Emirates NBD and BlackRock Launch Investment Platform for Private Markets Access
Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BlackRock to establish an investment platform that will grant the bank’s wealth clients access to alternative investments, with a primary focus on private markets.
Private markets, traditionally accessible only to institutional investors in the region, have become the fastest-growing segment within asset management. Industry projections estimate that alternative assets will reach USD 30 trillion by the end of the decade.
Through this collaboration, Emirates NBD Asset Management and BlackRock will introduce an initial range of evergreen investment options, specifically targeting income and growth strategies for the UAE wealth market. BlackRock will also leverage its open architecture approach to enhance Emirates NBD Asset Management’s expansion in private markets by providing marketing, education, training, and technology support.
Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, emphasized the bank’s commitment to financial innovation: “Innovation is a cornerstone at Emirates NBD, and we are pleased to partner with BlackRock to offer access to best-in-class products in alternative markets through a dedicated platform. Our goal is to meet the growing investment needs in the region while adding value to our clients.”
Rachel Lord, Head of International at BlackRock, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating: “Investor sentiment, coupled with product innovation, technology, and regulatory advancements, is driving a strong shift towards private markets. We are excited to collaborate with Emirates NBD to expand access to private market investments across the Middle East.”
The private markets platform will be built on BlackRock’s Alternative Investments division, which currently manages over USD 450 billion in assets under management (AUM) with a global team of more than 1,000 professionals across 50 countries.
