Asset management in the GCC: A market worth watching
A compelling opportunity for asset managers
Saudi strategy: going it alone or finding a partner?
Three hubs to serve a thriving market
Fixed income, equity, local and international assets – a demand for all
Shariah-compliant market tests perceptions
The Gulf represents one of the most exciting opportunities for asset management anywhere in the world. At a time when global markets are being rocked by credit problems and an uncertain economic outlook, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) presents a compelling range of drivers: growing wealth, at a sovereign and individual level, fuelled by a record oil price; growing sophistication in investment; liberalizing regulatory environments across the region; and stock markets that show little correlation to global equities.
At the heart of the Gulf’s appeal is its strengthening economic position, and it sets a framework for the growth of a vibrant asset management industry. National income growth averaged 19% in the six GCC nations (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman) in the four years to June 2007; over the same period, GCC governments added $500 billion to their net foreign assets despite huge spending on projects.
