We wrap our recent MENA travelogue with a keen look at Abu Dubai and Dubai, the principal emirates of the UAE. According to the Khaleej Times, the region “is emerging as a global magnet for capital, bolstered by rising foreign investor appetite, strong fundamentals, and a robust pipeline of IPOs across diverse sectors.” Given this time of macro uncertainty, “the UAE’s financial markets are standing out for their stability, depth, and reform-driven momentum.”...
“The Middle East is entering a dynamic period of growth and transformation, creating unprecedented opportunities for investors.” – Gregory Garnier, head of private equity, Middle East, Bain & Co. (Arab News).
Featuring Charts
Chart of the Week: Equity and the Emirates
UAE’s shift from oil-centric to a broader industrial economy will propel PE investments. Source: imarc
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Chart of the Week: Auto Correct
The value of First Brand loans was close to par – until it wasn’t. Source: Bloomberg, S&P Capital IQ, iCapital Investment Strategy
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Chart of the Week: MENA Wealth
Of the top ten largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, four are Middle Eastern. Source: Bloomberg
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Chart of the Week: Up and To the Right
Oman’s economy is expected to increase steadily through the end of the decade Source: Statista
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Chart of the Week: Slow as it Goes
Quarterly direct lending deals peaked 2Q 2024, slowed since. Source: PitchBook LCD, US data through Sept. 16, 2025.
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Chart of the Week: Where’s the Beef?
A PitchBook survey showed private credit participants most worried about finding new deals. Source: PitchBook/LCD, data through Sept. 16, 2025
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Features
Bloomberg: Leveraged Lending Insights – 10/27/2025
Loan Funds See Inflows After Consecutive Weeks of Outflows Click here to access Bloomberg’s US Leveraged Finance Chartbook Retail investors have returned to loan funds following two consecutive weeks of net redemptions. The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) recorded $73m in inflows during the week of October 21–28, a reversal from the $704m in outflows…
Middle Market & Private Credit – 10/27/2025
Rapid US Non-Bank Loan Growth Raises Risk of Wider Losses for Banks Click here to learn more. U.S. regional banks’ recent losses tied to non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) may signal broader risk from this fast-growing loan segment. While these cases may be fraud-related and idiosyncratic, rapid expansion of NBFI exposures increases the chance that concentrated…
The Pulse of Private Equity – 10/27/2025
Middle-market exit count as a share of total PE exit count Download PitchBook’s Report here. Exit activity in the US middle market continued its steady, albeit slow pace, producing another slight down quarter in Q2 2025…. Subscribe to Read MoreAlready a member? Log in here...
Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis – 10/27/2025
US middle market private debt fundraising increased 63% to US$56.2bn in 3Q25 LSEG LPC tracked US$56.2bn of US middle market debt fundraising in the third quarter, 63% above 2Q25’s US$34.4bn…. Subscribe to Read MoreAlready a member? Log in here...
PDI Picks – 10/27/2025
Allocations on the increase Our latest GI 75 ranking of private credit’s biggest investors shows allocations increasing, with pension funds and insurers dominant. Eight is the magic number. It is, in fact, the average allocation made to private credit by the institutions featured in this year’s version of Private Debt Investor’s Global Investor 75 ranking…
Middle Market Deal Terms at a Glance
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Beginning in July 2022 The Lead Left published a series of articles on credit market. This report consolidates those articles.
Cov-lite trends Inflation & rising interest rates – LIBOR to SOFR transition Mega-tranche uni trend ESG takes center stage Login to view interactive report and download PDF version. … Subscribe to Read MoreAlready a member? Log in here Related posts: 2H 2021 Midyear Outlook Report State of the Capital Markets – Fourth Quarter 2016 Review and
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