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Three months on from opening its UAE office, One Ten Associates reflects on how a local presence in the Middle East is deepening relationships with clients, candidates and regulators across global financial hubs.
When One Ten Associates established its Middle East office earlier this year, the goal was clear: to extend the firm’s global network and provide even greater proximity to clients and candidates in one of the world’s fastest-growing financial centres. Just three months in, the benefits of that presence are already evident — from closer regulatory relationships to improved access to high-quality international talent.
The UAE’s financial landscape has evolved rapidly over the past decade, positioning Dubai and Abu Dhabi as key destinations for hedge funds, private equity firms and family offices seeking to expand into the Middle East. With pro-business regulators such as the ADGM/FSRA and DIFC/DFSA, the region has cultivated a regulatory environment that encourages innovation and global connectivity. For One Ten, being on the ground has meant direct collaboration with these entities, opening doors to opportunities that would have been harder to access remotely.
In practice, this local presence has already generated tangible results. One Ten has secured mandates from the local regional networks, as well as from clients we work with in London. As a result it has given our clients and candidates a level of engagement possible only through having a registered and visible base in the UAE. For clients, this provides reassurance: One Ten is not simply advising from afar but actively participating in the region’s financial ecosystem.
This proximity also enables deeper understanding of the nuances within the local market, including its pace of growth, regulatory expectations and evolving talent landscape. Being embedded within the community allows us to respond faster and with more precision - a competitive advantage that benefits both our clients and candidates.
Having an office in the UAE has also allowed us to bridge a growing gap between global funds and local hiring expectations. Many international asset managers establishing in the Middle East are seeking the same calibre of professionals they would hire in London, New York, Singapore or Hong Kong. However, the depth of local hedge fund and private markets experience remains in development, particularly across non-investment roles.
One Ten’s global reach enables our clients to look beyond geography — connecting them with exceptional talent across financial centres while also supporting the region’s ambition to develop its own skilled workforce. This balance between importing expertise and nurturing local capability is central to our value proposition.
The UAE’s openness to attracting international professionals further enhances this advantage. Streamlined visa and employment processes make relocation comparatively straightforward, reducing barriers for candidates and enabling employers to move swiftly on strategic hires.
As a result, the country is increasingly recognised as a hub capable of drawing in high-performing professionals from around the world — a trend One Ten is well positioned to facilitate through our established international networks.
Looking ahead, One Ten’s commitment to both London and the UAE underscores our belief that the best recruitment outcomes come from combining global insight with local intelligence. The UAE is not simply an expansion market; it is a bridge between established and emerging financial communities.
For clients and candidates alike, our growing presence in the Middle East signals a deepened ability to connect opportunity, expertise and ambition on a truly global scale.
