Gatehouse Capital, sister company to Gatehouse Bank, has underlined its commitment to Scotland’s vibrant financial services sector ahead of the 2026 Edinburgh Finance Festival, outlining plans to build one of the UK’s leading Shariah-compliant bridging finance providers from its headquarters in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Finance Festival 2026, is one of Scotland’s most significant gatherings of financial services leaders, policymakers, academics and innovators, organised by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI).
Following an inaugural year that attracted more than 3,000 participants across 25 events, the Festival has quickly established itself as a forum for exploring the future role of finance in society and the economy. Gatehouse Capital joins the festival this year alongside Gatehouse Bank, a longstanding GEFI partner, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing ethical finance in the UK and a shared belief that financial services must continue to evolve, balancing commercial success with transparency, inclusion and positive economic impact.
Selecting Edinburgh, Gatehouse Capital was founded on the basis that Scotland offers a unique combination of financial expertise, regulatory excellence and international connectivity. The company believes the city provides the ideal platform from which to serve brokers, investors and customers across the UK while contributing to the continued growth of Scotland’s financial services sector.
Edinburgh has long been recognised as one of Europe’s leading financial centres, with a reputation built on trust, stewardship and innovation, underpinned by a vibrant ethical finance ecosystem that has been strengthened through over a decade of collaboration, convening and thought leadership led by GEFI. For Gatehouse Capital, those qualities align closely with the principles underpinning Shariah-compliant finance, which emphasise transparency, asset-backed investment and responsible growth.
Gatehouse Capital has set ambitious targets, aiming to become a major participant in the UK bridging sector and has established a long-term objective of reaching £500 million in annual turnover within five years. This will create up to 35 new roles while supporting the wider professional services ecosystem that makes Edinburgh such an attractive destination for financial services firms.
Commenting ahead of the Edinburgh Finance Festival, Mark Dyason, Managing Director at Gatehouse Capital, said:
“Our decision to establish Gatehouse Capital in Edinburgh was a strategic one. Scotland’s capital combines centuries of financial expertise with a forward-looking approach to innovation and investment. It is a city that understands the importance of trust, responsibility and long-term thinking, values that sit at the heart of our business.
“We have ambitious plans for growth and a clear objective to become a significant force within the UK bridging market. Achieving that ambition will require investment in people, technology and partnerships and we believe Edinburgh provides the ideal environment in which to build that future.”
The company believes Edinburgh is a natural home for a modern ethical and Shariah-compliant finance provider. Islamic finance is one of the fastest-growing segments of global financial services, with increasing demand from investors seeking transparent, ethical and asset-backed financial solutions. By locating its headquarters in Scotland, Gatehouse Capital aims to contribute to the continued diversification of the UK’s financial services landscape while strengthening Edinburgh’s position as a globally connected centre for investment, innovation and specialist finance.
The Edinburgh Finance Festival will provide an opportunity to discuss the role that innovative finance businesses can play in supporting economic growth, attracting investment and creating high-quality employment opportunities across Scotland and the wider UK.
Omar Shaikh, Managing Director of GEFI, said:
“Gatehouse Bank has been a longstanding partner of GEFI, and we are delighted to welcome Gatehouse Capital to Edinburgh, the natural home for green and sustainable finance. Their decision to establish and grow the business here reflects the city’s strength as a globally connected centre for ethical finance.
“Edinburgh’s reputation is built on people, purpose and long-term thinking— qualities that align closely with the principles of Islamic and faith-based finance. Gatehouse Bank, one of the UK’s largest Islamic banks, has been a regular participant at our Ethical Finance flagship global summit and their investment in the city is a strong vote of confidence in Scotland’s financial services sector and its future growth potential.”