RIYADH: Middle East and North Africa mergers and acquisitions rose 19 percent in the first half of 2025 to $58.7 billion, driven by sovereign wealth funds, cross-border flows, and strong deal activity in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
According to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report, the number of transactions jumped 31 percent year on year to 425, marking one of the busiest half-year periods for the region.
The findings come alongside data from the London Stock Exchange Group, which reported last month that MENA M&A surged 149 percent in the same period to $115.5 billion, the highest first-half total since 1980.
Earlier in February, US-based investment bank Morgan Stanley described the M&A momentum in the region as a “structural upswing” in deal volume and value, driven by regulatory reforms and strategic policy shifts across the region.
“The positive performance in the first half of 2025 underscores the strength, dynamism, and resilience of MENA’s M&A market,” said Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon leader.
