BlackRock and Emirates NBD launch private investment platform

By Gloria Methri

Dubai-based banking giant Emirates NBD has teamed up with BlackRock to introduce an investment platform designed to expand access to private markets and alternative assets for its wealthy clients. The collaboration aims to democratise investment opportunities previously limited to institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

As part of this initiative, Emirates NBD Asset Management and BlackRock will introduce a range of evergreen investment solutions tailored for the UAE wealth market. These offerings will focus on income and growth strategies exclusively available to Emirates NBD’s affluent clientele. The platform will leverage BlackRock’s extensive Alternative Investments ecosystem, which currently manages over $450 billion in assets, ensuring diversified exposure to alternative asset classes, including private credit and private equity.

Beyond investment opportunities, BlackRock will deploy its open architecture framework to support Emirates NBD Asset Management in broadening its private markets portfolio. This will include marketing, education, training, and advanced technology solutions, empowering investors with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the alternative asset space.

Through this collaboration, Emirates NBD aims to revolutionise access to alternative investments across the Middle East, catering to a broader segment of investors and positioning itself at the forefront of wealth management innovation.

Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, said, “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 while supporting the growing needs of investors in the region. We are deeply committed to creating value through our offerings and advancing the investment landscape in the UAE and the wider region, which has been experiencing a strong appetite in the last few years.”

Rachel Lord, Head of International at BlackRock, said, “Spurred by investor sentiment and facilitated by product innovation, technology, and regulatory advancements, wealth allocations to private markets are predicted to increase materially over the next five years. The combination of Emirates NBD’s distribution capabilities and reach across the region, combined with BlackRock’s expertise and global leadership in private markets, will be a compelling proposition for Middle Eastern investors.”

The private market offerings will be based on BlackRock’s Alternative Investments platform, which now exceeds $450 billion AUM and is supported by over 1,000 personnel in more than 50 countries.