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Varenne Capital Partners announced the opening of its DIFC office on June 25, 2026, with the establishment of Varenne Capital Ltd as a wholly owned UAE subsidiary regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The Paris-based investment manager, which reported assets under management of $2.6 billion as of December 31, has built its business around a research-driven approach to developed market equities that integrates long equity, short equity, merger arbitrage and tail risk hedging strategies. Founded in 2003, the firm maintains a team of approximately 40 professionals and decided to expand into the GCC and Middle East after achieving success across Europe, a move that according to the announcement will strengthen its access to regional talent and capital flows.
Giuseppe Perrone, co-founder and president of Varenne Capital Partners, said in the announcement, “We are delighted to announce the opening of our office in DIFC, a leading international financial hub which offers the energy, the talent, and the connections that a firm like us needs for its growth.” Perrone added that Giacomo de Nardis, one of the firm’s most senior associates with more than 15 years of tenure, will lead the initiative given his deep involvement in the investment process. The appointment positions de Nardis as senior executive officer and director of the new Dubai entity.
Giacomo de Nardis, senior executive officer and director of Varenne Capital Ltd, highlighted, “Dubai has established itself as one of the most dynamic and innovative financial ecosystems in the world, bringing together exceptional talent, technological depth and a spirit of ambition that sets it apart.” De Nardis noted that it is an extraordinary environment to be part of and expressed pride in representing Varenne Capital in the region. The expansion follows the firm’s track record in Europe and aligns with its focus on delivering superior long-term returns through complementary investment frameworks.
DIFC welcomed the development in its announcement, underlining the centre’s role as the leading choice for internationally regulated financial firms. Salmaan Jaffery, chief business development officer of the DIFC Authority, said, “We welcome Varenne Capital Partners to DIFC as they establish operations in the region.” Jaffery added that the firm’s decision to establish in DIFC underscores the strength of the centre’s reputation and that its established track record and rigorous investment approach bring added credibility and expertise to the asset management community.
The Dubai International Financial Centre recorded a 21 per cent increase in financial services authorisations during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to DIFC reports. Those figures show 775 new companies established their regional presence in the centre in the first three months of the year, a 62 per cent rise on the 478 that set up during the corresponding period of 2025. DIFC data places the number of active registered companies at more than 8,800, with more than 550 wealth and asset management firms already operating there.
A Bloomberg report placed the number of hedge funds registered in DIFC at more than 100, having doubled in less than two years as the centre cements its position in alternative investments. PwC analysis of the global asset and wealth management sector projected industry revenues to rise by $230 billion by 2030, with sovereign wealth funds and high-net-worth individuals driving much of the expansion at compound annual growth rates above 6 per cent. The arrival of Varenne Capital Partners adds to this momentum in a market where DIFC has emerged as the region’s only global hub operating at scale across banking, capital markets, wealth management and insurance.
