In a year when global dealmaking often slowed to a cautious walk, the Middle East and North Africa moved in the opposite direction. Mergers and acquisitions worth $106.1 billion were signed across 884 transactions in 2025, telling a story of a region that is no longer waiting for capital but actively putting its own money to work.
The scale of activity reflects a shift that has been building quietly over the past decade. Boardrooms in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Dubai are now as focused on buying assets abroad as they are on attracting foreign investors at home. For many dealmakers, the question is no longer whether MENA will invest globally, but how far and how fast.
Cross-border transactions comprised the greatest share of the transactions. This is indicative of the rising confidence levels. Sovereign wealth funds and regional corporations continued their search for companies with technologies, access to markets, and long-term returns.
In addition, international investors continued to look to the Gulf region due to clarity in regulations and the ongoing growth of non-oil sectors. This has altered the mood of the market, characterized by these two-way money flows. There is a feeling that the region has moved from being an opportunity to becoming a partner in global dealmaking.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia remained at the heart of the action, shaping both the scale and direction of investments. Their economic transformation plans have created a pipeline of projects and companies that need capital, while their financial firepower allows them to look outward for growth.
In addition, a number of this year’s biggest deals had ties to the UAE, highlighting its position as the deal-making engine of the region. Locally, companies are also deciding to merge and consolidate in readiness for stiffer competition and bigger and bigger deals.
Technology and industrial businesses are dominated by volume, a sign of where governments want their economies to go. But traditional sectors such as real estate and energy still delivered the largest deals, reminding investors that the region’s old strengths continue to fund its new ones.
Behind many of these moves are sovereign wealth funds, investing with a generational horizon. For MENA, this is no longer just a strong year. It is a statement of intent — to be a shaper of global capital, not just a destination for it.