Middle East and Europe Investments in Spotlight

It will be held on January 15 at the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).

The fast-growing market capitalisation of GCC stock exchanges is fanning global investor interest in the region and the wider Middle East, generating an unprecedented level of international attention from merchant banks and intermediaries.

This is underlined by the number of international brokers that have joined Dubai International Financial Exchange and DIFC, drawn by the high volumes of conventional debt and equity being issued and enthusiastic investor response to sukuk Islamic bonds.

To further stimulate international investor awareness and understanding, the DIFC and Tradinfo- the Brussels-based investor relations advisers are bringing together leading players for the first Meet forum.

‘Meet Dubai’ will be attended by top professionals from Europe including brokers, institutional investors, and finance specialists join professional counterparts from the Middle East.

The forum aims to strengthen investment relations between Europe and the Middle East, setting up co-operative linkages between key operators in each region.

DIFC Authority chief executive officer Nasser Al Shaali described the event as a ‘ground-breaking initiative’ that will improve mutual understanding and create many new investment opportunities.

“This is the first time that so many international brokers from Europe and our own region will be able to get together to learn from each other and share experience,” he said.

“As the region’s international financial centre, DIFC takes the lead in stimulating greater financial and investment interaction between Europe and the Middle East,” he added.

The listing of DP World alone, which debuted on the DIFX in late November, has given the region a centre-stage position in global markets.

This was the Middle East’s largest initial public offering, with retail and institutional investors laying out almost $5 billion to acquire a combined 23 per cent of the ports operator.

At the same time, the Dubai Financial Market has seen growing interest from foreign institution investors, mainly for long-term funds. In one week alone during the second half of this year, foreign investors accounted for almost 30pc of all trading volumes.