Building Abraaj

Since its inception in 2002, Abraaj Capital has moved from an upstart, Dubai-based investor to among one of the largest private equity firms in the world and a dominant player across the emerging markets. Its acquisition this year of Aureos Capital give the firm a presence in 30 countries. And according to Abraaj CEO Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, the growth of Abraaj has only just begun.

In an exclusive interview with Privcap, Abdel-Wadood discusses how his firm has built upon its initial success in the Middle East by expanding to contiguous geographies, the importance of the Aureos Capital acquisition, how Abraaj can be competitive in newer markets like Latin America, the business connections that are growing between emerging markets, the “pent up demand” for goods and services among emerging middle-class consumers around the world, how the MENA region moved away from being “a source of capital as opposed to a target for capital,” and why the firm recently launched a fund targeting investment in Palestine.