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Pantheon, a leading global private markets investment manager overseeing approximately $84 billion in assets, has officially launched its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The strategic expansion aims to bolster the firm’s regional presence and deepen relationships with sovereign and institutional investors across the Middle East.

To spearhead its regional footprint, the firm appointed Firas Mallah as Managing Director and Head of the Middle East, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The new Abu Dhabi hub expands Pantheon’s international footprint to 13 offices spanning four continents, reflecting the accelerating influx of elite global asset managers establishing operations in the UAE capital as a central conduit for institutional capital.

Specialized Private Market Strategies Meet Regional Appetite

Pantheon specializes across private market asset classes, offering expertise in private equity, infrastructure, and private debt, alongside a prominent position in secondary markets—enabling institutional investors to acquire existing stakes in private equity funds and direct investment portfolios.

The firm emphasized that client demand for private equity, infrastructure, and private credit solutions continues to climb steadily among institutional investors and family offices across the Middle East, positioning the new ADGM presence as a vital operational and client advisory base.

ADGM's Accelerating Asset Management Inflows

Pantheon’s establishment in Abu Dhabi aligns with a period of unprecedented expansion for ADGM’s financial services ecosystem.

During the first half of 2026, assets under management (AUM) within the international financial center surged by 54% year-on-year. Furthermore, the number of authorized fund and asset management firms operating inside the financial hub reached 190, solidifying Abu Dhabi's status as a preeminent global capital destination.