Greenstone, the Middle East’s largest fund placement firm, has secured a Category 4 licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), enabling it to operate within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The move marks a significant step for the 15-year-old firm, which is headquartered in Dubai and has built a reputation for providing streamlined access to international private equity and alternative investment opportunities.
Strengthening investor links
The new licence allows Greenstone to directly serve DIFC-based institutional investors and family offices under the DFSA’s regulatory framework. It positions the company as a gateway for global fund managers seeking capital from the DIFC, one of the world’s fastest-growing financial hubs.
Alex Gemici, Chief Executive Officer of Greenstone, said:
“Expanding Greenstone’s UAE licensing to include the DIFC reinforces our commitment to serving DIFC-based investors and marks a strategic milestone in our ongoing dedication to connect GCC investors with global leading fund managers.”
Dubai’s growing financial hub
The announcement comes as Dubai cements its status as a preferred hub for alternative investment, fuelled by an influx of global talent and capital.
The DIFC now hosts 85 pure-play hedge funds, with 69 belonging to the so-called “billion-dollar club”, alongside more than 440 wealth and asset management firms. Entrants include major hedge funds, investment management platforms and multi-strategy firms from Asia, North America and Europe.
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, welcomed Greenstone’s entry:
“Their presence underscores DIFC’s growing role as a conduit between the region’s significant generational wealth and global alternative investment opportunities. With over $100 billion raised across private equity, credit, venture capital, infrastructure, real estate, hedge funds, and secondaries, Greenstone combines institutional rigour with deep investor relationships.”
Track record in alternative assets
Greenstone has raised more than $100 billion for funds it represents, spanning private equity, credit, venture capital, infrastructure, real estate, hedge funds and secondaries.
The firm maintains 1,500 deep-rooted relationships with family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and is associated with over 200 institutional investors. Its long-standing role as a trusted connector between global fund managers and GCC capital pools aligns with DIFC’s broader strategy of becoming a hub for wealth and asset management.
Omar Al-Gharabally, Chief Investment Officer of Greenstone, added:
“Adding this regulatory capability to our broader GCC regulatory licensing framework boosts our connectivity with our existing investor relationships within the DIFC. We look forward to continuing our engagement and dialogue with our investors and our coordination with the DFSA.”
Reinforcing Dubai’s role
The agreement reflects the importance of public-private alignment in financial services, with regulatory compliance and transparency at its core. For DIFC, Greenstone’s arrival highlights the centre’s growing importance in bridging Middle Eastern capital with global investment opportunities.
As the UAE continues to attract generational wealth and institutional capital, industry analysts say the move strengthens Dubai’s role as a regional leader in alternative investments, while providing investors with more diverse and regulated opportunities.
