There are tangible signs economies in the MENA region have reformed and evolved over the past decade, according to Franklin Templeton Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income’s Dino Kronfol, and Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity’s Bassel Khatoun and Salah Shamma. They outline the opportunities they see in the year ahead.

As investors ponder the prospects for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity’s Bassel Khatoun and Salah Shamma take stock of the investment landscape. They highlight some of the market developments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that have caught their attention.

Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Market Index marks a significant milestone for the MENA region.

Index provider MSCI’s decision to include Saudi Arabia in its emerging-markets index will likely transform the Kingdom’s equity market, and potentially those across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to Bassel Khatoun and Salah Shamma, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity.