Shorooq Partners launches $200m QIA-backed late-stage growth fund to close Gulf pre-IPO gap
Abu Dhabi-based Shorooq Partners raised a $200 million late-stage growth fund under its new Qatalyst Series, drawing the Qatar Investment Authority as a first-time backer to finance companies on the path to public listings.
Shorooq Partners, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered alternative asset manager, has launched a $200 million late-stage growth fund aimed at addressing a gap that has slowed the Gulf's startup-to-IPO pipeline. The fund, part of the firm's newly created Qatalyst Series, was announced at Web Summit Qatar and marks Shorooq's move into pre-IPO growth financing.
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) anchors the vehicle as a first-time backer, joining other sovereign and institutional investors from across the GCC and Asia. QIA's participation forms part of its broader $3 billion venture fund-of-funds initiative aimed at deepening the region's capital markets.
The fund targets late-stage and pre-IPO businesses with proven scale and clear pathways to exit, particularly through public listings, focusing on fintech infrastructure, software, artificial intelligence and companies serving regulated use cases across MENA.
Founding Partner Mahmoud Adi described the fund as a natural evolution of the firm's platform. Shorooq now offers support spanning early-stage venture capital, credit strategies and pre-IPO growth funding.