Over the last couple of years the MENA and GCC markets have started to push for more diversity in their financial activities. Securitisation has emerged as a catalyst and is experiencing notable growth that has already materialised in markets like Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries. Some specificities related to these markets and major hurdles that have slowed progress, are examined thereafter. Securitisation has already demonstrated its ability to structure transactions in markets where no specific regulations exist. Most of the countries in the MENA – GCC regions have yet to enact such regulations. Some countries have or are on the verge of enacting regulations. Others have yet to envisage such reforms and remain a challenge for securitisation transactions. Several countries have addressed the securitisation issue in a formal way, like Turkey, Tunisia and Lebanon for instance (which has recently enacted a new securitisation law). It is interesting
