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Bank of Singapore says Middle East vital to growth

By Reuters
The Singapore CBD. Dubai is being viewed as an increasingly important destination by the Bank Of Singapore Alamy via Reuters
The Singapore CBD. Dubai is being viewed as an increasingly important destination by the Bank Of Singapore
  • Region may contribute 20% of revenue
  • Private bank has $116bn AUM
  • Dubai viewed as essential location

One of Asia’s biggest private banks, the Bank of Singapore, aims to expand its business in the Middle East.

Ranjit Khanna, the bank’s head of private banking for Europe and the Middle East, said the region could contribute up to 20% of its overall revenue and private banking assets over the next three to five years, from around 10% currently.

Bank of Singapore has grown its assets under management (AUM) to $116 billion as of September 2023 from about $20 billion in 2010, as per the latest financials available for the unlisted company.

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The bank’s Singapore and Hong Kong hubs currently make up the majority of its AUM.

“UAE and in particular Dubai have become key destinations for global millionaires post-Covid,” said Khanna.

“This really has been spurred on the back of people looking for alternatives, really positive federal government strategies to attract wealthy to these parts of the world, ease of doing business, positive infrastructure, golden visa regime.”

A growing number of wealth managers in Asia are expanding or setting up offices in Dubai, capitalising on warming diplomatic ties between China and the Middle East and betting on a surge in demand from clients for geographical diversification.

“I personally believe the next decade, in the context of wealth management, belongs to Asia and the Middle East to a great extent,” Khanna said.

Global net wealth, comprising financial wealth, liabilities and real assets, rose 4.3% last year from 0.2% a year ago, with the Middle East and Africa posting a 7.8% jump, according to Boston Consulting Group’s Global Wealth Report 2024.

The UAE posted the biggest percentage growth as a booking centre at 8.9% in terms of cross-border wealth on inflow from Saudi Arabia and other prosperous Middle East markets, the report showed.

The growth also came with the UAE’s increased role as a cross-border hub for Asia and Africa, partly driven by building closer ties with China and attracting significant international investment in the luxury real estate market, BCG added.

Bank of Singapore would evaluate making Dubai one of its booking centres in the future, Khanna said. Its current booking centres are Singapore and Hong Kong.

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