Orient‘s budding markets beckon equity industry

  The private equity (PE) industry in the MENA region (i.e., the Middle East and North Africa) has witnessed significant change over the past five years, evolving from infancy stage to a multi-billion dollar growth market. In 2003, the MENA private equity market was embryonic, with only 20 firms managing less than $3 billion in capital. In the five years since then the industry has mushroomed to more than 80 firms, with more than ten-fold growth in committed or announced funds. Furthermore, the private equity industry in the MENA region now accounts for a considerable portion of total mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity. Behind this growth are a number of MENA-based private equity firms, which can be segmented into the following categories: • Pure-play firms, both regional — such as Abraaj Capital, Amwal Al-Khaleej, and Citadel Capital — and international — such as Carlyle Group — focus solely on private