Barclays has announced the appointment of Farzad Billimoria as Head of Private Bank for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In his new role, Billimoria will oversee the local team and its governance while driving growth in the UAE business. This move aims to position the UAE as a strategic hub for the broader Middle East region and international corridors. Based in Dubai, he is set to join Barclays on July 1, pending regulatory approval, and will report to Annabelle Bryde, Barclays’ Head of Private Bank International.
Billimoria brings three decades of experience in financial services, with a background in Private Banking, Wealth Management, and Retail Banking. His most recent position was at HSBC as Senior Executive Officer and Head of Private Bank for the UAE. During his tenure there, he played a key role in establishing HSBC's presence in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Branch and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), among other achievements.
Annabelle Bryde expressed optimism about Billimoria's appointment: “The Middle East presents significant growth opportunities for Barclays with its expanding influence on global markets and increasing wealth generation,” she said. “We are excited to welcome Farzad, who brings with him a strong blend of leadership and extensive local market experience."
Khaled El Dabag, CEO of Middle East and North Africa at Barclays, also commented on the new addition: “We look forward to welcoming Farzad to the team and leveraging his experience and knowledge to continue to drive growth and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”
Barclays describes itself as a UK-centred leader in global finance with diverse operations spanning consumer banking in both the UK and US alongside corporate banking services.