Gulf family offices are actively deploying capital into Africa. But the process of getting in front of them and converting a meeting into a term sheet is more specific than most African founders realise.
What Gulf Family Offices Are Investing In
The most active Gulf family office investment categories in Africa currently: clean energy and green infrastructure, agribusiness and food security, telecoms and digital infrastructure, financial services and fintech, logistics and trade corridors. This mirrors the sectors where Gulf countries have strategic supply chain interests.
What They Need to See
A UAE holding structure. A clear financial model with defensible assumptions. A management team with credibility. A realistic account of the competitive landscape. Proof of market traction. A clear use of funds that does not rely on endless follow-on raises.
What Does Not Work
- Pitch decks with no financial model or a model that does not reconcile with the narrative
- Founders who undervalue their business and ask for too little
- Founders who overvalue their business and cannot defend the number
- Deals with governance issues (informal shareholder arrangements, undocumented IP)
DBC's capital advisory practice prepares African founders for Gulf investment conversations. Strategy session: USD 400. Full investor materials: from USD 1,500. WhatsApp +971 52 277 4830.
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