‘Don’t go with a fund, go with a solution’: CEO’s tips from decades of global investing

Motorists drive past an ADNOC Gas a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company facility in Abu Dhabi on March 3, 2026. Ryan Lim | AFP | Getty ImagesInvestments that solve problems and align with national interests are some of the most appealing in the current environment, according to a multi-decade veteran of global private markets.Smart money in the Middle East is focused on government and strategic priorities, as well as finding solutions in those areas, because "that actually is exactly what those sovereign groups are looking for, and for that capital is available," according to Hazem Ben-Gacem, founder and CEO of Abu Dhabi-based investment firm BlueFive Capital."My recommendation is: don't go with a fund, go with a solution, and how you can play a very important part in that solution with these national priorities – food security, defense and infrastructure," Ben-Gacem told CNBC at the SuperReturn Asia conference in Singapore. He added that automation and robotics were also key areas.BlueFive, which launched in November 2024 and had $15 billion in assets under management as of June 30, earlier this month closed a deal for a 30% stake in supercar producer Bugatti Rimac fr...