Wealth and Legacy: The Rise of Single Family Offices in the MENA

Family offices are key drivers for the future growth of the region. However, there is a great lack of independent research into the regional single family office space. To close this gap, the Tharawat Family Business Forum in partnership with LGT (Middle East) Ltd. have conducted a survey with 34 MENA single family offices.

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Collaboration

To gain a deeper understanding of the transformation of family wealth amidst the backdrop of societal, technological, and economic disruptions, the Tharawat Family Business Forum and LGT (Middle East) Ltd. have joined forces to produce a ground breaking report.

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Insights from the Report

Our report aims to fill the existing gap in independent research by collecting and analyzing data on the evolution, current interests, and future outlook of MENA single family offices. Centered around a survey conducted with 34 leading single family offices from across the region, it also incorporates expert analysis and insights from family enterprises and academia.

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The Surveyed Single Family Offices – A Footprint

Our survey provides unique insights into the current landscape, challenges, and prospects of family enterprises and their single family offices, highlighting their evolution, governance structures, and wealth outlook.

Evolution of the Single Family Office

In this section, we delve into the development of single family offices in the MENA region, examining their inception and objectives. The data provides distinctive perspectives on the ownership and distribution of family wealth and the influences shaping the formation of a single family office.

Governance and Decision Making

This section examines the emerging governance frameworks in family offices and explores distinctive regional characteristics. The findings underscore the primary governance bodies, policies, and tools utilized within single family offices and provide insights into the talent pool among family members.

Wealth Outlook

In this concluding section, we delve into single family office principals’ investment sentiment and wealth prospects. The data provides comprehensive insights into MENA single family offices’ investment decision-making process and priorities, from the vision of family wealth to the precise distribution of assets.

Insights from Contributors

Read extracts from articles and interviews with our authors and contributors. 

In an ever-changing world, families and their wealth must adapt to thrive, relying on enduring values and principles.
H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein
H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu LiechtensteinMember of the Foundation Board of LGT Group
The most successful single family offices have responded with innovation – for example, leveraging technology for better financial management and regulatory compliance.
Professor Josip Kotlar
Professor Josip KotlarFull Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Family Business, School of Management, Politecnico di Milano
This research shows that single family offices in the MENA look to strike a delicate balance between preserving important family legacies and adapting to the fast-paced complexities of the 21st-century marketplace.
Farida El Agamy
Farida El AgamyGeneral Manager, Tharawat Family Business Forum
Looking ahead, the future of single family offices in the MENA region aligns with international trends, foreseeing a potential surge in families exclusively concentrating on investment through dedicated single family offices.
Zaid Midani
Zaid MidaniVice President, Capital Guidance
What is the purpose of your single family office? The answer needs to be very clear and honest so that family members are aligned on exactly why the family office exists.
Abdullah Adib AlZamil
Abdullah Adib AlZamilManaging Director, Zamil Private Office
I would like to see next-generation investors go through a period of education and training during which they can learn from other generations, and then apply these lessons to their own unique business or investing style.
Haleema Humaid Al Owais
Haleema Humaid Al OwaisCEO, Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate and Family Wealth Manager
As family offices begin transitioning their assets to the next generation, establishing robust governance structures will prove the defining success factor. Implementing effective succession plans is not just a financial necessity but a stabilising force for both the family members involved and the region’s broader economy.
Sebastian Goeres
Sebastian GoeresChief Executive Officer, LGT (Middle East) Ltd.
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