WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Jared Kushner is seeking to raise at least $5 billion in new funding for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The fundraising effort comes as Kushner continues to play a role in U.S. foreign policy matters during President Donald Trump’s second term. As a result, the move has drawn attention because of the close ties between his business interests and governments in the Gulf region.
Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration, founded Affinity Partners after leaving the White House. Since then, the firm has attracted billions of dollars from government-backed investment funds in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Now, Affinity Partners aims to secure another major round of investment. According to people familiar with the talks, representatives from the firm have already met with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, known as PIF. The fund manages a large share of the kingdom’s oil wealth and remains one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
PIF was also the first major investor in Affinity Partners. Shortly after Trump’s first term ended, the Saudi fund invested $2 billion in the firm. That investment helped launch Affinity’s operations and established a long-term relationship between the two sides.
Because of the terms of the earlier agreement, Saudi Arabia reportedly has the first opportunity to participate in any new fundraising effort by Affinity Partners. Therefore, discussions with PIF have become a key part of the current fundraising campaign.
At the same time, Affinity is expected to approach other existing investors in the Gulf. These include sovereign wealth funds from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. People familiar with the matter said those investors may also be asked to contribute additional capital.
The fundraising process is expected to continue through much of the year. However, neither Affinity Partners nor the sovereign wealth funds involved have publicly detailed the discussions.
The effort has renewed debate about the relationship between public service and private business activities. Critics have argued that former government officials should avoid situations that could create concerns about conflicts of interest. Supporters, meanwhile, note that private investment firms routinely seek capital from international investors.
Kushner remains a prominent figure in Middle East diplomacy. In recent weeks, he reportedly met with Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva as part of efforts connected to regional peace and security issues. The meeting took place shortly before military tensions escalated in the region.
The United States and Israel later launched military operations targeting sites in Iran, adding further attention to diplomatic activities involving senior figures connected to the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues to maintain close ties with Kushner and members of the Trump administration. Those relationships developed during Trump’s first term and have remained important in regional diplomacy and investment discussions.
Sovereign wealth funds across the Gulf have become major players in global finance during the past decade. Many of these funds invest billions of dollars in technology companies, infrastructure projects, private equity firms, and other international ventures. As a result, they have become attractive sources of capital for investment managers seeking large-scale funding.
