We sat down with Snow Li to hear how her journey as an investor, entrepreneur, and renowned art collector has led her to Abu Dhabi – why she sees the city as the anchor for her next chapter, how advanced manufacturing and cultural patronage shape her work, and what legacy means in practice.
You’ve been called a bridge-builder between China and the world. Could you share a little of your personal journey and what led you here?
I was born in Shanghai, and over the past two decades have built a global portfolio spanning Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. My investments consistently focus on industries that shape the future: advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, and strategic resource mining. For me, it has always been about building long-term relevance — contributing to infrastructure and ecosystems that endure.
From business to culture, Abu Dhabi now shapes much of your work. What makes this city so important to you?
Abu Dhabi is now my chosen home. With MT Group, we established the region’s largest valve and oil & gas equipment facility, which is now entering its third phase of expansion. In parallel, I am spearheading new investment projects in low-carbon cement and advanced glass manufacturing. These initiatives are not only industrial milestones; they also form part of Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a world-class hub for innovation, sustainability, and advanced industries.
But what makes Abu Dhabi truly special is that it is more than a business destination. It is the Capital of Capital — a place where finance, global talent, and long-term vision meet. It is also a cultural capital, where institutions like the Louvre Abu Dhabi reflect a deep respect for art and heritage.
Snow Li, Vice Chair and Board Member of MT Group, at the signing ceremony of MT Group's Phase 2 expansion agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
You mentioned culture. As the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s first Chinese donor, how do you view your role as a cultural patron?
For me, collecting art has never been about possession – it has always been about contribution. My collection ranges from Chinese contemporary works to European masters and Middle Eastern treasures, reflecting a belief that art is a timeless dialogue among civilizations. Supporting the Louvre Abu Dhabi was my way of broadening how the relationship between East and Middle East is imagined and understood.
I regard cultural diplomacy as a generational covenant — one that transcends a single lifetime. Through contribution, I am not merely building a collection; I am supporting to safeguard traditions, bridge histories, and connect perspectives, so that others may continue this dialogue for generations to come.
Your industrial investments and your cultural contributions seem to reflect the same philosophy. How do you decide where to focus?
My compass is long-horizon relevance. Whether in industry or in art, I ask the same questions: What will endure? What contributes to resilience and understanding? That is why I focus on infrastructure industries like manufacturing, energy, and advanced materials, as well as cultural institutions that preserve and connect. Both are, in their own way, about building continuity for the future.
Looking ahead, how do you see Abu Dhabi shaping your next chapter?
For me, Abu Dhabi represents the future: a city where industry, culture, and community are seamlessly connected. It offers stability and opportunity, but also inspiration — a place where global ambition can take root and thrive.
Industry and culture are both tools of connectivity, and Abu Dhabi allows me to work with both at once. That is why I am here, and why I believe my story and Abu Dhabi’s story are becoming deeply linked.
Finally, what does legacy mean to you?
Legacy is not defined by what one leaves behind, but by what one builds for others to carry forward. In business, it is the creation of enduring infrastructure and resilient ecosystems. In culture, it is the fostering of dialogue and the preservation of heritage. For me, true legacy is not measured by what I possess, but by what I contribute.
About Snow Li
Snow Li is Vice Chair and Board Member of Qing Song Capital. She’s also Vice Chair and Board Member of MT Group, one of China’s leading valve manufacturers, which in 2024 established the Middle East’s largest valve and oil & gas equipment facility in Abu Dhabi. She serves as a Board Member of Zhen Shen Insulation Technology Group, one of Asia’s largest insulation materials manufacturers.
Beyond these roles, she is a Board Member and active investor in over 20 top-tier Chinese companies, with a diversified portfolio spanning advanced manufacturing, deep technology, biotech, and innovation. She is now spearheading new manufacturing projects in low-carbon cement, further anchoring her industrial commitments and expanding her long-term investment footprint in Abu Dhabi.
Alongside her industrial and investment leadership, Snow has been an avid art collector since 2005, steadily building a distinguished collection over the past two decades. While her engagement with Chinese contemporary and European works began early, her Middle Eastern collection has emerged only in recent years — a testament to her passion for cultural exchange and her belief in art as a bridge between worlds.
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