1st Middle East IPO Summit to be held in Dubai

More than 200 delegates from around the globe have already confirmed their participation in the 1st Middle East IPO Summit, to be held on 25-28 February 2006, at Al Murooj Rotana, in Dubai.

The Summit, organised by IIR Middle East, features leading figures in the financial and investment industry and will scrutinise the recent surge of IPOs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC.

Debate and discussion amongst investment experts, regulators and market leaders will centre on regulatory and industry standards, critical factors underpinning oversubscriptions, under-pricing, cross-border investment policies, the future of book-building, reporting standards, and macro-economic issues affecting IPOs.

The event also acts as a Who's Who in the financial world, including senior managers at DIFC, Zamil Group, DIFX and DFSA. Experts include Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Chairman, Dubai Financial Services Authority, Jeffrey Culpepper, Head of Corporate Finance, Deutsche Bank, and Steffen Schubert CEO, Dubai International Financial Exchange.

Global Investment House is the diamond sponsor for IPO Summit, whilst the gold sponsor is Shuaa Capital. The silver sponsors are Dubai Bank, Gulf International Bank, Atlas Investment Group, and Zawya.

Gareth Parry, Director – Business Solutions, IIR Middle East commented: “The best word to describe the environment surrounding initial public offering in the GCC is ‘frenzy’. Whether you are a private investor, the patriarch of one of the region’s largest family-owned companies, an investment banker, or a government regulator, understanding the true nature of the Middle East IPO is critical to your success.”

In addition to addressing the issues of the day, the IPO Summit will also act as a meeting place for investment banking executives to liaise with the leaders of the GCC’s largest private businesses now considering IPO