Abu Dhabi-listed Alpha Dhabi reported a sharp rise in its 2022 first-quarter income as revenue and assets rose. Photo: ADX
Abu Dhabi-listed Alpha Dhabi reported a sharp rise in its 2022 first-quarter income as revenue and assets rose. Photo: ADX
Abu Dhabi-listed Alpha Dhabi reported a sharp rise in its 2022 first-quarter income as revenue and assets rose. Photo: ADX
Abu Dhabi-listed Alpha Dhabi reported a sharp rise in its 2022 first-quarter income as revenue and assets rose. Photo: ADX

Alpha Dhabi to invest $2.5bn in Abu Dhabi venture fund


Sarmad Khan
  • English
  • Arabic

Alpha Dhabi Holding, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi's International Holding Company, has made a Dh9.2 billion ($2.5bn) commitment to invest in a venture fund that will focus on investments in growth-stage companies globally.

The Alpha Wave Ventures II, launched by Chimera Capital and Alpha Wave, will receive a capital contribution of Dh2.6bn and undrawn capital commitment of Dh6.6bn, which will be drawn down over the investment period of the fund. Alpha Dhabi revealed the move in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

The fund, which was launched earlier this year, has already started to make investments.

With its global remit, the investment vehicle is prioritising private companies with a particular focus on growth-stage businesses across sectors including artificial intelligence, FinTech and life sciences.

"Investment in innovation and technology remains a core tenet of our growth strategy at Alpha Dhabi," Hamad Al Ameri, chief executive of Alpha Dhabi, said. "We continually look at investments in disruptive technologies as a means of advancing our group of operating subsidiaries, which include market leaders in their respective sectors.

“As a cornerstone and significant investor in this fund, we are able to firmly demonstrate this commitment to innovation, technology and growth-stage companies, while also adding scale to our investment portfolio and delivering superior returns for our shareholders.”

AI is expected to add 14 per cent to the world’s gross domestic product by 2030, equivalent to $15.7 trillion, according to business consultancy PwC. The UAE ranks 19th worldwide on the government AI readiness index, first in the region, according to Oxford Insights.

The Middle East's FinTech sector has also been growing at a compounded annual rate of 30 per cent, estimates by the Middle East Institute suggest. By the end of this year, more than 800 FinTech companies operating in segments, including payments, InsureTech and cyber security, are expected to raise more than $2bn in venture capital funding, it said.

The Alpha Wave Ventures II fund will focus on investments in businesses that provide innovative technology solutions to major problems being faced regionally and globally.

The fund’s investment focus is in line with its own growth strategy of investments in disruptive technologies as part of the UAE’s ambition to create a tech-enabled competitive economy, Alpha Dhabi said.

The investment commitment underlines efforts to scale the company’s portfolio of assets by adding sectors and geographies, while providing Alpha Dhabi with "considerable deal flow and access across key markets including the US".

“It supports our commitment to bring best-in-class technology and innovation to Abu Dhabi and our ecosystem by leveraging synergies and integrating disruptive technologies into our group of operating subsidiaries, thereby enhancing their credentials and offerings,” the company said.

"Investment in innovation and technology remains a core tenet of our growth strategy at Alpha Dhabi. We continually look at investments in disruptive technologies as a means of advancing our group of operating subsidiaries which include market leaders in their respective sectors
Hamad Al Ameri,
chief executive, Alpha Dhabi

Alpha Dhabi, previously known as Trojan Holding, has grown into a regional conglomerate. It was listed on ADX in June last year and has been on an expansion spree since then.

Last year, the company acquired the entire share capital of Murban Energy, a 70 per cent stake in Mawarid Holding Investment and 100 per cent share capital of Sublime Commercial Investment, through which it holds a stake in Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest developer.

In January, Alpha Dhabi acquired a 25.24 per cent stake in Al Qudra Holding and increased its share in Aldar Properties to 29.8 per cent from 17.5 per cent.

The company also has shareholding in National Marine Dredging Company, Response Plus Medical and Sandstorm Motor Vehicles Manufacturing.

It also invested Dh1bn in Ta'ziz, an industrial service and a logistics organisation, and acquired a hotel in the Chechen Republic.

The company is also teaming up with Abu Dhabi's holding company ADQ as well as e& (formerly Etisalat) and First Abu Dhabi Bank to launch Wio, a new digital banking platform.

Alpha Dhabi's first-quarter net profit climbed to more than Dh1.97bn from Dh100m a year earlier, the company said in April.

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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Bullet%20Train
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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017

Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free

Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)

Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)

Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: 

  • UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
  • Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
  • Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

Squads

Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa

India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh

RESULTS

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)

6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Fixtures

Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs

Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms

Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles

Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon

Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon

Updated: May 19, 2022, 10:50 AM`