Abu Dhabi's Lunate appoints the Emirati Minister of Investment to lead its global expansion

A strategic leadership shift at the heart of a global push

Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment firm Lunate has appointed Mohammed Hassan Alsuwaidi , the UAE's Minister of Investment and former CEO of the sovereign wealth fund ADQ , as executive chairman and managing partner, tasked with leading the group's global growth strategy. This change underscores Lunate's ambition to establish itself as a major player in global investment.

Lunate currently manages approximately $115 billion in assets and plans to more than double its assets under management over the next five years, by deepening its institutional partnerships and expanding its geographic footprint.

Opportunity for Africa: Capturing Gulf Capital for Development

As African economies seek diversified sources of long-term capital to finance infrastructure, energy, and technology, Lunate's international expansion points to a potential source of sovereign and private capital from the Gulf, ready to invest beyond traditional markets. African governments and the private sector could leverage partnerships and co-investment vehicles that connect these capital pools to high-growth opportunities across the continent.

A broader expansion model

Lunate's strategy is in line with the broader trend among Gulf asset managers to deploy capital internationally and across multiple asset classes:

• Recent partnerships, such as the planned $1 billion commitment to a BlackRock-backed investment platform, illustrate Lunate's intention to raise capital in North America and Europe.

• The company has also invested in global hedge funds and diversified platforms, reflecting Abu Dhabi's ambition to become a global asset management hub.

With Alsuwaidi, an experienced executive at the helm of one of the Emirates' largest sovereign wealth funds, in charge of its overall strategy, Lunate aims to deepen its institutional relationships and unlock larger pools of capital.

Why does this matter to African markets?

Africa's growing infrastructure needs, from transport and energy networks to digital finance and industrial parks, require patient, long-term capital. Gulf capital, historically invested in Commonwealth, European, and North American markets, is seeking diversification. This presents an opportunity for African markets to position themselves as attractive destinations for these alternative investment flows.