Arini, the $9bn credit-focused hedge fund founded by former Credit Suisse star trader Hamza Lemssouguer, is planning to open an office in Abu Dhabi as part of a broader strategic expansion into the Middle East, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The firm is targeting a September launch and has applied for regulatory approval within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), according to people familiar with the matter. The new office will be led by Jeysson Abergel, Arini’s London-based head of trading, and will be staffed by a mix of relocating investment and operational professionals.
The move positions Arini among a growing cohort of hedge funds establishing a presence in the United Arab Emirates, drawn by its zero income tax regime, proximity to major sovereign wealth funds, and increasingly sophisticated financial infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have rapidly emerged as regional hedge fund hubs, particularly for multi-strategy and credit-oriented funds seeking both capital access and time zone advantages spanning Europe and Asia.
Founded in 2021, Arini has quickly become a standout performer in the credit hedge fund space. Its flagship Arini Credit Master Fund returned 5.4% in May, bringing year-to-date gains to nearly 10%, compared to an average 1.4% return for credit hedge funds tracked by Bloomberg over the first four months of 2025.
Arini posted 22.2% in 2024 and 25.8% in 2023, following a strong 4% return in 2022—its first full year of operations. Lemssouguer, known for his high-conviction trades in high-yield debt and CDS, built a formidable track record at Credit Suisse with gross annualised returns of 38%, including 81% in 2019 and 44% in 2020.
The firm, which employs 90 staff globally, opened a New York office in 2023.
Neither Arini nor ADGM provided comment on the office plans.
