A number of Asian investment institutions are ready to launch investment funds in Arab and Gulf equities in the next few months. This is due to the tempting price levels that the regional stock have reached in a recent period and in the context of the desire of Asian institutional investors to diversify their investments. This is especially true with regard to markets less linked to the global markets-- whether they are emerging or developed markets.

The Arab and Gulf stock markets represent about 9% of the market value of the shares of emerging markets. The market value of the Gulf shares alone is estimated to be valued at $1.1 trillion, which together with other Arab markets could amount to $1.4 trillion.

al-Ittihad, UAE, March 31, 2008