EQT Expands into Middle East with New Abu Dhabi Hub

The Abu Dhabi office serves as the cornerstone for a broader regional platform designed to integrate EQT’s private equity and infrastructure expertise. By establishing a physical presence, the firm intends to deepen its engagement with regional sovereign investors and provide localized support for portfolio companies like Nord Anglia Education and Virtusa, which have operated in the region for years. The move is timed to align with national development agendas across the GCC, particularly in healthcare, digital infrastructure, and the energy transition.

Leadership for the expansion falls to Jimmy Mahtani, who takes on the role of Chairman of GCC while maintaining his oversight of India and Southeast Asia. Smiyet Belrhiti, a veteran with two decades of experience in the regional private equity landscape, has been appointed as Head of Middle East and Senior Executive Officer. Their team will focus on deploying EQT’s active ownership model to nurture businesses that fit the firm’s thematic investment approach. For ADGM, the arrival of such a major institutional player reinforces its status as a financial gateway, further validating the emirate's push to attract global capital.