Asset management in the GCC: A market worth watching
A compelling opportunity for asset managers
Saudi strategy: going it alone or finding a partner?
Three hubs to serve a thriving market
Fixed income, equity, local and international assets – a demand for all
Shariah-compliant market tests perceptions
There is a huge opportunity in the Gulf, that’s pretty much widely recognized by everyone," says William Wells at Schroders. "But how best to tackle it is another matter." And the biggest question for foreign managers in working that out is distribution.
Deciding on a distribution strategy requires a clear understanding of the distinct client bases in the Gulf, and what those clients want.
For most foreign asset managers, the sovereign wealth funds are the main prize. "That’s currently the majority of the business we have, and most international asset managers would be the same," says Wells. For many, it’s becoming a still bigger focus. "A good period of time is being spent on sovereign wealth funds, right now even more than in the past," says a Middle East asset management head at a major European bank.
