The Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), HE Essa Kazim, has established a DIFC Wealth Management Working Group to discuss and compile an updated wealth management strategy for the DIFC. Its key focus areas will be to consider the enhancement of DIFC as a wealth management provider and succession planning platform for GCC families, as well as deepening the DIFC’s core offering to the international wealth management community.
The Working Group includes a number of leading global and local professionals in the wealth management industry, as well as representatives from the DIFC centre bodies, which currently include:
- David Russell AM QC (Chairperson) – Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
- Adnan Abrahim – Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
- Pinaki Aich – Vice President Group Strategy, DIFC Governor’s Office
- Khadija Ali – Senior Vice President Corporates and Service Providers, DIFC Authority
- Nicholas Alves – Head of Regulatory Legal Affairs, DFSA
- Khalid Al Zarouni – DIFC Registrar of Companies
- Dhammika Amukotuwa – Director Policy and Strategy, DFSA
- Natasha Bakirci – Assistant Registrar, DIFC Courts
- Muna Dandan – General Counsel, DFSA
- Chris Divito – Senior Vice President Wealth and Asset Management, DIFC Authority
- Tarek Hajiri – Director, Legal Policy and Government Affairs, Dubai Economic Counsel
- Fadi Hammadeh – General Counsel Group Legal & Compliance, Al Futtaim Group
- Sadiq Jafar – Managing Partner, Hadef & Partners
- Stijn Janssen – Head of Dubai Office, Withers Tax Advisory LLP
- Reshmi Manekporia – Associate Director, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Valerie Mantot – Director, Sanne Group
- Murray North – Partner, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Ahmad Sergieh – Head of Corporate Structuring, Hadef & Partners
- Izabella Szadkowska – Partner, Al Tamimi & Company
- Jacques Visser – Chief Legal Officer, DIFC Authority
- Gary Watts – Partner, Al Tamimi & Company
This initiative forms part of a broader consultation process planned by the Governor’s Office to constitute a number of working groups to advise its Strategy and Policy Committee on key initiatives going forward. The consultation process is intended to be extensive, so as to ensure that the DIFC is abreast of the most recent developments in the areas covered by the working groups, and able to identify those elements of best practice which will enhance the leading role of the DIFC in the region.