Following decades of extensive infrastructure investment, the Middle East region (and the GCC countries in particular) is now experiencing rapid expansion and strong economic growth. Almost every business sector is providing attractive market development opportunities.

A new generation of leaders are driving their economies to become more diversified and less dependent on the traditional energy contributions, where the new asset platform is based on knowledge systems, higher value-added industries and more sophisticated financial markets.

This process of change is seeing major commitments to education and technology development across the region and is also being supported by the positive revision of legal and regulatory structures, all combining to provide the right environment for inward investment and essential incentives for national development and the growth of economic sophistication.

The profound economic, social and legal transformation occurring in the region is supported by significant capital migration and budget surpluses, now more focused on investment within the Middle East, rather than the historical majority of offshore investments. As a result, there is a united drive to develop national capital markets supported by international standard financial infrastructure and services. This is evident in the positive restructuring of traditional family based businesses, the move towards privatisation of state owned assets and the economic liberalisation of corporate markets which in turn is creating greater demand for less conventional business opportunities and investment assets.