Temasek, the Singapore-headquartered global investment company, is expanding its permanent footprint into the Middle East with plans to open new offices in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi by the first half of 2027. The move will bring the firm’s total global presence to 15 offices across 11 countries, marking its first direct outposts in the region.
The expansion follows a period of significant portfolio growth and structural change for the state investor. In July 2026, Temasek reported a record Net Portfolio Value of S$518 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, representing a S$49 billion increase from the prior year and a one-year return of 10.5%.
To lead this regional push, Chia Song Hwee was appointed Chairman for Middle East & Africa on September 1, 2026. Chia also serves as the CEO of Temasek Global Investments (TGI), one of three specialized entities created during a major organizational restructuring on April 1, 2026. That restructuring also formed Temasek Singapore (TSG) and Temasek Partnership Solutions (TPS) to better segment the firm’s domestic and international mandates.
The Riyadh and Abu Dhabi offices are intended to function as strategic hubs, co-locating investment professionals with Temasek’s portfolio companies to deepen regional engagement. While the 2027 openings mark the first direct Temasek Holdings offices in the Gulf, the firm already maintains a presence through its wholly-owned asset management arm, Seviora, which established an Abu Dhabi office in 2025.
The firm’s focus in the Middle East has increasingly gravitated toward infrastructure and the energy transition. This shift is highlighted by a reported $30 billion infrastructure partnership involving ADNOC and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). As of mid-2026, Temasek’s exposure to the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region accounted for approximately 12% of its total portfolio.
According to official announcements from the firm, the new offices will help identify growth opportunities in sectors such as artificial intelligence and sustainable technology. The expansion into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates allows the firm to participate more directly in the Gulf’s ongoing economic transformations and large-scale capital projects.
