Knight Frank announced the launch of its Private Office operations in India, to serve UHNWIs, HNWIs, family offices and their advisors
Knight Frank today announced the launch of its Private Office operations in India, marking a significant expansion of its capabilities to serve Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), family offices and their advisors. Working exclusively with private clients, Knight Frank’s Private Office in India will offer a seamless, bespoke and discreet service across all property-related requirements, from acquisitions and sales to investment strategy, spanning residential, commercial and global real estate markets.
The India Private Office builds on the success of Knight Frank’s established global network of Private Offices, including in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Jeddah, enabling Indian clients to access a truly connected international platform.
Knight Frank’s Private Office in India will be led by Saneya Malani, who has been appointed Head of Private Office, India.
Saneya brings extensive experience in client advisory, relationship management and business solutions, and will be responsible for building and managing a portfolio of UHNW clients and family offices. Her role will focus on delivering tailored advisory and transaction services, while leveraging Knight Frank’s global network to facilitate cross-border opportunities. In her new role, she will work closely with Knight Frank’s global Private Office team based in London to ensure a seamless integration of expertise, client care and business development across markets.
Commenting on the launch, Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said, “India is witnessing an unprecedented phase of wealth creation, which is reshaping investment behaviour and driving demand for highly personalised advisory services. The launch of our Private Office in India is a natural evolution of our strategy to serve this sophisticated and globally minded client base. With increasing outbound investments into international real estate, Knight Frank is uniquely positioned to offer integrated, cross-border advisory backed by deep local expertise and a powerful global network.”
Saneya Malani, Senior Director – Business Solutions and Private Office, India, added “The launch of our Private Office capability in India reflects both the scale of opportunity and the growing sophistication of client needs. Our focus is on delivering a highly bespoke, relationship-led service that combines discretion, strategic insight and access to exclusive opportunities across global markets. We are seeing strong momentum in Indian capital flowing into international real estate, and this platform allows us to further strengthen our role as trusted advisors to this segment.”
Sarah May-Brown, International Partner, Head of Global Private Capital Private Office Knight Frank, said, “India represents one of the most dynamic wealth markets globally, and the launch of our Private Office here is a significant milestone in expanding our global platform. This initiative strengthens our ability to provide a truly connected service, enabling clients to access opportunities, insights and expertise across geographies, sectors and asset classes. It reinforces our ambition to be the trusted partner for the world’s wealthiest clients.”
With this launch, Knight Frank continues to strengthen its position as a leading advisor in the premium and investment real estate space, offering a differentiated, high-touch service tailored to one of the fastest-growing UHNW populations globally.
In Knight Frank’s recent edition of The Wealth Report 2026, it was revealed that India’s billionaire population stood at 207, third after USA and Mainland China, while it is expected to grow to 313 by 2031. Equally impressive has been the growth of Ultra-High-Net-Worth- Individuals (UHNWI) – or individuals with a net worth of US$ 30 million (mn) and above - which has grown by a staggering 63% over the past five years, from 12,161 in 2021 to 19,877 individuals. The country now has the sixth largest UHNWI population in the world. Further it is set to grow to 25,217 individuals by 2031.
Share of wealth (UHNWIs in India % located in each of the top 5 cities)
|
Indian City |
2015 |
2026 |
|
Mumbai |
41.3% |
35.4% |
|
Delhi |
20.0% |
22.8% |
|
Bengaluru |
12.5% |
10.6% |
|
Hyderabad |
5.0% |
6.3% |
|
Chennai |
1.3% |
4.8% |
India, accounted for 2.8% of global UHNWIs in 2026, up from a little over 2% five years earlier, its trajectory is unmistakably upward. This is a result if the extraordinary wealth creation across technology, industrials and capital markets.
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