EnterpriseAM · 14 Sep, 00:00 · Finance briefing

MENA PE stays near record pace in 1H — but exits are heading for their weakest year since 2017

Private equity activity in the Middle East and North Africa remains robust during the first half of the year, maintaining a pace close to record highs.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Private equity activity in the Middle East and North Africa remains robust during the first half of the year, maintaining a pace close to record highs. However, a significant divergence is emerging in the exit landscape. Deal completions for exits are projected to decline sharply, potentially marking the weakest performance since 2017. This trend suggests a bottleneck in liquidity events, where capital deployment continues steadily but realisation of returns faces substantial headwinds. Professionals in the region must navigate this asymmetric market dynamic, where investment opportunities abound yet traditional exit routes become increasingly constrained and competitive.

Employer demand for Financial Modeling skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This divergence signals a critical shift for finance professionals. With exits slowing, the value of deal execution and operational improvement rises significantly. You should prioritise skills in financial modelling and risk management to navigate complex valuations and longer hold periods. Focus on creating value within portfolio companies rather than relying on quick flips. If you are an investor, deepen your expertise in due diligence and post-investment management. For advisors, specialising in restructuring or alternative exit strategies becomes essential. Update your CV to highlight operational turnaround experience. Network with operators who can enhance asset value organically. Prepare for a market where patience and rigorous financial analysis outweigh speculative growth. Mastering these competencies will distinguish you as a resilient professional in a challenging liquidity environment.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Financial Modeling, Risk Management Strategies, Finance and Accounting and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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