Nahda Capital looking at GCC prospects beyond current uncertainties

Entrepreneur Inigo de Luna, who previously served at Dubai’s Istithmar World Capital and Madrid’s Beka Finance to handle billions in assets, is confident in the viable prospects of the GCC region beyond the current uncertainties.

This founding CEO of Nahda Capital Partners – a Shariah-focused PE firm that just obtained regulatory approval to operate in the Abu Dhabi Global Market – told IFN Investor that the firm’s inaugural fund will be launched in April 2026 with the aim to raise US$300 million.

Inigo said the ongoing Iran-centered war had only one major impact on the fundraising plans, initially drawn up in Q3 2025. “We will now focus on institutional investors and family offices within the GCC region. We will revisit our original plan to attract Asian and European clientele later.”

This pivot leverages on the commitment of affluent GCC residents to their home base, with anticipation that the region’s growth trajectory will resume once the US-Israeli-led attacks end and peace is restored, explained Inigo.

“We are launching because we believe the GCC is in a multi-year phase where disciplined, control-oriented private equity can help build stronger companies. The gap we see is in mid-market control capital combined with hands-on operational value creation. We aim to partner with founders and families, bring institutional discipline and help build resilient regional champions.”

Inigo said PE is especially suited for such an investment strategy as it can play a constructive role in operational, long-term capital deployment. The firm’s stance is that the GCC’s structural strengths remain intact, and well-run companies tend to emerge stronger after shocks.

Nahda Capital’s key focus in the inaugural fund, among others, would be mid-tier firms ready to scale up in size within the sectors of food production and distribution, healthcare, education as well as industrial technology.

“The GCC region will continue to see rapid population growth and these sectors will be critical to support the increase, making them viable businesses with sustainable earning potentials.”