Real estate and infrastructure investment manager with $56 billion in assets formalizes platform in the United Arab Emirates to better serve regional clients
CHICAGO, IL, June 10, 2025 – Harrison Street, one of the leading investment management firms exclusively focused on alternative real assets with approximately $56 billion in assets under management, today announced the opening of an office in ADGM, the International Financial Centre (IFC) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking its formal entry into the Middle East and a significant milestone in the firm’s global growth trajectory.
The firm has secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) ADGM, positioning itself to better serve current and prospective clients in the region over the long-term. This strategic initiative aims to bolster Harrison Street’s ability to advise and collaborate with investors in the Middle East and lays the foundation for potential regional expansion. This comes at a time when regional investors increasingly seek economic diversification and a broader range of international investment opportunities, including global real assets exposure.
In March 2024, Harrison Street appointed Hadi Nasser as Head of Investor Relations – Middle East. Mr. Nasser, who has two decades of capital raising and client relations experience, will lead the regional team from the Abu Dhabi office.
Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder, Chairman and Global CEO of Harrison Street commented: “While we’ve been providing Middle Eastern investors with exposure to demographic-driven real asset strategies for quite some time, we are excited to now formalize our presence in the Middle East, and specifically within ADGM, an increasingly important hub for the global investment management industry. As we celebrate two decades of industry leadership and methodical global growth, this strategic expansion aligns with the Middle East’s advanced investment landscape and its appetite for diversified, alternative sectors. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional client service while also advising regional investors on how best to build exposure to global real estate and infrastructure opportunities.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer of ADGM said, “We are pleased to welcome Harrison Street to ADGM’s dynamic ecosystem. As a firm exclusively focused on alternative real assets, Harrison Street brings valuable expertise and innovation to our thriving International Financial Centre. Their presence further strengthens ADGM’s position as a leading hub for asset and wealth management, while contributing to the continued diversification and growth of Abu Dhabi’s financial landscape. We look forward to supporting their journey and enabling long-term success through ADGM’s robust regulatory framework and collaborative community.”
With approximately $56 billion in assets under management and a workforce of over 290 professionals spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Harrison Street provides global investors with access to non-traditional real estate and infrastructure strategies with attractive, steady and resilient demand drivers. Harrison Street is dedicated to managing core, core-plus and opportunistic strategies across real estate and infrastructure, currently spanning property investments in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The firm is one of the largest owners of student housing, a top five owner of U.S. senior housing and a market leader across other alternative real assets sectors including healthcare, storage, and data centers.
About Harrison Street
Harrison Street is one of the world’s leading global investment management firms. The firm offers a range of investment products across real estate, infrastructure and credit strategies serving both institutional and individual investors through a variety of closed-end, open-ended and specialized investment vehicles. Areas of investment focus include senior housing, student housing, build-to-rent, healthcare delivery, life sciences, and storage real estate, as well as social, utility and digital infrastructure. Headquartered in Chicago and London, with offices across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the firm has been recognized among the Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments for ten years (2014-2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) and has received 16 awards from PERE since 2019, including the 2024 Award: Global Alternatives Investor of the Year. No compensation was paid in exchange for these awards; however, a submission fee was required for “Best Places to Work.” For more information, visit www.harrisonst.com.
Harrison Street ME Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”) and is authorized to provide financial services to Professional Clients and Market Counterparties. Harrison Street ME Limited’s registered address is Unit 22, Level 25, Al Sila Tower, Abu Dhabi Global Market Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Media Contacts:
Shree Dhond / Doug Allen
Dukas Linden Public Relations
Harrisonstreet@dlpr.com
+1 (646) 722-6530
