With continued policy evolution, deepening financial services ecosystems and expanding pools of investable capital, the Middle East’s private market AUM is forecast to double within the next five years, according to a new report.
Private funds based in the region account for 0.5% of global private AUM, totalling $73 billion. Despite their modest size, these funds actively invest both within the Middle East and internationally, highlighting the region’s integrated role in global capital flows, says the 2026 edition of the Global Asset Monitor (GAM) by Ocorian, a global provider of fund administration, capital markets, corporate and compliance solutions.
The report provides a data‑driven assessment of private asset flows and structural trends shaping the Middle East’s investment landscape.
According to the findings, the Middle East is entering a significant growth phase for private markets, supported by economic transformation programmes, rising institutional wealth, and increasingly sophisticated investment frameworks – particularly in established centres within the GCC.
Global private funds have allocated $144bn to Middle East
The report shows $144 billion in allocations to Middle Eastern markets from internationally domiciled private funds – reflecting sustained interest in infrastructure, real estate, venture growth, and private credit opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Middle East continues to be home to some of the world’s largest sovereign, institutional and family office capital pools. These broader assets significantly outweigh private fund AUM, driving demand for advanced governance, structuring and fund servicing expertise as investors diversify their portfolios.
Funds domiciled in the Middle East manage just $55 billion of private equity AUM, highlighting a clear gap between where capital is being deployed and where fund management is based. This imbalance points to strong momentum, but an ecosystem still in its early stages, with growing international investor confidence in the region’s opportunities, alongside substantial headroom for the development of locally domiciled Private Equity platforms.
Private markets support diversification
Private assets are increasingly being used to build exposure to non‑hydrocarbon sectors, supporting transformation agendas and strengthening the pipeline of companies preparing for future public listings in markets across the region – including within major GCC exchanges, the report notes.
Charlie Rix, Head of Fund Services – Dubai, at Ocorian, commented: “The Middle East is entering a pivotal stage in the development of its private markets. The region has the strategic vision, capital strength and institutional maturity required to scale rapidly, and global investors are clearly taking notice.” - TradeArabia News Service
