Gulf tech firms turn to Hong Kong and Singapore as Iran war grinds on

Paul Bratby had already drawn up plans for expanding to Hong Kong when war broke out in the Middle East earlier this year.

But the founder of xBratAI, a Dubai-based AI-powered trading signals platform, soon brought that timeline forward as the Iran conflict dragged on and widened in scope.

“Our Hong Kong entity had been scheduled for a few years later, but we established it in early 2026,” he said.

Bratby is not alone in looking east. As missiles continue to target Gulf capitals and shipping lanes, digital businesses and investors are increasingly setting up shop in Hong Kong and Singapore.

“The war has influenced the pace of expansion into East Asian hubs more than it has redrawn the map. Firms that can relocate cheaply have done so,” Bratby said, adding: “Hong Kong and Singapore are now treated as primary growth markets.”