Chief Investment Officer

Arada; Dubai; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Arada Capital, launching from ADGM in Abu Dhabi, seeks a Chief Investment Officer to shape investment strategy, governance and capital deployment for a regional platform across UAE, GCC and wider MENA.

Reporting to the CEO and Board, the CIO will lead priority transactions, oversee portfolio decisions and build the investment team needed to scale the platform while engaging regulators and institutional partners.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading significant investments or portfolio decisions.
• Experience in investment committees or fund leadership.
• Strong governance, strategy and capital deployment capabilities.
• Regional exposure across UAE, GCC, and wider MENA.
• MBA/CFA/CAIA or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define the investment strategy and governance framework for Arada Capital.
• Lead priority transactions and oversee capital deployment.
• Build and scale the investment capability for a regional platform.
• Engage with regulators, government entities and institutional partners.

Skills

Investment leadership

Capital deployment

Governance & decision-making

Portfolio management

Regional experience UAE/GCC/MENA

PPP / project finance

Underwriting & valuation

Stakeholder engagement

MBA/CFA/CAIA

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA/CFA/CAIA (preferred)

Job description

Job Description:

Chief Investment Officer | Arada Capital | ADGM, Abu Dhabi

Arada Capital is establishing a dedicated institutional investment platform from ADGM in Abu Dhabi, focused on property, infrastructure and real assets across the UAE, GCC and wider MENA region. The platform will target long-term investment opportunities linked to regional growth, public-private partnerships, urban development and essential infrastructure.

We are seeking a Chief Investment Officer to lead the investment agenda at an important stage in the platform’s development. The role offers the scope to shape strategy, governance, capital deployment and market positioning from the outset, while working within a clear institutional framework and a business with regional ambition.

Working closely with the CEO and Board, the CIO will define the investment strategy, establish governance and decision‑making frameworks, lead priority transactions, oversee capital deployment and build the investment capability required to support a scalable regional platform.

Why this role stands out

• Meaningful influence over investment strategy, governance and market positioning from the platform’s early stages.
• The opportunity to build from a clear strategic mandate rather than inherit a legacy investment model.
• Exposure to long-term regional investment themes, including PPPs, real estate-backed investments, energy transition, utilities, digital infrastructure, social infrastructure, healthcare, education and mixed-use development.
• Direct engagement with regulators, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, developers and global capital partners.
• A role that combines investment discipline, capital deployment, portfolio oversight and team build‑out.

Experience And Qualifications

• Investment experience across property, real estate investment, infrastructure, real assets, private equity, sovereign wealth, institutional investment management, development finance or a comparable platform.
• Experience operating in investment committee, fund leadership, partner, managing director or equivalent decision‑making environments.
• Track record leading significant investments and portfolio decisions, ideally with aggregate transaction exposure exceeding USD 1 billion.
• Strong capability across investment strategy, capital deployment, underwriting, portfolio construction, governance, asset management and value creation.
• Regional experience across the UAE, GCC and wider MENA market, with relationships across government, sovereign wealth, institutional capital, developers and strategic partners.
• PPP, project finance, concession‑based investment or infrastructure fund experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, CFA, CAIA or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.
• International exposure to mature property and infrastructure markets, particularly the UK or Australia, would be advantageous.

Why consider this role?

This is an opportunity to help shape a new platform with strategic backing, regional relevance and long‑term growth potential. The CIO will help set the investment architecture, attract and deploy capital, build the team and establish Arada Capital’s credibility as a regional investor in property, infrastructure and real assets.

The role will suit someone who has built credibility in institutional investment environments and is looking for a mandate with greater strategic influence, visibility and long‑term impact.