• ARTE Capital to launch $1 billion ARTE China-Arab Strategic Fund
  • Agreement signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023

Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) today announced a collaboration with Hong Kong-based ARTE Capital, one of Asia’s leading asset managers, to set up its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi and launch a US$1 billion fund for Chinese companies expanding to the Middle East. Announced during the flagship Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023, the move underscores Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global financial hub and opens a new avenue for Chinese companies to establish operations in the UAE capital and wider region.

ARTE Capital Middle East will be based at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to manage assets and investment funds, arrange deals and credit, and provide advisory services. The company plans to raise a US$1 billion ARTE China-Arab Strategic Fund for investment in Chinese companies planning to expand to the Middle East. This fund will be managed by ARTE Capital in ADGM and backed by ARTE Capital Group’s investors.

ADIO will be providing a range of growth-enabling support to ARTE Capital Middle East and will help to facilitate the Abu Dhabi expansion of companies through the ARTE China-Arab Strategic Fund. The Fund launches at a time of expanding UAE-China economic ties, with non-oil bilateral trade growing by 18% in 2022 to $72 billion.

Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said: “Abu Dhabi is the gateway for Chinese companies to new markets and new frontiers in the region. As UAE-China economic ties continue to strengthen, a wealth of new expansion opportunities for Chinese companies will unfold. ADIO’s collaboration with ARTE Capital will facilitate and accelerate this growth and enable more Chinese companies to thrive in Abu Dhabi and the MENA region.”

ARTE Capital is a multi-strategy asset manager headquartered in Hong Kong, operating under the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HK SFC). The company recently led a delegation to Abu Dhabi of 10 Chinese multibillion Dollar companies operating in sectors including education, manufacturing, biotech, gaming and AI, to assess expansion opportunities in the Emirate.

Ethan Chan, Chairman of ARTE Capital Group, commented: "Both the FSRA license and the MOU with ADIO are significant milestones for ARTE. ADGM has positioned itself well as an international financial hub for the Middle East region, and we look forward to working with Abu Dhabi Global Markets, ADIO and the sovereign wealth funds that have supported our platform over the years. We see a rapidly growing demand for asset management and investment banking services in the Middle East region, which is the reason why we took this strategic step to cater to the needs of our clients. ARTE is proud to declare ADGM as its Middle East headquarters, with robust support from the ecosystem. With support from ADIO, ARTE will connect Middle East capital with Chinese enterprises, enabling them to expand their business locally in the Middle East region and allowing our friends in the Middle East to invest in exciting opportunities."

ADIO, which opened an office in Beijing in 2021, has strong links with Chinese companies. In October, ADIO announced that China’s Neta Auto, Hozon Auto’s electric vehicle (EV) brand, will conduct research and testing of smart car technologies within Abu Dhabi’s new Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster.

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About ADIO

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) enables local, regional and international investors to thrive and grow in the UAE capital through its close collaboration with government partners, sovereign investors, and national champions.

ADIO is Abu Dhabi's premier platform that empowers the private sector to grow, partner and compete globally by providing access to growth opportunities, strategic partnerships and new markets across key sectors that range from real estate and infrastructure, to industries and agribusiness, enhancing the nation’s investment in talent, innovation and sustainability.

With a growing network of global offices, investors can contact ADIO by visiting its head office in Abu Dhabi or international offices located in Beijing, Frankfurt, London, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, and Tel Aviv.

Visit https://www.investinabudhabi.gov.ae/ for more information.

About ARTE Capital Group

ARTE is an established investment services group headquartered in Hong Kong. Its affiliates operate under entities regulated by Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HK SFC) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). ARTE’s mission is to foster positive interconnections between the Middle East and China, cultivating strong and lasting partnerships through the principles of sharing resources and mutual growth.