"Start establishing our nexuses" — When Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary discussed financial services in Abu Dhabi

Shark Tank investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary discussed the role of financial services in Abu Dhabi during an interview with The National News on December 21, 2021. When asked whether he was expecting to invest in Abu Dhabi, O’Leary explained that his focus was on understanding policy and regulatory stability before making investment decisions.

The Shark Tank investor emphasized the importance of identifying key financial hubs in a global economy. He stated,

"We have to start in this world where there's no borders on financial services. We have to start establishing our nexuses in different places. There's very few Switzerlands in the world."

O’Leary underscored that Abu Dhabi’s approach to financial services is positioning it as a key player in the industry.

---

Financial hubs and policy stability: Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary’s insights on Abu Dhabi’s investment potential

Understanding policy before investment

O’Leary emphasized that investment decisions are closely tied to regulatory stability. He explained that before committing capital, investors must first ensure that policies are stable and the regulatory environment is clear. He said,

"When you get comfortable with policy and it's going to be stable and you understand the regulator in financial services, then you can turn the spigot on, and you don't do it until you do."

The Shark Tank investor underscored that evaluating multiple jurisdictions is a key part of the investment process.

"We look at a lot of jurisdictions because we know we have to start in this world where there's no borders on financial services." he noted.

According to O'Leary, regulatory clarity is a determining factor for whether Abu Dhabi will emerge as a strong financial nexus. He further suggested that jurisdictions that establish themselves as stable financial centers will be better positioned to attract global capital.

---

Abu Dhabi’s potential as a financial hub

When asked how soon Abu Dhabi could become a financial hub like Switzerland, O'Leary said that the process was already underway. He pointed out that the focus on financial services, as demonstrated by government discussions, was a key factor in this development. He said,

"I think it's happening right now. I think the initiatives to focus, and you heard the chairman at the beginning talking about this focus of this meeting, is financial services. Well, that's the messaging you need to have."

The Shark Tank investor highlighted that a significant portion of global capital is directed toward financial services. He noted that at the sovereign, pension, and state levels in Canada:

"60% of the velocity is towards financial services right now, trying to figure out the new world."

His statements indicated that financial hubs that align their policies with the evolving needs of global investors will be well-positioned to attract capital. He suggested that Abu Dhabi’s efforts to strengthen its financial services sector reflect a broader strategy to establish itself as a leading financial center.

---

Capital flow and policy stability

O’Leary underscored that the ability of a financial center to attract investment depends on policy stability. He explained that governments that recognize the current focus on financial services and adapt accordingly will benefit in the coming years.

"For the next three years, this is going to be a land grab for governments that can stabilize policy, and my sense here is they get it." he explained.

The Shark Tank investor described his approach to evaluating investment opportunities as gathering information and assessing whether a jurisdiction offers long-term potential, saying,

"The fact that I can come here and put pollen on my bee legs and go back and say I think we should... you know how bees wag their tail and say, 'Go that direction'? Well, that's what I'm going to be doing when I leave here. That's how they work."

---

Don’t miss new episodes of Shark Tank, airing on ABC every Friday at 8 PM ET. Full episodes are available for streaming on Hulu.