Exclusive | Dubai prince Ali Al Maktoum returning to Hong Kong within weeks to open US$500 million family office, with chance to ‘clear the air’

Sheikh due to arrive no later than June for opening ceremony of private office, but name change possible to reduce focus on ties with ruling family, aide says

Maktoum’s previous eleventh-hour postponement of opening ceremony sparked flurry of questions, and Mak admits scrutiny for Middle Eastern royalty was ‘shocker’

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The ongoing business talks of the sheikh’s office remain on track, many of which involve bringing Chinese technologies back to his home country, his aide has said. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Kahon Chan

Published: 9:26pm, 21 May 2024Updated: 7:39am, 22 May 2024

Corrected [10:59pm, 21 May, 2024]

[10:59pm, 21 May, 2024]
This article has been amended to reflect a change requested by Eleanor Jane Mak to one of her quotes. She asked for the quote to be amended to: “Otherwise people would say his family is like this or that if our investment is of smaller value, or when an investment is not profitable.”

A top Hong Kong aide of Dubai Sheikh Ali Rashed Ali Saeed Al Maktoum has reaffirmed a plan of his return to the city in the coming weeks to inaugurate his family office, set-up of which is under way with a possible name change in a bid to reduce the attention on his ruling family link.

Eleanor Jane Mak, the CEO of the prince’s Hong Kong-based office, also said in an exclusive interview with the Post on Tuesday that she hoped the sheikh’s coming appearance could serve as an opportunity to “clear the air” after the inauguration ceremony’s postponement in March led to a flurry of unflattering publicity.

Maktoum drew public attention when he called off the inauguration ceremony for the US$500 million family office in Hong Kong at the eleventh hour in March due to “some urgent unexpected private matters”. His office later announced that the ceremony would be held at the “end of May”.

Mak assured that the sheikh still planned to return to the city in the coming weeks to attend the ceremony, meet potential business partners and take part in charitable activities, although the exact dates could fall in the month of June because of scheduling and other considerations.

“We’re still discussing some [options of the] date as we hope there will be something concrete to announce when he comes,” she said. “We really hope he can clear the air once and for all. I think it will be a good opportunity.”

Eleanor Jane Mak, the CEO of prince Ali Al Maktoum’s Hong Kong-based office, poses in front of two portraits of Maktoum in the office on Tuesday. Photo: Kahon Chan

The March ceremony’s postponement and coverage of the sheikh apparently having an alter ego as singer-songwriter Alira before he transitioned to a sustainability focused investor last year have sparked questions about his commitment to the investment.