September 8, 2025 | Kuwait City, Kuwait (The Arabian Wall Street) — BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, will open an office in Kuwait as part of its continued Gulf expansion strategy, according to the Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA. The firm has appointed Ali AlQadhi to lead operations, strengthening its regional presence in wealth management and financial advisory.
AlQadhi, who already heads BlackRock’s client business for Kuwait and Qatar, will retain that role while overseeing the new office. The expansion follows the Capital Markets Authority of Kuwait granting an investment adviser licence to BlackRock Advisors (UK) Ltd, a key milestone enabling the company to establish a stronger base in the country.
The new Kuwait office will host teams dedicated to customer service, financial advisory, and BlackRock’s Aladdin technology platform, the firm’s proprietary risk and investment management system.
Gulf expansion strategy
BlackRock, which manages $12.5 trillion in global assets, has steadily increased its footprint across the Gulf in recent years. The asset manager has established offices and partnerships in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Doha, engaging in fund management, infrastructure projects, and advisory services.
The Kuwait launch underscores BlackRock’s confidence in the Gulf as a long-term growth market, driven by sovereign wealth funds, large-scale infrastructure projects, and diversification efforts under national development visions.
For Arabian Wallstreet, BlackRock’s entry into Kuwait highlights the emirate’s growing role as a financial hub in the Middle East, complementing its regional peers while offering investors enhanced access to global advisory and fund management expertise.
