Blackstone plans Dubai comeback with new DIFC office
Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, is preparing to strengthen its presence in the UAE by opening a new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), according to sources familiar with the plans. The move would mark the firm’s return to Dubai after relocating its regional base to Abu Dhabi in 2019.
The planned expansion reflects Dubai’s growing appeal as a global financial hub. Since the pandemic, the emirate has attracted a wave of international investment firms, hedge funds, private banks and family offices, driven by business-friendly regulations, residency reforms and a rapidly expanding financial ecosystem. (
Blackstone manages approximately $1.35 trillion in assets across private equity, real estate, infrastructure and credit, making it the largest alternative investment firm in the world. While the company declined to comment on the reports, sources say it intends to keep its existing Abu Dhabi office, maintaining a presence in both of the UAE’s leading financial centres.
The firm’s interest in Dubai comes as it continues to expand its investments across the Gulf. In recent years, Blackstone has acquired a stake in Dubai-based property platform Property Finder, partnered with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) on an aircraft leasing programme, invested $250 million in a UAE financial technology company, and recently emerged as one of the bidders for a stake in Kuwait’s national oil pipeline network.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, major global investors continue to view the UAE as a long-term strategic market. Dubai, in particular, has become a preferred destination for international financial institutions seeking access to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia through a single regional base.
For Dubai, Blackstone’s expected return is another sign of the emirate’s growing influence in global finance. As more international asset managers establish operations in DIFC, the city continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing financial centres and a key gateway for international investment into the region.
