Chimera Investment, an Abu Dhabi-based private organisation, has launched an independent alternative investment company, Lunate, with more than $50 billion in assets under management, to tap into investment opportunities globally.
The new company, which will be based at the Abu Dhabi Global Market, will target global opportunities across private equity, venture capital, private credit, real assets, public equities, and public credit markets, according to a statement on Friday.
Lunate will be owned by Chimera Investment and Lunate’s senior management.
With plans to start operations in the fourth quarter, Lunate said it would provide multi-asset class investment solutions for its clients, which include institutional investors, pension funds, family offices and other investment firms.
The firm will bring "differentiated and innovative private and public market solutions to the region and beyond from our home base in Abu Dhabi”, Seif Fikry, managing partner at Lunate, said.
“Lunate will launch new products to further grow our assets under management while we continue managing legacy products on behalf of our clients,” he said.
The company said it signed long-term separate managed accounts with multiple clients at the time of launch “with commitments to manage their existing assets and deploy new capital”.
Lunate aims to deploy capital through a combination of strategies such as limited partnership, co-investments and direct investment opportunities.
It expects to expand globally and open offices in North America, Europe and Asia.
The global alternative investment industry is growing, with assets under management expected to nearly double to $23.21 trillion by 2026, from an estimated $13.32 trillion at the end of 2021, a report by investment data company Preqin found.
ADGM, the region's fastest-growing financial hub, grew its assets under management by a record 35 per cent in the first half of 2023, underscoring its position as the region's fastest-growing financial hub.
A total of 102 asset managers, comprising investment firms and hedge funds, which manage 128 funds, set up shop in the capital’s financial centre during the six-month period, ADGM said on Thursday.
Abu Dhabi's economy has gone from strength to strength, and authorities have introduced several programmes to attract market players from around the world to set up business in the emirate and take advantage of its entrepreneurial infrastructure and friendly regulations.
The UAE capital’s non-oil economy grew by 6.1 per cent annually in the first quarter of the year, with the sector's gross domestic product reaching the highest level in nine years, on the back of its strong diversification push, according to Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, AUMs in the GCC are projected to expand above the global average to hit about $500 billion in onshore assets by 2026, from $400 billion at the end of 2022, PwC unit Strategy& said in a report last month.
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Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
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