UAE (United Arab Emirates) has one of the most flourishing economies globally, and it continues to grow.
The bustling city of Dubai provides unparalleled opportunities for PE firms to establish themselves in one of the world’s most developed cities.
We will discuss how the world sees Dubai in terms of setting up private equity firms and how the wealthy investors see UAE-based PE (Private Equity firms as their option to make investments through.
Dubai-based private equity firms and employment opportunities offer finance graduates from all over the world.
According to Statista research, the number of VC (venture capital) deals raised by UAE-based startups in 2018 amounted to an overwhelming number of 366. A whopping 893 million US dollars got raised in venture capital the same year.
The unique factor, or USP, of Dubai, is that it has been among the fastest-booming economies for many years.
By the end of this year, UAE’s GDP will grow sky high, to USD 375 billion, as per expert opinions and forecasted by the Trading Economics global macro models.
Overview — PE Market in UAE and Dubai
The legal status of pre-seed startups in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) region in 2020. Statista
The national. ae, a reputed private English daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi, the PE market in MENA (the Middle East & North Africa) has had struggled of late.
However, investment opportunities have increased by manifolds. The Great Recession of 2008-09 saw UAE’s private equity market surviving comfortably amid the crisis.
Excluding the disappearance of a small percentage of PE firms that could not cope with the heat brought by the recession. But, in the last few years, the public markets have overshadowed or outperformed the private equity sector.
The biggest roadblock to the growth of private equity firms in the UAE is the sudden emergence of too many firms in the PE sector of late.
Investments from Dubai’s Private Equity Firms
However, the number of investments made by Dubai’s top private equity firms has soared up in the recent past; contrary to that, some disappointments have been observed concerning PE in the said geographical region.
A few of such challenges faced by the best private equity firms based in UAE comprise a non-compatible geopolitical environment, continuous change in oil prices, and decreased federal spending.
Despite all of this, MENA’s geographical region is among the fastest-growing when it comes to gauging the median annual growth of GDP.
Services Offered by Dubai’s PE Industry
There are a limited number of services that get offered by the UAE-based private equity industry.
Compared to a wide range of services offered by its American and European counterparts, especially the US private equity firms.
Because the funds are lesser, the kind of services they offer is different than traditional funding.
You can make a private equity career in Dubai across three sub-divisions of PE.
Advisory Services
The number of funds available to private equity investment professionals in Dubai PE firms is less, but business relationships in the private equity sector matter the most.
The syndication and advisory services in the Dubai PE market are fully customizable and can solve customers’ financial issues.
Private equity firms, under advisory support — offer a significant range of services. The services include those from mezzanine and equity transactions to debt structuring. The general advisory service has all services available on demand.
Private equity professionals working in the Dubai PE market maintain healthy professional bonding with top financial institutions and investment banks globally.
Capital Advisory Assistance
Under the sub-division of Capital Advisory Assistance of PE, the services of Dubai-based firms offer major advisory services to Indian firms that seek to expand in the Middle East region.
The Capital Advisory Assistance helps as people consider Mergers and Acquisitions (M&E) deals.
Alongside offering assistance to the Indian businesses, PE firms in Dubai cater to small firms located within Dubai and the Middle East looking for expansion inorganically.
Funds Distribution
Dubai-based private equity firms are mostly MENA-region locale — but they’re regularly seeking investment growth opportunities.
The PE companies of UAE know how to make the commission or cut-it when offering advisory support. The Funds Distribution knows precisely what investors to tap onto.
The prospects PE firms of Dubai regularly seek comprise insurance firms, pension funds, large family-held assets, financial bodies under GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council), and sovereign wealth funds.
Top PE Firms of Dubai
Top Private Equity Firms based in Dubai:
- Gulf Capital
- CedarBridge Partners
- The Abraaj Capital
- NBK Capital Partners
- Ithamar Capital
Recruitment Methodology for PE in Dubai
When seeking a position with a private equity job in Dubai or UAE, there is a protocol-process to land your perfect PE job.
Cover Letter and Resume
The first step to applying to a specific PE firm:
- Go to the company website and find out as much about this company as possible.
- Are you a good fit for them?
- Find the Career section and look for HR’s email ID.
- Send your detailed resume along with a cover letter to the HR email.
- Ensure that your CV or resume is not more than two pages.
- Similarly, have a precise and to the point cover letter.
- Send these two documents to your preferred private equity firm.
Interview Shortlisting
Only 5-10 percent of all applications get shortlisted for personal interviews.
To make it to the short listings — you should give due consideration to what’s written on the “career” page of your chosen PE firm’s site.
Interview Rounds
First Round
The top-notch private equity firms in Dubai usually assign a recruitment agency for the initial round in the interview process.
The agency will conduct your first round of interviews in which your suitability for the job will be judged.
If the recruiter finds you suitable for the company, you will be sent to the next rounds of interviews for further testing.
Second Round
In the second round, you will be interviewed by the solicitor and partner of the PE firm. In the second round, you will be asked a few personality-related and technical questions.
If you qualify for this round, you will go to the next round, in which you will get to meet the HR and the MD of the firm.
Third Round
The third round is your final found. Generally, if you pass this round, you have a good chance of being hired by the firm.
PE Salaries in UAE
The Payscale of a private equity analyst in the UAE earns a median annual pay of AED 200,000.
CPEP (Chartered Private Equity Professional) Certification for those hoping to be hired as a PE Professional
CPEP™ by USPEC (the United States Private Equity Council).
This body of professionals is a globally-recognized accreditation body in the private equity sector. The CPEP by USPEC is one of the most valuable and industry-relevant professional certifications available to be acquired by the PE aspirants in recent times.
Founded on the world’s most powerful USPEC IFIS™ framework, the CPEP™ credential in the private equity sector has gained widespread prominence.
These professionals are among finance graduates and early-career PE professionals worldwide.
Check out applicability and candidacy for the PE certification before applying on the USPEC’s website.
