Arfat Qayyum

Arfat Qayyum joined UBP in 2025 as Senior Executive Officer of its Dubai office, where he is responsible for driving UBP's growth ambitions across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, with a focus on addressing the sophisticated and bespoke needs of UHNWIs, institutional clients, and family offices. Qayyum brings more than 20 years' experience in financial services, working in North America and the Middle East. Prior to this role, he succeeded Mohamed Shoukry, who left the bank in March after a brief tenure as CEO of UBP Middle East.

Previously, Qayyum was CEO of Credit Suisse's Qatar branch and before that served as head of private banking and wealth management at Al Khalij Commercial Bank, with Qatar and UAE responsibilities. Earlier in his career, Qayyum was a Director of Wealth Management at the Royal Bank of Canada, where he established a business offering Guaranteed Investment Funds. He holds an MBA from the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business.

Qayyum is known for his expertise in building and scaling premium banking and wealth management operations across the GCC and North America. At Al Khaliji Commercial Bank, he joined as a start-up bank in 2007 to build the Premium Banking business and subsequently established the bank's Private Banking business in a highly competitive market. His strategic focus on UHNWIs, family offices, and institutional clients positions him to expand UBP's regional footprint at a critical growth phase.

Career history

• Senior Executive Officer, Dubai office – Union Bancaire Privée (2025–present)
• CEO, Credit Suisse Qatar branch
• Head of Private Banking and Wealth Management – Al Khalij Commercial Bank (Qatar and UAE)
• Director of Wealth Management – Royal Bank of Canada

What Arfat Qayyum could bring to Senior Executive Officer at Union Bancaire Privée: Based on his documented career trajectory, Qayyum brings deep expertise in scaling private banking and wealth management operations from inception—demonstrated through his work building Al Khaliji's private banking franchise from the ground up. His leadership of Credit Suisse's Qatar operations positions him to navigate regulatory complexities and drive institutional client relationships across the MEA region. His proven ability to establish premium banking franchises in competitive GCC markets, combined with his North American banking experience at RBC, equips him to execute UBP's growth strategy targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices during a period of significant Middle East wealth expansion.