Gordian Capital, Asia’s oldest and largest institutional fund platform with $17 billion in assets under management, plans to expand into Dubai, subject to regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
The Singapore-based firm intends to offer fund platform services in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), similar to those it provides in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, per the announcement.
Its primary client base is expected to be global alternative asset managers looking to establish a regulated presence in the Middle East.
Gordian Capital operates as a fully licensed and regulated institutional fund platform in Asia.
It holds regulatory approvals from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, Japan’s Financial Services Agency, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The firm also complies with requirements from India’s Securities and Exchange Board, China’s Securities Regulatory Commission, and the Central Bank of Ireland.
Founded in 2004, Gordian Capital has launched more than 115 funds across both private and public strategies.
These include private equity, real estate, venture capital, private credit, infrastructure, hedge funds, and long-only strategies. About 96% of its assets under management come from institutional investors.
The planned fund platform in DIFC would provide regulated infrastructure for investment professionals. Gordian Capital would handle the business and operational management of each fund, allowing fund managers to focus on investments.
The firm is already part of an ecosystem of prime brokers, administrators, and legal, tax, and audit firms across Asia. It expects to contribute similarly to the DIFC ecosystem, supporting its growth as an asset management hub.
Gordian Capital’s client portfolio includes global institutional asset managers, hedge funds, family offices, general partners, and corporates.
The firm has regulated operations in Singapore, Japan, and Australia, with representative offices in Melbourne and Shanghai.