Shuaa Capital, the Dubai-based asset management and investment banking platform, has appointed Faris Mesmar as head of business growth and strategic partnerships, marking a significant leadership addition as the firm accelerates its tokenization and distribution strategy. Mesmar, a venture builder with over 15 years of entrepreneurial and technology experience, will lead the buildout of Shuaa's tokenization and distribution platform, with a specific mandate to expand institutional-grade asset access to both retail and accredited investors. The appointment signals Shuaa's commitment to diversifying its product offerings beyond traditional asset management into digital finance infrastructure.
Mesmar's track record in scaling impact-driven ventures and building cross-functional teams positions him to navigate the emerging tokenized asset space, a rapidly evolving segment within digital finance. He brings operational expertise from multiple technology and infrastructure companies, having created tech platforms and operated early-to-growth stage ventures. Prior to joining Shuaa, Mesmar served as chief executive officer and managing partner of Hatch & Boost, an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder he co-founded, which specializes in building startups focused on environmental, social and governance challenges. Hatch & Boost operates a sector-agnostic model, offering hands-on support to companies from ideation through market launch. Mesmar also held a role at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, the Abu Dhabi government initiative supporting SME growth. He is a graduate of IMD Business School.
Shuaa Capital psc, established in 1979 and headquartered in Dubai, operates as a leading asset management and investment banking platform with approximately 14 billion dollars in assets under management. The company manages a diversified portfolio spanning real estate funds, equity and fixed income portfolios, alternative investments, and private markets. Its investment banking division provides corporate finance advisory, mergers and acquisitions services, and capital markets execution across the MENA region. Shuaa recently secured a substantial 300 million dollar financing facility, underscoring financial capacity for expansion initiatives. The firm employs approximately 400 people from over 20 countries and is listed on the Dubai Financial Market under the ticker SHUAA.
The appointment reflects broader industry momentum toward tokenizing institutional assets, a trend accelerating across global financial centers. By recruiting a venture-building entrepreneur with demonstrated success scaling impact-driven models, Shuaa appears to be structuring tokenization as a growth platform rather than a peripheral product offering. The firm's decision to brand the role as head of business growth and strategic partnerships, rather than a narrower technology title, suggests tokenization will be integrated across distribution channels and client segments. This positioning may enable Shuaa to compete with larger regional and global platforms developing similar capabilities, though execution risk remains given the nascent regulatory environment for tokenized securities in the UAE and broader MENA region.
