Leading credit-focused alternative investment firm Oak Hill Advisors (OHA) is setting up operations at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), following regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The New York-based firm, which manages $112 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026, joins leading US financial institutions in DIFC including Lighthouse Partners, Blue Owl Capital, Citibank, J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Morgan Stanley.

Why This Matters

DIFC — ranked the 7th top global financial center in the world — is the region's largest concentration of wealth and asset management firms. Strong regulatory alignment, pro-business policies, $2 trillion in sovereign wealth and an AI-forward business culture make DIFC a strategic gateway for American financial institutions looking to expand internationally. The growing roster of US hedge funds and banks operating in the UAE deepens the bilateral financial relationship, driving capital flows, economic growth and diversification.

“Establishing an office in the GCC marks an important milestone in OHA’s continuing growth in a region where we have developed many significant partnerships over time. The DIFC offers a sophisticated financial ecosystem, a strong regulatory framework, and strategic access to investors and opportunities across the Middle East and beyond.” – Declan Tiernan, Partner and Head of EMEA Client Coverage at OHA