HSBC has solidified its position as a leader in fund selection across the Middle East, driven by a combination of rigorous methodology, expansive product diversity and a forward-looking approach tailored to regional preferences.
The bank’s open architecture platform, which sources from over 100 global asset managers, offers clients access to more than 300 actively recommended funds and 500 exchange-traded funds, ensuring alignment with both conventional and Shariah-compliant investment goals.
A key differentiator is the bank’s global manager selection team, comprising 40 specialists across five regions. This team ensures on-the-ground insights into regional markets while maintaining a unified strategy for evaluating managers worldwide. Complementing this reach are dedicated, local fund specialists who align tailored portfolio construction and advisory services with the nuanced needs and regulations of regional clients.
HSBC’s open architecture framework differentiates its offering, giving clients access to a universe of active and passive funds across geographies and asset classes. Its scope is underpinned by a selection process that blends advanced quantitative tools with deep qualitative assessments of fund managers’ strategies, governance and operational rigour.
The bank augments in-house expertise with third-party research from industry leaders Morningstar and Mercer, creating a multi-layered due diligence process that filters out underperformers and highlights managers with consistent alpha-generating potential.
The result is a fund selection ecosystem that marries breadth with precision, enabling HSBC to deliver curated opportunities that resonate with the Middle East’s sophisticated investor base.
The global manager selection team, comprising 40 specialists across five regions.... ensures on-the-ground insights into regional markets while maintaining a unified strategy for evaluating managers worldwide
In 2024, the bank expanded its Islamic portfolio – now covering equities, Sukuk and real estate investment trusts – to address surging demand from MENA’s growing cohort of ethically minded investors. This strategic focus on diversification and local relevance has positioned HSBC as a top-tier provider of Shariah-compliant solutions, a segment where few international peers match its depth.
“We are proud to have been recognised for our global funds selection offering, as demonstrated by our wins across Asia and the Middle East,” said Mehmet Zengin, EMEA head of funds and ETFs at HSBC. “Our extensive product shelf from a large number of fund managers across the globe and through a truly open architecture provides our Middle Eastern clients with all the tools they need to optimise their portfolio performance in one place.”