The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has announced a strategic partnership with global investment firm Bain Capital to support its regional expansion, coinciding with the launch of the Fintech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Assets (FIDA) cluster.
The FIDA cluster, unveiled during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025, is designed to develop financial infrastructure in areas including fintech, alternative investments, digital assets, long-term savings, transition finance, and SME capital platforms.
It is expected to contribute AED 56 billion to GDP. The initiative will create 8,000 skilled jobs and attract at least AED 17 billion in investments.
Bain Capital has over 40 years of experience across private equity, venture capital, credit, and real estate. The firm will bring its expertise and global network to the FIDA initiative.
Under the partnership, ADIO and Bain Capital will establish Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment platforms. They will also support the development of a local asset management ecosystem to deploy capital regionally.
The collaboration will explore co-investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi and neighbouring markets. It will work with local partners and sovereign entities on projects across infrastructure, transition finance, and innovation.
It will also engage institutional investors, academic institutions, and other ecosystem stakeholders to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem.
The partnership will prioritise talent development in line with FIDA’s strategy.
It will create pathways in alternative investments, risk management, and asset advisory, ensuring expertise is cultivated locally.
Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said:
“Through this collaboration with Bain Capital, we are creating strategic channels for financial innovation that serve institutional needs, while giving global investors a stable base in Abu Dhabi to originate, structure and deploy capital across the region.”
David Gross, Co-Managing Partner at Bain Capital, added:
“Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, business-friendly environment, and commitment to innovation make it an ideal base for expanding our regional footprint. We look forward to working with ADIO to identify compelling investment opportunities and contribute to the development of a world-class financial services sector.”
Featured image credit: ADIO
