Waha Capital, an investment company in Abu Dhabi, reached an annual record profit recently. The investment firm benefited from dividends stemming from its holding in the New York-listed AerCap, an airline leasing company. Waha Capital had a net profit increase in 2014 that rose 465 percent to Dh1.73 billion, compared to 2013 where the net profit was Dh306.4 million. Analysts welcomed a strategic move by board members from Waha Capital that set a cash dividend of 25 fils per share, making it a 100 percent increase on the 2013 dividends.

This new record profit was the largest contribution of the earnings for Waha Capital that resulted from AerCap but the capital markets division in the firm was also responsible for above-market returns on their credit and equities portfolio. The stellar performance permitted a 51 percent return on equity for the year according to the chairman of Waha Capital, Hussain al Nowais.

Due to the monumental profit gains for Waha Capital, the firm plans to seek investment opportunities in emerging markets like the Middle East and Northern African regions. Hussain al Nowais, chairman of the firm, also is planning to invest Dh3.2 billion to develop a stronger infrastructure, energy and healthcare portfolio in the short term. All parties involved should be able to benefit from the investment resulting in growth and positive returns.

Additionally, the firm has already established a new unit in May that aims to drive future investments in the energy sector across the MENA region. Waha Capital invested Dh274 million in National Petroleum Services, a Dubai-based oil and gas company, with a 20.15 percent stake. This investment is one of the many that Waha Capital plans to continue and ended the year with a large customer base totaling 164,600 clients. As sectors emerge in the MENA region, Waha Capital will be on the lookout for profitable investments.