Industrial

Transport and Logistics

Membership Organisations

Energy

Sporting Organisations

Healthcare

Public Sector

Infrastructure

Agribusiness

Mining and Resources

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As capital for the UAE, Abu Dhabi is a uniquely challenging and rewarding environment in which to lead. Backed by substantial capital, the city is a financial and innovation hub, with growing influence in global energy and industrial transformation. Abu Dhabi also has growing representation from some of the world’s largest energy companies; rapidly-scaling AI and data centre operations; and sovereign-backed mining and critical mineral investments, attracting top tier talent and making it a strategic location for executive search.

Gerard Daniels’ Abu Dhabi practice works across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa, providing Board advisory and supporting the successful appointment of diverse C-suite, Board and functional leadership roles. In doing so, we combine established local and international talent networks with deep energy, industrial technology and mining sector expertise.

In Abu Dhabi we have a proven track record of partnering with clients in traditional and transitioning energy; mining and critical minerals; and a wide range of industrial technology entities. Our portfolio also includes a range of clients in civil infrastructure and construction; digital infrastructure; and financial services such as private equity (including sovereign wealth funds); sovereign-backed investment platforms; and IPO-bound entities.

If you're looking for Board advisory or executive search expertise in Abu Dhabi, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch with our Abu Dhabi team

In this environment, we must navigate sovereign stakeholders, family-owned enterprises and private equity investors, alongside multinational governance frameworks. Our consultants spend a considerable amount of time building local and regional relationships at the highest levels and we are known for operating seamlessly across the region’s investor-backed, sovereign-owned and multinational platforms.

Our Abu Dhabi practice also places particular emphasis on building client leadership teams that can operate within complex ownership structures while also being prepared for IPO-readiness, ESG requirements and transformation mandates.

Our approach

Partnerships are key to how we approach our work in the Middle East.

Clients value our discretion, integrity and ability to navigate complex governance environments.

We act as true partners, advocating for client platforms while providing honest, board-level advice on leadership capability and succession.

Partnerships

We help to appoint a broad range of critical Board, functional and c-suite leadership roles, including CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CSO, CDO and General Counsel,

Our portfolio includes a significant number of energy transition, industrial technology and critical minerals appointments, and a growing number of engagements in civil infrastructure and construction; digital infrastructure; and financial services.

We draw on diverse talent networks to drive diversity of thought and perspective on Boards and senior leadership teams.

Diversity

We work in close partnership with our offices in London, Perth, Houston and Sydney to access global talent pools and sector knowledge.

By working collaboratively across the regions, clients benefit from our ability to combine deep local insight and international candidate reach.

We find collaboration particularly important in cross-border succession planning, energy transition mandates, and sourcing leadership from key industry hubs in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Global impact, local insight

Strong partnerships and cultural fluency are key to servicing clients in the Middle East.

Across the Middle East and Africa, executive search has moved beyond traditional oil and gas to encompass a broad range of critical leadership roles in energy transition, industrial technology and critical minerals. Talent strategy has also evolved to include growing focus on localisation; independent directors; female representation on boards; and sustainability-driven leadership.

Our Abu Dhabi practice helps clients to deliver on the changing leadership requirement. We do this by supporting the appointment of diverse and highly experienced senior leaders and connecting the region’s most ambitious energy, industrial technology and mining organisations with the talent it needs to grow, transform and lead on the world stage. Our success can be seen in these recent appointments:

Our recent appointments

Meet our Abu Dhabi team

Gerard Daniels Abu Dhabi brings together a team of highly experienced consultants to guide executive search, board and leadership advisory. With deep regional and sector knowledge, we partner with a growing number of clients across the region, bringing particular expertise to:

Succession planning for family-owned and state-backed entities

Building digital and technology leadership capabilities

Strengthening governance and board independence in line with ADX/DIFC standards

Balancing international expertise with nationalisation/localisation requirements.

Abu Dhabi

An experienced executive search and board advisory practice, trusted by clients and candidates in Abu Dhabi and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Our Expertise

Executive Search

Board Search

Executive Leadership and Reward Strategy

Talent Research

Supporting Asia Pacific

Recent appointments

Our Industry Sectors

Mining and Resources

Energy

Infrastructure

Transport and Logistics

Industrial

Financial Services

Healthcare

Agribusiness

Sporting Organisations

Public Sector

Meet the Asia Pacific team

Get in touch with the Abu Dhabi team

Abu Dhabi

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