KKR has named General David Petraeus as chairman of its Middle East operations as the US-based private equity firm strengthens its regional presence. Petraeus, a partner at the firm, is a former CIA director and retired US Army general.
The firm, which has operated in the Middle East since 2009, is building a dedicated regional investment team. Julian Barratt-Due, a managing director at KKR, will lead the team. KKR has offices in Dubai and Riyadh.
Petraeus said the Middle East is becoming a key global investment centre and noted that KKR sees increased opportunities to work with regional businesses.
The move comes as global private equity firms step up activity in the Gulf, where sovereign wealth funds and family offices are deploying capital across sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to technology and healthcare. KKR’s regional expansion follows similar efforts by peers such as Blackstone, Apollo, and Carlyle, all targeting long-term capital from Gulf institutions and pursuing direct investments in local assets.
