Some of the biggest names in international financial services gathered in Dubai yesterday (23 October) at the sixth annual Investment International Middle East Forum in Dubai.
Held at the prestigious Capital Club, in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the packed programme ranged across ongoing regulatory reforms, industry and adviser consolidation and the future of advice following on from the global pandemic has seen many businesses realigning their focus for 2023 and beyond.
Registered delegates for this event were also given a free pass to the Wealth Exchange Dubai event which ran alongside our II event in partnership with our sister brand International Adviser. It has been a landmark year for both Investment International and for International Adviser as both titles came under new ownership with our business G&M Media in 2024.
This event was of course made possible thanks to support from Capital International Group, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, Bowmoor in association with Fairlight Capital and Marlborough all taking part.
We would also like to thank Insight Discovery's Nigel Sillitoe and the team at Collaborative Exchange who we partnered with for our Middle East Forum this year adding a real buzz to the occasion and even giving delegates the opportunity to have a hair, make-up makeover with follow-up professional photo-shoot to use for maybe a new LinkedIn pic!
The Middle East is a firmly established region for international financial services and home to some of the biggest and best known companies on both the financial advice, protection, trusts and taxation services and wealth management front.
II and IA publisher Gary Robinson got the event off to a rapid fire start, introducing the Capital International Group's David Noon, commercial director, who heads its international investment platform business. Just last week, Capital Investment Group won the prestigious II Awards 2024-25 Best International Platform Award.
Noon covered considerations when investing internationally, including costs, situs, probate, emigration, taxation and jurisdiction, while his colleague Andy Tinnion highlighted the strength of the Isle of Man as an international financial centre.
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management was up next with the impressive Richard Burden, head of international sales who charted the rise and fall of Manchester United football club against the backdrop of "then and now" trends such as lack and growth of regulation.
Last week Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management also picked up an II Awards 2024 award in the Best International Fund Group category.
In the next session with Bowmoor Capital in association with Fairlight Capital, Bowmoor Capital CEO Richard Liddle set out its distinct investment strategy using fine-tuned mathematical theory back tested on stock market returns to position its portfolios.
Marlborough sales director Rod Guest then took the stage outlined the company's overall proposition "a balanced approach" and revealed how it is the perfect fit for partnerships with advisory firms, brokers and wealth managers.
Marlborough also picked up awards at the prestigious II Awards 2024-25 winning International DFM Fund/Product of the Year for the Marlborough - Ireland-domiciled multi-asset portfolio range.
We concluded the event with Future Advice panel session, chaired by II/IA Publisher Gary Robinson where a fascinating and insightful debate ensued with Daniel Dickinson, CEO at AHR, Gavin Pluck, senior executive officer at Blacktower Financial Management (DIFC), Alex Herbert, managing partner Middle East at Holborn Assets and Sean Kelleher CEO at Mondial Dubai.
Representing some of the Middle East’s biggest advisory firms, the lively discussion covered how they are geared up for ongoing expat growth in Dubai and beyond, the biggest opportunities and challenges in the region and what the future of advice is going to look like.
Networking continued in fine setting on the outside terrace where lunch was served in glorious sunshine. This is Dubai afterall!
