The conversations begin. Arqaam Capital is proud to be the 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 for this year’s 𝗔𝗙𝗖𝗠 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, in partnership with Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, bringing together the region’s investment community for a day of insight, opportunity, and meaningful dialogue.

Our team will be finalizing what promises to be a landmark edition:

750+ attendees expected
8 panel discussions
50+ corporates represented
150+ institutional investors in attendance
Hundreds of investor meetings

Investors, policymakers, and business leaders will gather to discuss the trends shaping the future of capital markets and economic growth across the region.

Arqaam Capital is proud to join FEAS – Federation of Euro-Asian Capital Markets 2026 as a Strategic Partner, hosted by Muscat Stock Exchange S.A.O.C

We look forward to shaping the conversation on the future of emerging and frontier market exchanges in Muscat this October.

The recognition reflects sustained momentum in our AUM growth — but more meaningfully, it reflects the trust our clients and partners continue to place in us across the region’s markets.

We see this as a marker of progress, not a destination. Our focus remains where it has always been: disciplined investment execution, deep regional insight, and delivering for the institutions and investors who partner with us.

Thank you to our team and our clients. The work continues.

 

Arqaam Capital, the leading specialist emerging and frontier markets investment bank, today announced a strategic investment by Mr. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, the owner of BNK Holding, marking the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership aimed at supporting Arqaam’s continued regional growth and strengthening its presence in Kuwait.

 

As part of the partnership, Arqaam Capital intends to establish a physical office in Kuwait, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the Gulf region’s most important and rapidly evolving financial markets. The expansion will position Arqaam to serve institutional, corporate and sovereign clients more closely while deepening engagement with Kuwait’s growing investment ecosystem.

 

The transaction also includes an investment by National Investments Company (NIC), one of Kuwait’s leading investment firms, further underscoring strong local institutional support or Arqaam’s strategic expansion into the Kuwaiti market.

 

Mr. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, owner of BNK Holding, commented:

 

“We believe Arqaam Capital represents one of the region’s leading independent investment banking platforms, with deep expertise, strong regional connectivity and a differentiated cross-border business model. This partnership reflects our confidence in Arqaam’s growth trajectory and our belief that Kuwait stands to benefit from enhanced access to regional and international investment networks, advisory capabilities and financial market expertise.”

 

He added:

 

“Kuwait is entering an important phase of economic development under the vision of the His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah to expand and enrich the private sector growth in line with his Kuwait Vision 2035. We see significant opportunities for institutions that can contribute international expertise while building long-term local partnerships.”

 

Arqaam Capital stated that Kuwait represents a strategically important market within its regional expansion plans, supported by strong economic fundamentals, ongoing capital markets development and increasing investment activity across both public and private sectors.

 

Mr. Riad Meliti, founder and Chief Executive Officer at Arqaam Capital, said:

 

“This strategic investment represents an important milestone for Arqaam Capital as we continue to expand our regional footprint and strengthen our presence in key GCC markets. Kuwait is a market of significant importance to us, and we are delighted to partner with Mr. Bader Al-Kharafi and BNK Holding as we build our long-term platform in the country.”

 

He added:

 

“Beyond the investment itself, we greatly value the opportunity to partner with one of Kuwait’s most respected business leaders and investment groups, with deep roots, longstanding

relationships and a strong track record in the Kuwaiti market. We believe this partnership brings significant strategic alignment and local insight that will support Arqaam’s long-term growth ambitions in Kuwait.”

 

“Our planned Kuwait office reflects our commitment to being closer to our clients and participating more actively in Kuwait’s evolving financial landscape. We believe our regional platform, investment banking expertise, research capabilities and international investor network can contribute meaningfully to the continued development of Kuwait’s capital markets and broader economic ambitions.”

 

The partnership is expected to support Arqaam Capital’s continued growth across the GCC while enhancing collaboration opportunities in investment banking, capital markets, asset

management and strategic advisory services.

 

About Arqaam Capital

 

Arqaam Capital is a specialist emerging and frontier markets investment bank providing institutional brokerage, investment banking, asset management, research and principal investments across the Middle East and North Africa. 

 

About BNK Holding

 

BNK Holding is a Kuwait-based investment holding group owned by Mr. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, with interests spanning multiple industries which include Financial Services, F&B, Real Estate, Automotive, Infrastructure, Hospitality, Transportation, Medical Services as well as key strategic partnerships and investments globally across the Middle East and Europe.

 

Read More on Kuwait Times

We are thrilled to announce that Arqaam Capital’s Fixed Income Asset Management team has been awarded “Sukuk Fund of the Year” at this year’s Global Banking & Markets Awards.

Awards recognising long-term performance are a true reflection of our process and discipline. Since the inception of our Fixed Income Asset Management business, the team has earned multiple performance accolades, and we are proud to add this latest honour — our third Global Banking & Markets award in four years — to that track record.

What drives this recognition is simple: a dedicated team relentlessly committed to delivering the best outcomes for our investors.

A huge congratulations to the team behind this achievement:

Abdul Kadir Hussain, CFA
Mehdi POPOTTE, CFA
Fady Gendy, CFA
Nadim Amatouri, CFA
Jad Rayess
Abdullah Albilal, MSc
Cyril S.
Biju Das

This win reiterates our commitment to excellence in the Sukuk space. Thank you to our team — and above all, to our investors for their continued trust and partnership.

Arqaam Capital is pleased to have advised Welspun World on the successful execution of the sale of a 4.6% stake in East Pipes Integrated Company, a company listed on the Saudi Tadawul Group stock exchange, representing approximately SAR 284 million.

The transaction was completed through an off-market negotiated deal with institutional investors, reflecting continued investor appetite for high-quality Saudi industrial companies. The sale broadens East Pipes’ shareholder base, enhances trading liquidity, and demonstrates the growing depth of the Kingdom’s capital markets.

We are grateful to Welspun for entrusting Arqaam with this important transaction and look forward to supporting future capital markets initiatives across the region.

Arqaam Capital is proud to announce that the Arqaam Islamic Income Fund has been recognized at the 2026 LSEG Lipper Fund Awards — MENA Markets, winning across both the 3-year and 5-year horizons in the Domestic Funds universe:

  Best Fund over 3 Years — Bond Sukuk Global USD

Best Fund over 5 Years — Bond Sukuk Global USD  

The Lipper methodology is entirely quantitative — it rewards consistent, risk-adjusted performance against peers over multiple time horizons. To be recognized over both 3 and 5 years, as a domestically domiciled fund, reflects performance earned through the cycle rather than in a single favourable window.  

That consistency is the product of a disciplined, repeatable investment process and a commitment to letting evidence drive positioning — the foundation of how our Fixed Income Asset Management team operates.  

Congratulations to Abdul Kadir Hussain, CFA, Mehdi POPOTTE, CFA, Fady Gendy, CFA, Nadim Amatouri, CFA, Jad Rayess, on this achievement, and our sincere thanks to the investors and distribution partners who continue to place their trust in Arqaam.

We delivered when the region needed the most! From the Region & For the Region Arqaam Capital

Arqaam Capital has been appointed by Bahrain Bourse to expand institutional equity research coverage of the Kingdom’s capital market.

Under the mandate, Arqaam Capital will produce:

• Quarterly coverage of seven listed Bahrain Bourse companies — financial analysis, valuation, investment rationale, and analyst recommendations

• A flagship #Bahrain country report covering the equity market, key sectors, and macroeconomic outlook

Research will be distributed through Bahrain Bourse’s platforms, Arqaam Capital’s research distribution, and key global investor channels.

Independent research is the foundation of credible markets. We are proud to bring our regional sector depth, institutional coverage standards, and global distribution to Bahrain — and to support the work of putting the Kingdom’s listed companies in front of the investors best positioned to deploy capital behind them.

Our thanks to Sheikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa and the Bahrain Bourse team for the partnership.

Arqaam Capital has been appointed Sole Corporate Access Partner of the 2026 Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) Annual Conference — the Arab world’s premier gathering of capital markets leadership — taking place 29-30 September 2026 in Abu Dhabi, alongside the Arab Federation of Capital Markets and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

For the first time in the conference’s history, this year’s gathering will feature a dedicated Corporate Access programme. We will design and deliver it — creating a direct, structured, and meaningful channel between global institutional investors and the Arab world’s exchanges and issuers.

Arab markets are at an inflection point. The liquidity is there. The issuers are there. The institutional appetite is there. What has too often been missing is the bridge.

Building that bridge is what we do. And we have never been more motivated to do it.

The Arab world’s capital markets are open.