Giovanni Moranelli

The Middle East is emerging as one of the most dynamic growth regions in global equities, with a surge in IPOs, rising liquidity, and rapid structural change. For international asset managers, the opportunity is clear- but so are the complexities. Market access now hinges on trusted broker relationships, managing fragmented post-trade processes, and navigating uneven reform across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. With new initiatives such as omnibus trading, post-trade allocation, and securities borrowing and lending beginning to reshape execution, desks must also weigh the gradual migration from high-touch to low-touch flows. In this fireside chat, a leading emerging market buy-side fund manager and a regional broker will explore how MENA market structure is evolving, what distinguishes local execution dynamics from Europe, and how investors can capture opportunity while managing structural and operational risk