HSBC Launches Asset Management Business in UAE with 10 New Funds
HSBC announced the establishment of an onshore asset management business in the UAE, launching 10 new funds. This expansion aligns with the bank's strategic focus on Asia and the Middle East following its 2024 restructuring.
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HSBC Holdings plc has announced the establishment of an onshore asset management business in the United Arab Emirates 
AE, marking a significant expansion in the region's burgeoning wealth management sector. The launch, confirmed on January 12, 2026, includes the introduction of ten onshore funds designed to tap into the increasing influx of high-net-worth individuals moving to the UAE. Dinesh Sharma dinesh sharma, HSBC's Regional Head of International Wealth and Personal Banking for the Middle East and Turkey, made the announcement, highlighting the strategic importance of this move in line with HSBC's ongoing global restructuring efforts initiated in 2024. This restructuring has seen the bank reorganize its operations along East-West lines and shed sub-scale investment banking units to focus growth efforts on high-opportunity regions such as Asia and the Middle East. The UAE has emerged as an attractive destination for high-net-worth individuals due to its favorable business conditions, convenient time zones, and tax-free status. This trend has prompted several global asset managers to establish or expand their operations in the Gulf region, positioning the UAE as a competitive hub for wealth management. James Grist jamesgristhas been appointed as the general manager of HSBC's new UAE asset management entity. As of the end of September 2025, HSBC Asset Management had $852 billion in assets under management, underscoring the scale at which the bank operates globally. By launching these new funds, HSBC aims to capture a share of the burgeoning market and reinforce its presence in the region. This strategic move is part of HSBC's deliberate capital reallocation following its 2024 restructuring, reflecting a shift away from maintaining a global footprint toward concentrating resources in regions with significant growth potential. The United Kingdom 
GB-headquartered bank's expansion in the UAE aligns with its broader strategy to capitalize on emerging markets and strengthen its competitive position in the global asset management landscape.
AE, marking a significant expansion in the region's burgeoning wealth management sector. The launch, confirmed on January 12, 2026, includes the introduction of ten onshore funds designed to tap into the increasing influx of high-net-worth individuals moving to the UAE. Dinesh Sharma dinesh sharma, HSBC's Regional Head of International Wealth and Personal Banking for the Middle East and Turkey, made the announcement, highlighting the strategic importance of this move in line with HSBC's ongoing global restructuring efforts initiated in 2024. This restructuring has seen the bank reorganize its operations along East-West lines and shed sub-scale investment banking units to focus growth efforts on high-opportunity regions such as Asia and the Middle East. The UAE has emerged as an attractive destination for high-net-worth individuals due to its favorable business conditions, convenient time zones, and tax-free status. This trend has prompted several global asset managers to establish or expand their operations in the Gulf region, positioning the UAE as a competitive hub for wealth management. James Grist jamesgristhas been appointed as the general manager of HSBC's new UAE asset management entity. As of the end of September 2025, HSBC Asset Management had $852 billion in assets under management, underscoring the scale at which the bank operates globally. By launching these new funds, HSBC aims to capture a share of the burgeoning market and reinforce its presence in the region. This strategic move is part of HSBC's deliberate capital reallocation following its 2024 restructuring, reflecting a shift away from maintaining a global footprint toward concentrating resources in regions with significant growth potential. The United Kingdom GB-headquartered bank's expansion in the UAE aligns with its broader strategy to capitalize on emerging markets and strengthen its competitive position in the global asset management landscape.
