Main Conference Day TwoTuesday, 27 January 2026 - Riyadh (UTC, GMT+03:00)

How are major political developments, especially in the U.S., reshaping risk assets, capital flows, and investor positioning? How are OPEC decisions, government interventions, and the global energy transition influencing the Middle East’s role in global markets, and what does this mean for investors? What role does the Middle East play in the global energy transition, and how should investors interpret the region’s evolving policies?

As global economic conditions continue to evolve, how are interest rates and inflation affecting investment strategies for investors? How can managers navigate market entry into the Saudi market while local players leverage international partnerships in response to geopolitical risks? Which sectors present the most compelling opportunities in today's macroeconomic environment for cross-border collaboration between international and regional private credit players?

Where will the most scalable opportunities in infrastructure and real estate emerge? Across Europe and the Gulf, how are GPs and LPs uncovering value - from digital infrastructure powering connectivity to urban regeneration reshaping cities? And as investors weigh yield against long-term growth, what strategies are defining success in this evolving landscape?

Part 1: New market report (10 minutes): Venture exits in MENA - IPOs, M&A and what comes next

Part 2: 20 minute panel

How can GPs stand out and how can LPs better identify long-term, sustainable VC strategies in the region? What structural gaps – like Series B funding and lack of exits must be addressed to build a mature and investible ecosystem? How can the region nurture sector-specific scale-ups in AI, fintech, and deep tech while avoiding over-concentration and valuation gaps? Why do so many MENA startups stall at Series A/B and how are sovereign funds and fund of funds addressing this bottleneck?

How are LPs and GPs collaborating to structure co-investments that offer direct access and alignment? What role do secondaries and GP-led deals play in creating liquidity and optionality for investors? How are firms building scalable platforms for co-investment across regions like the GCC? What are LPs looking for in terms of governance, speed, and transparency in co-investment processes?

What makes sports and entertainment increasingly attractive for global investors, and how is the asset class evolving? How can public–private partnerships unlock international investment and create a launch pad for long-term economic transformation? What lessons from global platforms can be applied to markets undergoing rapid transformation, such as Saudi Arabia?

Leading family offices share their unique approaches to manager selection, portfolio construction, and asset allocation, exploring strategies when venturing into a new asset classes and geographies. Understand how they have built exposure in unfamiliar markets over time and what key factors guide decision-making to ensure alignment with long-term goals.

Case study snapshots: What problem they were solving, the biggest fundraising hurdle, the turning point and what they learned.

Investor view: Why they said yes or no and what really builds conviction in the current MENA/Global VC landscape.

Open discussion: What really keeps founders up at night (valuations, AI disruption, dry powder, governance etc)

Join intimate, expert-led roundtables exploring key questions and sectors shaping the private capital landscape in the region

1. Education and ed tech: how can the private sector access opportunities? Rilwan Meeran, VP of Mission Impact Investing, American Student Assistance
2. Sports investing: New trends and insights into the hottest sector Ronit Karamchandani, Middle East and Africa, Preqin, a part of BlackRock
3. Islamic finance in focus: Unlocking liquidity, innovation & growth Mohamed Sharaf, Treasurer, Islamic Development Bank
4. How AI Delivers Faster LP-GP Matches and Superior Deal Flow Mohammad Rasouli, Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, Founder & CEO, AIx2.ai
5. Transforming Care Delivery: Private Capital's Role in Saudi Arabia's Healthcare Evolution Dr. Hazem Zagzoug, Deputy Chairman & CEO, Andalusia Health
6. Talent: How can you attract, retain and develop top talent in an AI-driven world? TBD
7. Digital and energy infrastructure at scale: Where is the region allocating capital and who’s deploying? TBD
8. Debate: Blind pool vs single-asset - which model works best?