The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing a notable surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), reaching a value of $115.5 billion in the first half of 2025, marking an impressive 149% increase from the previous year.
This is the highest first-half total tracked by the LSEG Deals Intelligence data since 1980, underlining the region’s robustness in the face of global challenges.
Despite the international uncertainties, M&A activity in MENA shows no sign of slowing down. According to Zubair Mir from Norton Rose Fulbright, the strong performance reflects deep investor confidence and a growing appetite for cross-border deals. The region benefits from strong sovereign capital and strategic diversification efforts that help maintain its economic resilience.
Among the standout transactions, Borealis AG’s pending $30.85 billion acquisition of Borouge PLC in the UAE is significant, highlighting the UAE’s role as the prime focus for deals, totaling $39.8 billion. Saudi Arabia follows with $3.5 billion in deals, indicating the continued importance of these nations in the MENA M&A landscape.
Deals targeting MENA entities reached a value of $48 billion, marking an 18% year-on-year rise. This level of activity was only previously surpassed in 2019 with the landmark acquisition of a majority stake in SABIC by Saudi Aramco.
The outbound M&A reached a new record, with deals totalling $64.5 billion, further signifying the region’s growing influence on the global stage.
The materials sector emerges as a dominant player in MENA-targeted M&A, thanks largely to the ADNOC-OMV merger involving Borouge and Borealis, which accounted for a substantial 67% of total deal value. Meanwhile, the financial sector, with deals amounting to $3.3 billion, had the highest number of transactions, showcasing its ongoing vitality.
Looking ahead, experts foresee continued strong deal activity, especially in sectors crucial to regional development agendas. Energy, particularly clean energy, remains a major attraction for investments, alongside digital infrastructure and healthcare, which are thriving due to public and private sector initiatives.
The technology sector, driven by the need for digital transformation and innovation across industries, remains a key area for further development.
