Abu Dhabi, UAE — U.S.-based energy investment firm Kimmeridge has marked a major milestone in its global expansion strategy by opening a new office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate’s premier international financial hub. The move underscores the company’s commitment to deepening its footprint in the Middle East and fostering stronger investment ties between the U.S., UAE, and Asian markets.
As a regional center for Kimmeridge, the ADGM office will host teams, facilitate investment operations, and foster relationships with institutional stakeholders. The development is in line with a larger initiative to take advantage of the region’s changing energy investment potential.
Kimmeridge signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mubadala Energy, a division of Mubadala Investment Company, at the same time as the office’s opening. With an emphasis on joint ventures in the natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries, Benjamin Dell, Managing Partner of Kimmeridge, and Mansoor Mohamed Al Hamed, CEO of Mubadala Energy, formally signed the agreement.
This comes after Mubadala Energy made its first major foray into the American energy sector with a recent minority investment in SoTex, Kimmeridge’s U.S.-based energy platform.
Benjamin Dell highlighted the significance of the UAE expansion, stating, “Establishing our presence in ADGM and enhancing our partnership with Mubadala Energy are pivotal steps as we pursue emerging opportunities in the global energy landscape. We are proud to align with the UAE’s forward-looking energy strategy and support its broader economic transformation.”
Echoing the sentiment, Mansoor Al Hamed remarked, “Our MoU with Kimmeridge is a natural extension of our growing relationship. We are united by a shared vision for expanding across the gas value chain, and this collaboration is a strong step toward realizing that ambition.”
Leading Kimmeridge’s Middle East operations is Fayçal Benjelloun, appointed Managing Director and Head of Middle East, as well as Senior Executive Officer. Previously with Mubadala Capital, Benjelloun brings deep regional expertise across energy investment and strategic business development in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
“Our ADGM base serves as a critical link between the U.S. and Middle Eastern markets,” said Benjelloun. “Kimmeridge is uniquely equipped to meet the region’s demand for high-performing energy assets while contributing to energy transition goals and net-zero commitments.”
The firm has been granted a Category 4 license by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, authorizing it to advise and arrange investment transactions across the region.
Welcoming the firm to ADGM, Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Market Development, noted, “Kimmeridge’s arrival reinforces ADGM’s position as a thriving international financial centre. Our robust regulatory environment and expanding asset management landscape provide the ideal platform for their regional growth.”
As the Middle East intensifies its focus on strategic and sustainable energy investments, Kimmeridge is positioning itself at the nexus of traditional energy operations and the global energy transition.
