Middle East

The head of real estate at Abu Dhabi's huge sovereign wealth fund explains why it is looking to build exposure to the two giant Asian markets.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is building its in-house teams and is focusing more on core PE manager relationships, but it sees potentially lower returns in the asset class.

Malaysian asset managers' share of global sharia-compliant funds could overtake that of firms based in Saudi Arabia, according to AsianInvestor's annual ranking this year.

The Swiss fund house has named a new regional chief. His predecessor and the Asia head of distribution have departed, the latter to UBS Wealth Management.

The history of investors trying to make co-investments with private equity firms or even go it alone is strewn with casualties.

HSBC PB rings changes at the top; JPM AM replaces property research head; Northern Trust hires fund services chief; Taiwan FSC replaces chair; Robeco adds wholesale exec; Nicholas Furze switches search firms; Zedra appoints Singapore head; Indosuez WM names Mid East chief.

Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund has made Hong Kong its only overseas branch with the hire of a three-strong research team, continuing the buildout of its in-house capabilities.

Last year saw a decline in Islamic assets under management globally, but some firms heavily bucked the trend both on the downside and upside, according to AsianInvestor research.

Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, global head of private equity at Abraaj, talks about limited partner requests and why his firm prefers not to do deals alongside other general partners.

Islamic assets managed in the Middle East shrank overall last year, but sharia alternative investments were a bright spot, finds AsianInvestor research ranking firms by AUM.

The emerging-markets private equity firm plans to invest 80% of the strategy into renewables, has set up a 12-strong energy infrastructure arm and will add three more executives in this area.

AsianInvestor presents its annual list of managers of Islamic funds. Their overall AUM fell 12.2% last year, but alternatives were a bright spot. More analysis of the data is to come.

Jean Michel Bourgoin, previously Middle East head for Amundi, will look to expand Natixis Global Asset Management's regional focus beyond sovereign wealth funds.

Adriaan Ryder has left Australian asset manager QIC and last month started as chief strategist at a sovereign wealth fund in the Gulf.

Tariq Al Rifai's new organisation will focus on how Islamic finance can help solve debt-related issues in financial markets and encourage the take-up of sharia-compliant investing.

The asset management and servicing group is recruiting five executives to raise its Middle East headcount to 14 in anticipation of opportunities in the region's pensions industry.

AsianInvestor has answered 10 key questions for investors in the Year of the Monkey. Question seven looks at oil prices after their steep drop.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has hired Sherwood Dodge as it steadily builds its in-house capabilities with a view to doing more private equity co-investment.

Asiya Investments plans an Asia-focused long/short equity launch and a Ucits version of an equity fund, the Kuwait Investment Authority-backed hedge fund tells AsianInvestor.

Japanese fund house announces launch of two more Ucits funds as it attempts to satisfy demand from investors in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Nikko plans to launch even more in the coming months.