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Wednesday, April 22, 2026
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Elevate Financial Services Unveils “Ana Emirati” Portfolio – A Tribute to the UAE’s Unwavering Economic Resilience

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This is a classic example of talent following opportunity. As wealth in Asia continues to grow, particularly among ultra-high-net-worth individuals, firms are investing heavily in experienced advisors who can offer more than just product distribution.

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Overall, this move reinforces a clear trend: as competition intensifies in the UHNW segment, talent with global experience and strong client relationships becomes one of the most important differentiators.

Elevate Financial Services, a UAE-based independent financial services firm regulated by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA), today announced the launch of the ‘Ana Emirati Portfolio’. The portfolio is a curated selection of eight flagship publicly listed companies drawn from the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) designed for investors who believe in the country’s long-term growth and want to be part of its journey.

Ana Emirati that translates to ‘I am Emirati’ is a portfolio reflects pride, unity, and the belief that everyone living in the UAE plays a role in shaping its future. It provides exposure to the sectors driving the UAE’s transformation away from oil dependency toward global financial, tourism, and energy leadership.

“Ana Emirati represents the belief that everyone living in the UAE has a role in building its future,” said Madhur Kakkar, Founder & CEO of Elevate Financial Services. “It reflects confidence in a nation that has consistently demonstrated resilience and the ability to grow through every cycle.”

A Legacy of Proven Resilience

The Ana Emirati Portfolio is grounded in the UAE’s consistent track record of emerging stronger after global shocks. This resilience has been demonstrated repeatedly across the nation’s economic history, including:

  • 2008 Global Financial Crisis: While global credit froze and property prices fell, visionary infrastructure projects like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall rebuilt the market to over AED 500 billion in annual transactions over the years
  • 2014-16 Oil Price Collapse: Despite Brent crude dropping to a low of $26, the UAE maintained its AAA credit ratings and fast-tracked economic diversification, accelerating non-oil GDP to 6.8% growth
  • 2020 COVID Shock: Experiencing the GCC’s mildest GDP decline, the UAE saw a 7.9% rebound in 2021 driven by tourism and construction
  • 2026 Geopolitical Tensions: Through energy crises and geopolitical tensions, the private sector has continued to expand, with sovereign funds capitalizing on opportunities and the DFM demonstrating strong resilience

“This is not a reaction to short-term noise. It reflects confidence in the UAE’s consistent strengths – resilience, vision, and determination,” noted Madhur.

Eight Pillars. One Nation

The Ana Emirati portfolio is diversified across utilities, telecoms, banking, infrastructure, energy and real estate, in alignment with UAE Vision 2031. Its investment approach is shaped by four key pillars that define the country’s leading companies:

  1. Domestically rooted franchises with strong competitive moats
  2. Sovereign strategic support where relevant that reinforces stability
  3. Consistent cash generation across market cycles
  4. Alignment with the UAE’s shift toward a diversified, knowledge-driven economy. 

The portfolio includes eight carefully selected companies that reflect these principles.

  1. Dubai Electricity & Water (DFM: DEWA): A regulated monopoly acting as a defensive stabilizer with a 4.5% dividend yield and a 74% payout ratio
  2. Salik (DFM: SALIK): An efficient infrastructure compounder boasting 69% margins and steady, cycle-decoupled dividends
  3. ADNOC Gas (ADX: ADNOCGAS): A strategic, defensive energy platform offering a top 5.0% yield from visible, contracted cash flows
  4. e& (ADX: EAND): The digital and technological foundation for UAE digitization, offering a 4.6% yield from recurring revenues
  5. Emirates NBD (DFM: EMIRATESNBD): A private banking growth leader featuring diversified credit and a remarkable 36% one-year return.
  6. First Abu Dhabi Bank (ADX: FAB): The UAE’s largest bank and Abu Dhabi financial anchor, providing balanced growth and a 4.5% yield
  7. Emaar Properties (DFM: EMAAR): Delivering core growth and recurring income with exposure to Dubai’s tourism and property rebound
  8. Emaar Development (DFM: EMAARDEV): A property growth accelerator demonstrating explosive value, a massive sales backlog, and +44% revenue growth

“Ana Emirati brings together the key themes shaping the UAE’s investment story today,” said Madhur Kakkar, Founder & CEO of Elevate Financial. “It aligns capital with the country’s growth priorities and encourages a disciplined, long-term approach to investing. The aim is to give investors a way to participate in the UAE’s economic evolution while staying focused on resilience, income, and sustainable opportunity.”

FF NEWS TAKE
This is as much about narrative as it is about investment. The branding of “Ana Emirati” taps into national identity and long-term confidence in the UAE’s economic direction, positioning investing not just as a financial decision but as participation in the country’s growth story.

From a market perspective, the focus on dividend-paying, cash-generative companies is telling. In a higher-rate environment, investors are prioritising income and stability alongside growth. The selected companies reflect that balance, combining defensive characteristics with exposure to sectors driving structural transformation.

There is also a broader shift toward packaged investment solutions. Rather than building portfolios from scratch, investors are increasingly looking for curated strategies that align with specific themes, whether geographic, sectoral, or macroeconomic. This approach lowers the barrier to entry while keeping the investment thesis clear.

That said, concentration risk and market exposure remain key considerations. While the UAE story is strong, tying a portfolio closely to one economy requires confidence in its continued resilience and policy direction.

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