Nahda Capital Partners, a newly established private equity platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has filed to register its inaugural private equity fund as it prepares to begin investment activities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The firm plans to raise approximately $300 million for the fund, which will be managed from ADGM, subject to regulatory approval. Fundraising is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The name “Nahda,” which in Arabic refers to a renaissance, renewal, or resurgence, reflects the firm’s mission of building enduring partnerships while contributing to the development of the region’s real economy. The firm said its strategy will prioritize supporting local founders, family-owned businesses, and institutional stakeholders.
Nahda Capital Partners is led by Founder and Managing Partner Iñigo de Luna. The firm is developing a control-oriented mid-market private equity strategy focused primarily on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the broader GCC region.
The investment strategy targets resilient founder-led and family-owned businesses that are benefiting from structural economic growth and increasing institutionalization in the region. Nahda intends to partner with companies that are undergoing generational transitions or seeking institutional capital and operational support to accelerate their next phase of expansion across the GCC.
The founding partners bring experience from international private equity and investment banking, with a historical track record of generating approximately 36% gross IRR across multiple economic cycles.
Nahda’s strategy emphasizes majority investments made in partnership with founders and family shareholders. The firm plans to focus on operational value creation through professionalization, operational improvement, governance strengthening, and selective buy-and-build expansion.
Sector priorities include food production and distribution, healthcare, education, and industrial technology. Nahda also noted that its investment approach aligns with principles of Sharia-compliant investing, including a focus on real-economy assets, disciplined governance, and prudent use of leverage.
Once regulatory approvals are secured, the firm expects to begin deploying capital through its inaugural fund across the GCC’s mid-market business landscape.
KEY QUOTE:
“Nahda Capital Partners was established to partner with high-quality mid-market businesses across the GCC that can benefit from long-term capital and hands-on operational support. These are difficult days and the priority is safety and de-escalation. At the same time, we view this as a severe but temporary shock rather than a change in the long-term trajectory of the UAE and the region. Our conviction has not changed: the GCC is structurally strengthening as a place to build businesses and allocate long-term capital.”
Iñigo de Luna, Founder And Managing Partner, Nahda Capital Partners
