Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, opened an office at Abu Dhabi Global Market on Al Maryah Island, reinforcing its long-term commitment to providing a gateway between Europe and the UAE.

The inauguration was attended by French Minister of the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire; Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, and Executive Director of the Private Equities Department at ADIA, Hamad Shahwan Al Dhaheri, among other esteemed guests.

Ardian’s team in Abu Dhabi will serve its large base of local and regional investors and support its growing range of portfolio companies expanding into the region.

The new opening, Ardian’s 16th global office, aligns with Ardian’s ambition to provide clients with a tailored and local presence, in response to increasing investor demand. Ardian will work closely together with its LPs to share knowledge and strengthen relationships, developing globally diversified portfolios of the best that private investments have to offer.

The local team, under the supervision of François Aissa Touazi, Chairman Ardian Limited Abu Dhabi, will comprise senior representatives from both Ardian investment teams and support functions to provide client-support services in the region.

Dominique Senequier, President of Ardian, said: “At the heart of Ardian’s approach is close collaboration with our partners around the world. Our new office in the United Arab Emirates is therefore a natural progression as we continue with our strategy to evolve and grow globally. Having a local presence marks our commitment to the goals of developing strategic and long-stranding partnerships in the region. We look forward to working alongside our long-standing partners in the region to provide new opportunities for growth.”

François Aissa Touazi said: “With our newly established office, Ardian looks forward to stepping up its role as a partner of choice for financial institutions in the Gulf region. The UAE’s core values of excellence, innovation, and development resonate strongly with Ardian’s own values and alongside our portfolio companies, we are confident that our activity is well-aligned in supporting the UAE on its 'We the UAE 2031' development path and will strengthen economic diversification.”

Ardian has been active in the UAE and the region for two decades, responsible for $25 billion of AUM from more than 60 investors and $8 billion of capital deployed in the region.