Page 67 - AAE PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2025

platforms, democratising access to financial services for freelancers and micro-businesses. He
also launched one of the region’s first regulated crypto offerings from a conventional bank.
Wealth manager of the year – Hichem Djouhri, ASB Capital

Under Hichem Djouhri’s leadership, ASB Capital is redefining the role modern wealth management
plays in the region. As Senior Executive Officer, he has led the firm through a period of rapid and
disciplined growth, managing $4.7 billion in assets under management (AUM) and establishing ASB
Capital as one of the most innovative and trusted wealth management platforms regionally. Under
his leadership, ASB Capital advised on and structured two major capital markets transactions that
reinforced the firm’s credibility. These include the $1 billion sukuk issuance by Bapco Energies in
Q1 2025, where ASB Capital served as joint lead manager and bookrunner. Additionally, ASB
Capital has created access to global equities and multi-asset products that meet the growing
expectations of a new generation of investors, those who value purpose as much as profit.
Cryptocurrency trading platform of the year – Binance

Over the past year, Binance has achieved several significant milestones that reflect its growing
influence in the MENA region. The company has played a pioneering role in shaping the Middle
East’s crypto and Web3 landscape, actively driving the conversation around regulation, adoption,
and innovation in the financial sector. The company secured a full Virtual Asset Service Provider
(VASP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, enabling it to offer regulated
services to both retail and institutional users in the UAE. What’s more, it launched a major user
migration campaign to onboard local users and expanded its Dubai team to over 400 employees.
Binance welcomed a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi-based MGX.
Currency exchange firm of the year – Al Ansari Exchange

Al Ansari Exchange (AAE) is the UAE’s largest remittance and foreign exchange company and
continues to be a leader in the region. From 2024 to 2025, the company has had a number of key
milestones, including the launch of MoneyExpress remittance service with UnionPay in the UAE.
This made Al Ansari Exchange the first exchange company in the entire GCC region to integrate
directly with UnionPay’s infrastructure, streamlining remittances through a fully digital, real-time
interface ensuring speed, transparency, and user convenience. Additionally, it introduced a new
cash payout service for Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) insurance claims in partnership with
the ILOE’s Insurance Pool PSC. As of Q1 2025, Al Ansari Exchange has 270 branches in the UAE –
which is twice the branch strength of the nearest competitor. This helps support its customer-
focused strategy and contributes to a 98%+ customer satisfaction rate measured through feedback
tablets installed across all branches.
VC firm of the year – Kube VC

With 231 companies, 267 Investments, 29 portfolio exits, and 10 unicorns, including Flutterwave,
OpenSea, and SpaceX, Kube VC’s portfolio speaks for itself. Its most notable exits include STARZ
PLAY, Loco, and Banyan. The UAE-based venture capital firm backs exceptional founders and
category-defining businesses and companies and focusing on investing in seed-stage, early-stage,
and later-stage companies operating in B2B, commercial products, services, media, and
technology sectors. This has led the company to be recognised and awarded locally and globally for
its investments, portfolio, and for being an innovator in the tech space.

https://www.financemiddleeast.com/features/finance-middle-east-awards-2025-winners/