Janus Henderson Expands MEA Presence with New ADGM Office

In a strategic move to reinforce its dedication to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Janus Henderson has announced the appointment of a new Executive Director alongside the launch of a new office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). As a leading global active asset manager, the firm continues to expand its footprint by enhancing support for its regional partners and deepening client engagement.

This latest development reflects Janus Henderson’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the region. The firm already serves some of the region’s most sophisticated sovereign wealth funds and further cemented its position last year with the acquisition of NBK Capital Partners, the private investments division of NBK Wealth.

New Executive Director Joins to Drive Regional Growth

Janus Henderson has appointed Saudi national Baraa Amir as Executive Director for the MEA region. Based at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Amir will focus on expanding the firm’s influence across the GCC by fostering strategic partnerships with sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and prominent family offices. Additionally, he will play a key role in developing customized investment solutions tailored to the needs of the region.

Amir brings over a decade of experience in investment management, having previously worked at Sanabil Investments, a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Riyadh, as well as Methak Investment Holding, a leading Saudi family office in Jeddah. His expertise spans portfolio construction, strategic asset allocation, and investment due diligence.

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Amir holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Prior to joining Janus Henderson, he led the International Portfolio at Methak Investment Holding and previously served as a senior investment analyst at Sanabil Investments, where he played a crucial role in managing multi-asset portfolios and evaluating global investment opportunities.

Meshal AlFaras, Head of Middle East, Africa & Central Asia at Janus Henderson, said of the appointment: “At Janus Henderson we see numerous opportunities for growth in the region, building on our global network, 90-year history and the outstanding local insight of our experts, and this new appointment will add significantly to the strength of our team. Baraa’s deep knowledge of the regional investment landscape combined with Janus Henderson’s robust capabilities will prove invaluable to our partners”.

Baraa Amir commented: “Janus Henderson already has a trusted reputation among regional investors, and I look forward to expanding on existing, well-established partnerships and pursuing new ones, while also utilising my knowledge to refine and expand our services.”

This appointment follows another significant leadership hire by Janus Henderson in December 2023 when the firm appointed Marwan AlSaleh as Senior Advisor to its Middle East business.

Expansion into Abu Dhabi with New Office at ADGM

Further strengthening its regional presence, Janus Henderson has officially inaugurated its new office in Abu Dhabi, capitalizing on the UAE’s strong economic growth and increasing investor confidence. The firm recognizes ADGM’s rising prominence as a global financial hub and aims to leverage its strategic location to enhance investment operations in the region.

The Abu Dhabi office will serve as the base for Janus Henderson Emerging Markets Private Investments, formerly known as NBK Capital Partners. From this location, the team will oversee four private credit and private equity strategies focused on emerging markets, with a particular emphasis on the GCC and the broader MENA region.

This expansion marks Janus Henderson’s second office in the region, following the establishment of its Dubai office in 2012. By broadening its footprint in the UAE, the firm reaffirms its commitment to supporting institutional investors and further strengthening its capabilities in the dynamic MEA market.

Yaser Moustafa, Head of Emerging Market Private Investments, said: “Our move to Abu Dhabi Global Market underlines our long-term commitment to the rapidly growing private capital space in the MENA region”.

Ali Dibadj, Chief Executive Officer of Janus Henderson Investors, said: “Coming into 2025, Janus Henderson is bullish about the opportunities in this region. We are continuing to invest in the professional resources required to provide our clients with the highest level of differentiated expertise and service. We saw dynamic growth in 2024, in terms of the number of clients, number of funds on offer, as well as the number of assets under management, and believe we are well-placed to extend our offerings in high-demand areas such as active asset management, private credit and Islamic investment solutions”.