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Backed by over five decades of heritage, Mashreq Private Banking is reshaping client service through a hybrid relationship model, digital-first innovation and bespoke family office solutions

Mashreq has long held a distinctive position in the region’s financial landscape. Established in 1967, it is the UAE’s oldest private bank and continues to blend heritage with a forward-looking strategy. Its growth has always been anchored in a client-first ethos, with services tailored to the needs of high-net-worth individuals.

From its base in the Middle East, Mashreq has steadily expanded its global presence through representative offices and strategic partnerships in key financial centres including the UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India and Pakistan. This international footprint, combined with consistent industry recognition, positions the bank as a bridge between regional wealth and global opportunity.

Hybrid relationship model

At the core of Mashreq’s approach is a hybrid relationship model that combines human expertise with advanced technology. Clients are supported by a dedicated team of relationship managers, investment and insurance advisers, foreign exchange (FX) specialists and client service managers. With this approach, the bank ensures wealth solutions are both comprehensive and highly personalised.

Technology plays a pivotal role in enriching these relationships. The in-house Face app gives bankers access to real-time data and insights, enabling them to co-create investment proposals with clients and execute decisions transparently. The integration of AI into portfolio analytics and client engagement tools further enhances personalisation, delivering timely alerts, performance dashboards and risk assessments. By balancing digital convenience with personal insight, Mashreq delivers a service model that meets the expectations of today’s sophisticated clients.

Client-focused innovation

Mashreq continues to invest in building a seamless, end-to-end digital experience for clients. Straight-through onboarding enables quick account and investment setup with minimal paperwork, while its mobile applications support international trading across equities, FX, commodities and funds.

Clients can access over 150 global funds and more than 40 thematic portfolios covering sectors such as electric vehicles (EV), robotics, efficient energy, environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and Asia’s technology growth. For those seeking liquidity, self-service tools including Lombard lending dashboards offer full transparency on loan-to-value ratios, pledged portfolios and margin activity.

The offering also includes multi-asset investment portfolios aligned to diverse risk profiles and a dedicated Golden Visa desk supporting international investors and entrepreneurs. Together, these innovations reinforce Mashreq’s position as a digital leader and innovator in the regional wealth market.

Elevating family office services

One of Mashreq’s standout propositions is its Family Office platform, launched in 2020 for ultra-high-net-worth clients with assets exceeding $50m. It offers institutional-grade services, once rare in the region, across succession planning, merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory, real estate structuring, insurance and treasury management.

Currently, Mashreq supports more than 50 family offices, representing over $50bn in assets. By integrating personal and corporate wealth under clear governance structures, the platform distinguishes Mashreq from both regional and global peers. Its ability to unlock liquidity from traditionally illiquid assets such as real estate and deliver tailored solutions for complex wealth needs reflects the depth and agility of its advisory capabilities.

Recognition well earned

Mashreq’s ability to combine legacy with innovation, scale with specialisation and regional insight with global access is why it has been named Outstanding Private Bank – Middle East at the Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards 2025. The recognition reflects not just its achievements but also its ongoing role in shaping the future of private banking across the region.

Metrics That Matter

• 1967 Year Mashreq was founded, making it the UAE’s oldest private bank
• $50bn+ Net worth represented by more than 50 family offices served
• 150+ Global funds available on Mashreq’s digital investment platform
• 40+ Thematic portfolios offered, spanning ESG, robotics, EVs and more

Leveraging its market leadership in Canada, growing US franchise and expanding international footprint, RBC Wealth Management is shaping private banking for wealthy families worldwide

Canada’s RBC Wealth Management has been awarded the Outstanding Private Bank – Global title at the Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards 2025, reflecting its ability to deliver a seamless experience for high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients across continents. The firm operates through hubs in Canada, the US, the British Isles and Asia, with CAD4.7tn ($3.4tn) in assets under administration and CAD1.4tn in assets under management as of Q2 2025.

The breadth of its services spans holistic wealth planning, investment management, banking and credit, estate and trust, succession planning and philanthropy. The acquisition of the UK’s Brewin Dolphin in 2022 expanded its European franchise to more than 30 offices and 2,500 employees, creating one of the largest wealth managers in the UK, Channel Islands and Ireland. This complements its Canadian leadership and growing footprint in Asia, enabling RBC to support families with complex, multi-jurisdictional needs.

North American leadership

RBC was also named Outstanding Private Bank – North America, underlining its unrivalled presence in its home region. In Canada, it holds the leading market share across private banking, brokerage, discretionary investment management, estate and trust and insurance. RBC Dominion Securities serves more than 325,000 households with around CAD600bn in assets under administration and a 26% market share – twice the size of its nearest competitor.

“With CAD4.7tn in assets under administration and operations spanning Canada, the US, Europe and Asia, RBC Wealth Management stands as a global private banking leader”

In the US, RBC is the sixth-largest full-service wealth advisory firm, with $640bn in assets under administration and 316,000 households served across 42 states. Its 2,200 advisers deliver a client-first model supported by technology and fee-based planning. The integration with City National Bank, which holds $94bn in assets, extends this strength by combining personal and commercial banking with wealth solutions.

Client-first philosophy

A hallmark of RBC’s success is its emphasis on holistic advice. Every client benefits from the support of an adviser backed by RBC Family Office Services, a team of more than 200 accredited specialists across tax, estate, succession and philanthropy. This collaborative approach ensures strategies are tailored to clients’ values and financial goals.

Digital innovation has also enhanced service. RBC’s Advisor Assist technology is expected to make 80% of its staff as effective as the top 10% by automating and streamlining routine tasks, freeing them to focus on deeper client engagement.

Driving consistent excellence

The dual recognition by Private Banker International affirms RBC’s ability to combine scale with personalised services. By leveraging leadership in North America and extending capabilities across Europe and Asia, the firm continues to shape the future of global wealth management.

Metrics That Matter

• 14% Increase in assets under administration in FY2024, reaching CAD4.7tn
• 26% Share of Canada’s full-service brokerage industry held by RBC Dominion Securities
• 27% Rise in net income in FY2024, taking it to CAD3.4bn
• 316,000 Number of US households served by RBC Wealth Management advisers
• 6,000+ Advisers supporting affluent, HNW and UHNW clients worldwide

Through bold digital innovation and market-leading family office services, Hana Bank has emerged as a benchmark for both affluent and ultra-wealthy clients in North Asia

Marking three decades in private banking, South Korea’s Hana Bank has grown to manage $53.5bn in assets for nearly 50,000 VIP clients, capturing a 28.3% market share of Korean clients with over $1m in assets. This scale is underpinned by a forward-looking strategy – PB Wealth Management 2.0 – which extends services from individuals to families and the next generation.

These achievements were recognised when the bank was named Outstanding Digital Private Bank – North Asia at the Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards 2025.

Digital innovation

A standout initiative is Hana Bank’s Asset Transfer Portal, integrated with Korea’s MyData system, which streamlines the consolidation of individual retirement pension (IRP), individual savings account (ISA) and pension accounts. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, 41% of all transfers used this system, representing $143m of assets.

The bank has also expanded innovation in real estate, running experiential property tours in Seoul’s Hannam-Dong district to give clients practical insights into a key investment hotspot.

In partnership with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the bank has developed the Hana AI CRP model, which applies predictive analytics to forecast commercial property trends — giving clients sharper tools for timing acquisitions and managing risk in a volatile market.

Beyond South Korea, Hana Bank leverages its global network to serve Koreans overseas. Recent seminars in Taipei covered taxation, inheritance and real estate investment and introduced customised will-substitute trust solutions. These drew strong interest from high-net-worth families abroad and highlighted the bank’s strategy of aligning domestic leadership with international connectivity. The bank also plans to extend similar cross-border programmes into other regional hubs, reinforcing its presence beyond Korea.

“Hana Bank is not only redefining private banking through digital innovation but also shaping the future of wealth transfer and family office services in North Asia”

Senior and affluent focus

The bank’s ‘Hana The Next’ brand, launched in 2024, addresses South Korea’s ultra-aging demographics, with services covering retirement planning, inheritance and lifestyle needs. Specialised lounges across Seoul provide both advisory and cultural experiences – from financial counselling to wine classes – ensuring relevance for both seniors and the mass affluent.

For ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, Hana Bank has built a clear lead. Its Family Office services hold a 32.1% domestic market share, with $1.43bn in assets and more than 100 family office clients. The Hana The Next Family Office at Club1 PB Centre combines wealth services with cultural and networking experiences, featuring an art gallery, dining lounge and immersive media salon.

Launched in 2024, the Hana Family Office One Solution unites more than 60 experts across banking, securities, tax and trust planning, offering integrated advice on succession, overseas investment, tax efficiency and philanthropy. The service has already begun attracting a new wave of UHNW families, strengthening Hana Bank’s reputation as South Korea’s most comprehensive family office provider. The bank has also pioneered living trusts in Korea since 2010 and remains the market leader in will trust contracts, reflecting its long-standing focus on intergenerational planning.

Flagship programmes

To prepare the next generation, Hana Bank runs three flagship programmes: the Future Leaders Programme, CEO Insight Programme and Hana The Next Leader, launching in 2025. Together, these initiatives provide structured education for heirs and entrepreneurs, ensuring continuity in wealth stewardship. Its market leadership in family office services was further highlighted by industry recognition, with Hana Bank’s private bankers honoured for their regional excellence.

Metrics That Matter

• $53.5bn Private banking AUM in 2024
• 3% Market share of Korean VIP clients with $1m+
• 1% Market share in South Korea’s family office sector

Luxembourg-headquartered Quintet Private Bank is reinforcing its European leadership with consistent profitability, cross-border teamwork and a distinctive partnership model.

Quintet Private Bank has emerged as one of Europe’s most resilient private banking groups, combining a steady financial performance with client-first thinking. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the bank operates across more than 30 cities and markets through its family of local brands – Brown Shipley in the UK, Merck Finck in Germany, InsingerGilissen in the Netherlands, Puilaetco in Belgium and Quintet Danmark in Denmark. Together, these institutions form a cohesive network that blends deep local insight with shared European strength.

Quintet reported its third consecutive year of increased profitability in 2024, with net profit rising to €68m ($78.7m) from €46.9m in 2023, a 45% year-on-year increase. Total client assets climbed to €100.6 billion, supported by a 10% rise in high-net-worth assets and a 5% expansion in client base. This performance reflects strong market positioning amid slower economic growth and a disciplined approach to cost management, with the cost-to-income ratio holding steady at 86.7% despite inflationary pressures.

Partnership-led innovation

Quintet’s model focuses on doing more for clients through both collaboration and scale. Its open-architecture approach allows it to bring the best of the market to every client relationship, supported by partnerships that expand both opportunity and choice.

The alliance with the US’ BlackRock, for example, underpins a series of multi-manager Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) funds launched in 2024 and the Future+ sustainable investment mandate. These products combine independent advice with the strength of institutional-scale insight, enabling clients to align their portfolios with long-term ESG priorities without compromising on performance.

A separate partnership with Germany’s Moonfare further differentiates Quintet’s offering, giving clients direct access to private-market funds via a digital platform that integrates analytics, reporting, and investment guidance. This approach mirrors Quintet’s broader philosophy of ‘Protect and Grow’, maintaining diversification while seeking new sources of value in a changing investment landscape.

Generational foresight

Beyond portfolio management, Quintet is taking a leadership role in preparing Europe’s wealthy families for intergenerational transition. Its Rise of Generational Wealth study, produced with BlackRock, explores the shifting attitudes of younger investors and how inheritance, sustainability, and technology are reshaping the wealth conversation.

These insights inform Quintet’s educational initiatives for next-generation clients, from succession planning to stewardship and responsible investing. The bank recognises the next era of wealth management will be defined as much by understanding values as by managing value.

With a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 20.3% and a leverage ratio of 6.3%, Quintet maintains one of the strongest capital positions in its peer group. It also continues to invest in people and capability, adding more than 45 client-facing professionals and launching a Finnish desk in Luxembourg in 2024 to deepen regional expertise and expand its Nordic reach.

Metrics That Matter

• €68m 2024 net profit, up 45% year-on-year
• €100.6bn Total client assets under management
• 10% Growth in high-net-worth individual assets
• 3% Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

The firm has redefined wealth planning through integrated, cross-border frameworks that combine legal precision, tax efficiency and family governance to ensure generational continuity

For Farro Capital, sound planning is the cornerstone of responsible wealth management. Each relationship begins with understanding: a conversation about a family’s ambitions, values and responsibilities. From that foundation, Farro designs frameworks that unite investment oversight, legal integrity and governance clarity to create enduring, adaptive structures.

Wealth planning sits at the centre of Farro Capital’s advisory philosophy. The firm’s approach is both strategic and human: to translate complex wealth into coherent, long-term frameworks that serve not only financial objectives but also family harmony.

From its offices in Dubai and Singapore, Farro integrates investment strategy, legal structuring, tax efficiency and family governance into a single, carefully designed architecture. Each plan is built to balance liquidity, preservation and purpose – reflecting the firm’s conviction that effective wealth management begins not with transactions, but with structure.

The Dubai office serves as a vital bridge between the Gulf’s entrepreneurial families and Farro’s institutional base in Singapore. Located within the Dubai International Financial Centre, it offers clients across the Middle East direct access to international structuring expertise while remaining aligned with local culture and regulation.

The result is a model of partnership that blends global reach with regional understanding.  Farro’s advisers, fiduciaries and investment professionals work seamlessly with external counsel and trustees, delivering integrated, conflict-free advice that allows families to navigate jurisdictions and generations with equal confidence.

This orchestration is what distinguishes Farro within the independent advisory landscape. The firm’s multidisciplinary teams approach each mandate with quiet precision – balancing legal depth with investment pragmatism, and institutional rigour with the discretion of a boutique.

“By embedding governance, legal and tax depth into every structure, Farro Capital ensures family wealth and values transition seamlessly across generations” 

Clients experience the assurance of institutional standards coupled with the personal engagement of a firm where every senior adviser is directly involved. In a region where family offices are evolving from private enterprises to professional institutions, such engagement has become both rare and valuable.

Governance and succession

Farro’s Dubai team is also advancing the regional conversation on governance and succession planning. More than half of its family clients have now formalised constitutions or family-board frameworks within two years of engagement, establishing clear voting procedures, leadership succession and philanthropic mandates. At the same time, next-generation members are being introduced to governance through participation in live investment committees before assuming formal roles – an approach that promotes stewardship before entitlement.

Shared purpose

The emphasis on continuity extends beyond structure. Farro’s advisers believe that lasting wealth rests on shared purpose as much as on prudent management. Their task is to ensure that capital remains organised, visible and aligned with the values that created it. In doing so, the firm brings together two worlds – Singapore’s fiduciary precision and Dubai’s entrepreneurial energy – to offer families across the Middle East a framework for prosperity that endures.

Farro Capital’s presence in Dubai embodies the firm’s broader philosophy: that true wealth management is not about reacting to markets, but about designing systems that can withstand them. It is an approach defined by discipline, guided by values and executed with the measured confidence of a firm that views every plan not as a product, but as a legacy in progress.

Metrics that Matter

• 50%+ Proportion of client families adopting formal governance constitutions within two years
• 100% Proportion of next-generation clients engaged in live investment committees for governance training

With a digitally integrated model and a clear focus on ethical growth, the bank is redefining what modern Islamic wealth management looks like in the region

Emirates Islamic Bank has emerged as one of the UAE’s leading players in Islamic wealth management, combining traditional sharia values with advanced digital capabilities. The bank’s total wealth assets under management (AUM) reached AED17.8bn in 2025, of which 80% is attributed to the high-value segments, Priority and Private Banking. The strong year-on-year growth reflects the bank’s rapid ascent in servicing the region’s affluent and high-net-worth segments.

Navigating the market demand for environmentally focused, sustainable wealth solutions, Emirates Islamic is pioneering the path forward for innovative ESG-based modern sharia banking. Emirates Islamic Private Bank, which manages over AED12bn in client assets, recorded parallel gains in both client onboarding and portfolio sophistication. This rapid expansion underscores the growing appetite for structured, Islamic investment products across the region.

Beyond headline growth, Emirates Islamic has widened access to investment opportunities through product innovation. It became the first Islamic bank in the region to introduce fractional sukuks, lowering the entry point from $200,000 to $5,000 and making fixed-income participation more inclusive. The move signals a strategic effort to democratise wealth creation and extend the benefits of Islamic finance to a broader investor base.

Digital-first proposition

At the centre of its wealth offering is the Digital Wealth Platformfully embedded within the EI+ mobile banking application. The platform offers an end-to-end wealth management experience – from instant onboarding to trade execution and real-time portfolio visibility via Wealth360. Furthermore, clients benefit from a wide

range of asset classes under one umbrella as well as a dedicated CIO Corner providing expert investment insights and market views.

These features have transformed the bank’s engagement with wealth clients, giving them access to a range of sharia-compliant local and global equities, mutual funds, and fractional and regular sukuks, with digitised commodities on the horizon. Since its launch, more than 17,000 clients have onboarded digitally, with trade volumes exceeding AED1.6bn in 2025.

“By combining sharia integrity with digital innovation, Emirates Islamic Bank is positioning Islamic wealth management as a modern, data-driven and globally connected discipline”

Ethical and sustainable growth

A defining element of Emirates Islamic’s proposition is its commitment to responsible banking. Every product undergoes review by an independent sharia supervisory board in line with   Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards. The bank has also advanced its environmental and social agenda with the issuance of a $750m sustainability sukuk and AED8.6bn in green financing – equivalent to more than 12% of its total financing book.

Emirates Islamic’s investment advisory framework blends ethical oversight with global expertise. Relationship managers and SCA-licensed investment advisers offer tailored portfolio strategies, supported by a 21-hour execution desk covering global markets. Discretionary portfolio management services, operated through Emirates NBD Asset Management and its London branch, extend international diversification within a sharia-compliant framework.

This combination of product innovation, digital adoption and ethical governance has positioned Emirates Islamic as a reference point for Islamic wealth management in the Mena region. By expanding access to fractional sukuks, automating more than 100 client journeys and integrating ESG into its financing strategy, the bank has aligned purpose with performance. Its ability to serve both emerging and established wealth segments while maintaining sharia authenticity reflects the evolving sophistication of the region’s financial landscape and the growing global relevance of Islamic wealth leadership from the UAE.

Metrics that Matter

• 9bn Value of total deposit and wealth AUM book represented by Priority and Private Banking
• 25% Proportion of green financing within the total financing book

The Kuwaiti lender’s private banking division sets new standards in responsiveness, personalisation and speed of delivery

Burgan Bank’s private banking division has redefined client service in Kuwait’s wealth management landscape by offering tailored financial solutions and proactive guidance. It combines responsiveness, trust and bespoke relationship management into a seamless, high-touch experience unique in the market.

The bank’s approach extends beyond transactions, positioning this distinct service model as its main competitive advantage and the foundation of its success.

Transformational service model

For Burgan Bank, private banking is a long-term partnership that offers clients agile financial solutions, exclusive market access and a deep understanding of their unique goals.

Each client, from emerging high-net-worth individuals to ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) investors, is assigned a relationship manager and an investment adviser. The team aligns expertise with client sophistication, with senior managers serving UHNW clients to address complex needs discreetly and precisely.

This hands-on model is reinforced by a culture of active listening, delivering proactive issue resolution and increased client satisfaction. Client feedback from independent surveys and direct engagement is continuously reviewed at the highest management levels, resulting in tailored services that align with clients’ evolving needs.

Unit heads conduct regular check-ins not only to surpass expectations but also to strengthen client relationships. This process has helped translate Burgan’s client-first philosophy into measurable results, including higher retention rates and positive feedback.

“Burgan Bank’s  private banking division has distinguished itself for its responsiveness, personalisation and a

Measurable client trust

In 2024, Burgan Bank achieved a 97% client satisfaction rate, according to an independent Ipsos survey, marking a significant rise from 85% in the previous survey. The outcome reflects the impact of its responsive service, proactive problem-solving and commitment to exceeding client expectations.

Speed of service is one of Burgan’s key strengths. Its quick turnaround and reliable responsiveness consistently beat market benchmarks, enabling clients to make time-sensitive decisions confidently and making Burgan a preferred private banking partner.

Omnichannel excellence

Burgan recognises affluent clients’ shifting preferences and has adopted a hybrid service model that combines physical and digital engagement. Two exclusive private banking branches complement the head office by providing personalised, in-person advisory services. Meanwhile, the private banking app enables real-time transactions and communication, offering clients convenience and immediate access to their banking needs.

Further innovation continues with a new wealth management app developed with its asset management entity. The platform is designed to boost portfolio visibility, advisory access and performance tracking.

A strong investment in people drives this success. Relationship managers complete continuous training through the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and Certificate in Credit Management programmes. This blend of technical and interpersonal development gives them a distinct edge, enabling the analytical capability and emotional intelligence required to deliver exceptional client outcomes.

In a market defined by personal connection and speed, Burgan Bank sets a new benchmark for private banking, offering bespoke solutions that anticipate needs, accelerate results and elevate every client experience.

Metrics that Matter

• 97% Proportion of private banking clients reporting satisfaction with service quality in 2024
• 12 Percentage points increase in satisfaction compared with the previous independent survey
• 100% Proportion of UHNW clients assigned to senior relationship managers to ensure expertise and discretion

The firm’s proprietary wealth platform bridges legacy and innovation, redefining client access to alternative investments through a fully digital yet deeply personal experience

With more than four decades of relationship-driven service, Bahrain-headquartered global alternative investments firm Investcorp has long been synonymous with trust and exclusivity in private markets. The launch of Investcorp Wealth in 2022 marked a decisive step into digital transformation, bringing the firm’s signature high-touch service into the mobile era.

Built on the Salesforce Experience Cloud and powered by native code for both iOS and Android, the platform enables clients to access exclusive investment opportunities, review portfolios and complete secure onboarding in minutes.

For Gulf clients accustomed to in-person engagement, Investcorp Wealth offers the same personalised support, only faster and paper-free.

Technology that empowers

Investcorp Wealth amplifies the value of relationship management and integrates automated e-KYC and real-time portfolio insights with direct in-app communication channels, ensuring consistent, personalised oversight.

Partnerships with leading regional and global tech enablers underpin robust identity verification and messaging, while intelligent agreement management (IAM) systems enable swift, secure digital contract execution.

From real-time statements to auto-generated reports and timely notifications, every feature is engineered to streamline the client experience. The result is a digital ecosystem that reflects Investcorp’s core philosophy: personal service at institutional scale.

Adoption that outpaces expectations

Adoption has been both rapid and organic. More than 94% of existing clients have adopted the platform, with user numbers more than doubling since launch. To date, Investcorp Wealth has digitally enabled more than $500 million of fundraising across 40+ investment offerings.

Repeat usage remains strong, with investors returning for additional allocations across asset classes. By integrating digital convenience with personalised oversight, Investcorp has not only improved operational efficiency but also strengthened engagement across 2,300 digital platform users.

Supporting a broader vision

Investcorp Wealth plays a pivotal role in the firm’s next phase of expansion. With assets under management growing from $10bn in 2015 to $60bn today, the digital platform ensures scalability without compromising service quality.

The initiative also aligns with regional priorities around financial inclusion, opening up access to private market opportunities once reserved for institutional investors, to upper-mass-affluent and high-net-worth clients.

Metrics that Matter

• 94% Proportion of clients actively using the Investcorp Wealth platform
• 2,300+ Number of users provided with a seamless entry point into the world of alternative investments
• $500m+ Value of investments digitally enabled via Investcorp Wealth

Through strategic alliances, the bank has expanded its private banking proposition to offer clients direct access to global private equity and alternative investments

Doha Bank’s private banking franchise has evolved into one of the GCC’s most comprehensive wealth platforms, combining global connectivity with local insight. Its collaboration with Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager with $1.2tn in global investment assets, marks a significant step in unlocking private market opportunities for Qatar-based investors.

The partnership gives clients exposure to institutional-grade strategies across private equity, real estate, private credit, multi-asset credit and infrastructure, offering them a level of access historically reserved for global institutions. This initiative reinforces Doha Bank’s role as a conduit between Middle Eastern capital and international private markets, while advancing the diversification ambitions of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The bank’s strategic industry partnerships form a multi-dimensional ecosystem that integrates private equity with traditional wealth management.

ESG at the core

Doha Bank’s private equity offering is anchored in a strong sustainability agenda. Its environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework, validated by a second-party opinion, aligns with International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and Loan Market Association (LMA) standards, allowing the bank to issue green, social and sustainability bonds. The bank also partners with ESG-focused asset managers to deliver portfolios that combine long-term financial returns with measurable social and environmental impact.

“By combining global private market access with ESG-led investing, Doha Bank has created a differentiated wealth platform that positions Qatar as a gateway for sustainable private capital.”

As part of its Himma Transformation Strategy (2023–27), Doha Bank has embedded ESG and climate risk management across all operations. This includes deploying an environmental and social management system (ESMS) for credit risk assessment, along with initiatives to reduce its carbon emissions and promote responsible financing.

Digital innovation

As part of its Himma Transformation Strategy, Doha Bank has also made major investments in digital infrastructure across retail, corporate and private banking. Private clients now benefit from real-time portfolio statements and integrated dashboards, offering transparency and full control over their financial assets. The launch of the FinTech & Innovation Lab further enables collaboration with global partners to pilot new technologies, enhance risk profiling and expand digital accessibility.

Doha Bank’s digital enablement drive has led to a 24% increase in digital engagement among private clients. Through fintech partnerships, the bank now offers real-time portfolio management tools, integrated dashboards and intelligent risk profiling capabilities, all of which have enhanced transparency, accessibility and investor confidence.

Metrics that Matter

• 20% Percentage increase in clients’ investment assets
• 18% Year-on-year increase in private banking clients
• 24% Rise in digital engagement through mobile and online platforms
• $1.2tn Global investment assets of Doha Bank’s partner Blackstone

By combining technology, ethics and human insight, the bank has created a digitally-enabled model that is defining the region’s next era of private banking

Kuwait Finance House’s (KFH) private banking transformation in 2024 was driven by a belief that innovation is not an accessory to wealth management but its foundation. The launch of the KFH Wealth App from KFH Capital marked a turning point for Kuwait’s Islamic banking sector. More than a transactional tool, the platform has become a client’s window into real-time portfolio performance, sukuk subscriptions and curated market insights.

Through secure in-app messaging and advisory requests, KFH has transformed its private banking experience into a hybrid model that merges personal relationships with digital precision. The result has been a sharp rise in digital engagement, with more than 70% of private banking clients now active online, up from just 25% two years ago.

Innovation through transformation

KFH’s approach to innovation extends beyond digital tools to the way the bank operates. Following its merger with Ahli United Bank – Kuwait, the bank has unified more than 80 core systems and migrated 280,000 clients, including many high-net-worth individuals. It has also introduced robotic process automation (RPA) across wealth operations, reducing approval and processing times by more than 35% while maintaining rigorous sharia and compliance standards. Automation has been further supported by smart onboarding through facial recognition and integration with the country’s Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), enabling faster, more secure access to services.

Behind these visible changes is a wider, deliberate cultural shift: more than 115,000 training hours have been delivered, innovation sprints launched, and staff key performance indicators (KPI) redefined to focus on digital adoption and client satisfaction.

“KFH’s approach to innovation blends technology with purpose, proving progress in Islamic private banking can be both ethical and intelligent.”

Purpose in performance

KFH’s innovation journey is not just technical, it is also values-driven. In 2024, KFH Capital doubled its ESG sukuk portfolio to $653m, providing private clients with access to structured sustainable investments and integrating ESG ratings directly into portfolio dashboards. The bank’s inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index and an A ESG rating from MSCI has reinforced its position as a credible leader in responsible Islamic finance.

Lifestyle-focused services such as the Baitak Concierge Service have also expanded KFH’s proposition, giving clients access to premium services in travel, healthcare, real estate and education. Together, these initiatives form a connected ecosystem that combines ethical finance, innovation and client experience.

KFH’s transformation has modernised Islamic private banking while making it more human. With plans underway to pilot AI-powered investment advisory and expand green sukuk offerings, the bank is shaping a future where faith, technology and insight work together to define the next generation of wealth.

Metrics that Matter

• 70% Proportion of private banking clients now engaging digitally, compared with just a quarter two years earlier
• 35% Reduction in wealth-operation processing time following RPA deployment
• $653m Value of KFH Capital’s ESG sukuk portfolio, representing a twofold year-on-year increase