Imagine two doors in front of you. Behind onelies the bustling world of stock markets—fast-paced, transparent, andever-moving. This is the world of public equity. You can walk in and out anytime, buying shares of companies like Emirates NBD or Apple with just a few clicks. For many investors, public equity offers liquidity, diversification,and a front-row seat to global economic trends.

Now picture the second door. It opens into private boardrooms, early-stage innovation hubs, and real estate sites not visible on the public radar. This is private equity—where seriouscapital meets opportunity before the world catches on. You invest in businesses before they go public, partner with real estate developers before the first brick is laid, or back a healthcare startup destined to transform lives. It's less liquid, requires patience, but offers higher potential returns and strategic influence.

Ray Dalio,founder of Bridgewater Associates (one of the world’s largest hedge funds), in his view on a capital markets, long-term investing, and economic cycles offer profound insights into the role of private equity in a balanced portfolio.HE suggests, Private equity, as a long-term value creation rather than short-term market sentiment.

Private equity as a formalized investment strategy began to take shape in the mid-20th century in the United States. the 1990s and early 2000s Rapid global expansion, with firms setting up operations across Europe, Asia, and emerging markets. There was some slow down in the private equity cap during the recession of 2008, but Since 2013 till date Private equity rebounded strongly, reaching new highs:

Assets Under Management (AUM) globally exceeded $6.3 trillion byend-2023. The creation of large-scale PE funds and the entry of sovereign wealth funds (like ADIA in the UAE) as major limited partners. North America dominates, holding about 58–64% of global PE AUM. Europe AUM reached €1.3 trillion in 2023. Asia‑Pacific AUM grew to around $1.5 trillion,a 14% increase in 2023. In the GCC, private equity AUM stood at $4.2 billion in 2024, projected to reach $7.6 billion by 2033 (CAGR ~6.4%)

Private Equity (PE) involves direct investments into private companies or buyouts of public companies to take them private. This long-term capital is used to restructure, scale, or innovate businesses. PE offers high returns but typically involves a lock-in or commitment period, making it ideal for patient capital seeking significant upside. Private capital financing in the Gulf countries has seen a rise from$10.4 billion between 2015 and 2019 to $54.8 billion between 2020 and 2024, as reported by S&P Global. The combined value of private equity transactions in Saudi Arabia alone went from $523 million in 2019 to a record $4 billion in 2023, a compound annual growth rate of 66 per cent, as reported by MAGNiTT andSaudi Venture Capital Company.

Private equity is no longer a niche, it is a $6 trillion global asset class powering innovation, growth, and transformation. From venture capital roots to global buyouts, its flexibility has made it a core component of sophisticated portfolios. Regulatory evolution, technological shifts,and emerging markets (like the GCC) are shaping the future of the industry.For long-term investors seeking value beyond volatility, private equity offers a strategic edge—provided due diligence, timing, and alignment with capable fund managers are in place.

private equity offers an alternative to traditional asset classes that is increasingly attractive to investors,allowing them access to new and emerging sectors.  Private equity has brought funding and fresh perspectives to various sectors in the region, leading to growth and contributing to national diversification goals. Investments in fintech, AI and digital infrastructure have boosted the tech and innovation space in the Gulf.

Private Equity (PE) involves direct investments into private companies or buyouts of public companies to take Private equity is not for everyone, but it can be a powerful tool for investors who meet certain criteria and have specific goals.Typically, the ideal private equity investor is a High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) and Family Offices. The investors who Can tolerate long investment horizons (5–10 years or more) and are comfortable with lower liquidity due to lock-in periods should definitely opt for Private equity in their portfolio, who Want to diversify their portfolio beyond stocks and bonds should not miss this investment opportunity surely.

At Meer Group, ourprivate equity and strategic partnerships in real estate are rooted in tangible assets, measurable performance, and markets undergoing structural transformation. Nowhere is this more evident than in Saudi Arabia, where we are developing a landmark 1 billion SAR villa project across Riyadh,Dammam, and Jeddah — master-planned for modern living, investor-grade infrastructure, and future-ready design. We are also seeking investment in Spain, Portugal, Germany and Paris. In Europe we are unfolding new vision in Healthcare in the form of HMH- group (Hellersen Meer Healthcare Group), also weare franchising our E commerce platform, “Trade gate Store” and many real estate projects for transforming urban living in the form of residential towers and villas.

This is a selective invitation to build with a partner that invests alongside you, thinks long-term, and executes with discipline across borders. If you value access over exposure and strategy over speculation, we welcome you to engage.