Agreus, a leading recruitment firm specialising in the Family Office space, is thrilled to announce its expansion into the Middle East. This strategic move reinforces our commitment to serving the unique needs of the global Family Office landscape.

Our Dubai office, located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is led by one of our co-founders Tayyab Mohamed. In recent months, we have been actively engaging with the Middle Eastern market, attending key industry events like the Middle East Investors Summit (MEIS) in Abu Dhabi to build strong relationships with leading Family Offices in the region. We have also organised events and conferences such as Family Office 101 roundtable discussion in partnership with the Emirates Family Office Association (EFOA) as well as a Breakfast Roundtable event in the DIFC in partnership with BNY. This expansion is a testament to the growing demand for top-tier talent within the region.

A Deep-Rooted Understanding of Family Office Needs

With a proven track record of placing exceptional talent in prestigious Family Offices worldwide, Agreus brings a wealth of expertise to the Middle East. Our deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Family Offices enables us to deliver tailored recruitment solutions that align with your specific goals.

Recently, our Dubai office assisted a Middle Eastern family business that had just experienced a significant liquidity event. As the family's wealth was primarily generated from the manufacturing industry, they were unfamiliar with the complexities of financial services.

To help them professionalise their operations and establish a Family Office in the DIFC, our team provided the following services:

  • Governance Structure and Board: Reviewed and optimised their governance structure by helping them identify, hire and create a non-executive board.
  • Recruiting for critical roles: Facilitated the identification and hiring of the CEO and CIO to begin with. This was followed by the identification and hiring of the investment, finance and operation teams.
  • Investment Governance: Strengthened the investment decision-making processes by establishing an effective Investment Committee. We identified and recruited non-executive asset class specialists to serve on this committee.

Through these initiatives, we empowered the family to effectively manage and preserve their wealth.

A Customised Approach to Recruitment

From identifying top candidates to facilitating seamless hiring, our dedicated team of experienced consultants works closely with you to deliver a seamless and efficient recruitment process. Our tailored approach ensures the candidate is a perfect fit for your Family Office.

On top of that, our extensive global network of high-calibre professionals enables us to source talent from around the world. With offices in four major Family Office hubs – London, New York, Singapore and now, Dubai – Agreus boasts an unparalleled international reach and global connections. We have successfully partnered with Family Offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America. This strategic advantage, coupled with a deep understanding of local market dynamics, allows us to identify and attract the most suitable candidates for Middle Eastern Family Offices.

Compensation Consulting

Unlike other recruitment firms, Agreus aims to offer solutions to all your people-problems. Beyond recruitment, Agreus also offers tailored consultation services to individual Family Offices. Understanding the unique compensation challenges faced by Family Offices, we introduced a compensation benchmarking service.

As a result of being a dedicated partner for Family Offices and recruiting specialised talent for them for over a decade, we have also gained access to unparalleled compensation data. By understanding the unique needs and objectives of each client, Agreus delivers strategic guidance and support to optimise compensation practices. We developed a rigorous compensation consulting process that allows us to engage all parties and develop a comprehensive understanding of the roles involved. Over the years, we have successfully assisted many Family Office clients in improving and professionalising their compensation structure.

A Commitment to Cultural Sensitivity

We recognise the importance of cultural sensitivity in the Middle East. Tayyab has lived in Dubai for an extended period of time and is well-versed in the region's cultural nuances, ensuring a respectful and effective recruitment process that aligns with local customs and traditions.

A Word from Tayyab

“I am really excited about the growth prospects for Agreus in the region. Though in its infancy in comparison to the mature family office ecosystems in the west, the potential for growth in the Middle East is unlike anywhere else in the world. Though, there is already a presence of a vast number of FO in the region, it is exciting to see the number of family-owned businesses that are transitioning and in the process of diversifying  from their core operating businesses by creating family offices for growing and preserving wealth.”

– Tayyab, Co-founder of Agreus

How Agreus Can Help You

If you are a Family Office seeking to recruit top talent in the Middle East, Agreus can help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your recruitment goals.