Emirati investors’ growing interest in sustainable investments is being held back by a lack of information about such strategies, according to Schroders.
Client research conducted by the asset manager found that a growing number of its UAE clients (86%) are looking to increase their asset allocation to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments but the majority (72%) said a lack of information prevented them from doing so.
More than a third (35%) blamed a lack of information on how sustainable fund managers engage with the companies they invest in while 33% complained of a lack of advice.
A quarter of the respondents said they were unsure which products took a sustainable approach while 10% confessed to being unable to define sustainable investment.
Schroders also announced the appointment of Douglas Bourne as client director in its Middle East sales team. He will be responsible for enlarging the firm’s institutional business in the region, focusing on sovereign wealth funds and pension funds.
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