ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)  

US-listed direct lender and private credit manager Golub Capital is opening an office at ADGM in Abu Dhabi, the company said on Monday. 

The US firm said it has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) for a licence.

Golub Capital also said it has appointed Naser Almutairi as Managing Director, Middle East. 

“Golub Capital is expanding in the Middle East,” said Lawrence Golub, CEO of Golub Capital. 

“Both our new office in ADGM and Naser’s appointment are part of our commitment to providing private credit strategies to investors in the Middle East and to providing gold standard client service to our growing investor base here,” the CEO said.

“We are pleased to welcome Golub Capital to ADGM,” said Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Market Development, ADGM.  “Their decision to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi highlights the strength of our globally recognised regulatory environment and the appeal of our robust financial ecosystem. We are confident that ADGM’s strategic location and business-friendly infrastructure will support Golub Capital’s growth ambitions and enable them to build deeper connections with investors in the region.”

Naser Almutairi has long experience in the Middle East, having focused on the region for over 17 years. Most recently Naser served as Managing Director at Wafra Inc., where he was responsible for business development across the Middle East. Prior to Wafra Inc., he spent over three years at Goldman Sachs in London, where he covered investor relationships in the GCC.

“I am excited to be joining a preeminent firm like Golub Capital and look forward to contributing to its growth and expansion in this dynamic region,” said Naser Almutairi. “Abu Dhabi, with its robust infrastructure and ADGM’s vision for connecting global financial markets, provides the ideal platform to deepen our presence and partnerships across the Middle East.”

Naser joins Basil Hurst, Managing Director in the Global Institutional Sales Group, who also recently relocated to London to lead the firm’s efforts in the Middle East and be closer to its partners in the region.

Golub Capital is a market-leading, award-winning direct lender and experienced private credit manager. As of October 1, 2024, Golub Capital had over 1,000 employees and over $70 billion of capital under management. The firm has offices in North America, Europe and Asia.