Henry Dannell’s Kem Kemal on Financial Advisory, Cross-Border Financing, and the Middle East Opportunity

Dubai, UAE - As wealth, investment and asset ownership become increasingly international, demand is growing for specialist financing expertise that works across borders. Henry Dannell, a debt advisory firm co-founded in 2019 by Kem Kemal, has built its business around that opportunity. The firm helps high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals secure financing across real estate, corporate finance, luxury assets, and complex international structures, drawing on a global network of more than 500 lending relationships.

The firm recently opened a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In this Q&A, Kem Kemal, Co-Founder of Henry Dannell, explains the thinking behind the move, how the firm manages risk, what is driving cross-border demand and where it sees the Middle East market heading.

Q1. Henry Dannell is a debt advisory firm. Where does it sit in the financial services landscape?

We are a specialist debt advisory firm, not a wealth management, investment advisory or tax advisory business. We help high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals secure financing across residential and commercial real estate, corporate finance, luxury assets such as yachts, private jets and art, and complex international structures. We do not advise on investments, wealth management or tax planning, and we stay firmly focused on debt.

Q2. Why open a representative office in DIFC, and how will lending be structured?

Opening in DIFC was part of a long-term growth plan that goes back to our early days. The office puts us closer to professional advisory relationships that already operate within the centre. Lending transactions will continue to be executed through our regulated entities in London. DIFC offers a concentration of international financial institutions, a strong regulatory framework, a global reputation and the ability to attract high-quality professional services firms, much like London and New York.

Q3. Is the focus on the UAE or the wider region?

The wider Middle East. We see significant opportunity beyond the UAE, supported by strong economic growth, rising international investment and a growing population of international investors, entrepreneurs and globally mobile families. That population is creating strong demand for specialised financing solutions, and DIFC will serve as our platform for broader regional expansion.

Q4. What is driving demand for cross-border financing expertise?

The increasing internationalisation of wealth, investment and asset ownership. As clients hold assets and live across more than one jurisdiction, their financing needs become more complex. We believe this is creating growing demand for specialist debt advisory services and cross-border financing expertise.

Q5. How do you manage risk when arranging financing for complex transactions?

Risk management sits at the centre of our work. We carry out extensive due diligence on both borrowers and funding partners, and we scrutinise every transaction in detail before it is presented to lenders. We prefer to work with established and reputable institutions. We also assess carefully whether an opportunity is genuinely bankable before we accept a mandate.

Q6. How important is your lender network to the way you work?

It is central. We draw on a global network of more than 500 lending relationships, which allows us to match each financing requirement with the right funding partner. We place a strong emphasis on established and reputable institutions, and on transparency, responsiveness and clear communication throughout every transaction.

Q7. What is your view on regulation and governance in this market?

Strong regulatory frameworks play an important role in building trust, protecting clients and supporting sustainable long-term growth. We operate within established regulatory frameworks, and governance, compliance and transparency are core elements of what we offer clients. We also aim to build long-term relationships that lead to multiple transactions over time rather than one-off engagements.

Q8. What is the way forward for Henry Dannell?

We intend to keep growing our presence in the Middle East, with DIFC serving as a platform for broader regional expansion. We see the region as an increasingly important market, backed by strong economic growth, rising international investment and an expanding population of globally mobile entrepreneurs, investors and families. At the same time, we expect the internationalisation of wealth, investment and asset ownership to keep driving demand for specialist debt advisory services and cross-border financing expertise, and we will continue to focus firmly on debt advisory as that demand grows.