Gulf family offices pivot to private equity as risks mount, Arabian Business reports | Wealth Office
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Gulf family offices pivot to private equity as risks mount, Arabian Business reports

A BNY Wealth study of single family offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait finds rising risk concerns alongside near-universal philanthropic frameworks.

Arabian Business reports that single family offices in the Gulf are increasing allocations to private equity as they brace for greater geopolitical and market risk. The findings come from a BNY Wealth study of 71 family office decision-makers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, with assets from $250 million to more than $5 billion. Some 93% expect geopolitical developments to increase downside risk and 88% expect volatility to rise. Just over half plan to raise private equity allocations, ahead of real estate funds at 45% and developed-market equities at 35%. Meanwhile 28% expect to cut emerging-market equities and 27% publicly traded bonds.

The study also points to internal pressures. Just over a third cite family members' misaligned priorities as a risk and 28% cite uncertainty over succession. Some 84% allocate more than a quarter of assets to alternatives, 93% regard Shariah compliance as very or moderately important and 96% have philanthropic frameworks in place.

Why it matters: Gulf family offices are becoming more institutional in how they invest, yet the risks they flag most are often human rather than financial. Misalignment and succession uncertainty can erode wealth faster than markets. For managers seeking Gulf capital, the shift to private equity is an opening; for the families themselves, it underlines that governance must keep pace with portfolio sophistication.

Source: Arabian Business, October 19, 2026. Wealth Office summarises reporting by other publications and links to the original.