Gulf Family Offices investing in India is a shift from a few years ago when only institutional players invested in India.
Zoya Springwala
July 28, 2026 / 14:44 IST
Gulf and North Africa based family offices increase India exposure.
- 50+ Gulf/N. Africa family offices invest in India.
- Signals shift in regional wealth approach to India.
- Adds new capital pool to India’s equity markets.
Liked this AI Summary?
More than 50 family offices across the Gulf and North Africa have started investing in India, which signals a shift in how some of the region’s largest private wealth pools are approaching India’s equity markets.
This is good news for India also because it adds a new pool of capital to the institutional capital pool that has traditionally dominated foreign investor flows into India.
While India still accounts for a relatively modest 5-8% allocation in most portfolios, wealth managers say the move marks the beginning of a structural change. This could also lead to larger and stickier foreign capital coming into Indian equities over time.
“For years, India was simply part of the broader emerging markets bucket,” said Vikram Gahlot, Head of Institutions, MENA, at Sundaram AMC. “Now, on the equities side, family offices are increasingly looking at geographical allocations rather than a generic emerging markets allocation.”
The trend is particularly visible among family offices in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, with UAE investors showing the strongest increase in allocations
The shift comes as family offices professionalise their investment operations. Instead of relying on one or two individuals to oversee the family’s wealth, many family offices have decided to build dedicated investment teams that cover allocation towards developed markets, emerging markets, fixed income or alternative assets.
Increasingly, those teams are carving out country-specific mandates. As a result, this has allowed India to be evaluated independently, rather than competing for capital within a pre-existing emerging-market allocation bucket.
Wealth managers believe this change can be significant for India. Dedicated country allocations usually tend to be more stable than broad EM flows. The latter are usually driven by macroeconomic events, currency movements or changes in benchmark weights of index providers like the MSCI.
The family offices engaging with Sundaram AMC’s Dubai office typically manage more than $250 million in assets. For investors allocating over $20 million specifically to India, the asset manager structures customised investment vehicles rather than offering standard products.
“The real returns have not been made on the indices side. More on the customised solutions,” Gahlot said.
Winning mandates from these investors requires far more than a strong performance track record, he added. Family offices conduct extensive due diligence before deploying capital, often meeting fund managers several times, visiting investment offices and travelling to India to evaluate businesses firsthand.
“Our job is to take them to the companies and show them Indian businesses,” Gahlot said. “You need to hear from the businessmen, not the fund manager. Speak to the actual business owners, they will tell you the real insight.”
Although India still remains a small allocation within these portfolios, not just Sundaram, but other Indian shops sitting out of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) are vying for a piece of their capital.
These wealth managers believe the shift toward dedicated country allocations could gradually translate into larger and more durable foreign capital flows into India over the coming years.
Also Read | Is India returning to Dubai investors’ radar?
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Zoya Springwala is a Senior Correspondent, writing on the markets, financial institutions, regulatory changes and everything else in between.
first published: Jul 28, 2026 02:44 pm
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Watch
Trending news
Bengaluru techie returns from US after failing to get a job: ‘Hardest experiences of my life’
- ‘This isn’t permanent’: Tech executive says fiancée’s family called off wedding after he lost his job
- ‘Complained multiple times’: Bengaluru woman takes pothole repair into her own hands amid heavy rains
- HCL employees chant ‘We want hike’ as CEO C takes the stage at Chennai event, video goes viral
- Woman falls into 5-metre-deep sewage manhole while catching cicadas, husband climbs in to stay with her
- How Telugu actress Pavala Shyamala died? She was living with hypertension and Parkinson’s disease, couldn’t afford medical expenses
- Who is Isha Rikhi? Badshah’s second wife and actress who worked with Raghav Juyal is making headlines amid separation rumours
- Richest Poor Man of India: Meet librarian Palam Kalyanasundaram who donated Rs 30 crore, his entire salary and pension
- Hidden in the Himalayas, this 172-year-old Indian boarding school is home to one of the world‘s most beautiful campuses
- How keeping a wet phone in silica gel increases the chances of saving it, better than rice
- Can a simple waterproof phone pouch and laptop sleeve can protect your phone, laptop
- Nutritionist shares simple 4-ingredient trick that eased 10 years of bloating
- Is palm oil really that bad for you? A cardiologist explains the hidden risks
- In 1851, just 16 sparrows were released to eat caterpillars but they multiplied into millions and took over America, here’s what happened
- Quote of the Day by William Arthur Ward: “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in…” – The real meaning of greatness goes beyond wealth and power
`);
}
if(res.stay_updated){
$(“.stay-updated-ajax”).html(res.stay_updated);
}
}catch(e){ console.log(e); }
});
},2000); // Reduced from 8s to 2s for better Core Web Vitals (LCP/UX)
});
