Emirates NBD and BlackRock Launch Private Markets Access Platform

Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the MENAT region (Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye), has entered into a strategic agreement with BlackRock. The two financial giants have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an exclusive investment platform, granting Emirates NBD’s wealth clients access to private market alternatives.

Opening Private Markets to a Broader Investor Base

Historically reserved for institutional investors, private markets are now the fastest-growing segment in asset management. With alternative assets projected to soar to USD 30 trillion by the end of the decade, this initiative aims to broaden investor participation in this high-growth sector.

Introducing Exclusive Investment Offerings

Emirates NBD Asset Management and BlackRock will roll out an initial range of evergreen investment solutions tailored to income and growth strategies. Designed exclusively for the UAE wealth market, these offerings will be complemented by BlackRock’s open architecture framework, which includes marketing support, investor education, training, and technological expertise to strengthen Emirates NBD Asset Management’s private market expansion.

Democratising Access to Alternative Investments

By leveraging Emirates NBD Asset Management’s platform, the long-term vision is to make alternative asset classes more accessible to a wider investor base in the Middle East. This initiative aligns with the bank’s commitment to enhancing investment diversification and wealth-building opportunities for its clients.

Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, commented: “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: “We are delighted to partner with Emirates NBD as they build out their private markets platform. 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.”

Leveraging BlackRock’s Expertise in Alternative Investments

The investment solutions will be built upon BlackRock’s Alternative Investments platform, which boasts over USD 450 billion in assets under management (AUM) and is supported by a global network of more than 1,000 professionals across 50+ countries. This extensive expertise will play a crucial role in supporting Emirates NBD’s ambitions to expand its private market investment offerings.