24th September 2026
By Anjali Kochhar
Gulf-based technology companies and investors are increasingly expanding into Hong Kong and Singapore as the prolonged Iran conflict raises geopolitical and operational risks across the Middle East.
Gulf Tech Firms Adopt a Dual-Hub Strategy in Asia
The shift is accelerating a “dual-hub” approach, in which companies maintain their Gulf operations while establishing secondary bases in Asian financial centres to diversify exposure and maintain access to regional markets.
Iran Conflict Accelerates Expansion Into Hong Kong
Paul Bratby, founder of Dubai-based AI-powered trading signals platform xBratAI, said his company had originally planned to establish a presence in Hong Kong several years later. However, the timeline was brought forward as the conflict widened.
“Our Hong Kong entity had been scheduled for a few years later, but we established it in early 2026,” Bratby said.
The move comes as missile attacks and disruptions to shipping routes continue to affect the Gulf region, prompting digital businesses and investors to reassess how much of their operations and capital should remain concentrated in the Middle East.
Why Hong Kong and Singapore Are Attracting Gulf Tech Firms
Hong Kong and Singapore are emerging as key destinations because of their established financial systems, international connectivity and access to Asian capital markets. For Gulf technology companies, maintaining an Asian base can also provide a route into markets across East and Southeast Asia while retaining their existing presence in the Gulf.
The trend does not necessarily indicate companies are abandoning Dubai or other Gulf markets. Instead, businesses are increasingly seeking geographic diversification to reduce the impact of geopolitical disruptions on operations, investment and access to international markets.
Investors and Family Offices Also Look Toward Asia
The development also reflects a broader movement among investors and financial firms. Earlier reports have pointed to wealthy individuals, family offices and investment professionals exploring Hong Kong and Singapore as part of wider portfolio and operational diversification amid heightened uncertainty in the Gulf.
As the Iran conflict continues, the dual-hub model could become a more common feature of corporate planning, with Asian financial centres providing an additional base for companies seeking resilience while continuing to operate in the Gulf.
