Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Capital knows its portfolio companies need to break out of the Middle East to become meaningful targets for global strategics. And that’s not going to happen by itself.

Since its inception in 2006, the private equity firm has focused on building companies from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) into global leaders, largely via Asian expansions. Over time, there has also been a shift to a thematic approach, favoring technology, business services, environmental industrials, and healthcare.