Bank of London and the Middle East Opens First Overseas Representative Office in Dubai

BLME opens Dubai representative office as the Emirate looks to become the "capital of the Islamic economy”
Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME), the largest Islamic Bank in Europe, today announced the opening of its representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This will be the Bank’s first overseas office and will allow the Bank to expand the reach and distribution of its established business capabilities in partnership with key stakeholders and clients.
Humphrey Percy, CEO of BLME, commented:
“The legal framework of the DIFC, together with Dubai’s stated ambition to become the “Capital of the Islamic economy”, make Dubai the obvious choice as the location for BLME’s first overseas representative office. A permanent presence in the GCC will enhance clients’ access to BLME’s core activities of Wealth Management, Capital Markets, Treasury and UK Corporate Banking and contribute to the next phase of the Bank’s growth.”
“Dubai provides BLME with a base for its operations in the Gulf and forms an integral part of BLME's strategy to expand across the region. This expansion will help to enhance our position as a leading Islamic bank, as well as providing our existing and potential client base with valuable information about investment opportunities within the GCC and the UK.”
Jeffery Singer, CEO of DIFC Authority, said:
“In light of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s initiative to establish Dubai as a centre for Islamic Finance, DIFC is commited to supporting shariah compliant businesses such as BLME, as they continue to build their presence in the region.”
“Since the establishment of the Centre, DIFC has served as a platform for a number of UK-based firms to service clients across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Today, we are pleased to welcome the largest Islamic Bank in Europe to the Centre’s network, and look forward to supporting BLME’s growth.”
Patrick Rochette, previously Head of International Client Coverage and Product Development at BLME will be BLME’s Principle Representative and will be the main point of contact for the region.