HSBC Bank Middle East

HSBC Bank Middle East, commonly abbreviated as HBME, is a banking subsidiary of HSBC Group serving selected markets in the Middle East and North Africa. It is wholly owned by HSBC and is headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates. The bank is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority for its Dubai International Financial Centre activities, while its businesses in individual countries are also subject to local central banks and other national regulators. The institution traces its history to 1889, when the Imperial Bank of Persia was established in Tehran. The bank developed a broad regional network during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, operating in parts of Persia and later Iran, the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In 1952, following the expropriation of its historic Iranian operations, the institution was renamed the British Bank of the Middle East. HSBC acquired the London-headquartered British Bank of the Middle East in 1959. At the time of the acquisition, the bank had operations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the Trucial States, Tunisia and Yemen. The bank's regional footprint changed substantially as several countries nationalised foreign banking operations during the 1960s and 1970s. It withdrew from Syria, Iraq, South Yemen and Libya, and it closed a Djibouti branch opened in 1975 after the operation failed to adapt to local market conditions. In 1978, its Saudi Arabian operations were transferred to Saudi British Bank, a separate venture in which HSBC retained a minority interest at that time. A major corporate transition took place in 1999, when the British Bank of the Middle East moved its head office from London to Jersey and adopted the HSBC Bank Middle East name. The bank later transferred its place of incorporation and head office from Jersey to the Dubai International Financial Centre in June 2016, reinforcing the United Arab Emirates' role as its regional base. HBME has historically provided personal banking, commercial banking, global banking, wealth management, private banking, investment banking, treasury, custody and cross-border services. The United Arab Emirates is its principal regional market and hosts its regional headquarters, branches and offices. The bank has also maintained operations in Algeria, Kuwait and Qatar. Its business in Qatar has included retail, commercial and global banking, wealth management and offshore services, while its Kuwait presence has focused on corporate, investment, private banking and treasury activities. HSBC has progressively reduced or transferred several businesses that were previously administered within the Middle East organization. HSBC sold its Jordan banking business to Arab Jordan Investment Bank in 2014, exited Pakistan through a sale to Meezan Bank completed in the same year, closed its Palestinian operations at the end of 2015, and sold its Lebanese corporate, retail banking and wealth management business to BLOM Bank in 2017. HSBC also transferred its Oman retail banking operations to Sohar International Bank in 2023 and sold its Bahrain retail banking section to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait in 2025. These transactions reflect a strategy of concentrating resources on markets where HSBC has greater scale and stronger international connectivity. HBME remains an active regional banking platform rather than a standalone listed company.

HSBC Bank Middle East is the current regional identity of a banking institution whose origins lie in the Imperial Bank of Persia. Founded in Tehran in 1889, the bank initially supported commercial and financial activity in Persia and subsequently developed a wider network across the Middle East. Its historic headquarters were located in Tehran from 1889 until 1959. The institution's Iranian history changed after the expropriation of its historic operations. It was renamed the British Bank of the Middle East in 1952 and was headquartered in London. In 1959, HSBC purchased the British Bank of the Middle East. At the time of the acquisition, the business had a substantial regional presence, with offices or branches in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the Trucial States, Tunisia and Yemen. Political and regulatory changes reshaped the network during the 1960s and 1970s. The bank exited Syria, Iraq, South Yemen and Libya after nationalisation of banking sectors in those countries. It opened a branch in Djibouti in 1975, but closed it in 1986 after the operation did not successfully adapt to local conditions. In Saudi Arabia, the bank's operations were transferred in 1978 to Saudi British Bank, a separate banking venture in which HSBC held a minority stake. In 1999, the British Bank of the Middle East moved its head office from London to Jersey and was renamed HSBC Bank Middle East. This change aligned the institution more closely with the HSBC brand while preserving its role as a locally regulated regional banking company. HSBC subsequently expanded or maintained activities in several markets, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, Oman, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. The United Arab Emirates became increasingly important to the organization. In June 2016, HBME moved its place of incorporation and head office from Jersey to the Dubai International Financial Centre. Dubai thereafter served as the regional headquarters and the base for a significant portion of the bank's Middle Eastern business. The institution remains subject to Dubai Financial Services Authority oversight for its DIFC activities, alongside country-level regulation in its operating markets. The twenty-first-century history of HSBC Bank Middle East has also been marked by portfolio rationalisation. HSBC sold its Jordan business to Arab Jordan Investment Bank in 2014 and completed the sale of its Pakistan operation to Meezan Bank in the same year. It closed its Palestinian business at the end of 2015. In Lebanon, HSBC announced a sale of its corporate, retail banking and wealth management operations to BLOM Bank in 2016; the transaction completed in 2017. In Oman, HSBC combined its operations with Oman International Bank in 2012, after which Oman International Bank branches were rebranded as HSBC Bank Oman. HSBC later sold its Omani retail banking operations to Sohar International Bank in 2023. In 2025, it sold its Bahrain retail banking section to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait. Today, HBME is best understood as a regional HSBC platform rather than a single-market retail bank. It provides corporate, commercial, global banking, treasury, wealth management, private banking and selected personal banking services. Its continuing operating markets include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Algeria, with the UAE serving as the central hub. The institution is wholly owned by HSBC and is not separately listed.

• 2025

  Bahrain retail banking section is sold

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC sold its Bahrain retail banking section to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

• 2023

  Oman retail banking business is sold

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC sold its retail banking operations in Oman to Sohar International Bank.

• 2017

  Lebanon sale completes

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  BLOM Bank completed its acquisition of HSBC's Lebanese corporate, retail banking and wealth management operations.

• 2016

  Head office moves to Dubai

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  The bank transferred its place of incorporation and head office from Jersey to the Dubai International Financial Centre.

• 2015

  Palestinian operations close

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC closed its operations in the Palestinian Territories at the end of the year.

• 2014

  Jordan and Pakistan exits are completed

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC completed the sale of its Jordan business to Arab Jordan Investment Bank and its Pakistan business to Meezan Bank.

• 2012

  Oman International Bank branches are rebranded

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  Following the merger of HSBC Oman with Oman International Bank, the acquired bank's branches were rebranded as HSBC Bank Oman by the end of the year.

• 2008

  Pakistan business is brought under HSBC Bank Middle East

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC's Pakistan banking business was merged into HSBC Bank Middle East and subsequently operated as a full-service business before its sale in 2014.

• 2005

  HSBC re-enters Kuwait

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC formally re-established a Kuwait presence after receiving a licence from the country's authorities.

• 1999

  The HSBC Bank Middle East name is adopted

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  The bank moved its head office from London to Jersey and changed its name from British Bank of the Middle East to HSBC Bank Middle East.

• 1978

  Saudi Arabian operations transferred to Saudi British Bank

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  The bank transferred its Saudi Arabian operations to Saudi British Bank, in which HSBC retained a minority interest.

• 1975

  Djibouti branch opens

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  The bank opened a branch in Djibouti, which was later closed in 1986.

• 1959

  HSBC acquires the British Bank of the Middle East

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  HSBC purchased the London-headquartered British Bank of the Middle East, which had a broad network across the Middle East and North Africa.

• 1952

  The bank becomes the British Bank of the Middle East

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  Following the expropriation of its historic Iranian operations, the Imperial Bank of Persia was renamed the British Bank of the Middle East.

• 1889

  Imperial Bank of Persia is established

  [1]HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org

  The institution that ultimately became HSBC Bank Middle East was founded in Tehran as the Imperial Bank of Persia, a British bank with the exclusive right to issue banknotes.

A regional HSBC banking platform focused on international connectivity, corporate and commercial finance, wealth management, treasury and selected personal banking services. Its positioning combines HSBC's global network with locally regulated banking operations in Middle Eastern and North African markets.

• Retail banking

  Personal banking

  HSBC Bank Middle East has historically provided personal banking products through its regional network, including everyday banking and affluent-customer services. The precise product range varies by jurisdiction because each country operation is locally regulated. Personal banking has been reduced in some markets as HSBC transferred or sold retail businesses.

• Business banking

  Commercial and corporate banking

  Commercial and corporate banking is a central part of HBME's regional role. Services support local companies, multinational corporations and internationally connected businesses through financing, cash management, trade-related services and broader relationship banking. Offerings are delivered through country operations and are subject to local regulatory requirements.

• Institutional banking

  Global banking and markets

  The global banking and markets business serves larger corporate and institutional clients with financing, markets access and cross-border banking capabilities. Its regional value proposition is closely tied to HSBC's international network and the bank's ability to connect Middle Eastern clients with overseas markets.

• Wealth services

  Wealth management and private banking

  HBME offers wealth management and private banking services in selected markets. These activities are aimed at affluent individuals, families and business owners and may include investment-related services, relationship management and cross-border wealth solutions. Availability and scope differ by country.

• Financial markets services

  Treasury and custody services

  Treasury and custody capabilities support corporate, institutional and private banking clients. The Kuwait operation, for example, has been described as offering treasury services, while the historical Oman operation included trading and custody activities connected with the Muscat Securities Market.

• 2025

  Sale of Bahrain retail banking sectionM&A

  Background

  The transaction formed part of HSBC's continuing regional portfolio adjustments.

  Action taken

  HSBC sold its Bahrain retail banking section to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

  Aftermath

  The transaction reduced HSBC Bank Middle East's retail banking presence in Bahrain.

  Source

• 2023

  Transfer of Oman retail banking operationsM&A

  Background

  HSBC continued to refine its regional portfolio and reduce selected retail banking activities.

  Action taken

  HSBC sold its retail banking operations in Oman to Sohar International Bank.

  Aftermath

  Sohar International became the owner of the transferred retail banking business.

  Source

• 2017

  Sale of Lebanese banking operationsM&A

  Background

  HSBC announced a broader effort to concentrate its resources on selected markets and businesses.

  Action taken

  The bank sold its Lebanese corporate, retail banking and wealth management operations to BLOM Bank.

  Aftermath

  The transaction completed on 13 June 2017, with employees transferring to BLOM Bank.

  Source

• 2016

  Relocation of the regional headquarters to DubaiStrategy

  Background

  HSBC sought to place the regional banking headquarters in a major Middle Eastern financial centre.

  Action taken

  HBME transferred its place of incorporation and head office from Jersey to the Dubai International Financial Centre.

  Aftermath

  Dubai became the bank's regional headquarters and central operating base.

  Source

• 2014

  Sale of Pakistan banking businessM&A

  Background

  HSBC stated that the Pakistan operation had limited scale within its wider strategy.

  Action taken

  HSBC Bank Middle East agreed to sell the business to Meezan Bank. The transaction completed on 14 October 2014 after required approvals.

  Aftermath

  Employees were offered positions with Meezan Bank, and HSBC exited Pakistan's banking sector.

  Source

1. 1HSBC Bank Middle Easten.wikipedia.org