Regional economies driving recovery by diversifying into under-utilized sectors, while global powerhouses feel effects of market saturation

Mr Kanawati summed up the current state of the economy by saying, "This region is still an emerging market, whereas the leading economic powerhouses have long been established. However, this should not be seen as a handicap for the region but rather a massive opportunity; because while the major international economies have reached saturation point in various sectors, this region still has numerous untapped opportunities. If regional markets sustain the current trends, investor confidence will grow - which in turn will add exponentially to the momentum of the recovery."

The increasing volumes of trading on regional markets have been attributed to several factors, one of which is the removal of barriers which previously inhibited regional investors from fully taking advantage of overseas opportunities and vice versa. For instance, MubasherTrade has embarked on a two-way strategy of bringing its regional clientele closer to attractive overseas opportunities while simultaneously opening up regional opportunities for overseas investors. This ongoing expansion is facilitated through smart partnerships in India, the US and Europe among others. This is in addition to proactively anticipating and managing future trends - for example MubasherTrade's introduction of Chinese Yuan trading to meet the expected surge in regional demand in the long run.

Delving into the specific figures of the region's recovery, Mr Sebbata pointed out that the GCC as a whole is expected to grow by 3.4% this year. Among the economies which will record above-average growth, Qatar anticipates a growth rate of about 5%.

Mr Kanawati elaborated, "On the downside, it is indeed true that the slow recoveries of the US and European economies have triggered a chain reaction of effects which slowed down the Middle East economy. However, on the upside we have already factored this knock-on effect into our forecasts, and the outlook is positive. This actually makes the region's growth more impressive, considering that it would arguably be higher were it not for events further afield."

A key driver of increased participation by investors on regional markets has been the vast improvement in both the quantity and quality of information at investors' disposal. This is exemplified by MubasherTrade's award-winning online trading platform, which has become a reputable source of instantly-updated, real time decision-making tools - while simultaneously guaranteeing ironclad security to ease users' peace of mind.

Mr Sebbata noted, "The price of oil has been hovering above $100 per barrel, which greatly contributed to the contrasting fortunes between the region's major oil producers and the biggest oil consumers. However, oil is only one side of the GCC coin; the region's governments have not only been pumping oil out, but pumping investments in to boost their non-oil sectors. With considerable infrastructure projects on the horizon, governments are steadily diversifying their economies into well-rounded (but still well-oiled) machines."

Illustrating an example of how the region is catching up to the global pacesetters in terms of technology, MubasherTrade showcased its versatile range of next generation innovations, which include advanced new applications. These technological innovations are part of the firm's concerted efforts to put top-of-the-range tools at its clientele's fingertips, enabling them to exploit attractive investment opportunities at any time, from anywhere.

Focusing specifically on the UAE, Mr Kanawati said, "The rebounding of the property market suggests that the UAE's recovery is built on a stable foundation. This sector might still experience turbulence here and there, but the rampant boom in tourism should compensate for the weak periods elsewhere."

Meanwhile the UAE's neighbor Saudi Arabia has diversified from its mainstay of oil and is steadily expanding its retail market. Elsewhere Qatar is becoming an increasingly influential player in industries such as banking, to supplement its gas output. The Qatari government has also invested heavily in infrastructural projects in various sectors. In Bahrain and Oman, the respective banking sectors registered strong performances, contributing to the cumulative optimism of market analysts.