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Forward Investments
Forward Investments is the first corporate venture capital and M&A arm of a utilities-based entity in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region.
Forward Investments
Forward Investments is the first corporate venture capital and M&A arm of a utilities-based entity in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region. Backed by the government of Dubai and sponsored by DEWA, the fund supports Dubai's position as a global hub for energy- and utilities-based technology and service. Forward Investments has made 3 investments, including a Series C investment in ZEDEDA on January 15, 2024, and has 1 portfolio exit, Nozomi Networks, on September 09, 2025.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
2021
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
United Arab Emirates
City
Dubai
Corporate office
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Principals
Rossana Wang Gaw
Founder and 100% Owner
Goodwin Gaw
Family Member; Chairman of Gaw Capital Partners
Kenneth Gaw
Family Member; Managing Director of Pioneer Global Group
Christina Gaw
Family Member; Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Forward Investments?
Rossana Wang Gaw is the founder and 100% owner of Forward Investments, and she controls its investment decisions. Her three children — Goodwin Gaw, Kenneth Gaw, and Christina Gaw — hold leadership roles in related entities: Goodwin and Christina run Gaw Capital Partners, while Kenneth is Managing Director of the listed Pioneer Global Group.
How is Forward Investments related to Gaw Capital Partners?
Forward Investments is the personal investment vehicle of Rossana Wang Gaw, the matriarch. Her son Goodwin Gaw and daughter Christina Gaw serve as Managing Principal and Chairman of Gaw Capital Partners, a separate real estate private equity firm. The two entities appear to operate independently, with Forward functioning as a principal investment office in Dubai, while Gaw Capital is a fund manager raising third-party capital.
What real estate assets does Forward Investments hold directly?
The firm's known property holdings include the InterContinental Hong Kong, 68 Yee Wo Street and Cityplaza Three and Four in Hong Kong, Ciro's Plaza in Shanghai, the Aoyama Building in Tokyo, and the Pullman Hotel G in Bangkok. These span hotel, retail, and office assets across Asia's gateway cities.
Does Forward Investments only invest in real estate?
No. While real estate forms the core of the family's tangible asset base, Forward Investments pursues an active venture and growth equity strategy. The firm co-invests in early-stage startups and participates in later expansion and growth rounds across generalist sectors, though specific portfolio companies are not publicly disclosed.
Where does the underlying wealth of the Gaw family come from?
The Gaw family wealth was built over decades in Hong Kong real estate, principally through Pioneer Global Group, a publicly listed property company. The family's fortune has expanded through property cycles in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Japan, and is now deployed through multiple vehicles including Forward Investments and Gaw Capital Partners.
Is Forward Investments structured as a single family office?
Forward Investments is categorized in Altss records as an asset manager, not a single family office in the traditional multi-client or regulated sense. It operates as a private investment company wholly owned by Rossana Wang Gaw, making it functionally a single-family investment vehicle, though the family has not publicly described its legal designation.
What charitable structures are linked to Forward Investments?
The AFH Charitable Foundation Limited is the philanthropic vehicle associated with the Gaw family and Rossana Wang Gaw's interests. Details of its grant-making focus and scale are not publicly disclosed, which is consistent with the family's overall private operating posture.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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