Middle East leads the world in angel investing

Entrepreneurs in the region consider social responsibility a priority

Middle Eastern entrepreneurs are leading the way when it comes to angel investing, according to an HSBC report on ‘Private Banking Essence of Enterprise’. Two-thirds of entrepreneurs in the Middle East (66 per cent) are angel investors, funnelling both capital and expertise back to the entrepreneurial community, with the United States accounting for 54 per cent and the Asia-Pacific region accounting for 45 per cent.

The report, which researched the views of over 3,700 successful entrepreneurs in 11 countries globally, also found that differences exist between generations in how they perceive and approach angel investing.

More than half of younger Middle Eastern entrepreneurs (57 per cent) view angel investing as a way to connect and collaborate with peers, thus staying up-to-date with industry progress. In comparison, 52 per cent of an older generation of Middle Eastern entrepreneurs view angel investing as a way to diversify and grow their investment portfolio.

“Middle Eastern entrepreneurs are well and truly at the forefront of angel investing in comparison to their counterparts in the US and Asia. They not only understand the positive impact it can have on their business activity but also recognise the opportunity it provides them to collaborate and learn from their peers,” said Sobhi Tabbara, HSBC’s Global Market Head of Private Banking, Middle East.