Hillhouse Investment Management on Thursday announced the opening of a new office at Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre to expand its operations in the Gulf region despite the outbreak of war in Iran about five weeks ago.
Its move to introduce the new office comes as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran and Tehran’s retaliation against Gulf neighbours have disrupted regional energy infrastructure, as well as global oil and gas flows.
The Singapore-headquartered alternative asset manager set up the new office within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to showcase its “long-term commitment and confidence in the region’s rapidly evolving financial ecosystem,” said Hillhouse in a statement.
The firm said that the new offices underscore its “dedication to supporting both investment activity and client partnerships across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as the broader Gulf region.”
Along with the new office, Hillhouse also announced that it has obtained a Category 3C licence from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
With over 450 professionals across more than 18 countries, Hillhouse has already built a presence in the UAE through multiple investments. It has invested in corporate services groups Virtuzone and Clara via its business services platform Ascentium, as well as Hartland International School and North London Collegiate School in the education real estate space via its real assets investment arm Rava Partners.
The Abu Dhabi office will further its ability to source opportunities, execute investments, and partner with local stakeholders, said Hillhouse.
Hillhouse, which has over $100 billion in assets under management (AUM), is the latest high-profile investment firm to build an office at the ADGM.
ADGM, established in 2015 to transform Abu Dhabi into a global business and finance hub, reported on March 30 a 36% year-over-year (YoY) surge in total AUM, while the number of asset and fund managers with a presence at the financial centre increased to 171 by the end of 2025.
Some of the top financial entities that established a new office at the ADGM in 2025 include Adams Street, HarbourVest, KKR, Partners Group, Julius Baer, and Polen Capital, making it the fastest-growing financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
ADGM also identifies itself as the region’s largest financial centre in terms of active licences. The number of total active licences rose 30% YoY to reach 12,671 at the end of 2025.
“Hillhouse has built strong partnerships with investors, businesses, and government entities across the region for several years. This new office will help us continue strengthening those ties and commitments further,” said Adam Hornung, Hillhouse’s co-chief operating officer.
