi’s ambitious financial ecosystem.
