The worth of merger and acquisition exercise throughout the Center East and North Africa climbed to $106 billion in 2025, a 15% improve from the earlier yr, as dealmaking accelerated regardless of international financial uncertainty. That’s in response to analysis from EY-Parthenon.
Within the twelve months of 2025, each deal quantity and worth within the MENA area noticed a big uptick, largely fueled by enabling laws, ongoing financial diversification initiatives and disciplined deal-making. Complete deal exercise grew from 701 in 2024 to 884 in 2025, an increase of 26%.
The GCC area accounted for almost all of offers at 685, valued at $102 billion, whereas cross-border transactions dominated the area, making up 54% of the quantity and 61% of the worth.
“The MENA M&A market remained resilient in 2025, with deal volume as well as value rising significantly. Cross-border transactions were the main driver of this upward curve, highlighting the increasing appetite of companies for international expansion and diversification,” stated Brad Watson, MENA Chief at EY-Parthenon.
“Governments continued to invest steadily, supported by robust economic growth, low public debt, the backing of sovereign wealth funds, and broader economic diversification initiatives. Rising foreign direct investment added further momentum.”
The headline offers
The area’s three largest offers of 2025 have been concentrated within the UAE, led by the acquisition of a 64% stake in Borouge by the Austrian oil big OMV and its subsidiary Borealis for $16.5 billion. This was adopted by the acquisition of an 84.76% stake in Modon Holding by L’IMAD Holding Firm, owned by the Abu Dhabi Authorities, for $13.8 billion..
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The third-largest deal was the acquisition of a 42.2% stake in 2PointZero by Multiply Group, an Abu Dhabi-based funding holding firm, for $7.7 billion.
Cross-border offers
Inbound deal quantity elevated by 37% to 223 offers, whereas deal worth surged to $25.4 billion, greater than double in comparison with final yr’s $11.4 billion, reflecting sustained confidence within the area’s evolving financial panorama. In the meantime, outbound offers grew in quantity by 29% yr on yr to 256 offers and reached a mixed worth of $39.2 billion, representing 37% of the entire.
North America, Europe and Asia collectively accounted for 44% and 39% of cross-border offers by quantity and worth respectively.
UAE and KSA the primary markets
As goal nations, the UAE and KSA collectively captured 59% of MENA investments, primarily in know-how {and professional} corporations and providers. As well as, they contributed 66% of the area’s whole deal exercise as buyers, with a give attention to know-how and diversified industrial merchandise.
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With 131 offers, the UAE led home exercise as probably the most engaging hub for buyers as a result of its favorable enterprise surroundings, steady laws and ongoing financial reforms. The nation additionally remained the popular vacation spot for international buyers, supported by increasing commerce volumes, resilient home demand and sustained financial diversification efforts.
On an general foundation, Egypt and Kuwait made it among the many area’s high 5 goal international locations in addition to bidder international locations final yr, whereas Oman and Qatar additionally made an look on the lists.
Reflecting on the 2025 deal yr, Anil Menon, companion at EY-Parthenon stated: “2025 was a remarkable show of M&A market resilience in MENA. The significant increase in M&A market activity was inspite of regional political unrest, significant global trade policy uncertainties and a once-in-a-generation tech transformation led by artificial intelligence.”
