The 10 Most Active UAE Family Offices in Private Equity and Real Assets (2026)
Published May 2026 | Andrew Thomas – The Investors Link
Capital Deployment
Why UAE Family Offices Lead GCC Private Capital Deployment
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the pre-eminent hub for family office capital formation and deployment in the GCC. Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Emirates Family Office Association (EFOA) formalised this positioning through a strategic partnership in July 2025, explicitly designed to position Abu Dhabi as the preferred destination for global family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. As Spear’s reported in January 2026, Abu Dhabi is ‘no longer just a place to register structures – it is a base where families are making investment decisions day to day, with family offices often running full investment platforms.’
The structural context is significant. There are nearly 18,800 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the Middle East – defined as those with net worth exceeding US$30 million – and this population is projected to grow by 24.6% between 2021 and 2026. The UAE leads this cohort, with 24 billionaires and a family office regulatory environment that is consistently ranked among the most favourable globally: no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no estate or inheritance tax, and two world-class regulatory frameworks in the DIFC and ADGM.
The result is a concentration of sophisticated, internationally active family capital that represents one of the most significant LP opportunity sets available to global fund managers in 2026. The 10 investment profiles below – drawn from publicly available data, regulatory filings, published research, and verified market intelligence – illustrate the range, scale, and sophistication of UAE family office deployment across private equity, real assets, and adjacent asset classes.
Source: Forbes Middle East Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2025; CFA Institute / UBS Global Family Office Report 2024; Lombard Odier GCC Family Office Report; Dakota.com Middle East Family Office Evaluation 2026; Empaxis Middle East Family Office Outlook 2025
‘Family offices in the Middle East have the lowest allocation to fixed income globally, in part because those who follow Islamic finance principles avoid interest-bearing instruments. Combined with a higher-than-average allocation to both private equity (28%) and real estate (15%), UAE family offices are structurally positioned as among the most aggressive private market deployers of any LP category globally.’ – CFA Institute analysis of UBS Global Family Office Report data, 2024.
Investment Profiles 1–10
The following profiles present investment activity and mandate data from publicly available sources. AUM figures are drawn from regulatory disclosures, company filings, and published research; they should be treated as estimates unless directly disclosed by the respective organisation. Ticket size ranges reflect documented transaction activity rather than stated policy.
01. Royal Group (Abu Dhabi)
Conglomerate family office · AUM: US$164B · Ticket size: US$10M – US$1B+
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE
AUM: US$164 billion – one of the largest family-linked investment vehicles in the GCC
Principal: Led by His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Structure: Diversified conglomerate comprising 60 large and medium-sized companies; functions as a full-spectrum family investment platform
Sector focus: Real estate, financial services, technology, media, healthcare, and venture capital
Investment approach: Long-horizon capital deployment across institutional-grade private equity, real assets, and strategic partnerships; co-investment structures alongside global GPs
Geographic mandate: UAE-domestic and global – active across North America, Europe, and Asia
2025–2026 activity: Ongoing deployment across healthcare technology, financial services platforms, and UAE real estate development; active in VC alongside core PE buyout strategies
Relevance to managers: Accessible to institutional fund managers with established track records across PE, infrastructure, real estate, and healthcare; ticket sizes at the top end of the family office spectrum
02. DAMAC Capital (Dubai)
Operating group family office · AUM: US$10B · Ticket size: US$10M – US$250M+
Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
AUM: US$10 billion – the investment arm of the DAMAC Group, founded in 1982 by Hussain Sajwani (personal net worth US$10.2 billion as of April 2025, Forbes)
Structure: Single-family investment office operating alongside the DAMAC Group operating businesses; investment mandate independent of property development operations
Sector focus: Real estate (core mandate), hospitality, logistics, capital markets, data centres, and technology
Investment approach: Venture, growth equity, buyout, and real asset strategies; also active in public equities across Telecom, Banking, REITs, Oil & Gas, and Consumer Discretionary
Notable 2025–2026 activity: Acquired a US$50 million stake in Anthropic; announced plans to invest US$20 billion in US data centres; issued US$200 million unsecured sukuk arranged by Emirates NBD; launched high-end fashion and data centre verticals alongside core property portfolio
Geographic mandate: UAE, UK, US, and global; strong North American data centre and technology focus in 2025–2026
Relevance to managers: Active across a wider range than the group’s property origin suggests – data centre, logistics, and technology fund managers should note DAMAC Capital’s expanding mandate
03. Abu Dhabi Capital Group (ADCG)
Institutional family office · AUM: US$20B · Ticket size: US$10M – US$100M
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE
AUM: US$20 billion – described by Dakota.com as ‘one of MENA’s largest institutional investment entities’
Structure: Formal investment office with diversified mandate across asset classes, industries, and geographies; operates as a full institutional LP
Sector focus: Private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and growth-stage direct investments; also active in listed equities across multiple sectors
Investment approach: Capital deployment across mature operating entities, growth-stage startups, joint ventures, and listed equities; formal investment committee structure with documented LP processes
Notable LP relationships: Blackstone, Coller Capital, ICG, AlpInvest – investment pattern consistent with blue-chip institutional LP behaviour alongside direct deal activity
Notable direct investments: Boom Supersonic, The H Dubai, ALEF Education, Investera – reflecting technology, hospitality, and UAE domestic market exposure
Relevance to managers: One of the most institutionally sophisticated family offices in the UAE; appropriate for managers with audited track records and institutional-grade fund structures seeking a GCC lead LP
04. 2PointZero (Abu Dhabi)
IHC subsidiary family platform · AUM: US$27B · Ticket size: US$1M – US$100M
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Parent entity: Subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC) – one of the most capitalised entities on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
AUM: US$27 billion across 2PointZero’s investment platform
Sector focus: Finance and investment banking, technology and AI, mining and resource management, digital assets and crypto, and sustainability-linked ventures
Investment approach: Direct investments and venture capital; focus on ’empowering global communities towards a smarter and sustainable future’; active in both early-stage and growth-stage mandates
Notable investments: Lunate, Beltone Financial, International Resources Holding, Sagasse, and Citadel crypto mining operations
Geographic mandate: Global with UAE domestic anchor; active in Southeast Asia and Africa for resource and digital infrastructure mandates
Relevance to managers: Technology, AI infrastructure, mining, and digital asset fund managers should specifically note 2PointZero’s mandate – the breadth of sector focus is wider than most UAE family offices
05. Tensai Holdings (Abu Dhabi)
Private family office · AUM: US$9.33B · Ticket size: US$25M – US$250M
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE
AUM: US$9.33 billion – a significant mid-tier family office by GCC standards
Structure: Private single-family office with no public-facing investment platform; operates exclusively through direct relationships and placement agent introductions
Sector focus: Public and private equities, hedge funds, infrastructure, and sustainable investments – a broadly diversified alternative-heavy mandate
Investment approach: Long-horizon institutional approach; portfolio construction reflects endowment-style thinking with meaningful infrastructure and sustainability tilts
ESG and sustainability: Among the more advanced ESG integration profiles in the Abu Dhabi family office community; sustainable investments explicitly named as a core mandate component
Access approach: Highly relationship-driven; warm introductions through established advisers or placement agents are the standard access mechanism
Relevance to managers: Infrastructure, sustainable real assets, and diversified alternative fund managers are the strongest mandate fits; ESG documentation expected as standard
06. Majid Al Futtaim Holding (Dubai)
Diversified family conglomerate · Revenue: US$10B+ · Sector-concentrated RE and retail
Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
Scale: Revenues exceeding US$10 billion annually across its mall, hotel, retail, and community development portfolios; ranked seventh on Forbes’ Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2025
Structure: Operating conglomerate with a family investment office managing strategic capital allocation alongside the core operating businesses
Sector focus: Retail real estate (flagship Malls of the Emirates and City Centre network), hotels and resorts, branded residential communities, food and beverage, and luxury retail
Investment approach: Long-hold, core real estate and retail platform ownership; selective international expansion in Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia; JV structures for community development projects
2025–2026 activity: Plans to open over 30 new luxury retail stores in 2025; active in GCC community development projects; data centre infrastructure additions to existing portfolio
Geographic mandate: UAE-anchored with significant Middle East and African emerging market exposure
Relevance to managers: Retail-anchored real estate and hospitality fund managers with Middle East and African market exposure are the strongest mandate fits; JV structures alongside operating platforms are specifically relevant
07. Al Ghurair Group (Dubai)
Legacy trading and industrial family · AUM indicative US$5B+ · Multi-sector mandate
Headquarters: Dubai, UAE; founded 1960 by Saif Ahmed Al Ghurair
Scale: Net worth of the Al Ghurair family estimated at US$3.2 billion (Forbes, 2023); group employs approximately 28,000 people across 50 countries; ranked eighth on Forbes Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2025
Sector focus: Real estate (flagship BurJuman Centre, Dubai), food and agriculture, energy, manufacturing, financial services (large stake in Mashreq Bank), and venture capital — specifically AgriTech aligned with UAE food security
Investment approach: Diversified conglomerate model with long-horizon operating businesses alongside an actively managed investment portfolio; 50-year land lease agreements (US$272.3 million with Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) indicate appetite for long-duration real asset structures
Venture focus: Al Ghurair family has specifically chosen to invest in agricultural technology startups improving UAE food security – a clearly documented thematic mandate cited by CFA Institute research
Geographic mandate: UAE-anchored with global operating presence across 50 countries; food, energy, and manufacturing mandates with international reach
Relevance to managers: AgriTech, food security, industrial real estate, and UAE-focused real estate fund managers; private equity managers in food and resources sectors with Middle East and African exposure
08. Al Nowasi Family / AMEA Power (UAE)
Next-generation renewables-focused family office · Sector-specialist mandate
Structure: Family investment vehicle operating through AMEA Power as the primary investment and operating subsidiary; representative of the next-generation thematic family office model emerging across the UAE
Sector focus: Renewable energy and climate technology – concentrated mandate in solar, wind, and broader clean energy infrastructure across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia
Investment approach: Combination of direct project development and co-investment alongside international energy infrastructure funds; AMEA Power is an active developer of renewable energy projects with capacity across multiple African and Middle Eastern markets
Thematic mandate: CFA Institute specifically cites the Al Nowasi family as an example of deliberate next-generation sectoral focus: ‘the Al Nowasi family concentrates on renewable energy and climate tech through its AMEA Power subsidiary’
ESG profile: Among the most advanced ESG mandates of any UAE family office; investment decisions explicitly linked to climate transition thesis; institutional ESG documentation expected from co-investment partners
Relevance to managers: Renewable energy fund managers, climate infrastructure funds, and sustainable real assets platforms targeting Africa and MENA are directly aligned with the AMEA Power mandate
09. Al Qasimi Family Office (Dubai)
Royal family conglomerate · Multi-sector with hospitality anchor
Headquarters: 507, 5th Floor, Nastaran Tower, Al Jaddaf, Dubai
Principal: Owned by His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qasimi; operates as a business conglomerate with a diverse multi-decade history
Structure: Family investment vehicle operating across a diversified portfolio of projects; combines operating businesses with a formal investment office function
Sector focus: Real estate, hospitality, financial services, retail, and broader commercial development; investment history spans multiple decades with strong UAE domestic anchor
Investment approach: Long-hold operating business model alongside opportunistic investments in sectors adjacent to core hospitality and real estate operations; strong preference for direct deal structures
Geographic mandate: UAE-primary with selective regional expansion in GCC and broader MENA
Relevance to managers: Hospitality real estate, mixed-use development, and UAE-focused real estate fund managers; managers with operating platform components alongside fund structures are particularly relevant
10. YBA Kanoo Group / Kanoo Capital (UAE–Bahrain)
GCC-wide multi-generational conglomerate · AUM: US$20B · Ticket size: US$10M – US$100M
Headquarters: Kanoo Tower, Level 19, Manama, Bahrain – with significant UAE operations and investment activity
AUM: US$20 billion across Kanoo Capital’s managed investment portfolio
Structure: Multi-generational family conglomerate operating across the GCC through Kanoo Capital as the dedicated investment management vehicle; one of the oldest Gulf family business groups with a 130+ year operating history
Sector focus: Fixed income, venture capital, private equity, real estate, public equities, direct investments, and fund LP commitments – one of the broadest mandates of any GCC family office
Notable investments: CorrosionRADAR (industrial technology), Retalio (retail technology), Singapore Gulf Bank – reflecting both venture capital and financial services appetite
Investment philosophy: Active orientation toward global partnerships and expanding business alliances with international firms entering Gulf markets — making this a particularly significant family office for non-GCC managers seeking a regionally-informed LP anchor
Geographic mandate: GCC-primary with global fund LP mandates; Singapore Gulf Bank investment reflects Southeast Asia strategic interest
Relevance to managers: Arguably the most broadly accessible GCC family office for international fund managers across multiple asset classes; the explicit partnership orientation makes first-relationship development more tractable than at many UAE-based offices
GCC Capital Trends in 2026
What These Profiles Tell Us About GCC Capital Trends in 2026
Across the ten profiles above, several structural investment themes emerge that have direct implications for fund managers planning a GCC capital raise in 2026.
| Investment theme | Evidence from profiles | Implication for fund managers |
|---|---|---|
| Scale and institutional sophistication are increasing | Royal Group (US$164B), 2PointZero (US$27B), ADCG (US$20B), and Kanoo Capital (US$20B) operate at a scale and process sophistication that rivals mid-tier institutional investors. ADCG’s LP relationships with Blackstone, ICG, and AlpInvest confirm institutional benchmarking. | Materials, fund structures, and reporting standards need to meet institutional criteria – not merely family office expectations. The gap between the best UAE family offices and formal institutional investors has narrowed significantly. |
| Data centres and digital infrastructure are a 2026 priority | DAMAC Capital announced US$20 billion in US data centre investment. 2PointZero’s mandate explicitly includes digital infrastructure and AI. Majid Al Futtaim is adding data centre capacity. Royal Group has technology as a core deployment sector. | Fund managers operating in digital infrastructure, data centres, and technology-adjacent real assets should explicitly reference UAE family office demand for this theme in their GCC pitch materials. |
| Sustainability and ESG are no longer optional | 73% of GCC family offices now require formal ESG policies (Dakota.com 2026). Al Nowasi / AMEA Power has built an entire investment identity around clean energy. Tensai Holdings names sustainable investments as a core mandate component. | ESG documentation – GRESB participation, TCFD-aligned climate risk disclosure, science-based targets – is a qualification threshold for the most sophisticated UAE offices, particularly among next-generation principals. |
| Next-generation principals are driving thematic concentration | Al Ghurair’s focus on agricultural technology and Al Nowasi’s concentration on renewables are cited by CFA Institute as representative of a deliberate generational shift away from diversified conglomerate investing toward targeted thematic mandates. | Fund managers with a clearly articulated thematic thesis – rather than a diversified multi-sector strategy – are better positioned with next-generation UAE family office principals who are building identity-driven investment portfolios. |
| Co-investment is increasingly required, not optional | 64% of Middle East allocators now require co-investment options before committing to blind pool funds (Dakota.com 2026). ADCG, Royal Group, and Tensai Holdings all demonstrate active co-investment alongside fund commitments. | Managers who build co-investment rights into their fund structures, and who can offer first-look co-investment to anchor LP relationships, will find the UAE family office market significantly more receptive than those operating pure blind pool structures. |
| Geographic diversification is accelerating beyond GCC | DAMAC Capital is deploying US$20B+ in the US; ADCG holds investments in global PE platforms; Kanoo Capital’s Singapore Gulf Bank investment signals Southeast Asia; Al Ghurair’s 50-country operating presence drives international investment appetite. | Non-GCC fund managers should not assume UAE family offices are exclusively interested in regional exposure. The most active UAE family offices are actively diversifying internationally and specifically seeking trusted GP partners in North America, Europe, and Asia. |
Accessing UAE Family Office Capital
Accessing UAE Family Office Capital: The Intelligence Prerequisite
The profiles above represent ten of the most visible and well-documented UAE family offices – a fraction of the 195 formally registered UAE family investment offices identified in current specialist intelligence databases, and a fraction still of the broader informal family capital ecosystem operating through DIFC and ADGM structures. The full landscape is considerably larger, considerably more diverse, and in large part invisible to public research.
For fund managers, the practical implication is that the research challenge in UAE family office outreach is not simply identifying which families are active – it is maintaining current, verified intelligence on investment mandates, decision-maker contacts, AUM ranges, and structural preferences across an opaque, rapidly evolving community. The ten profiles presented here illustrate the kind of intelligence that is required before productive outreach can begin: sector focus, ticket size range, structural preference (co-investment vs. blind pool), ESG requirements, and geographic mandate. Without this specificity, outreach to UAE family offices produces low response rates and high relationship attrition.
The most capital-efficient approach to building this intelligence base – given the opacity of the market and the time required to research it independently – is to access a specialist investor database that maintains and updates this intelligence continuously, and to combine that database with the relationship-building discipline that the GCC market specifically rewards.
Middle East Family Office Intelligence: Key Data Points (2026)
- 195 registered UAE family investment offices in current specialist databases, covering 430+ verified key contacts with investment mandate documentation
- 83% of Middle East family offices invest in private equity; 70%+ maintain active real estate portfolios (Lombard Odier / Empaxis 2025)
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait collectively represent the four most active GCC capital deployment markets; each requires a distinct outreach approach calibrated to local relationship culture
- Next-generation principals are now the primary decision-makers or co-decision-makers at a majority of UAE family offices with AUM above US$500M (Bank of America Family Office Report 2025)
- The DIFC and ADGM regulatory frameworks in the UAE provide the most transparent family office formation data in the GCC – but the majority of operational intelligence (mandates, contacts, deal preferences) remains outside any public registry
ACCESS THE FULL UAE FAMILY OFFICE DATABASE
Top 25 UAE Family Names
Top 25 UAE Family Names Linked to Active Family Office Structures
The following 25 families represent the most prominent UAE-linked wealth dynasties with documented family office structures or operating conglomerates that function as de facto investment vehicles. For each family, key associated companies, investment vehicles, and the senior principal’s role are listed. This intelligence is essential groundwork before any outreach – understanding which entity is the correct access point for each family significantly improves both response rates and the quality of first conversations.
Cross-Reference Note: Many of the senior principals and C-suite executives associated with these family groups are included in the Dubai Business Owners & C-Suite Executives Database at dubaiinvestorslist.com. That database – covering 65,000+ verified decision-makers across the UAE – can be cross-referenced against the UAE Family Office Database to supplement your outreach intelligence, identify additional access points within each group, and map the executive networks surrounding each family investment vehicle.
| # | Family name | Primary investment vehicle / family office | Key associated companies and assets | Senior principal / role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Al Nahyan | Multiple private offices; Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is the sovereign anchor vehicle. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan operates a dedicated SFO. | ADIA (US$993B), Royal Group (US$164B), International Holding Company (IHC), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company | HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi |
| 02 | Al Maktoum | Dubai Holding LLC (direct investor, ticket US$50M–$500M); private offices managed by senior members of the ruling family | Dubai Holding, Emaar Properties (partial), Emirates Group, ICD (Investment Corporation of Dubai), Dubai Airports, Nakheel | HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai |
| 03 | Sajwani | DAMAC Capital — formal family office arm of the DAMAC Group; AUM US$10B | DAMAC Properties, AHS Properties (Abbas Sajwani), DAMAC data centre portfolio (US$20B announced US investment) | Hussain Sajwani — Founder and Chairman, DAMAC Group; net worth US$15.3B (2026). Abbas Sajwani – Founder, AHS Properties |
| 04 | Al Ghurair | Al Ghurair Investment — primary family investment vehicle across diversified sectors | BurJuman Centre (flagship RE), Al Ghurair Foods (US$272M Khalifa Economic Zones lease), Taghleef Industries (global BOPP film), Mashreq Bank (major stake), National Cement Company | Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair – Chairman, Al Ghurair Group. Abdulla Al Ghurair – Founder (family net worth US$3.2B) |
| 05 | Al Futtaim (Abdullah) | Al-Futtaim Group — diversified family conglomerate; ranked #1 by Forbes UAE family businesses | Dubai Festival City, Cairo Festival City, InterContinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Zara / Marks & Spencer (franchise rights); 200+ operating businesses across automotive, financial services, RE, retail, healthcare | Abdullah Al Futtaim – Chairman, Al-Futtaim Group; Omar Al Futtaim – Managing Director |
| 06 | Majid Al Futtaim | Majid Al Futtaim Holding – separate from Al-Futtaim Group; independent family conglomerate | Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Malls (27 malls across MENA), Carrefour franchise, 13 hotels and resorts, luxury residential communities, data centre additions (2025) | Majid Al Futtaim – Founder; family net worth US$8B+. Ahmed Al Futtaim – Group CEO |
| 07 | Jafar | Crescent Group – family-owned holding company; AUM US$83B | Crescent Petroleum (oil and gas), Crescent Enterprises (diversified investment subsidiary spanning logistics, technology, real estate, and private equity) | Hamid Jafar – Founder and Chairman, Crescent Group. Majid Jafar – CEO, Crescent Petroleum |
| 08 | Al Nowais / AlNowais | AlNowais Investments- the primary investment vehicle of the AlNowais family; AMEA Power as the specialist renewable energy platform | AMEA Power (renewable energy across Africa and MENA), Danway (energy infrastructure, GCC), Rotana Hotels (stake), Alwaha Capital, healthcare and hospitality assets | Hussain J. AlNowais – Founder and Chairman, AlNowais Investments; Founded in late 1970s |
| 09 | Al Qasimi (Ahmed bin Faisal) | Al Qasimi Family Office – Nastaran Tower, Al Jaddaf, Dubai | Diversified real estate, hospitality, financial services, and commercial development portfolio; multi-decade project history across the UAE and GCC | HRH Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qasimi – Principal and Owner, Al Qasimi Family Office |
| 10 | Alabbar | Eagle Hills – primary investment and development vehicle; separate personal investment portfolio | Emaar Properties (founder; iconic developer of Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall), Eagle Hills (international luxury real estate developer), retail and hospitality investments across MENA and SE Asia | Mohammed Alabbar – Founder, Emaar Properties and Eagle Hills; net worth US$2B (2025) |
| 11 | Lootah | Lootah Group – multi-generational family conglomerate; approximately 40 operating companies | Dubai Islamic Bank (founded by Saeed bin Ahmed Lootah – first Islamic bank in the world), residential and commercial real estate, contracting, and industrial businesses | Saeed bin Ahmed Lootah – Founder (deceased 2024); family continues management across second and third generations |
| 12 | Al Shirawi | Oasis Investment Company — holding entity for the Al Shirawi Group’s 30+ companies | Emirates Printing Press, Arcadia Education, Al Shirawi Contracting, Global Shipping & Logistics, Arabian Oasis Industries; trading, industrial, distribution, and service sectors | Chairman of Oasis Investment Company – Al Shirawi family leadership; diversified private ownership |
| 13 | Juma Al Majid | Juma Al Majid Group – 33 companies across multiple sectors | Automotive (Hyundai franchise), shipping, real estate, FMCG, travel; Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage (cultural philanthropy) | Juma Al Majid – Founder and Chairman; leading Dubai business family since 1950 |
| 14 | Al Nabooda | Al Nabooda Group – automotive-anchored family conglomerate | Al Nabooda Automobiles (sole importer of Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche in Dubai and Northern Emirates), real estate, construction, facilities management, civil and marine engineering | Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda – Chairperson, Al Nabooda Group |
| 15 | Abu Ghazaleh | Agility Group / AGI -investment holding company | Del Monte (ownership stake), International Wings Group, Form Hotel, CF Tennis Academy, Oryx Ventures (VC arm), AGI Real Estate; fresh produce, healthcare services, aviation, and hospitality | Amir Abu Ghazaleh – Chairman and Founder |
| 16 | Al Dhaheri / Al Mutawa | Al Dhaheri Group – Abu Dhabi-based diversified conglomerate | Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Skoda dealerships (Abu Dhabi), oil field supplies, construction, real estate, shipbuilding, ship repair, and jewellery | Ali Bin Khalfan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri – Chairman |
| 17 | Al Huraimel | Al-Huraimel Investments – single-family office, Sharjah; founded 1988 | Residential and commercial real estate development across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah; private equity and diversified investments in the Middle East | HE Issa Khalfan Al-Huraimel -Founder; family management continues into second generation |
| 18 | Daher | Daher Capital – private family investment vehicle, Dubai | Daher Foods (food manufacturing and distribution, founded 1990s), real estate, public equity, and venture capital investments across multiple geographies | Michel Daher – Founder, Daher Capital and Daher Foods; Lebanese-UAE entrepreneur and philanthropist |
| 19 | Al Qasimi (Sharjah Royal) | Sharjah ruling family investment vehicles; SEWA, Sharjah Media City (Shams) | Sharjah Islamic Bank (founding family), Gulftainer (port operations; family-linked), Sharjah Media City (Shams Free Zone), significant UAE real estate and industrial holdings | HH Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi – Ruler of Sharjah; Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi – cultural and academic patron |
| 20 | Al Fardan | Alfardan Group – Qatar- and UAE-active family; significant UAE presence | Alfardan Properties (UAE real estate), Alfardan Jewellery, Alfardan Automobiles, Alfardan Exchange, hospitality and marine; established 1954 by Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan | Omar Alfardan – CEO, Alfardan Group; multi-generational family leadership across GCC |
| 21 | Gargash | Gargash Enterprises – diversified family automotive and financial services group | Mercedes-Benz dealership UAE (one of the largest MB dealers globally), Gargash Insurance, Gargash Financial Services, real estate portfolio; established 1960s | Dr. Anwar Gargash – Former UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; senior family member with government and business roles |
| 22 | Olayan (UAE arm) | Olayan Group – Saudi-origin family with active UAE and international investment office | Fixed income, venture capital, PE, real estate, public equities; offices in Vaduz, London, New York, Athens, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Riyadh alongside UAE presence | Abdul Aziz Abdulla – Chairman of the Executive Committee; Olayan family management |
| 23 | Al Zarooni | Al Zarooni Group – Dubai-based diversified family conglomerate | Real estate development and management, hospitality, retail, investment; significant Dubai commercial and residential property portfolio | Mohammed Al Zarooni – Chairman; active across UAE property and investment sectors |
| 24 | Kanoo (UAE operations) | Kanoo Capital (UAE arm) – investment vehicle of the YBA Kanoo Group | Fixed income, VC, PE, real estate, direct investments; CorrosionRADAR, Retalio, Singapore Gulf Bank; 130+ year operating history across GCC | Mishal Kanoo – Chairman, YBA Kanoo Group; Abu Dhabi and Dubai operations alongside Bahrain HQ |
| 25 | 2PointZero / IHC-linked | 2PointZero – Abu Dhabi; subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC) | IHC portfolio (US$27B AUM), Lunate (investment platform), Beltone Financial, International Resources Holding, Sagasse, Citadel crypto mining; technology, AI, digital assets, mining | HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan – Chairman, IHC; 2PointZero operating leadership |
Source: Forbes Middle East Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2025; Dakota.com UAE Family Office Guide January 2026; Khaleej Times UAE Business Families Analysis; familyofficehub.io UAE Single Family Office List 2025; Arab Today Wealthiest Arab Families 2026; Aletihad News UAE Family Business Rankings May 2025; SWFI Institute; public company filings and regulatory disclosures
The 25 families above represent only the most publicly documented layer of UAE family office capital. A significant proportion of the 195 registered UAE family investment offices in specialist databases are operated by families whose names are not widely reported in trade press – either by design or because their wealth was accumulated more recently through real estate, financial services, or technology. These less-visible offices frequently offer the fastest access and most flexible deal structures for fund managers who have done the research to find them.
Many of the C-suite executives and senior principals associated with the family groups listed above – including group CEOs, investment directors, and board members – are included in the Dubai Business Owners & C-Suite Executives Database at dubaiinvestorslist.com. That database covers 65,000+ verified decision-makers across the UAE and can be cross-referenced against the UAE Family Office Database to identify additional access points within each group, map the executive networks surrounding each family investment vehicle, and target both the family principal and the professional investment team simultaneously – a dual-track outreach approach that consistently outperforms single-point contact strategies in the UAE market.
CROSS-REFERENCE YOUR UAE OUTREACH INTELLIGENCE
UAE Family Office Database (195 firms · 430+ key contacts) + Dubai C-Suite Executives Database (65,000+ decision-makers).
Use both databases together to target the family principal and the professional investment team simultaneously
→ dubaiinvestorslist.com/middle-east-family-office-databases/
Research Sources
Profile intelligence in this article is drawn from publicly available sources and my exclusive UAE Family Investment Office Database.
DUBAI INVESTORS LIST 