Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing appoints Chief Representative for the Middle East region

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced today (Thursday) the appointment of Mr. Jalal Almarhoon as Managing Director and Chief Representative for the Middle East. Mr. Almarhoon officially took office on February 10, 2026, and will be based at HKEX's newly established Riyadh office. He will report to Xu Jingwei, Head of Global Listing Services at HKEX. In this new role, Mr. Almarhoon will be responsible for leading HKEX's business development in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region, overseeing the implementation of various measures related to the group's primary and secondary markets, promoting HKEX as the preferred listing venue for issuers in the Middle East, and developing relationships with key investors and stakeholders in the region. As HKEX's Chief Representative in the Middle East, Mr. Almarhoon will work closely with HKEX teams around the world to strengthen the capital market connections between Hong Kong and the Middle East. HKEX Group CEO Charles Li stated, "We welcome Mr. Almarhoon to HKEX to help us further expand our international business. As the Middle East plays an increasingly important role in global capital flows, strengthening our presence in the region has become a key priority for us. With over twenty years of financial market experience in the Gulf region, Mr. Almarhoon will be a key member in the development of HKEX's business in the Middle East. With our presence in Riyadh, HKEX will continue to serve as a bridge, closely connecting capital, issuers, and investors between Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Middle East." Mr. Almarhoon has worked in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Amsterdam, and prior to joining HKEX, he was Managing Director and Head of Strategic Corporate Clients for Saudi Arabia at BNP Paribas. Previously, he served as Head of Corporate Clients for Saudi Arabia at Société Générale for nearly a decade and held several senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is one of the leading international exchange groups globally and a listed company in Hong Kong (stock code: 388), offering a range of stocks, derivatives, commodities, fixed income products, and other financial products and services, including the London Metal Exchange. As a super connector and gateway market between East and West, HKEX is committed to facilitating two-way capital flows between China and the world through its pioneering connectivity mechanisms with the mainland market, an increasingly diversified product ecosystem, and a liquid international market, promoting exchange and dialogue