Blackstone invests $250 million in UAE despite Iran war

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Blackstone invests $250 million in UAE despite Iran war

Editorial Team

March 26, 2026

Illustrative Photo: DubaiDiplomacy.com/ai

DUBAI,— Blackstone has invested $250 million in Advanced Digital Gaming Technology, a payments and data intelligence platform based in the United Arab Emirates, the asset manager said Thursday.

The deal is the first private equity-backed inbound investment in the Gulf region since the start of the Iran war, LSEG reported.

Companies and advisers are continuing to pursue other Gulf deals despite uncertainties from the conflict, which began February 28, 2026, with coordinated strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, Reuters reported earlier in March.

The war has affected air travel, shipping, and caused shocks in energy markets.

ADGT was created through a partnership between Blackstone, Abu Dhabi-based Raya Holding, and technology firms NRT Technology and Sightline Payments.

The Abu Dhabi-based platform aims to support regulated digital markets worldwide, though the exact founding date was not disclosed.

The company will first operate in the UAE, the Middle East, Africa, and selected international markets. It is the main provider of payments and compliance technology for the UAE commercial gaming sector.

Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray said the firm sees a major opportunity to invest at scale in the UAE, building companies that can expand locally and internationally despite short-term challenges.

Blackstone manages $1.3 trillion in assets globally and has invested in UAE companies including the classifieds platform Property Finder.

Before this Thursday deal, the last private equity-backed inbound investment in the Gulf was VC firm Emergence Capital’s February acquisition of Dubai-based automotive AI company AlgoDriven.

(With files from Reuters)