logo
HSBC brings iconic lions to the UAE, reaffirming the bank's long-term commitment to the country and MENAT region

HSBC brings iconic lions to the UAE, reaffirming the bank's long-term commitment to the country and MENAT region

Zawya14-05-2025

Dubai, UAE: HSBC, the largest international bank in the UAE, has brought its iconic bronze lions – Stephen and Stitt – to its UAE headquarters, marking the first time the bank's global symbols of growth and strength have been installed in the Middle East North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region.
This historic milestone reflects HSBC's deepening commitment to the UAE and the wider MENAT region, as the bank continues to invest in key growth markets. The bank reported record profit before tax (PBT) of $2.5bn for the MENAT region in 2024, up 10% compared to the previous year, on a constant currency basis, with the UAE contributing $0.9bn in PBT.
The presence of the lions, long-standing fixtures at HSBC's global headquarters in London and Hong Kong - now at HSBC Tower in the UAE serves as a bold statement of the international bank's continued ambition in the country.
Welcoming the lions to the UAE, Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, said: 'Our iconic lions have stood guard at HSBC buildings for over a century. Bringing them to the UAE is a powerful symbol of our legacy in this market and our readiness to invest further to support our customers and the economic transformation. The UAE is investing in a future defined by diversification, innovation and global connectivity, and HSBC is here to help make that vision a reality. In line with our strategy, we are investing to grow our Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) business here and be the bank of choice in International Wealth & Premier Banking (IWPB). The lions are a visible reminder of our heritage, strength, and future focus.'
HSBC has been at the heart of the UAE's financial ecosystem for nearly eight decades since opening its doors as the first bank in the Emirates in 1946, and the country continues to play a pivotal role in the Group's global strategy, serving as a trade, investment, wealth management, and innovation hub connecting Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
The bank's recent investments in the UAE include a first-of-its-kind digital liquidity management solution for corporate clients, the WorldTrader digital trading platform providing wealth customers access to investments internationally, and it has partnered with Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to launch a Centre of Excellence in Al Ain equipping Emiratis with the skills to thrive in the financial sector.
The bank has led three out of the five largest international IPOs in the UAE last year, and of the $26.2 billion raised in IPOs in the UAE's financial markets between 2022 and 2025 YTD, HSBC was involved in 65% of the total deal value.
To read more about HSBC lions, Stephen and Stitt, please click here.
Media enquiries to:
Ahmad Othman
ahmadothman@hsbc.com
About HSBC in the MENAT region
HSBC is the largest and most widely represented international banking organisation in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT), with a presence in nine countries across the region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates. In Saudi Arabia, HSBC is a 31% shareholder of Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), and a 51% shareholder of HSBC Saudi Arabia for investment banking in the Kingdom. Across MENAT, HSBC had assets of US$73bn as at 31 December 2024.
www.hsbc.ae

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oil prices jump 4% on rising Middle East tension
Oil prices jump 4% on rising Middle East tension

The National

time32 minutes ago

  • The National

Oil prices jump 4% on rising Middle East tension

Oil prices rose more than 4 per cent on Wednesday as the US was preparing to evacuate non-essential staff from its embassy in Baghdad amid rising regional tension. Brent crude futures rose $1.96, or 3.02 per cent, to $66.82 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.93, or 4.51 per cent, to $67.90 per barrel at 4pm ET. 'It's so fragile. If you see any aberration like that, it doesn't surprise me at all you see volatility in oil prices,' said Peter Andersen, founder of Andersen Capital Management in Boston. The US State Department said it was preparing to evacuate non-essential staff in its embassy in Iraq, Opec's second-largest producer of crude oil behind Saudi Arabia. Non-essential staff members and family members were also authorised to leave Bahrain and Kuwait, according to reports. Tension in the region flared up on Wednesday as efforts between the US and Iran to reach a nuclear deal appeared to stall. In an interview with the New York Post published on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he was getting 'less confident' about the prospects of a deal being reached. Mr Trump had previously expressed hope that the two sides could reach a deal, and a sixth round of talks were scheduled to take place in Oman on Thursday. 'Something happened to them, but I am much less confident of a deal being made,' he told the Post. Mr Trump added Tehran will not have a 'new nuclear weapon' regardless if a deal is reached. Matthew Bey, a senior global analyst at the Rane Network in Austin, said Mr Trump's comments are 'only reinforcing fears that nuclear talks may soon fall apart'. 'The likelihood of a US-Iran nuclear deal, even a temporary one, has declined in recent days as the White House has hardened its demand on Iran having to give up the right to enrich uranium and Iran has demonstrated little willingness to do so,' Mr Bey told The National in an email. Iran's Minister of Defence Aziz Nasirzadeh had also said on Wednesday that Tehran will strike US bases in the Middle East if nuclear talks fail and conflict arises. Major indexes on Wall Street wavered aftedr developments in the region, as investors continued to assess the prospects of a US-China trade truce and tame inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was virtually flat, losing 1.1 points at the closing bell. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed 0.27 and 0.50 per cent lower, respectively. 'Given such uncertainty in the markets right now we tend to defer being negative when we can't understand this stuff. There's a handshake deal, but it's a long way off from an actual deal,' Mr Andersen said.

Photos: Umm Al Quwain Crown Prince holds wedding reception at Amiri Diwan
Photos: Umm Al Quwain Crown Prince holds wedding reception at Amiri Diwan

Khaleej Times

timean hour ago

  • Khaleej Times

Photos: Umm Al Quwain Crown Prince holds wedding reception at Amiri Diwan

On Tuesday, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, hosted a reception on the occasion of the marriage contract of the Crown Prince. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla has married the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Rashid is also the Chairman of the Executive Council and holds a leading role in the emirate's governance and development. The event was held in the presence of Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain. The Ruler of Umm Al Quwain received congratulations and blessings from the attending sheikhs and guests on the occasion. Take a look at some photographs from the evening: Among those who attended the reception were His Excellency Sheikh Humaid bin Ahmed Al Mu'alla; Sheikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Head of the Amiri Diwan; Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Mu'alla; Sheikh Saif bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development; Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation in Ajman; Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Municipality and Planning Department in Ajman; and a number of other sheikhs.

Lebanon looks to visitors from Gulf as it pushes to increase tourism
Lebanon looks to visitors from Gulf as it pushes to increase tourism

The National

time2 hours ago

  • The National

Lebanon looks to visitors from Gulf as it pushes to increase tourism

Lebanon is looking forward to a boost in tourism from Gulf countries as its new leadership works to rebuild ties after years of estrangement. The UAE and Kuwait have lifted bans on their citizens travelling to Lebanon after recent visits by President Joseph Aoun, who has also travelled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar after taking office in January. 'Lebanon is moving in the right direction, getting back to the Arab fold – and that's a Lebanese demand before anything else,' Fouad Dandan, Lebanon's ambassador to the UAE, told The National. Gulf tourists and investors − particularly from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE − were significant contributors to the economy for decades before relations soured over the increasing influence of Iran over the country through Hezbollah. However, the Lebanese armed group and political party has been considerably weakened after a year-long war with Israel that led to them signing a peace deal last November. Preparations for an increase in arrivals are already under way, with an additional terminal to be built at Beirut's international airport. Plans for a new airport are also in the works, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announcing last month that the master plan would be unveiled shortly and the project thrown open to foreign investors. To be called the Rene Mouawad Airport, the new airport in Qlayaat 'could play a strategic role in facilitating cargo movement and affordable travel', Mr Salam told a conference in Beirut on Tuesday. At the same time, flag carrier Middle East Airlines is looking at setting up a low-cost carrier to serve destinations in the Middle East and Europe. The budget airline would be a wholly owned subsidiary of the wider MEA group but fully independent, Mohamad El Hout, chairman of MEA, told The National. He said MEA had seen 'significant growth in passenger traffic' this month, and was forecasting year-on-year growth of 10 per cent to 15 per cent in the second half of 2025. Given its history of conflict, Lebanon's security forces have also been rallied to encourage more foreign visitors. 'Preparations are under way to welcome tourists, though the state is working with a limited budget. Efforts have been made to improve visitors' experience. The road from the airport to Beirut has been repaired, and political banners and posters were removed months ago,' a senior security official involved in the operations told The National. 'What's new is the increased police presence near airport routes, especially at night. Police staffing has recently expanded to accommodate these new duties, and additional checkpoints are now active, with clear instructions to search suspicious vehicles and fine violators.' In the long run, drawing more visitors to its beaches, mountains and nightlife could play a key role in Lebanon's efforts to rebuild an economy hit by mismanagement, corruption and war, with the tourism sector estimated to account for 20 per cent of GDP. 'Eid Al Adha gives a glimpse of how this summer will look,' Jean Abboud, president of the Association of Travel and Tourist Agents in Lebanon, told The National. 'We're seeing new nationalities this year: Emiratis, Kuwaitis and Qataris. Gulf tourists tend to spend more time and money in the country. 'In May, airport traffic rose 11 per cent compared to the same period last year. The momentum is encouraging.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store