CAIA Association, the global professional body for the alternative investment industry, today unveiled the next phase of its Middle East strategy. The association will broaden its regional presence through senior hires, strategic partnerships and localized programming, reinforcing its commitment to some of the fastest-growing private capital markets in the world.
As the region continues to transform from a capital exporter to a global private capital hub, this new phase in CAIA’s development underscores its commitment to play a deeper role in the development of local talent, infrastructure and industry standards. It follows sustained collaboration with regulators, sovereign wealth funds, asset managers and policymakers, and reflects a shared ambition to raise investment acumen across the region and knowledge sharing globally.
“Establishing a physical presence in the Gulf positions CAIA at the intersection of global capital flows and regional growth,” said John Bowman, CEO, CAIA Association. “It allows us to work more closely with sovereign investors, family offices and corporates, and to contribute meaningfully to the local regulatory and educational infrastructure.”
“After years of groundwork and deep listening exercises, we’re committing long-term capital, curriculum and local presence to support the region’s vision to become a global center for investment excellence. This is about two-way learning – meeting our Members where they are and elevating global standards together.”
CAIA will host its eighth and final C-Suite Leadership Forum of the year in Riyadh on December 8, rounding off a global series of invite-only roundtables of asset management firms, asset owners, general partners and industry thought leaders to discuss the future of private capital. CAIA will also be playing a prominent role at ALTSME, an education-focused alternative investment event it co-hosts taking place in Doha, Qatar on December 3, where Bowman and Laura Merlini, Managing Director EMEA for CAIA, will be speaking and moderating several sessions. Bowman will also be moderating a panel on asset backed and structured finance at the Milken Middle East and Africa Summit, taking place in Abu Dhabi, December 4-5, and will be moderating a panel on the private equity market at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, on December 9.
Market momentum in the Middle East
The Middle East is one of CAIA’s most dynamic regions for membership growth, reflecting the region’s growing appetite for private markets education and engagement. CAIA’s member base in the region has grown by nearly 20% over the last two years and its candidate pool has increased by 15% over the same period. CAIA expects to see continued membership growth, driven in part by growth of the region’s private markets.
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