Prosek Partners, an independent marketing and communications agency for financial and professional services, has expanded its international operations with the opening of its first office in the Middle East. The office, located in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, will serve as Prosek’s regional hub as the firm looks to serve existing and prospective clients across the Gulf and wider MENA region.To lead the Middle East office and operations, Prosek has hired Diana Estupinan as Managing Director and Head of MENA. Diana joins from Instinctif Partners, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Client Officer for the Middle East. She has extensive experience delivering high-impact, integrated PR and IR programs for financial services and capital markets clients, as well as leading operational growth strategies, including establishing Instinctif’s office in Saudi. At Prosek, Diana will be responsible for developing integrated communications and investor relations programs for local and international clients in the Middle East, as well as leading the firm’s business development, hiring and growth strategy in the region.“As the regional hub for institutional finance, Abu Dhabi is a logical next step in our global expansion plan,” said Jennifer Prosek, Managing Partner. “Since meeting Diana, I knew she was the perfect fit for us. Her entrepreneurial spirit, can-do attitude and industry know-how are exactly what we look for in our people. Her international experience combined with a deep local network and intimate understanding of the Middle Eastern market make her the ideal candidate to spearhead our growth in the region.”Diana will work closely with the firm’s London office, which boasts one of the largest financial services communications teams in the UK, to ensure a unified strategy across EMEA. Diana Estupinan, Managing Director and Head of MENA, said: “I’m delighted to join Prosek Partners and drive the firm’s growth and operations in the Middle East. The firm’s extensive client list of global financial and professional services firms is unrivalled, and the opportunity to build sophisticated communications strategies to support their growth in the region is vast. As one of the preeminent financial centres in the Middle East, ADGM is a prime location to serve these clients, and I look forward to getting started.”  Currently advising more than $66 trillion in client assets globally, Prosek Partners serves clients across financial and professional services, including M&A advisory, asset and wealth management, commercial and retail banking, investment banking, legal, financial technology, venture capital, insurance, cryptocurrency and more.Diana began her career at communications firm Hill+Knowlton in the UAE. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Franklin University in Lugano, Switzerland and a BSc in Government and Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Abu Dhabi: Wahed Invest Limited (Wahed), the UAE robo-advisory subsidiary of Wahed Inc., a global Shariah-compliant fintech that aims to advance financial inclusion through accessible, affordable and value-based investing, has launched after having been granted a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Wahed will become the UAE’s first dedicated Islamic digital investment management platform.Wahed offers financial services to UAE residents to facilitate a smarter way to invest through access to a diversified, Shariah-compliant portfolio in its digital Application. The firm aims to empower Muslims at large to take charge of their investment well-being with a transparent and selective Shariah-compliant portfolio.Wahed is designed to cater to financially savvy investors as well as those with little financial knowledge. Coupled with low starting investment minimums of USD 500, low fees, and no lock-in period, it hopes to remove the barriers to sophisticated investment management that have been traditionally reserved for high-net-worth investors.Junaid Wahedna, Chief Executive Officer at Wahed Inc. said, “We consider the UAE our home. I grew up in the UAE and am very excited to bring our technology and investment efficiencies to the UAE's flourishing business environment in Abu Dhabi, ADGM and beyond. We are committed to contributing to an increase in the savings culture amongst the youth and professionals in a safe and Shariah-compliant manner, in line with the cultural values of the UAE”.Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Markets at ADGM said, “We are pleased to welcome Wahed to ADGM’s international financial centre and vibrant community and congratulate them on being granted the FSP by ADGM’s FSRA. With a world-class progressive regulatory ecosystem, ADGM aims to catalyse the growth of Fintech innovators by fostering a trusted, collaborative and enabling marketplace for Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider region. The launch of Wahed in the UAE brings next-gen financial services and strengthens our growing digital economy”.Since its launch in 2015, Wahed has attracted over 300,000 customers worldwide and has raised more than USD 75 million in funding from family offices, institutions and high-profile backers, including Dubai Cultiv8, and international footballer Paul Pogba. Wahed’s mission is to change how the Muslim community participates in global financial markets by making investing accessible and ethically acceptable for the 1.8 billion Muslims globally.Once signed up to the Wahed App, users can securely create an account within minutes. The Wahed App will automatically suggest a portfolio for each user based on how they answer questions about themselves, considering the individual's financial situation, attitude towards risks, investment goals and other criteria. The portfolio models are overseen by the firms’ fund management professionals. Users can begin investing with as little as USD 100 while paying a fraction of traditional management fees. Wahed ensures that investors always have a diversified portfolio, regardless of their account size, thus making investing efficient for various types of people, whether they are entrepreneurs, working professionals or homemakers.