Head of Investor Capital & Relations - Middle East (Dubai-Based)

About the Role
As Head of Investor Capital and Relations, Middle East, you will operate independently in the region with a global reporting line and executive sponsorship. Your mandate is to build the firm's Middle East franchise from first principles, focusing on the coverage map, institutional relationships, office establishment, and ultimately, the regional team.

This is a builder's role. You will own senior coverage of the region's sovereign wealth funds, government-related entities, and family offices. Additionally, you will lead the office establishment and hub determination between DIFC and ADGM, coordinating closely with counsel and the firm's government relations workstreams to build a durable Gulf franchise.

About the Opportunity
We are seeking a Head of Investor Capital and Relations to be the firm's senior presence in the Gulf, owning its most strategically important capital relationships with the region's sovereign wealth funds, government-related entities, and principal family offices. The GCC is engaged in one of the most ambitious government-backed investment programs in the history of the games industry. This position is established to convert that alignment into anchor limited partner relationships, co-investment partnerships, and strategic financings for the firm's investment vehicles and transaction pipeline.

The corporate title for this role is Executive Director, with a defined path to Managing Director tied to franchise milestones. Initially, you will have one direct report, a Regional Relationship Manager, who will be hired following the office establishment.

The Head of Investor Capital and Relations, Middle East, will be based in Dubai (DIFC) or Abu Dhabi (ADGM), with the hub determination in progress and open to the successful candidate's input. You will report to the Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships. The role requires travel of 50 percent or more across the GCC and wider MENA, with periodic travel to Los Angeles and New York. This is a full-time position; the regional package will be structured with local counsel.

Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Sovereign and Institutional Coverage

• Own senior coverage of the region's sovereign wealth funds and government-related entities, managing documented access paths and personal ownership of the firm's most senior regional relationships.
• Build and maintain coverage of the GCC's principal single and multi-family offices, regional institutional investors, and banks, with complete records in the firm's relationship platform.
• Map the decision-making architecture of each priority institution, documenting details on investment committee cadence, mandate criteria, co-investment appetite, and approval chains.

Capital Formation and Transactions

• Lead regional pre-marketing and fundraising processes for the firm's investment vehicles within applicable private placement and promotion regimes, working closely with counsel on marketing approaches for each jurisdiction.
• Originate and manage sovereign co-investment dialogues alongside fund principals, supporting strategic financing conversations through to execution.
• Oversee institutional diligence processes from start to finish, including DDQ coordination, data room support, operational due diligence visits, and reference management.

Franchise and Regional Platform

• Advise on the hub determination between DIFC and ADGM, leading the establishment of the regional office with Legal and Finance, including regulatory positioning of the firm's regional activities.
• Expand the firm's presence across the region's priority investment forums and convening platforms, running a regional events calendar to convert presence into a qualified pipeline.
• Coordinate with the firm's government relations and sovereign engagement workstreams, ensuring that capital coverage and institutional diplomacy reinforce one another.
• Recruit and develop the regional Relationship Manager and subsequent hires, establishing coverage and CRM standards for the region.

Risk and Controls

• Ensure all regional marketing and promotion activity complies with applicable regulations, including DIFC and ADGM promotion rules and the private placement frameworks of each GCC jurisdiction, in coordination with counsel.
• Maintain rigorous counterparty awareness, including KYC, AML, and sanctions screening coordination with compliance processes, escalating reputational risk considerations as necessary.

Requirements
Candidate Profile
Experience

• 10+ years covering MENA institutional capital from an investment bank, sovereign investor, placement agent, asset manager, or family office platform, with at least 5 years in a senior client-facing capacity.
• Demonstrable senior relationships within GCC sovereign institutions and principal family offices, with a track record of capital raised, commitments secured, or strategic partnerships executed in the region.
• Existing relationships across the region's sovereign gaming, esports, and digital entertainment programs and their investment arms are a strong advantage, as is a cumulative placement or capital formation record in the region of USD 500 million or more.

Domain Expertise

• Working knowledge of the regional regulatory landscape relevant to fund marketing and promotion, including the DIFC and ADGM frameworks and private placement practices across the GCC.
• Experience marketing alternative strategies such as credit, special situations, or private equity to sovereign and family office investors, especially familiarity with Shariah-aware structuring considerations, is preferred.
• Experience establishing or operating a regulated or exempt presence in the DIFC or ADGM is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep cultural fluency and protocol judgment in sovereign, government, and family office settings, along with the discretion those relationships demand.
• Proven ability to operate independently in a region on a global platform, with disciplined reporting, pipeline management, and follow-through.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic language fluency is preferred.
• A high degree of ethics and integrity, with a clean regulatory and disciplinary history.

Education and Credentials

• A bachelor's degree is required.
• A CFA or CAIA charter, or equivalent, is preferred.

Compensation
$250,000 - $250,000 a year
Compensation is competitive and negotiable based on experience, including performance-based incentives, equity participation, and comprehensive health, retirement, and wellbeing benefits.

Benefits
We are passionate about fostering a supportive environment for our team, prioritizing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our employees and their families through a comprehensive Benefits Program. This includes a 100% company-paid medical plan, unlimited Flexible Time Off, and a personalized career roadmap for each employee. By investing in professional development through training and educational opportunities, we ensure our team thrives both personally and professionally.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the Fair Chance Act.

Criminal History Consideration
The background check for this role may include criminal history check, employment verification, and education verification. This is particularly relevant given the role's responsibilities involving working with vulnerable populations and accessing confidential company data.