Based in Abu Dhabi, the fund is seen as a key milestone in strengthening the emirate’s position as a Gulf creative industries hub.
Los Angeles-based investment firm Guggenheim Brothers Media (GB Media) has partnered with Abu Dhabi’s Ethmar International Holding (EIH) to establish a multi-million-dollar investment fund targeting the media, entertainment and digital creative economy sectors. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the fund is being positioned as a significant step in strengthening the emirate’s role as a leading creative industries hub in the Gulf.
The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader ambitions to expand its creative economy alongside its status as the UAE’s capital and largest emirate by landmass. The city continues to attract global investment as it builds a scalable ecosystem for media, culture and technology-driven creative businesses.
GB Media was founded in 2024 by industry veterans Dillon Lawson-Johnston, a descendant of the Guggenheim family, and Criswell Fiordalis. The firm focuses on early-stage and growth-stage companies shaping the future of media and entertainment. The founders said the partnership with EIH reflects a shared vision to support emerging creative businesses with global potential, combining long-term capital, strategic guidance and access to an international network.
The fund draws inspiration from the Guggenheim family legacy, which originated with the Guggenheim Brothers mining company in the early 20th century and later evolved into major patronage across the arts, culture, aviation and medicine. Building on that heritage, the new vehicle will invest in areas including content creation, creator tools and infrastructure, digital intellectual property, entertainment technologies, fan engagement platforms and next-generation storytelling.
Lawson-Johnston brings experience from companies such as UTA, Sugar23, Untitled Entertainment and Anonymous Content, while Fiordalis has previously held senior roles at Lionsgate, MRC, Hello Sunshine and WEBTOON.
Ethmar International Holding is an Abu Dhabi-based investment company led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
An Ethmar International Holding (EIH) spokesperson said: “Abu Dhabi is globally recognised as a capital of capital, while also building the foundations of a scalable and globally connected creative economy. It is for this reason that EIH has partnered with Guggenheim Brothers Media, where together we’re able to combine the Guggenheim legacy with EIH’s vision to propel Abu Dhabi’s objectives as a dynamic, future-focused media and creator hub. We fully expect that this fund will serve as a catalyst of new opportunities and outcomes that will add significant economic and creative value to Abu Dhabi.”
Dillon Lawson-Johnston and Criswell Fiordalis, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Ethmar International Holding to advance our shared mission of supporting the early-stage creative companies shaping the future of culture from Abu Dhabi to the world. EIH brings the scale, ambition, and long-term strategic vision this sector needs, and together we aim to build the destination platform for the world’s emerging creative businesses. Guggenheim Brothers Media will be a place where founders can access the resources, community, and strategic support required to thrive globally.”
