Absa Group, the South African banking group, has opened an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to strengthen its support for trade and investment flows between the Gulf and Africa. The opening was announced on 29 October 2026.
The branch, Absa Bank Limited (DIFC Branch), holds a Category 4 licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), which permits it to arrange deals in investments, advise on financial products, and arrange and advise on credit. This allows it to serve eligible clients across Absa’s Corporate and Investment Banking offering, drawing on the group’s African banking network.
Clinton Clarke has been named Senior Executive Officer. Clarke was previously Managing Executive for Absa CIB’s South African coastal regions, based in Cape Town. He has spent at least a decade in Absa’s Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) division in South Africa, running its business before moving to Dubai.
The office forms part of Absa’s corridor strategy, which links global sources of capital and trade with Africa. The bank sees opportunities in the UAE and GCC corridor in infrastructure, energy, logistics, agriculture and fast-moving consumer goods, and will work with regional corporates, sovereign-linked entities, institutional investors and trading houses. Zaid Moola, Chief Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking, said: “International trade plays a critical role in driving investment, business expansion and economic growth.” He said the Dubai presence would help the bank originate and support these flows.
Cheryl Buss, Chief Executive Officer of Absa International, said: “Investment decisions are shaped by more than the availability of capital,” pointing to local market understanding, relationships and confidence in how opportunities can be pursued. Clarke said Gulf businesses looking at Africa often find it hard to judge whether an opportunity makes commercial sense, given each market’s commercial, regulatory and operational differences. “Our focus is on understanding what clients want to achieve and connecting them with the expertise and relationships needed,” he said.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, described the centre as “an anchor point for institutions connecting capital, expertise and opportunities”. DIFC said it has become a preferred base for African financial institutions building trade and investment corridors through Dubai. EnterpriseAM, which describes Absa as South Africa’s third largest bank, reported that the opening had originally been targeted for the first quarter, and noted that Investec already operates in the emirate. TechCabal had earlier reported that Absa planned to open a Dubai office by early 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Absa said it will prioritise opportunities that fit its sector expertise, client relationships and long-term growth strategy as its engagement with GCC institutions develops. Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
