‘Outlook H2 2026: Navigating Shifting Sands’ in Dubai saw the coming together of a distinguished team of senior business leaders, investors and wealth professionals keen on shaping investment decisions through the second half of 2026.

The Indian Business & Professional Council Dubai (IBPC Dubai) and Standard Chartered put the event together.

Opening the session, Sunny Narang, Convener, Financial Services & Capital Markets (FSCM) Focus Group, IBPC Dubai, set the agenda around two central questions: where should we invest, and what does the future hold?

He called for a long-term perspective beyond short-term market noise, focusing on the structural forces shaping opportunities through the second half of 2026 and beyond.

The discussion examined how artificial intelligence, elevated interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty and changing currency dynamics are influencing global capital allocation. It also considered the longer-term potential of India and the UAE as wealth and investment hubs, particularly for internationally connected Global Indians.

The outlook was followed by a panel moderated by Rashi Mohnot, Director, Product Manager, Investments, Middle East, Standard Chartered, with Manpreet Gill; Swarup Anand Mohanty, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd.; and Nandi Vardhan Mehta, Chief Financial Officer and Investment Committee Member, KAAF Investments LLC.

The panel also discussed the opportunity to deepen investment flows between the Middle East and India.

Citing a UBS survey of approximately 300 family offices across more than 30 markets, Mehta noted that 50% of Middle Eastern family capital is allocated to North America, 20% to Europe and less than 1.5% to India.

While UAE firms have deployed approximately US$25 billion into India over the past decade, mainly through sovereign investment, the panel identified further potential for private equity, venture capital and family office participation.

Rajesh Kannan, Head, Wealth and Retail Banking, UAE; Head, International Banking, EMEA; Jersey (UK) and Global Indian, Standard Chartered, said: “True resilience is more than the ability to withstand disruption; it is the ability to continue making purposeful decisions through change, protecting what matters, preserving flexibility and remaining ready when opportunity emerges. We see this in the UAE’s capacity to turn uncertainty into opportunity, in the deepening India-UAE relationship and in the way internationally connected Global Indians manage wealth across markets and generations. Our role is to help clients navigate that complexity with confidence through thoughtful advice, diversification and access to our international network.”

Manpreet Gill, Chief Investment Officer, Africa, Middle East and Europe, Standard Chartered, presented the Bank’s market outlook and highlighted opportunities across bonds, equities and gold. With 10-year real yields close to their highest levels since 2008, he noted the opportunity for investors to lock in yields, while high-quality corporate bonds remain attractive.
The Bank expects the USD Index to ease to 98 over three months and 96 over 12 months.

Gold has also been upgraded, supported by emerging-market central bank buying, a weaker US dollar and a steeper yield curve.

India’s structural growth story was a key focus. Mohanty highlighted rising initial public offering activity, greater participation by second-generation businesses, deepening capital markets, economic growth of around 6% and lower inflation. He also noted that India can provide investors with diversification beyond AI-led themes. – editor@nrifocus.com