Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Welcomes Leadership of France’s Premier Banking Institution
A significant meeting between Dubai's leadership and the Chairman of BPCE underscores the Emirate's ascendant position as a global financial centre and its deepening partnerships with the world's most distinguished financial institutions.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has received Nicolas Namias, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of BPCE, France’s second-largest banking group, in a meeting that exemplifies Dubai’s growing prominence as a preeminent global financial hub.
The engagement underscored the remarkable trajectory of the UAE’s financial ecosystem, positioning it as an incomparable nexus for international innovation, investment and enterprise. Discussions centred upon the continued advancement of the UAE’s sophisticated financial architecture and its exceptional capacity to furnish leading institutions with unparalleled opportunities for expansion and access to some of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic markets.
The conversation explored the considerable potential for enhanced cooperation spanning banking, investment and financial services, particularly amid the evolving landscape of global financial markets. The deliberations emphasised Dubai’s distinctive ability to anticipate and respond with prescience to emerging trends, a capability underpinned by its exemplary regulatory framework, world-class infrastructure and welcoming business environment that have solidified its standing as one of the planet’s foremost financial centres.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed articulated Dubai’s unwavering commitment to expanding its financial services sector and welcoming preeminent global financial institutions, in accordance with the visionary Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aspires to establish the Emirate among the world’s top four global financial hubs.
Groupe BPCE represents an institution of considerable stature, serving some 36 million customers through an extensive spectrum of services encompassing retail banking, corporate and investment banking, asset and wealth management, insurance and specialised financial services. The Group sustains a workforce of approximately 110,000 professionals and maintains operations across more than 50 countries worldwide. In 2025, the institution achieved net banking income of €25.7 billion, reflecting a commendable 10 percent year-on-year expansion.
The Group’s distinguished global businesses, Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking and Natixis Investment Managers, have established their regional operational headquarters within the Dubai International Financial Centre, testament to Dubai’s appeal as a location of choice for world-renowned financial entities.
The meeting was graced by the attendance of 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 Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; and Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre.
Source: WAM (Emirates News Agency)