About Priya
Priya Sharma serves as Head of Sustainable Investments at Dodo Global Investments, where she leads the firm's ESG integration strategy across all emerging market portfolios. With a decade of specialised experience in impact investing, sustainability-linked finance, and green corporate structuring, Priya occupies a unique position at the intersection of financial performance and environmental responsibility — demonstrating that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.
Priya's advisory role extends well beyond portfolio management. As DGI's leading authority on company formation in the UAE and broader Gulf Cooperation Council region, she advises global entrepreneurs, HNWI clients, and institutional investors on the optimal structuring of free zone companies, mainland LLCs, and offshore entities within the UAE's sophisticated corporate landscape. She has personally guided over 200 UAE company registrations, from Meydan free zone startups to ADGM financial services firms.
She holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Finance from Oxford University's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Delhi University. She is a certified ESG Analyst (CESGA) and holds the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) practitioner qualification. Prior to joining DGI, she worked at IFC (International Finance Corporation) in Washington and Standard Chartered's Sustainability division in Dubai.
Under Priya's leadership, DGI's emerging market ESG portfolio has attracted numerous institutional mandates from sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and development finance institutions. She has developed proprietary ESG scoring frameworks tailored specifically to emerging market conditions, where conventional Western ESG data providers often miss critical local context. Her frameworks now serve as the foundation for DGI's impact reporting to clients.
Priya is a passionate advocate for accessible company formation services in the UAE, believing that the Emirates' world-class free zone infrastructure should be available to entrepreneurs of all sizes — not just large corporates. She regularly speaks at the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai and has been featured in Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business for her work on sustainable corporate finance.
Areas of Expertise
- ESG Investment Strategy
- Impact Investing & Measurement
- UAE Free Zone Company Formation
- UAE Mainland LLC Registration
- ADGM & DIFC Entity Structuring
- GCC Corporate Advisory
- Sustainable Bond & Green Loan Analysis
- Emerging Market Credit Research
- Cross-Border Sustainability Reporting
- Nominee Director Services (UAE)
- Corporate Bank Account (UAE)
- FATF & AML Compliance (UAE)
Education & Credentials
-
MSc Sustainable Finance University of Oxford — Smith School
-
BA Economics Delhi University
-
Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA) EFFAS European Federation of Financial Analysts
-
PRI Responsible Investment Certificate Principles for Responsible Investment
-
Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) CISI London
Ideas & Insights
UAE Free Zone vs Mainland Company: Which is Right for You?
Priya compares the advantages of UAE free zone incorporation (100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions) vs mainland LLC formation with sponsor structures — helping entrepreneurs choose the optimal structure.
Read more →ADGM Company Formation: Setting Up in Abu Dhabi's Financial Hub
A complete guide to registering a company within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) free zone — the Middle East's premier financial centre for fund managers, fintechs, and holding companies.
Read more →ESG Alpha in Emerging Markets: Where Sustainability Meets Returns
Priya's framework for identifying outperforming ESG opportunities in frontier and emerging markets, focusing on India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Brazil.
Read more →Green Finance in the Gulf: How GCC Sovereign Funds are Reshaping ESG
An analysis of the $1 trillion+ commitment to green infrastructure by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi PIF, and Kuwait Investment Authority.
Read more →