Written by
Sarah Layka
Blackstone and Hillhouse Invest in Abu Dhabi Amid Regional Tensions
Updated: Apr 09, 2026, 06:21 PM
Sarah Layka
Two major institutional moves landed in Abu Dhabi within days of each other, and both carry significant implications for the capital's investment landscape and real estate market.
On March 26, Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager with $1.3 trillion in assets under management, committed $250 million into Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT), a payments and data intelligence platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
Blackstone committed $250 million in Advanced Gaming Technology (ADGT), a new platform formed through a strategic partnership between Blackstone and Abu Dhabi-based Raya Holding, alongside NRT Technology and Sightline Payments.
Currently, ADGT is positioned as the premier payments and compliance technology provider to the commercial gaming market. According to Blackstone, the commercial gaming market is set to become one of the fastest-growing regulated markets globally.
Jon Gray, President and COO at Blackstone shared his confidence on the UAE investment:
"We see significant opportunity to deploy capital at scale in the UAE to build companies that can grow both domestically and internationally, despite near-term headwinds.
“The UAE is a global leader in travel and leisure, with emerging strength in technology, and we are excited to support ADGT to capitalize on these powerful trends.”
Days later, on April 2, 2026, Hillhouse Investment Management, one of the world's leading global private alternative asset managers, opened a new office within ADGM and obtained a Category 3C license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
Hillhouse is already deployed on the ground through its real assets arm, Rava Partners, with investments in Hartland International School and North London Collegiate School in the UAE education real estate sector, as well as stakes in Virtuzone and Clara through its business services platform, Ascentium.
Adam Hornung, Co-Chief Operating Officer at Hillhouse, said:
"We have strong confidence in Abu Dhabi as one of the world's most important financial and investment hubs."
H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, responded:
"Their decision to establish a regional presence in ADGM reflects Abu Dhabi's stature as one of the top global financial centres and reinforces its position as a stable and trusted destination for global businesses."
Institutional commitments of this scale translate directly into demand for prime residential and Grade A commercial real estate, as senior hires relocate and operating platforms require permanent infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi’s real estate performance in 2025 reflects this trajectory:
H.E. Engineer Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, stated:
"The outcomes recorded in 2025 are not accidental. They reflect a real estate market that has been deliberately shaped around trust, clarity, and long-term confidence. ... The scale and diversity of transactions seen this year demonstrate that Abu Dhabi has evolved into a market where capital is not only attracted, but retained through confidence in the system."
Driven Properties is now in Abu Dhabi for investors who are interested in the UAE’s capital. We opened our Abu Dhabi office on April 7, 2026, bringing the same Forbes Global Properties standard, area specialization, and data-driven advisory that has generated over AED 100 billion in cumulative UAE transactions.