Nomad Capitalist Audio Experience

Why David Gibson-Moore Left the West for the Gulf (And What He Saw Coming)

12 snips
Nov 17, 2025
David Gibson-Moore, an experienced international banker and advisor, shares his unique insights after years of working in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He reveals the rapid transformation of Dubai into a global finance hub and the implications of fiscal changes like new taxes on competitiveness. David contrasts the wealth management styles of Middle Eastern families with Western practices and discusses the cultural reluctance towards IPOs. He also explores the impact of AI and crypto on banking, examining how these trends reshape the future of global finance.
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ANECDOTE

First Impressions: Royal Welcome In Saudi Arabia

  • David Gibson-Moore describes his first Middle East trip to Jeddah and setting up Chase Manhattan's GCC office in Bahrain.
  • He recalls royal treatment, meeting the king, ministers, and traveling in motorcades which underscored the region's formality and prestige.
ANECDOTE

Relationships Over Rapid Deals

  • He spent late nights building relationships over coffee and conversation to win business in the Gulf.
  • Personal patience and time investment were the essential currency for deal-making in that era.
INSIGHT

Dubai's Unprecedented Transformation

  • David contrasts late-1970s Dubai airport 'a shed' and multi-hour desert rides with today's superhighways and flyovers.
  • He calls Dubai's transformation unprecedented, even compared with Singapore.
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