Citi Wealth's 2026 Global Family Office Report, released on 22 September, found that 79% of Asia Pacific (APAC) family offices take part in direct investing, the highest rate of any region, in a survey of 351 clients of which 22% were from APAC.

TL;DR

  • APAC family offices lead the survey on direct investing (79%), on AI as a primary sector focus (80%) and on portfolio outperformance, with 26% reporting year-to-date returns above 15%.
  • Their top concerns were the stability of the global financial system (53%) and market volatility (52%).
  • The sample is Citi's own client base, and 22% of 351 is roughly 77 APAC offices (our calculation), so the results are indicative rather than representative of all Asian family offices.

What did Citi's 2026 family office survey find for Asia Pacific?

Citi Wealth is the private banking and wealth arm of Citigroup, and its Global Family Office Group works with more than 1,900 family offices worldwide. For APAC respondents, Citi reported that 26% had year-to-date returns above 15%, the highest portfolio outperformance of any region, and that 22% target annual returns above 15%, nearly double the global average. A further 62% had adopted active management and 49% used hedging strategies, both well above global averages.

On direct investing, 79% of APAC offices participated, the highest rate globally, and 77% named internal teams as the leading source of direct investment opportunities. On themes, 80% identified AI as a primary sector focus, the highest of any region.

How was the survey run, and how reliable is it?

The survey began at Citi Wealth's 11th Annual Family Office Leadership Summit in June 2026 and was then opened to the wider client base. It had about 50 questions, and 351 clients from 41 countries responded in June and July. Because respondents are Citi clients who chose to answer, the results describe that group, not every family office in the region. Summit attendees averaged a family net worth of $2.1 billion, which suggests a large-family skew. For a comparison with another large survey, see our report on the UBS 2026 Family Office Report, based on 307 families.

How do APAC family offices compare with the global picture?

Globally, nearly 90% of respondents reported positive year-to-date portfolio performance and 41% target annual returns of 7% to 10%. More than 40% made no major portfolio changes and nearly half increased public equity exposure. Looking ahead, 38% expect family globalisation to rise over the next five years and about one-third anticipate leadership transitions within five years. The contrast is that APAC respondents reported higher return targets and more active strategies than the global averages Citi cites.

What are APAC family offices worried about?

Citi's release says 53% of APAC respondents cited the stability of the global financial system as a top concern and 52% cited market volatility. A Hubbis report on the survey links the heightened concern partly to the Strait of Hormuz, which it says carries 85% of oil destined for Asian markets. That link is Hubbis's framing, not a finding stated in the Citi data we reviewed. Bernard Wai, Citi's Head of Asia for Integrated Client Solutions and Global Family Office, said family offices across APAC "have evolved to become increasingly sophisticated".

Why it matters for family offices in Singapore and Hong Kong

Direct investing at 79% implies that many offices are building internal deal teams and not only allocating to external funds, which affects hiring, governance and local spending. That connects to Singapore's tax incentive rules, covered in our explainer on the revised single family office rules and what existing SFOs must do by June 2027. For the wider allocation picture, see how fund managers read Preqin's 2026 study on private markets allocations. This article is general information, not investment, tax or legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Asia Pacific family offices invest directly, according to Citi?

79%, the highest rate of any region in Citi Wealth's 2026 Global Family Office Report.

How many family offices responded to the Citi survey?

351 clients from 41 countries responded in June and July 2026, of which 22% were from APAC.

What are the biggest concerns for APAC family offices in the survey?

The stability of the global financial system (53%) and market volatility (52%).

Sources and Method

Figures come from Citi Wealth's press release on the 2026 Global Family Office Report, published 22 September 2026 and carried by Malay Mail via Media OutReach (malaymail.com, 22 September 2026). Hubbis's coverage of 23 September 2026 (hubbis.com) independently reports the same APAC figures and adds the Strait of Hormuz context. Citi's own report page was not opened for this draft. The sample size for APAC is our own calculation from the stated 22% share. Wording is original.