Abu Dhabi Investment Expands Into Luxury Hospitality Brands

DIAFA, an Abu Dhabi–based luxury and hospitality investment platform and affiliate of International Holding Company, has announced the completion of a majority investment in the hospitality portfolio of Richard Caring, one of the most influential figures in the global restaurant industry.

The ten-figure transaction includes The Ivy Brasseries, the luxury restaurant portfolio of Caprice Holdings—featuring Scott’s, Sexy Fish, and Noema—as well as the private members’ clubs under The Birley Clubs, including Annabel’s, George, Harry’s Bar, and Mark’s Club.

Richard Caring will remain Executive Chairman, ensuring continuity in leadership and vision across the portfolio. DIAFA and Caring will jointly lead the next phase of global expansion, including the planned opening of Annabel’s in New York and continued international growth of Scott’s, Sexy Fish, and Noema. The Ivy Brasseries will also continue expanding across the UK in 2026, with potential new openings in the United States and other international markets.

DIAFA is positioned as a global luxury lifestyle group focused on building a leading international food and beverage platform. Its existing portfolio includes Azumi Group, known for Zuma and ROKA, as well as The h.wood Group, which operates venues such as Delilah, The Nice Guy, and Bird Streets Club. With this transaction, Caprice Holdings and The Birley Clubs are now part of its expanding portfolio.

The platform is built around evolving consumer preferences, where experiences, authenticity, and meaningful connections are increasingly prioritised. DIAFA aims to bring together a collection of globally recognised hospitality brands under a single scalable structure, spanning luxury dining, private members’ clubs, and social destinations.

To lead this direction, DIAFA has appointed Ravi Thakran as Group CEO. Previously Group Chairman of LVMH Asia and founder of L Capital Asia, Thakran has overseen more than $4 billion in investments across 32 companies. His role will focus on shaping DIAFA’s global hospitality portfolio.

Ravi Thakran stated that the transaction marks the beginning of a new phase in global luxury hospitality, centred on building a portfolio of culturally significant brands and shaping future dining and lifestyle experiences. Richard Caring added that the partnership with DIAFA reflects a shared vision for expanding established brands into new markets while continuing to develop their presence internationally.

Source: WAM

Photo: Bloomberg