UAE and Egypt lead the number of private equity investments in 2013

The UAE continues to be a popular destination for private equity investments due to the size and dynamic nature of the economy, according to according to the 8th annual report of the Mena Private Equity Association, a non-profit organisation supporting and developing the private equity and venture capital industry in the region.

The UAE and Egypt led the number of investments for the Mena region accounting for 20 per cent followed by Lebanon (18 per cent).

The private equity industry in the Middle East and North Africa region reported flat growth in 2013. Based on disclosed information, the number and total value of deals have seen a slight decrease compared to 2012. The fundraising environment remained challenging with a decrease in total funds raised during 2013 compared to prior year. This is attributed to the consolidation of the private equity industry and the unrest in the region.