Latest news with #MauriceGravier
Khaleej Times
01-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai population on track to reach 4 million this year
Dubai's population continued to increase at a steady pace in the first quarter of 2025, crossing 3.9 million for the first time as the inflow of new residents continued. According to Dubai Statistics Centre data, the emirate's population grew 51,295 during January to March 2025 as compared to 52,143 during the same period last year, reflecting Dubai and UAE's maintaining strong appeal for foreign professionals and millionaires. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Dubai's population stood at 3.914 million. If the population continues at the current pace, it is expected that the population of the regional financial centre is set to reach 4 million landmark in the third quarter of this year. In 2024, the emirate's population grew by over 169,000 to 3.825 million. It was the fastest increase in annual population rate since 2018. The emirate's growing population will drive growth of multiple sectors mainly real estate, retail, food and beverages (F&B), travel and tourism, hospitality and many others. Emirates NBD Research noted in its Global Investment Outlook 2025 that the UAE's non-oil economy is 'benefitting from growing population.' 'A key driver of economic growth for the UAE is its expanding population. A vibrant labour market, long-term resident visas, coupled with best-in-class infrastructure for corporates, encourage white-collar workers to shift to the UAE. This steady influx of residents boosts consumption across real estate, telecom, retail and hospitality, supporting sustainable economic growth,' said Maurice Gravier, group chief investment officer, Emirates NBD Research. He added that the UAE's growing working-age population will be one of the main economic growth drivers and prosperity in the country. According to Emirates NBD Research, Dubai's GDP grew 3.1 per cent in the first 9 months of 2024 as the total level of real GDP reached Dh339 billion, up from Dh329 billion estimated for the first 9 months of 2023. According to the Global Investment Outlook 2025, the UAE is witnessing 'a growing affluent expat population' which accounts for a major portion of Dubai and UAE's population.
Mid East Info
17-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
'Emirates NBD Group Chief Investment Office announces global outlook for 2025 'Winds of Change - Middle East Business News and Information
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has released the global investment outlook for 2025. Themed 'Winds of Change', the 2025 outlook was revealed by Maurice Gravier, Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD at a media roundtable. Speaking to the media, Gravier and his team presented their investment strategy for the year ahead, which starts with improved visibility and strong financial returns from 2024, 'The Year of Answers'. Opening the discussion, Gravier said: 'By contrast to 2024, attention should switch from the present to the future, due to material emerging changes. New leaders will implement new policies, while the geopolitical picture will evolve, commercially and militarily. National and regional priorities should prevail and create divergences.' He added: 'We believe that macro-economic uncertainty, driven by political changes, could prove much higher than the consensus suggests. This is not adverse for long-term investors: markets overreact on surprises, providing opportunities for those who keep the medium-term picture in mind. Volatility and divergences are a pool of alpha for active allocation and selection. To that extent, Emirates NBD's Group Chief Investment Office has added two new functions in 2024: quantitative tactical analysis to identify short-term signals, starting with FX and commodities, and onshore bespoke discretionary portfolio management, to constantly and swiftly adjust positioning on behalf of Private Banking clients, under their very own guidelines.' On the economic outlook, Gravier said: 'Our Emirates NBD Research Team expects a stable but moderate global growth in 2025, similar to 2024 on aggregate but with regional differences. The US should continue to shine while the Euro area is in a more lacklustre configuration. China and India should marginally slow. By contrast, headline GDP growth in the GCC should accelerate to a very solid 3.5%, with a strong performance from non-oil sectors, and a diminishing year-on-year drag from the oil sector.' 'As for the long-run, our models suggest lower expected returns for the decade ahead compared to the previous one, as well as a growing appeal for some alternative asset classes. The year ahead should be positive but also volatile: we will see potentially spectacular policy decisions from major economies, and potential overreaction from financial markets. The permanence of US exceptionalism could be challenged at some point, but we do not expect an overly aggressive stance from the new US administration.' Gravier affirmed: 'We see 2025 as a year of regime change for fixed income investors, which implies some level of volatility and potential turbulences. Still, there are positive news: the defensive end of the fixed income universe is attractive, which is why we favour quality government bonds which should provide decent returns, as they usually do after a bear-steepening episode. We are more neutral, for the time being, on other segments, as spreads are historically tight. GCC bonds provide attractive yields while we expect another year of high issuance.' On equity, he remarked: '2025 should not be about passivity for equity investors, as changing regional dynamics, led by policy impulses, will meet currently polarised valuations. The good news is that with a still favourable macro environment and positive AI megatrend, we expect continued earnings growth momentum to support markets overall, despite limited likelihood of multiple expansion. Whilst volatility remains on our radar, our outlook suggests a 10% return for global equities. We start the year by following positioning: overweight US and Japan within developed markets, while favouring India and the UAE in emerging regions.' The annual global investment outlook announced by the Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD is an advisory blueprint covering investment opportunities, key global economic indicators and in-depth financial market insights, based on which Emirates NBD's team of advisors, strategists and analysts make recommendations on financial transactions and investments to the bank's qualified clients. About Emirates NBD: Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st December 2024, total assets were AED 997 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 271 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 848 branches and 4,601 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.87 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water.
Khaleej Times
17-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE's growing workforce to fuel economic prosperity, drive 5% GDP growth in 2025
UAE's growing working-age population will be one of the main drivers of economic growth and prosperity in the country, a senior economist said. While speaking during the annual media briefing in Dubai on Monday, Maurice Gravier, group chief investment officer at Emirates NBD, said the UAE population, especially working age, is growing as more and more people flock to work here. 'Working-age population growth is a driver of prosperity because, at the end of the day, it improves productivity. The good news is that in some countries, the working-age population grows, but there is no productivity. But here in the UAE, you have a growing population with many more qualified people coming here. We have productivity gains because there is capital and there is access to technology here as well. So they work together,' Gravier told Khaleej Times in an interview on the sidelines of the annual Global Investment Outlook 2025 report. As the UAE economy bounced and grew exponentially in the post-pandemic period, it attracted many talented individuals and professionals from around the world in various fields, such as banking and finance, IT, HR, legal, travel and tourism, real estate, and others. The UAE's population has grown exceptionally in the past four years, reaching an all-time high of 11.22 million in 2025, according to Worldometer. According to Global Media Insights, people aged 25-54 account for over two-thirds (68.6 per cent) of the UAE's population, which accounts for a lion's share of the country's workforce. In addition, 9.14 per cent of UAE's population is aged 15 to 24. Emirates NBD Research has projected an overall five per cent UAE GDP growth for 2025, the highest among all the neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Both oil and non-oil sectors are projected to expand 5 per cent this year, it said. According to Emirates NBD's CIO Global Investment Outlook 2025, the outlook for the GCC's non-oil economy remains fairly robust and with a growth forecast of 4.3 per cent this year, up from an estimated 4.0 per cent for 2024. 'Once again, this will be driven by the UAE and Saudi Arabia where we forecast growth of 5.0 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively. Both countries are benefitting from rowing populations, strong levels of project developments from both the public and private sectors, expanding tourism industries, and growth of the nascent tech industries,' it said. Gravier noted that the UAE is the financial and technology hub for this entire region and it is strongly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) technology which the country will be 'in a wonderful position' over the next 10 years.
Emirates 24/7
17-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Emirates NBD Group Chief Investment Office announces global outlook for 2025 Winds of Change
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has released the global investment outlook for 2025. Themed ' Winds of Change ', the 2025 outlook was revealed by Maurice Gravier, Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD at a media roundtable. Speaking to the media, Gravier and his team presented their investment strategy for the year ahead, which starts with improved visibility and strong financial returns from 2024, 'The Year of Answers'. Opening the discussion, Gravier said: 'By contrast to 2024, attention should switch from the present to the future, due to material emerging changes. New leaders will implement new policies, while the geopolitical picture will evolve, commercially and militarily. National and regional priorities should prevail and create divergences.' He added: 'We believe that macro-economic uncertainty, driven by political changes, could prove much higher than the consensus suggests. This is not adverse for long-term investors: markets overreact on surprises, providing opportunities for those who keep the medium-term picture in mind. Volatility and divergences are a pool of alpha for active allocation and selection. To that extent, Emirates NBD's Group Chief Investment Office has added two new functions in 2024: quantitative tactical analysis to identify short-term signals, starting with FX and commodities, and onshore bespoke discretionary portfolio management, to constantly and swiftly adjust positioning on behalf of Private Banking clients, under their very own guidelines.' On the economic outlook, Gravier said: 'Our Emirates NBD Research Team expects a stable but moderate global growth in 2025, similar to 2024 on aggregate but with regional differences. The US should continue to shine while the Euro area is in a more lacklustre configuration. China and India should marginally slow. By contrast, headline GDP growth in the GCC should accelerate to a very solid 3.5%, with a strong performance from non-oil sectors, and a diminishing year-on-year drag from the oil sector.' 'As for the long-run, our models suggest lower expected returns for the decade ahead compared to the previous one, as well as a growing appeal for some alternative asset classes. The year ahead should be positive but also volatile: we will see potentially spectacular policy decisions from major economies, and potential overreaction from financial markets. The permanence of US exceptionalism could be challenged at some point, but we do not expect an overly aggressive stance from the new US administration.' Gravier affirmed: 'We see 2025 as a year of regime change for fixed income investors, which implies some level of volatility and potential turbulences. Still, there are positive news: the defensive end of the fixed income universe is attractive, which is why we favour quality government bonds which should provide decent returns, as they usually do after a bear-steepening episode. We are more neutral, for the time being, on other segments, as spreads are historically tight. GCC bonds provide attractive yields while we expect another year of high issuance.' On equity, he remarked: '2025 should not be about passivity for equity investors, as changing regional dynamics, led by policy impulses, will meet currently polarised valuations. The good news is that with a still favourable macro environment and positive AI megatrend, we expect continued earnings growth momentum to support markets overall, despite limited likelihood of multiple expansion. Whilst volatility remains on our radar, our outlook suggests a 10% return for global equities. We start the year by following positioning: overweight US and Japan within developed markets, while favouring India and the UAE in emerging regions.' The annual global investment outlook announced by the Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD is an advisory blueprint covering investment opportunities, key global economic indicators and in-depth financial market insights, based on which Emirates NBD's team of advisors, strategists and analysts make recommendations on financial transactions and investments to the bank's qualified clients. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Al Bawaba
17-02-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
"Emirates NBD Group Chief Investment Office announces global outlook for 2025 'Winds of Change
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has released the global investment outlook for 2025. Themed 'Winds of Change', the 2025 outlook was revealed by Maurice Gravier, Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD at a media to the media, Gravier and his team presented their investment strategy for the year ahead, which starts with improved visibility and strong financial returns from 2024, 'The Year of Answers'.Opening the discussion, Gravier said: 'By contrast to 2024, attention should switch from the present to the future, due to material emerging changes. New leaders will implement new policies, while the geopolitical picture will evolve, commercially and militarily. National and regional priorities should prevail and create divergences.' He added: 'We believe that macro-economic uncertainty, driven by political changes, could prove much higher than the consensus suggests. This is not adverse for long-term investors: markets overreact on surprises, providing opportunities for those who keep the medium-term picture in mind. Volatility and divergences are a pool of alpha for active allocation and selection. To that extent, Emirates NBD's Group Chief Investment Office has added two new functions in 2024: quantitative tactical analysis to identify short-term signals, starting with FX and commodities, and onshore bespoke discretionary portfolio management, to constantly and swiftly adjust positioning on behalf of Private Banking clients, under their very own guidelines.' On the economic outlook, Gravier said: 'Our Emirates NBD Research Team expects a stable but moderate global growth in 2025, similar to 2024 on aggregate but with regional differences. The US should continue to shine while the Euro area is in a more lacklustre configuration. China and India should marginally slow. By contrast, headline GDP growth in the GCC should accelerate to a very solid 3.5%, with a strong performance from non-oil sectors, and a diminishing year-on-year drag from the oil sector.''As for the long-run, our models suggest lower expected returns for the decade ahead compared to the previous one, as well as a growing appeal for some alternative asset classes. The year ahead should be positive but also volatile: we will see potentially spectacular policy decisions from major economies, and potential overreaction from financial markets. The permanence of US exceptionalism could be challenged at some point, but we do not expect an overly aggressive stance from the new US administration.'Gravier affirmed: 'We see 2025 as a year of regime change for fixed income investors, which implies some level of volatility and potential turbulences. Still, there are positive news: the defensive end of the fixed income universe is attractive, which is why we favour quality government bonds which should provide decent returns, as they usually do after a bear-steepening episode. We are more neutral, for the time being, on other segments, as spreads are historically tight. GCC bonds provide attractive yields while we expect another year of high issuance.'On equity, he remarked: '2025 should not be about passivity for equity investors, as changing regional dynamics, led by policy impulses, will meet currently polarised valuations. The good news is that with a still favourable macro environment and positive AI megatrend, we expect continued earnings growth momentum to support markets overall, despite limited likelihood of multiple expansion. Whilst volatility remains on our radar, our outlook suggests a 10% return for global equities. We start the year by following positioning: overweight US and Japan within developed markets, while favouring India and the UAE in emerging regions.' The annual global investment outlook announced by the Group Chief Investment Officer at Emirates NBD is an advisory blueprint covering investment opportunities, key global economic indicators and in-depth financial market insights, based on which Emirates NBD's team of advisors, strategists and analysts make recommendations on financial transactions and investments to the bank's qualified clients. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
