Commenting on the new office, Adam Djanogly, Managing Director and Head of EMEA Coverage, said, "The decision to open an office in the Middle East is a direct result of the growing demand for MSCI Barra's range of innovative risk and index products. We have covered the Middle East for many years but have seen a significant increase in interest in our products over the last eighteen months. The opening of an office in Dubai will enable us to provide our clients in the region with local support and the best possible service."

MSCI Barra has considerable experience in providing products designed for the Middle East investment community, including being the first international index provider to launch indices created for the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries. Barra's multi-factor risk models for the Middle East and international markets have been used by clients in the region since the early 1990s.

The office will be staffed initially by Jim Leggate, Executive Director, who has over nine years of experience covering the Middle East region, and Richard Souri, Vice President, who has over seven years of experience supporting MSCI Barra clients.