Meet highlights UAE’s growing role as global financial destination

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and President of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), met with Nicolas Namias, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of BPCE, one of France’s leading banking groups.

The meeting highlighted the UAE’s growing role as a global financial hub connecting international innovation, investment and enterprise. Discussions focused on the continued development of the UAE’s financial ecosystem and its ability to provide leading institutions with a platform for growth and access to opportunities across some of the world’s most dynamic markets.

The meeting also explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in banking, investment and financial services amid shifts in the global financial industry. Discussions underscored Dubai’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging trends, supported by its advanced regulatory framework, world-class infrastructure and business-friendly environment, which have strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading financial centres.

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed highlighted Dubai’s continued efforts to expand its financial services sector and attract leading global financial institutions, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world’s top four global financial hubs.

Groupe BPCE is France’s second-largest banking group, providing services across retail banking, corporate and investment banking, asset and wealth management, insurance and specialised financial services. The Group serves 36 million customers, employs around 110,000 people and has a presence in more than 50 countries.

In 2025, Groupe BPCE recorded net banking income of €25.7 billion, up 10 per cent year-on-year. Its global businesses, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) and Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM), have based their regional operations in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The meeting was attended by Mohamed Bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); and Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

In April, Sheikh Maktoum met with Rob Lucas, CEO of CVC Capital Partners PLC, a global leader in private equity.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed new opportunities for cooperation to advance the growth of the financial services sector in the UAE and the broader region. The discussions also touched on how Dubai’s rising position as an international financial hub, its robust infrastructure, investor-friendly policies and dynamic regulatory framework provide a platform for leading private equity firms such as CVC Capital Partners to expand their regional and global footprint.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed highlighted Dubai’s strategic objective to rank among the world’s top four financial centres, a target set out in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and plans to increase the combined value of its stock markets to Dhs3 trillion and deepen its capital markets ecosystem.

UAE, Japan boost industry cooperation: The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has concluded a working visit to Japan aimed at strengthening cooperation in industry, technology and artificial intelligence, with meetings held in Tokyo and Kyoto.

The visit focused on identifying opportunities to turn innovation and scientific advances into practical solutions that enhance industrial competitiveness.

The MoIAT delegation was led by Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Undersecretary of the Ministry. During the visit, he took part in the UAE-Japan Technology and Artificial Intelligence Roundtable in Tokyo and the 23rd Science and Technology in Society Forum Ministerial Roundtable in Kyoto, alongside officials and public- and private-sector representatives from both countries.

Discussions in Tokyo focused on strengthening industrial partnerships and accelerating the adoption of advanced technology and cooperation in artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, digital manufacturing and precision manufacturing to boost productivity, quality and sustainability.

In Kyoto, discussions centred on strengthening ties between academic research and industry to create opportunities to apply research and scientific advances in real-world manufacturing environments. The aim is to turn ideas into practical solutions that address factory requirements and production challenges.

The UAE’s competitive industrial ecosystem provides a platform to pilot, deploy and scale solutions driven by technology and scientific research. Factory Forward UAE connects technology providers with the industrial sector, creating opportunities to test and adopt promising solutions. The UAE’s international partnerships and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements also provide opportunities for manufacturers to expand into global markets.

Al Nowais said the UAE-Japan economic relationship is a long-standing partnership built on broad cooperation across many sectors. This partnership offers significant opportunities to deepen industrial and technological collaboration, exchange expertise, foster innovation and enhance industrial competitiveness.

WAM