H.H. Sheikh Maktoum, BPCE boss Nicolas Namias discuss boosting cooperation

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has held talks with BPCE Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Namias on Saturday.

"We explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation across banking, investment, and financial services," Sheikh Maktoum wrote on social media platform X.

He highlighted that "Dubai’s global reputation as a trusted financial hub has been built on ambitious visions, bold economic decisions, and financial minds that shape the present with an eye on the future. This has made Dubai a regional headquarters for some of the world’s leading financial institutions".

"In a world where the centres of economic gravity are shifting, Dubai continues to lead as a destination where opportunities are created, major financial partnerships take shape, and the direction of the global economy is defined and its future shaped," he concluded.

Dubai’s global reputation as a trusted financial hub has been built on ambitious visions, bold economic decisions, and financial minds that shape the present with an eye on the future. This has made Dubai a regional headquarters for some of the world’s leading financial… pic.twitter.com/yqKVNV83jJ

— Maktoum Bin Mohammed (@MaktoumMohammed) October 10, 2026

The meeting highlighted the UAE’s growing role as a global financial hub connecting international innovation, investment and enterprise. Discussions focused on the continued development of the UAE’s financial ecosystem and its ability to provide leading institutions with a platform for growth and access to opportunities across some of the world’s most dynamic markets.

Groupe BPCE is France’s second-largest banking group, providing services across retail banking, corporate and investment banking, asset and wealth management, insurance and specialised financial services. The Group serves 36 million customers, employs around 110,000 people and has a presence in more than 50 countries.

In 2025, Groupe BPCE recorded net banking income of €25.7 billion, up 10 percent year-on-year. Its global businesses, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) and Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM), have based their regional operations in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).