文章指出，海湾金融网络对市场情绪高度敏感，但大量资本并未立即退出。自2024年初以来，迪拜金融中心的对冲基金数量已翻倍并超过100家，Brevan Howard、Millennium Management、ExodusPoint 与 Balyasny 及主要银行和资产管理机构均在区域内扩张。Brookfield 强调长期视角：其与卡塔尔主权财富基金合作的200亿美元人工智能基础设施项目以及 Connor Teskey 的表态；KKR 表示其过去一年已在海湾投资20亿美元。尽管如此，交易员与对冲基金高管正监控安全风险，一些人短期内把行程改向阿曼或沙特，内部交流中出现了囤积食品与饮用水、“不施压要求员工留守”等说法。
高净值和私营资本流入也进入观察期。该地区以便利与韧性驱动的航空枢纽模型在迪拜、阿布扎比与多哈的空域关闭后受挫，旅客被困，Emirates 等航空公司除少量撤离航班外大幅停飞。彭博社估算阿联酋约有24万英国侨民，税务筹划是主要吸引力；尽管安全担忧仍在，一些人仍选择留下，因离英的成本高昂。房地产仍具韧性但市场情绪转弱：投资者抛售 Emaar 与 DAMAC 相关债券，Emaar 和 Aldar 股价在复牌后两个交易日内均下跌10%。关键问题在于海湾金融体系能否快速重建信心，还是将出现更长期的资本与人才外流。
In the week that Iran escalated missile and drone attacks across Gulf states, Dubai and Abu Dhabi—once sold as ultra-stable havens—now face a reputational test. Recruiter Ashwin Anil said about half of job candidates are reassessing Gulf moves, with some withdrawing; firms are also slowing or pausing hiring until the outlook is clearer. The UAE’s past appeal as a “safe” low-tax destination—reinforced by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth stock of $2 trillion—is under pressure. Authorities warned civilians to take immediate shelter as incoming missiles were announced, and residents saw intercepted missiles and a hotel blast, while parts of daily life, including food delivery, continued.
The article says Gulf finance is highly sensitive to sentiment, even if most capital has not fled. Since early 2024, Dubai’s hedge-fund count in its hub has more than doubled to over 100, with Brevan Howard, Millennium Management, ExodusPoint and Balyasny, plus major banks and asset managers, expanding in the region. Brookfield argued for a long-term view, citing its $20 billion AI infrastructure partnership with Qatar’s sovereign fund and comments from Connor Teskey; KKR said it had invested $2 billion in the Gulf over the past year. Still, traders and hedge-fund heads are closely monitoring security, some temporarily shifting plans to Oman or Saudi Arabia, with chatter mentioning stockpiled food and water and “no pressure to stay.”
High-net-worth and private capital inflows are also moving into a wait-and-see mode. The Gulf’s travel-reliability model was hit when airspace over Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha closed, leaving passengers stranded and forcing Emirates and others to ground many planes except evacuation flights. A Bloomberg estimate puts about 240,000 British expats in the UAE, with tax planning a major pull; some are still staying because the cost of leaving is high despite safety concerns. Real estate remains resilient but sentiment has softened: investors sold Emaar and DAMAC-related bonds, and shares of Emaar and Aldar fell 10% across the two sessions after trading resumed. The key question is whether Gulf finance can quickly rebuild confidence or face a longer-term outflow.