The fine art of Swiss wealth management and Dubai dining
At the 2nd Fundplat «The Desert Talks» Afterwork 2024 event at the «Capital Club Dubai», I met Marina Petkovic from Probus Pleion Middle East Limited, an independent asset management firm based in the «Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)» in Dubai. Our brief three-minute conversation was so engaging that I decided to call her the next morning, Thursday, 21.11.2024, to ask if she might have time to join me for dinner. I was delighted that Marina agreed, choosing «Alaya», a restaurant beautifully nestled in the renowned «DIFC Gate Village».
Marina is a highly accomplished expert in Swiss wealth management with an extensive track record of over 15 years in the finance industry. She brings a wealth of experience in the financial sector, specializing in serving HNWI and UHNWI clients from across the globe. Her company Probus Pleion Middle East Limited, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Geneva, operates 11 offices worldwide, employs over 80 professionals, and manages assets exceeding 4 bn US dollars.
We met at 7 pm and ordered carrot and artichoke salads as starter, truffle manti and seabass fillet with grilled vegetables as main course (see photo 2) and pistachio ice cream for dessert. We had a very insightful discussion, and it was fascinating to hear her perspective on how Dubai and Switzerland differentiate as financial hubs. She shared that she moved from Switzerland to Dubai a year ago, driven by her excitement to be part of Dubai’s dynamic journey and her admiration for the incredible speed at which things are evolving here. Also a few words about the restaurant: the food was excellent, the service world class and the atmosphere cosmopolitan. We said goodbye at 9 pm and took a souvenir photo. We will meet again next spring. It was a wonderful and highly interesting evening! Thomas J. Caduff, CEO, Fundplat LLC
Dubai, 21.11.2024