Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) has secured an additional $25 million investment from Goldman Sachs, with several law firms, including Al Tamimi & Company, Baker McKenzie and White & Case, advising on the transaction.
Baker McKenzie advised SHG, a global hospitality company, in addition to Al Tamimi and Walkers.
Based in the UAE, SHG’s portfolio includes hotels and resorts, restaurants, beach clubs, nightclubs, and fitness centres. Some of the headline brands within its extensive portfolio include AURA, DRIFT Dubai, and SUSHISAMBA.
SHG received funding from the private credit business at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which received legal counsel from White & Case, alongside Ogier, an offshore law firm.
The investment follows the recent announcement by Goldman Sachs that it is exploring a new private credit strategy focused on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
SHG first received $35 million from Goldman Sachs Asset Management in October 2022. With this latest investment, the group said it will accelerate key strategic projects, with a strong focus on expanding its hotel and resorts division.
Commenting on the investment, Maude El Khoury, general counsel at SHG, told Law Middle East: “We are incredibly proud of this milestone that underscores the strength and potential of our vision. This investment is not only a testament to the strength of our business model, but also to the trust we’ve built with global partners like Goldman Sachs. It reflects our disciplined approach to growth, governance, and execution—principles that are deeply embedded in our legal and strategic framework at SHG.”
“This achievement would not have been possible without the exceptional legal guidance and dedicated support of our trusted advisors at Baker McKenzie, White & Case, and Al Tamimi & Company,” said El Khoury. “Their expertise and collaborative approach played a key role in guiding us through a smooth process that positions SHG for a new chapter of growth and global expansion.”
SHG chair and group CEO, Antonio Gonzalez, said: “With the continued backing of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, we are poised for sustained growth and long-term success. This investment fuels our next phase of expansion, allowing us to introduce more world-class hospitality experiences while reinforcing SHG’s position as a global leader in lifestyle hospitality.”
Baker McKenzie acted as lead advisor for SHG. The team was led by partners Adnan Doha and Adil Hussain, with support from the firm’s teams in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Turkey. Al Tamimi advised SHG on aspects of UAE law, with a team led by partner and head of projects, Mark Brown.
SHG acquired a majority stake in Maximal Concepts, a Hong Kong-based hospitality company, in 2024. The group said it plans to invest in additional hospitality companies to complement its growing portfolio.
Since receiving initial funding in 2022, SHG said it has been able to double its footprint from just over 40 venues in nine countries to 87 venues across 25 countries.
