Arab Bank Switzerland brings its digital asset expertise to UAE in ADGM

Arab Bank Switzerland ME Ltd, the regional entity of Swiss Private Bank Arab Bank Switzerland, is now operating in ADGM, following Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), aiming to bring its digital asset expertise to the UAE.

Arab Bank Switzerland will be offering their expertise on digital assets to financial institutions, corporates, fintech companies, family offices, and high net worth individuals. The expertise will include how to access, hold, manage and pass on their digital asset holdings within ADGM’s regulatory framework.

Valérie Noël, in taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer for Arab Bank Switzerland ME Ltd, carries with her more than 30 years of international experience in financial markets, wealth management, asset management, trading and digital assets. She began her career in Geneva and held senior positions at HSBC Private Bank before joining Syz Group, where as Head of Trading she led multi-asset trading activities and the digitalisation of the bank’s trading infrastructure.

In 2019, Arab Bank Switzerland became the first FINMA-regulated private bank in Switzerland to offer cryptocurrency custody and trading. It has since added staking, lending and legacy planning, as well as its platform, Digital Explorer, which gives clients a single view of their holdings and the market.

The Bank’s involvement in digital assets also extends to the art world. In 2022, alongside launching custody for NFTs, the bank began building a digital art collection and created the Arab Bank Switzerland Digital Art Prize, which has recognised artists working in the medium.

Rani Jabban, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Arab Bank Switzerland, explained that the launch of their operations in Abu Dhabi was part of their expansion strategy and their commitment to playing an active role in Abu Dhabi which has become a center for fintech and digital asset innovation.

He added: “Valérie Noël’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer brings with it her extensive industry experience, which perfectly positions her to lead the entity, build long-term relationships with clients across the region and set the new operation up for future success.”

Valérie Noël, Chief Executive Officer of Arab Bank Switzerland ME Ltd, added that their ambition is to establish Arab Bank Switzerland as a trusted long-term partner for clients navigating the evolving digital asset landscape.

She noted that investments in this space are becoming an increasingly important part of how institutions and investors allocate capital, and they require the same discipline, transparency and rigorous standards as traditional asset classes.

Commenting further she stated, “By combining Arab Bank Switzerland’s established expertise with Abu Dhabi’s dynamic financial ecosystem and strong regulatory framework, we aim to build lasting relationships with clients and help them navigate new opportunities in the market. I am delighted to lead this next chapter of the Group’s development in the region.”

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, said: “Bringing together international expertise, a progressive regulatory framework and a connected financial ecosystem, ADGM provides a strong foundation for firms to expand. The bank’s expertise at the intersection of private banking and digital assets adds further depth to this ecosystem, supporting the evolving needs of institutional and private clients.”

The launch of Arab Bank Switzerland ME Ltd follows the opening of ABS (Middle East) Ltd in DIFC in June 2026, led by CEO Samir Atitallah, which focuses on wealth management for entrepreneurs, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. With digital-asset advisory now offered from Abu Dhabi, Arab Bank Switzerland can support clients across both traditional and digital asset management from its two UAE entities. The launch follows a period of significant growth for the Group that has seen its assets under management rise to close to USD 25 billion, and in 2022 acquire the historic Swiss private bank Gonet, founded in 1845.

Back in June 2025, UAE licensed XBTO, an institutional digital asset management, and Arab Bank Switzerland announced they would be launching a Bitcoin yield product for its wealth management clients. The collaboration leverages XBTO’s proprietary “Diamond Hands” strategy to provide Arab Bank Switzerland’s clientele with an actively managed approach to generating yield on their Bitcoin holdings.