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8/22/24, 10:08 AM The stock lure: IPOs and dividend payouts are magnets for yield-hungry investors in GCC | The National
“On a blended basis, if you take both and adjust for market capitalisations, this is a 15 per

cent annual return. This is in line with the S&P 500’s exemplary returns,” Mr Halawi says.

“Interest for emerging markets, the oil story and the fact that the region, with Saudi Arabia

and the UAE at the forefront, is working to attract foreign capital are attracting investors."

There’s a realisation among the policymakers that sound, mature capital markets are a

fundamental piece of the puzzle “if you want to grow your economy sustainably”, he adds.

Who is investing?
On the retail side, local and regional investors account for the bulk of investments as the

regional markets are not very easy to access for offshore retail investors, according to Mr
Masood.

This is not unique to the region, it’s quite common across emerging markets, he says.

“It’s mostly regional investors, particularly Arab, Indian, Pakistani and other investors. We
also see foreign investment from Chinese, Russian as well as some British and European

investors,” according to Ms Dabeet.

Mr Halawi says more foreign institutions are demonstrating higher investment appetite in

the region.

Institutional investors accounted for 66 per cent of trading value at DFM in the first half
of this year.

Interest for emerging markets, the oil The market fabric is changing as the markets in
story and the fact that the region, with
Saudi Arabia and the UAE at the forefront, is UAE have “historically been construed as 80:20
working to attract foreign capital are attracting
investors retail to institutional” investment, Mr Halawi
Amer Halawi, head of research, Al Ramz
Capital says.

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