Abu Dhabi’s Ethmar, Guggenheim Brothers partner to launch multi-million dollar media fund

Abu Dhabi is strengthening its ambitions to become a global hub for creative industries after Ethmar International Holding partnered with Guggenheim Brothers Media to launch a multi-million-dollar investment fund focused on media, entertainment and the digital creative economy.

The fund, which will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi, combines Ethmar’s long-term institutional capital and local market expertise with Guggenheim Brothers Media’s global experience in backing early- to growth-stage creative businesses.

The partnership represents a key milestone in the fund’s path to launch and supports Abu Dhabi’s strategy to build a scalable, internationally connected creative sector.

The investment vehicle will target high-growth opportunities across content creation, creator tools and infrastructure, digital intellectual property, entertainment technologies, fan engagement platforms and next-generation storytelling.

New fund boosts Abu Dhabi’s creative economy

By anchoring the fund in Abu Dhabi, the partners aim to position the emirate as a launchpad for creative companies seeking to scale internationally.

Guggenheim Brothers Media builds on the Guggenheim family’s long-standing cultural legacy and will apply its specialist knowledge of the global media and entertainment landscape to identify and support promising creative ventures.

The fund will be led by Dillon Lawson-Johnston and Criswell Fiordalis, who together bring more than two decades of experience across film, television, digital media and entertainment technology.

Lawson-Johnston, a great-great-grandson of Solomon R. Guggenheim, has previously held roles at United Talent Agency, Sugar23, Untitled Entertainment and Anonymous Content. Fiordalis brings senior leadership experience from Lionsgate, MRC, Hello Sunshine and WEBTOON.

An Ethmar International Holding spokesperson said the partnership reflects Abu Dhabi’s evolution beyond traditional investment sectors. “Abu Dhabi is globally recognised as a capital of capital, while also building the foundations of a scalable and globally connected creative economy,” the spokesperson said.

“By partnering with Guggenheim Brothers Media, we are combining a powerful cultural legacy with Ethmar’s long-term vision to advance Abu Dhabi’s position as a future-focused media and creator hub.”

Lawson-Johnston and Fiordalis said the fund is designed to support creative entrepreneurs from Abu Dhabi to the world. “We are thrilled to partner with Ethmar International Holding to support early-stage creative companies shaping the future of culture,” they said. “Together, we aim to build a destination platform where founders can access capital, strategic support and a global network to help them thrive.”

The fund is expected to act as a catalyst for new economic and creative opportunities, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s growing role in global media, entertainment and digital content investment.