GTM meets Kem Kemal, Co-Founder of Henry Dannell, at Dubai International Financial Centre to discuss the specialist debt advisory firm’s regional ambitions, the complexities of international wealth and why Dubai is emerging as a strategic hub for global financial services.
By Shereen Shabnam
As Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global financial hub, and demands for cross-border wealth wealth financing grows, international firms are increasingly looking to the emirate as a strategic gateway to the Middle East’s growing community of entrepreneurs, investors and high-net-worth individuals.
Among them is Henry Dannell, a specialist international debt advisory firm co-founded in 2019 by Kem Kemal, which has established a representative office at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to bring its expertise closer to clients and professional advisers across the region.
Global Trend Monitor met Kem Kemal at DIFC to discuss the company’s expansion into the Middle East, its distinctive approach to specialist financing and the increasing demand for sophisticated debt advisory services as wealth, investments and asset ownership become more internationally diversified.
With access to a network of more than 500 lending relationships, Henry Dannell specialises in navigating complex financing requirements, helping clients identify suitable funding solutions across international markets. While its regulated entities in London continue to execute lending transactions, the new DIFC presence represents an important step in building long-term relationships and strengthening the firm’s regional footprint.
For Kemal, the Middle East represents a compelling growth opportunity, driven by rising international investment, economic diversification and an expanding population of globally mobile individuals whose financial requirements increasingly extend beyond traditional banking solutions.
In this interview, Kem shares his perspective on the changing landscape of international wealth, the importance of trust and transparency in specialist debt advisory, and Henry Dannell’s vision for serving clients across the wider Middle East.
Wealth is increasingly held across several countries. How is that changing the demand for debt advice?
Assets, investments, and ownership are becoming more international, and that makes financing more complicated. A client may own property in one market, run a business in another and hold luxury assets elsewhere. They need an adviser who can structure debt across all of it. We see growing demand for specialist debt advisory and cross-border financing expertise, and that is where we have chosen to focus.
Your lending is executed in London but you now have a presence in Dubai. How do the two fit together?
London remains the base for lending. Our regulated entities there continue to execute transactions. The DIFC representative office adds proximity to the professional advisers who already operate in the centre and to clients across the region. Opening it was part of a long-term plan from our early days, so it extends the existing model rather than replacing it.
With more than 500 lending relationships, how do you decide which deals are worth taking to market?
We test every opportunity before accepting a mandate to see whether it is genuinely bankable. That means due diligence on both the borrower and the funding partner, and detailed scrutiny of the transaction before it reaches a lender. We favour established and reputable institutions. Taking only deals we believe in protects our standing with lenders and gives clients a more credible route to funding.
What makes DIFC the right hub for this kind of business?
It brings together international financial institutions, a strong regulatory framework, a global reputation and a track record of attracting high-quality professional services firms. Those qualities put it in the same conversation as London, New York and Hong Kong. For a business built on trust and cross-border relationships, that environment matters.
Where do you see the next phase of growth?
Across the wider Middle East, not only the UAE. The region has strong economic growth, rising international investment and a growing community of globally mobile entrepreneurs, investors and families who need specialised financing. We intend to keep building our presence there, with DIFC as the platform. We also plan to stay focused on debt advisory, with the transparency, compliance and governance our clients expect.
