Rafic Said is a Senior Managing Director responsible for overseeing Blackstone’s activities in the Middle-East, currently based in London. He has spent the past thirteen years establishing, developing and managing relationships with governmental, institutional and private investors across the Middle East, delivering the firm’s investment and advisory services. During this time he also established the firm’s presence in the region with an office in the UAE, where he was also based for seven years. Mr. Said is a member of the Blackstone Diversity Committee. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Said was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. for seven years, focused on institutional client management in Europe and the Middle East for the firm’s Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities Division. Mr. Said started his career at Robert Fleming in the Equity Capital Markets Group, covering emerging market corporate and government clients. He received a BSc Honors Degree in Economics & Philosophy from City University London.