MIDDLE EAST SECURITIES SECTOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT

According to PWC, the Middle East is one of the world's fastest growing markets banking and capital markets. The region's financial services sector is in the midst of a massive overhaul. With populations getting younger, better educated and more demanding; increasing diversity in financial products and services; and growing regulatory requirements for better monitoring of processes and developing secure financial systems, banks and financial institutions across the region are investing heavily to match or outstrip their international peers.

More companies are seeing the advantages of listing while some Arab investors, who had until recently automatically looked to the United States and Europe, are now putting a portion of their money into local stock exchanges.

This trend is being helped by the readiness of most Middle East govern- ments to allow foreign investors to buy shares and the replacement of the traditional over-the-counter markets with formal exchanges, which are independently and more rigorously regulated. A further boost has come from a new generation of investment bankers, who have opened a series of funds specialising in Arab markets and the readiness of more Gulf countries to accept these instruments.

Financial Sector development is key to sustainable growth and competitiveness, particularly as regional economies face a challenging environment.

The February 2017 World Bank report on the Middle East states: “this year appears to be one of the toughest for the region as MENA governments face serious policy challenges. The biggest challenge for oil exporters is managing their finances and diversification strategies with oil prices below $45 a barrel."

Amid this backdrop, the Middle East Securities Forum, taking place from May 15 to 16 in Abu Dhabi, will offer a unique insight into challenges and opportunities in the market in the months and years ahead.

Attendees will be given a unique insight into the macro-economic outlook of the region's capital and securities markets as austerity measures including value added tax and cuts to subsidies come into force.

There will also be interesting debate on where the market is heading this year, as well as details from US-based equity, fixed income and hedge fund stock market index provider MSCI as to what regional economies will need to do to upgrade from frontier to emerging market status. This comes as the region's largest market, Saudi Arabia, seeks to follow in the footsteps of Qatar and the

UAE under diversification efforts.

Other recent developments, including the introduction of short-selling on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi exchanges, will also be detailed as the region begins its transition to a more mature financial system. In what is sure to be a key calendar date for the region's financial sector.

ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONAL CHAINS TO DRIVE SAFER TRANSACTIONS & FACILITATE THE OPENING OF MARKETS TO REGIONAL & FOREIGN INVESTORS

ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST SECURITIES FORUM

The 8th annual Middle East Securities Forum presents an opportunity to discuss and debate the latest issues emerging in the region and invites opinions through insightful keynotes, panel discussion, and interactive polling. Over two days, the forum will cover areas ranging from macro-economic perspectives, capital market developments in the region, market infrastructure, updates on the Saudi capital market, clearing and settlement, sovereign wealth funds, corporate governance and more. Over 120 experts and specialists from the financial and securities markets will gather for the event from various local and international institutions.

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

• Hear from competent regulatory and authority bodies • Gain up-to-date knowledge of the latest market developments in the MENA region • Understand how geo-political and economic trends impact the financial market • Learn about new products and benchmark your initiatives with other leaders in the market • Meet and network with more than 120 of the greatest minds in the securities industry

MIDDLE EAST SECURITIES FORUM IN NUMBERS

120+ Forum attendees 30+ Forum speakers 10+ Sponsors and exhibitors 15+ Countries represented 2 Days of dynamic debates and interactive discussions

WHATS IN STORE

• Meet the greatest minds in the industry

Network with other C-level attendees, directors and senior leaders in this very niche and specialised forum

• MSCI keynote address

Understand requirements to upgrade from frontier to emerging markets as well as the processes to follow

• Saudi capital market update

Explore challenges to prepare for an upgrade; introduction of T+2 settlement; independent custody model; short-selling; DVP and more

• Sovereign wealth funds insights panel

Exclusive panel to understand better the role of SWFs in the region and their impact

• Hear from regulators, economists and influencers

The forum brings you top-line speakers and C-level insights from authoritative bodies, exchanges, asset and investment firms, private equity and more

• MENA countries market

Find out about new launches, developments and operational challenges such as exchange traded-funds (ETF), stock futures, central counterparty (CCP), borrowing and lending and more

WHO YOU WILL MEET

• Ministries, regulators and authorities

• Sovereign wealth funds

• Asset management firms

• Hedge funds and investment firms

• Private equity and venture capital firms

• Stock exchanges

• Depositary, custodian and investment banks

• Clearing and settlement

• Services brokers