In this episode, Mark Walker interviews Oscar Orellana-Hyder, co-founder of Cordell Partners, to explore the evolving landscape of Fintech talent, investment trends, and family offices in the UAE. Oscar shares insights from his decade-long experience in regional financial markets, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and future outlooks.
The UAE is experiencing a significant influx of international investment managers and family offices, driven by a maturing regulatory environment and a generational shift in asset preferences. Oscar Orellana-hyder, co-founder of Cordell Partners, explained that the region has seen a 20% increase in new entrants over the last year, with approximately 150 to 170 new investment managers setting up in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
This wave of capital is arriving from Asia, Europe, and North America, with a particularly strong appetite for private credit, hedge funds, and virtual assets. Orellana-hyder noted that family offices now represent 30% of his firm’s workload, reflecting a desire among local and global families to institutionalise their holdings within regulated frameworks.
Regulatory Evolution and Talent Scarcity
The rapid expansion of the ecosystem is accompanied by heightened oversight, particularly regarding digital assets. Orellana-hyder highlighted that virtual asset funds and crypto firms are increasingly overseen by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), necessitating robust compliance and risk frameworks. While the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has established a dedicated regime, the nascent nature of the sector creates unique human capital challenges.
Finding experienced professionals who can navigate these new regulations remains difficult. Orellana-hyder suggested that while the local talent pool in the UAE is growing, it remains shallow compared to more established financial hubs.
“Exhaust the talent that’s on the ground first,” Orellana-hyder said, adding that hiring locally helps mitigate the flight risk associated with international searches. He explained that while global markets like the UK or Asia offer depth of expertise, they often lack the essential local knowledge required to operate effectively within the UAE’s specific cultural and regulatory landscape.
The Generational Shift in Family Offices
A primary driver of this institutionalisation is a clear generational shift within Middle Eastern family businesses. Younger generations are moving away from traditional, insular investment styles in favour of more diverse and complex asset classes.
“The younger generation wants exposure or has an appetite for virtual assets, hedge funds, private credit, and different asset classes,” Orellana-hyder explained. This shift necessitates a move into regulated entities like the ADGM or DIFC to facilitate joint ventures and co-investments.
This evolution is also changing the way families interact with the broader fintech and investment community. Rather than simply investing in tokens, there is a growing trend toward backing the underlying “plumbing” of the digital economy. Orellana-hyder pointed to the rise of gaming and virtual asset infrastructure as a key area where investors are seeking long-term value within the UAE’s expanding digital ecosystem.
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