LONDON: Middle East and North Africa companies are meeting international investors in London this week as EFG Hermes hosts its 12th Annual London Investor Conference from September 21 to 24.
The four-day event at Emirates Stadium brings together 125 listed companies from seven MENA countries and more than 830 participants, including over 420 investors representing 181 investment institutions, according to conference information.
The conference is designed around direct engagement between company executives, institutional investors and fund managers, with one-on-one meetings and group discussions forming a central part of the programme.
For MENA-listed companies, the London gathering provides an opportunity to present their businesses and regional market outlook directly to investors outside their home markets.
Focus on capital markets and regional growth
Discussions during the conference cover several issues influencing investment decisions across the region, including liquidity, capital allocation, regulatory developments, ESG-related value creation, macroeconomic resilience and geopolitical developments.
The event comes as investors assess changing global capital flows and interest-rate expectations while continuing to evaluate risks associated with geopolitical developments.
EFG Hermes said the conference reflects growing international attention toward MENA markets, pointing to structural reforms, market liberalisation, private-sector expansion and stronger corporate fundamentals as factors shaping the region’s investment landscape.
The investment bank’s Group CEO Karim Awad described the region as increasingly being considered from a longer-term investment perspective rather than solely through cyclical opportunities. His comments were made in the context of reforms, private-sector growth and corporate fundamentals across MENA.
Direct access to listed companies
The conference format gives investors direct access to senior representatives of participating companies and allows discussions to move beyond broad regional market assessments.
EFG Hermes Co-CEO Mohamed Ebeid said the firm’s conferences are intended to connect investors with decision-makers at MENA-listed companies and provide access to companies and sectors shaping the region’s investment outlook.
The emphasis on corporate access is also reflected in EFG Hermes’ recent performance in the 2026 Extel Emerging EMEA Research Survey. Gulf News reported that EFG Hermes retained the top position in the Corporate Access Conferences category for a second consecutive year. The survey’s 19th edition brought together 220 companies from 12 countries and 675 institutional investors and fund managers representing 252 global institutions.
That recognition is separate from the London conference itself but provides additional context for EFG Hermes’ role in connecting international investors with MENA companies.
UAE and Gulf relevance
For Gulf markets, international investor engagement remains closely linked to the development and international visibility of listed companies.
The London conference does not represent a new UAE regulation, investment programme or government initiative. Rather, its relevance to UAE and Gulf readers lies in the interaction between regional listed businesses and international institutional capital.
The wider regional investment landscape also includes technology companies seeking international funding. Key Capital, a UAE-based venture-capital secondaries asset manager, is scheduled to hold its fourth annual Key Trek London roadshow from September 30 to October 7, bringing more than 35 MENA technology founders into meetings with international investors and strategic partners.
That event is separate from the EFG Hermes conference and focuses on private technology companies rather than the listed-company investor meetings taking place at Emirates Stadium.
Conference continues through September 24
EFG Hermes’ London Investor Conference is scheduled to continue through September 24, 2026.
The current edition brings listed companies, institutional investors and fund managers together for discussions covering corporate performance, market conditions, regulation, capital allocation and the broader investment outlook for MENA.
No new investment commitments or transactions should be inferred solely from companies’ participation in the conference. The event is primarily a platform for investor engagement and corporate access.
What is the EFG Hermes London Investor Conference?
It is an annual investor conference that connects MENA-listed companies with global and regional institutional investors and fund managers.
When is the 2026 London Investor Conference being held?
The 12th annual conference runs from September 21 to September 24, 2026.
Where is the conference taking place?
The conference is being held at Emirates Stadium in London.
How many companies are participating?
The 2026 edition features 125 presenting listed companies from seven MENA countries.
How many investors are attending?
More than 420 investors representing 181 investment institutions are expected among more than 830 guests.
What topics are being discussed?
The programme covers liquidity, capital allocation, regulation, ESG-related value creation, macroeconomic resilience and geopolitical developments affecting regional markets.
Does the conference mean new investments have been announced?
Not necessarily. Participation provides companies with investor access, but it should not by itself be interpreted as confirmation of an investment, transaction or funding commitment.
