HSBC, the UK-based banking group, has designated Dubai as one of its key offshore banking centres and announced the launch of the new “Offshore and International Service” enhancement to its existing high-end banking facility. The offshore and international service is being introduced for the HSBC Premier Service, which offers cross-border banking. HSBC said it aims to meet the growing needs of its Premier customers who can benefit from offshore banking. Dubai has been chosen as one of the five offshore destinations of choice focusing on customers from the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. It has also been chosen as the centre for offshore shariah compliant services. The other four centres are Jersey, Singapore, Hong Kong and Miami.