Abu Dhabi’s ‘Money Man’ Steps Into Global Dealmaking Spotlight

Until recently, many seasoned Wall Street executives had never heard of Jassem Bu Ataba Al Zaabi. But the official, appointed to run a new Abu Dhabi investing powerhouse weeks before war broke out, has become central to the emirate’s efforts to manage its oil wealth in the face of rising geopolitical risks.

In January, Al Zaabi was named chief executive officer of L’imad, the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund chaired by the ruler’s son that’s estimated by the researcher Global SWF to manage about $300 billion. He’s now tasked with shaping vast investments and executing Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed’s dealmaking ambitions in Abu Dhabi and around the world.