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Securities & Investment Company
Securities & Investment Company (SICO) was established in 1980 as one of Bahrain's earliest investment banks, operating under the chairmanship of Abdulla...
Securities & Investment Company
Securities & Investment Company (SICO) was established in 1980 as one of Bahrain's earliest investment banks, operating under the chairmanship of Abdulla Mohammed Hassan Al-Zamil. It formed amid a wave of regional financial institution building, predating the large-scale diversification drives that later reshaped Gulf capital. The firm remains headquartered in Manama and is regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The firm deploys capital across three main asset classes: real estate, private credit, and public equities within GCC markets. Its real estate activities have historically included direct property investments and structured real-estate lending across Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. On the public side, SICO operates a brokerage and asset management business offering discretionary portfolios and Gulf-focused mutual funds. Known investment activity includes participation in select regional pre-IPO placements and credit facilities for mid-market Bahraini corporates. SICO has maintained a lean operational profile, anchored by its Manama headquarters. In May 2023, the firm reported net profit of BHD 1.1 million for the first quarter, a recovery from a prior loss-making period, signaling stabilized positioning after regional market headwinds (per the firm's regulatory filings, 2023). Its adjacent activities include custody services and market-making on the Bahrain Bourse, making it part of the local capital-markets infrastructure as well as a principal investor. A structural differentiator is SICO's dual role as both principal investor and market intermediary. Unlike pure family offices or dedicated asset managers, it operates a regulated brokerage and custody business alongside its proprietary investment book. This hybrid architecture — common among older Bahraini investment houses — gives it deal flow through brokerage relationships while maintaining a direct balance-sheet exposure that most modern asset managers have separated.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
1980
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Bahrain
City
Manama
Corporate office
Manama, Bahrain
Principals
Abdulla Mohammed Hassan Al-Zamil
Chairman
Adel Abdulla Al-Saker
General Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at SICO?
SICO does not publicly name a CIO or individual investment committee members. The firm operates under a wholesale banking license from the Central Bank of Bahrain, and its asset management division runs mutual funds and discretionary portfolios across GCC equities, fixed income, and real estate. Key-man risk disclosures are not publicly detailed.
How does SICO source proprietary deal flow?
SICO sources mandates through its dual role as Bahrain's top-ranked broker and a licensed investment bank. Its market-making operations on the Bahrain Bourse and the Bahrain Liquidity Fund give it deep visibility into local liquidity patterns. In 2024, it served as execution agent for the USD 963 million block trade of Alba shares between Ma'aden and SABIC's SIIC unit (per SICO, 2024).
Is SICO a single family office or an investment bank?
SICO is a wholesale investment bank and regional asset manager, not a single family office. It operates under a Central Bank of Bahrain wholesale banking license and has three wholly owned or majority-owned subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Its AUM of USD 7.9 billion is sourced from institutions, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and private banks (per firm website, 2025).
Does SICO invest directly or primarily through funds?
SICO manages both mutual funds and discretionary mandates. Its asset management division offers pooled vehicles and separately managed accounts across equities, fixed income, and real estate. The firm also holds direct stakes through its market-making and liquidity-fund operations. It does not explicitly segment fund-of-fund allocations from direct investments in public disclosures.
What investment stages or asset classes does SICO avoid?
SICO's public disclosures focus on GCC and MENA mandates across listed equities, fixed income, and real estate. The firm does not claim venture capital, growth equity, or private credit strategies. Its investment banking arm engages in IPOs, M&A, and debt restructuring, but the asset management division is not known to pursue private-market pre-IPO rounds.
How is SICO related to its subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
SICO owns a majority stake in SICO Capital, a full-fledged capital markets services firm in Saudi Arabia. It also wholly owns SICO Financial Brokerage in Abu Dhabi and SICO Fund Services Company, a specialized custody and fund administration house in Bahrain. These subsidiaries extend SICO's brokerage, research, and custody capabilities across the GCC.
What is SICO's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
SICO does not publicly describe a co-investment program alongside external GPs. Its transactions typically involve acting as an execution agent or broker for large block trades, as seen in the 2024 Ma'aden–SIIC ALBA share transaction (per SICO, 2024). The asset management division's discretionary portfolios may include third-party manager allocations, but specifics are not disclosed.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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