(23 October 2026 – Middle East) HSBC has appointed Sami Abouzahr as Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB) for the UAE and Middle East, reinforcing the bank’s ambitions to expand its wealth management operations across the region.
Effective immediately, the appointment sees Abouzahr relocate from Hong Kong to the UAE, bringing more than 20 years of experience with HSBC in senior wealth management positions across its international network.
Most recently, Abouzahr served as Head of Investments and Managed Solutions, Wealth and Premier Solutions, in Hong Kong, a position he held since July 2025.
HSBC Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye Chief Executive Officer Selim Kervancı said Abouzahr’s extensive wealth management experience and understanding of affluent and high-net-worth clients would be instrumental in capitalising on the region’s growing opportunities.
The leadership appointment follows a period of significant investment in HSBC’s UAE wealth management business as the bank strengthens its position in the region’s expanding wealth market.
In 2025, HSBC opened what it described as the Middle East’s first wealth centre at its Jumeirah branch in Dubai, with plans to establish a second facility in Abu Dhabi.
The bank has also launched an onshore asset management business in the UAE, while its World Trader digital investment platform recorded US$800 million in trading volumes within its first 12 months of operation.
Abouzahr described the UAE as one of the world’s most dynamic wealth management markets and said he intended to build on the bank’s recent momentum.
His appointment comes as HSBC seeks to position the Middle East as a major wealth management hub within its global operations, supported by continued investment in its advisory capabilities, investment platforms and services for affluent and high-net-worth clients.