MENA recorded 390 mergers and acquisitions worth $46.7B in the first half of 2026, according to EY’s MENA M&A Insights report. Deal activity eased from the 434 transactions worth $58.8B recorded during the same period last year, but momentum strengthened in the second quarter.
May and June accounted for 61% of Q2 deal volume and 79% of deal value. Transactions above $500M represented nearly three-quarters of total deal value between March and June, pointing to continued demand for strategic, high-value assets.
Domestic deal value reached $16B between March and June, more than four times last year’s level for the same period. Real estate, power and utilities, and technology drove several major transactions, with government-related entities remaining active in infrastructure and economic transformation projects.
Outbound investment generated 119 deals worth $25.5B in the first six months. UAE and Saudi investors led activity, targeting technology, transportation, financial services and energy-related opportunities. Major transactions included Dubai Aerospace Enterprise’s $7B acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance and Saudi Electronic Gaming Holding Company’s $6B purchase of Shanghai Moonton Technology.
Technology remained the largest source of inbound deal value between March and June, particularly across AI, enterprise digitalisation, software and technology-enabled services. Sovereign wealth funds and government-related entities, including ADIA, PIF and Mubadala, also continued directing capital toward strategic sectors linked to economic diversification, according to EY.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
