Blackstone and Hillhouse Invest in Abu Dhabi Amid Regional Tensions

Blackstone and Hillhouse Invest in Abu Dhabi Amid Regional Tensions

Two major institutional moves landed in Abu Dhabi within days of each other, and both carry significant implications for the capital's investment landscape and real estate market.

Blackstone Commits $250 Million to Abu Dhabi

On March 26, Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager with $1.3 trillion in assets under management, committed $250 million into Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT), a payments and data intelligence platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

Blackstone committed $250 million in Advanced Gaming Technology (ADGT), a new platform formed through a strategic partnership between Blackstone and Abu Dhabi-based Raya Holding, alongside NRT Technology and Sightline Payments.

Currently, ADGT is positioned as the premier payments and compliance technology provider to the commercial gaming market. According to Blackstone, the commercial gaming market is set to become one of the fastest-growing regulated markets globally.

Jon Gray, President and COO at Blackstone shared his confidence on the UAE investment:

"We see significant opportunity to deploy capital at scale in the UAE to build companies that can grow both domestically and internationally, despite near-term headwinds.

“The UAE is a global leader in travel and leisure, with emerging strength in technology, and we are excited to support ADGT to capitalize on these powerful trends.”

Hillhouse Investment Management Opens in ADGM

Days later, on April 2, 2026, Hillhouse Investment Management, one of the world's leading global private alternative asset managers, opened a new office within ADGM and obtained a Category 3C license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority.

Hillhouse is already deployed on the ground through its real assets arm, Rava Partners, with investments in Hartland International School and North London Collegiate School in the UAE education real estate sector, as well as stakes in Virtuzone and Clara through its business services platform, Ascentium.

Adam Hornung, Co-Chief Operating Officer at Hillhouse, said:

"We have strong confidence in Abu Dhabi as one of the world's most important financial and investment hubs."

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, responded:

"Their decision to establish a regional presence in ADGM reflects Abu Dhabi's stature as one of the top global financial centres and reinforces its position as a stable and trusted destination for global businesses."

What This Means for Abu Dhabi Real Estate

Institutional commitments of this scale translate directly into demand for prime residential and Grade A commercial real estate, as senior hires relocate and operating platforms require permanent infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi’s real estate performance in 2025 reflects this trajectory:

• Abu Dhabi recorded AED 142 billion in total real estate transactions in 2025, a 44 percent increase in value and a 52 percent surge in transaction volume compared to 2024.
• Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi's investment zones reached AED 54.13 billion, accounting for 72 percent of all real estate investments in the emirate.
• Foreign Direct Investment in the real estate sector alone reached AED 8.2 billion, drawing investors from over 100 nationalities.
• ADGM itself reported a 36 percent surge in assets under management and a 51 percent increase in its licensed workforce in 2025, with over 12,000 active licenses now operating within its jurisdiction.

H.E. Engineer Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, stated:

"The outcomes recorded in 2025 are not accidental. They reflect a real estate market that has been deliberately shaped around trust, clarity, and long-term confidence. ... The scale and diversity of transactions seen this year demonstrate that Abu Dhabi has evolved into a market where capital is not only attracted, but retained through confidence in the system."

Driven Properties Opens New Branch in Abu Dhabi

Driven Properties is now in Abu Dhabi for investors who are interested in the UAE’s capital. We opened our Abu Dhabi office on April 7, 2026, bringing the same Forbes Global Properties standard, area specialization, and data-driven advisory that has generated over AED 100 billion in cumulative UAE transactions.