Over the past year, there has been a noticeable rise in articles discussing the expanding presence of hedge funds in Dubai, as well as the relocation of fund managers to the city. Consequently, we have decided to investigate the current status of hedge funds domiciled in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the actual presence of hedge fund managers located in Dubai.
To conduct our study, we used data from the global hedge fund universe provided by all major data vendors. This encompassed approximately 208,000 funds listed across all databases, with around 56,000 of these funds being unique entities.
Hedge Funds in Dubai: Search Results
We excluded defunct or liquidated funds, along with those that haven't reported performance updates for the past four months. Our search focused solely on funds with legal structures classified as hedge funds, excluding entities such as Open Ended Funds, SICAVs, FCPs, and ETFs. The results are summarized in the following table:
| Funds | Number of Funds |
| Management Firm in the UAE | 21 |
| Domiciled in the UAE | 5 |
| Domiciled in the Cayman Islands | 17 |
| Domiciled in Mauritius | 3 |
| Domiciled in Bermuda | 1 |
| Funds’ age less than 2 years | 3 |
| Funds’ age 2 – 3 years | 0 |
| Funds’ age more than 3 years | 18 |
The findings are quite interesting. Firstly, it's evident that the majority of hedge funds still favor traditional offshore registrations such as the Cayman Islands over the UAE. Secondly, our analysis indicates that there hasn't been a notable surge in new hedge funds in the UAE over the past year. In fact, only one fund was incorporated in August 2022, with no new funds recorded in 2023.
It's understandable that some might question these results, given the seemingly low numbers. However, several factors should be considered. Firstly, not all hedge funds are listed with major data providers, meaning some operate under the radar. Additionally, it's crucial to emphasize once more that our search specifically targeted funds with a legal structure classified as hedge funds. It's worth noting that searching for offshore Open Ended and SICAV funds returned over 1,300 funds with management companies based in the UAE.
Top 5 Hedge Funds in Dubai
To select top best funds, we used Risk Shell’s FlexiRank™ metrics which included nine ranking risk statistics calculated over the time period of the last 3 years:
- Mean RoR
- VaR95
- Maximum Drawdown
- Time-Under-Water
- Stress Drawdown Average
- Stress Drawdown Maximum
- Semi-deviation
- Downside Deviation
- Positive Return Ratio
When calculating stress statistics, we took into account 31 historical extreme events since 1998. The top 5 hedge in Dubai and their Flexi ranks are listed in the following table:
| Funds | FlexiRank™ | Percentiles | ||||||||
| Mean | VaR95 | MaxDD | TUW | Stress~ | Stress^ | SemiDev | DownDev | Positive % | ||
| Waha MENA Equity Fund SP (A) | 35.510 | 0.894 | 0.716 | 0.853 | 0.857 | 0.492 | 0.878 | 0.602 | 0.811 | 1.000 |
| Waha CEEMEA Credit Fund SP | 34.955 | 0.235 | 1.000 | 0.921 | 0.786 | 0.478 | 0.844 | 0.967 | 0.943 | 0.818 |
| Waha Islamic Income Fund Class A | 34.803 | 0.252 | 0.997 | 0.970 | 0.929 | 0.438 | 0.920 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 0.455 |
| Amwal Capital Partners MENA Fund LP (Class B) | 34.621 | 0.808 | 0.943 | 0.951 | 0.821 | 0.456 | 0.844 | 0.744 | 0.902 | 0.455 |
| Waha Emerging Markets Credit Fund (A) | 34.473 | 0.234 | 0.999 | 0.918 | 0.786 | 0.478 | 0.844 | 0.967 | 0.942 | 0.727 |
Drilling Down Into Test Results
Finally, we’ve run the multi-statistic peer group analysis for the top ranked fund Waha MENA Equity Fund SP (A) as shown below. Active hedge funds with the trading strategy Emerging Markets - MENA have been selected as a peer group.
Feel free to reach out to us for a comprehensive risk assessment of hedge funds domiciled in the UAE.
Learn More About FlexiRank™
For a deeper understanding of the FlexiRank™ concept and how it facilitates asset comparison, we invite you to join our dedicated webinar Asset Ranking Techniques. Explore a dynamic framework that enhances your ability to compare and rank assets, providing a comprehensive and holistic perspective on risk and return.
The financial data provided herein is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the data. We shall not be held responsible or liable for any errors or omissions in the content provided, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Users are advised to independently verify the accuracy and completeness of all information before making any investment decisions or taking any actions based on the data provided. The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and should not be construed as such. Users are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, or tax professional before making any investment or financial decisions. Furthermore, the inclusion of specific securities or investment opportunities in the data provided should not be interpreted as a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. Any investment decisions made based on the information presented herein are made solely at the user's own risk. We disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with the use or reliance on the financial data provided herein.
