Emirates NBD, BlackRock Launch Two Income Funds
The new public funds mark the first anniversary of the Emirates NBD Asset Management and BlackRock strategic partnership.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Investing
Live Poll
Would you invest in a public income fund offered by your bank?
Emirates NBD Asset Management and BlackRock launched two income-focused public funds, available to Emirates NBD's retail and wealth clients across the region. The launch marks the first anniversary of the partnership, which has accumulated $350 million in assets under management.
Why it matters
The launch expands investment options for retail and wealth clients in the region through a partnership that has already gathered $350 million in its first year. The funds reflect a growing model of asset managers pairing regional distribution with global investment platforms.
The partnership has accumulated $350 million in assets under management, while the systematic fund targets a net distribution rate of 7% per annum paid quarterly. BlackRock's CLO franchise, spanning 24 years, manages over $40 billion globally, but the early asset growth of the new public funds remains unreported.
The players
Emirates NBD Asset Management
The asset management arm of Emirates NBD, the Dubai-based banking group, which retains portfolio management responsibility for the Emirates Systematic Income and Growth Fund.
BlackRock
The world's largest asset manager, which serves as investment adviser to the Emirates Systematic Income and Growth Fund and sub-manages the FundStar Emirates CLO AA Fund.
The details
The FundStar Emirates CLO AA Fund invests in senior secured corporate loans across the US and Europe, targets an average credit rating of AA with no sub-investment-grade exposure, offers daily liquidity and carries no leverage. The Emirates Systematic Income and Growth Fund uses a benchmark-unconstrained approach across globally diversified income-producing assets, using BlackRock's systematic investment models with Emirates NBD Asset Management retaining portfolio management responsibility.
Timeline
2025: Emirates NBD and BlackRock partnership began.
November 6, 2026: Two public funds launched at the partnership's first anniversary.
Market Dynamics
The launch extends BlackRock's systematic investment models into a publicly offered regional fund, a model that pairs global platform capabilities with local distribution. The pairing follows the structure of the 2025 partnership, which has now gathered $350 million in its first year.
Retail and wealth clients of Emirates NBD can now access a daily-liquidity, unleveraged CLO fund and a systematic income fund targeting a 7% annual net distribution rate. Investors weighing income funds should compare the fee structures, liquidity terms and distribution targets before allocating capital.
The takeaway
Income-focused funds that combine systematic models with daily liquidity can offer a different risk profile than traditional bond funds. Readers should review distribution targets against underlying holdings and fees before investing.
Further reading
For broader context on income-focused strategies, see Investing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Fintech Times.
Live Poll
Would you invest in a public income fund offered by your bank?
