Over the past decade, Shaher Moh’d Ali Awartani has constructed an investment portfolio that extends well beyond his founding role at Silver Coast Construction and Boring LLC (SCCB). Through a series of co-founded ventures and board-level engagements, Awartani has built exposure to private equity, real estate funds, and regulated financial services across three continents.
The architecture of this portfolio reveals a deliberate strategy: institutional co-investors at each node, regulated structures where appropriate, and geographic diversification spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Geneva, and Washington, D.C.
Equalis Capital: A DIFC-Registered Proprietary Platform
In 2013, Awartani co-founded Equalis Capital Ltd within the Dubai International Financial Centre alongside H.E. Yousif Al Otaiba. Equalis operates as a proprietary investment vehicle — meaning it deploys the partners’ own capital rather than managing third-party funds. This structure allows for longer investment horizons and greater strategic flexibility than a conventional fund model.
The DIFC registration places Equalis within one of the Middle East’s premier regulated financial jurisdictions, governed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This regulatory positioning signals institutional governance standards and provides credibility when engaging with international counterparties.
Global Gate Capital: $2 Billion in Geneva
In 2015, Awartani became a shareholder and board member of Global Gate Capital Partners, a Geneva-based investment management firm overseeing more than USD 2 billion in real estate and private equity assets. The Geneva base reflects the firm’s orientation toward international institutional capital and its positioning within European financial infrastructure.
Awartani’s board-level involvement at Global Gate represents a significant expansion of his investment role from operating executive to strategic governance. Managing a USD 2 billion book across real estate and private equity requires macroeconomic judgment, portfolio construction expertise, and risk management capabilities that complement — but differ substantially from — running a construction company.
Yasa Capital: Regulated Advisory for 2024
The most recent addition to Awartani’s investment portfolio is Yasa Capital (DIFC) Limited, co-founded and launched in 2024. Regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority as a Category 4 entity — covering investment advisory and arrangement services — Yasa Capital marks Awartani’s formal entry into the regulated financial advisory space.
Category 4 DFSA licensing is not easily obtained; it requires demonstrated financial standing, regulatory compliance infrastructure, and qualified personnel. The launch of Yasa Capital in 2024 suggests Awartani is positioning for an expanded role in advising institutional capital deployment in the Gulf and beyond, building on nearly three decades of relationships forged through SCCB, Equalis, and Global Gate.