WITH MARKET UNCERTAINTY on the increase in Europe and the US, many investors are looking to other markets. And while the Arab Spring has made investors edgy, to rule out the Middle East because of recent events risks ignoring the opportunities the region presents. "Things are looking good in the Middle East," says Wael Ziada, head of research at EFG-Hermes – the investment bank that took top place in Euromoney’s Best Middle East research house survey. "Europe has austerity, China has inflationary pressure and other emerging markets are far more dependent on the commodity cycle than the region."
With political turmoil plunging several countries in the region into chaos, and economic problems troubling the oil-importing countries of the West, one might be surprised at such a positive evaluation of the Middle East.
However, experts dealing with the region are confident it offers opportunities to investors. Some of the countries in the region are relatively free from the economic turmoil that has afflicted Europe and the US, and some of the issues associated with emerging markets.