She Started Her Bet on Abu Dhabi with Unconventional Advice.. Who is the First Individual Donor to the Louvre?

- For the Chinese entrepreneur and investor Snow Li, collecting art and building businesses follow a similar philosophy: curiosity, patience, and the ability to see potential before others do. We visit her home in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, to explore the long-term thinking behind her investment bets.

Li is considered part of a growing trend to bring industrial expertise and Chinese investments to the UAE, and she sees a prime opportunity for her business specifically in Abu Dhabi. Li holds the position of Vice Chair of the MPT Group, the company behind the largest valve manufacturing facility in the Middle East and North Africa.

These valves are essential equipment used by the oil and gas industry in the region. Her interests range from advanced manufacturing and energy to strategic resources and technology.

But for someone used to making significant investment decisions, her bet on Abu Dhabi began with unconventional advice. The person who reads her fortune advised her to "discover a new city called Abu Dhabi."

In her home in Abu Dhabi, a different kind of investment can be seen, as Li has been collecting art for over two decades, with an increasing focus on supporting artists in the long term. In 2024, some works from her collection were moved to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, making her the museum's first individual donor, further strengthening her ties to the country she now calls home.

She said to me: "This is my way of contributing to the city. And I believe that this represents a model to be emulated by anyone who loves the city and wants to contribute to it."