GCC M&A is still moving in November 2026, even after Saudi Arabia postponed its flagship FII investment conference to 2027. In the two weeks after the delay was announced, sovereign platforms, private equity firms and regional companies all announced new GCC deals, from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, Manama and Dubai.
This update is for business owners in the UAE and the wider GCC who are asking whether now is still a good time to sell. It explains what happened, who is buying and what to prepare. If you are thinking about an exit, our business sale advisory team can tell you how buyers would see your company today.
Key takeaways
The FII Institute moved its 10th Riyadh conference, planned for 26 to 29 October 2026, to 2027.
Within two weeks, Apollo, Investcorp and Magrabi Retail all announced GCC deals.
Bahrain's Gateway Gulf forum on 1 and 2 November expected more than 110 investment announcements worth over $20 billion (Arab News).
Buyers include sovereign-linked platforms, private equity funds and regional companies in the same sector.
For owners, buyer demand is still there, but buyers are choosing carefully.
Is GCC M&A slowing down after the FII delay?
Not on the evidence of the past two weeks. The FII Institute said on 19 October that its 10th edition would move to 2027, with dates to follow. Gulf News linked the decision to regional tensions and Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, while the institute said it wanted the event to deliver "the full scale" its community expects (Gulf News).
Deals already in progress usually keep going. In the first half of 2026, EY counted 390 MENA deals worth $46.7 billion, down from 434 a year earlier, with sovereign wealth funds and government-related entities central to dealmaking (EY).
Which GCC deals were announced in the past two weeks?
Date
Deal
Country
What it shows
26 Oct 2026
Apollo takes a minority stake in Mubadala Capital, with $5bn of commitments at first close
UAE
Global investors are buying into Gulf investment platforms
27 Oct 2026
Investcorp's Saudi Pre-IPO Growth Fund joins a consortium buying REDA Gulf Holding
Saudi Arabia
Private equity is backing established Saudi companies
1 Nov 2026
Bahrain awards Golden Licences to four projects worth $3.89bn at Gateway Gulf
Bahrain
Governments are still competing for large investments
2 Nov 2026
Magrabi Retail agrees to buy the 15-store Dubai Optical business
Three types of buyer were active in these two weeks.
Sovereign-linked platforms. Mubadala Capital manages over $60 billion in its core alternatives business, and Apollo's stake brings outside capital into it (Apollo).
Private equity. Investcorp reported $11.1 billion of activity from January to September 2026, including $3.7 billion of new investments (Investcorp). REDA Gulf is the fifth investment by its Saudi Pre-IPO Growth Fund, after Metra, NourNet, TruKKer and Salla. We covered what private equity wants from GCC businesses in a separate guide.
Regional companies. Magrabi Retail is buying a 1978-founded Dubai brand to grow in the UAE, after earlier deals for Rivoli's optical division and Kefan Optics (Gulf News). Larger deals like this one need merger control clearance, so read our guide to UAE merger control rules if your buyer is a big player in your sector.
What do these deals tell owners about timing a sale?
Buyers are still paying for quality. Every business in the table above is established, with a known brand, a strong market position or a long track record. REDA Gulf was founded in 1986 and employs more than 1,700 engineers and technicians (Investcorp).
If you are weighing a sale in the next 12 to 18 months, this checklist shows where to start:
Get a current valuation based on 2026 trading.
Prepare three years of clean accounts and monthly figures for 2026.
Write down how the business handled this year's regional disruption.
List your top customers, contracts and leases, with renewal dates.
Decide which buyer type fits: a regional company, private equity or a sovereign-linked platform.
Decide whether you want a full exit, a staged sale or a minority partner.
Headlines about delayed events do not mean buyers have left. Deals kept being announced through late October and early November.
Expect buyers to ask how your business performed during the 2026 disruption. Have the numbers ready.
Know your value before you talk to anyone. A market value assessment gives you a starting point based on today's market.
Consider more than one buyer type. A regional company, a fund and a family group may value the same business very differently.
Selling or buying elsewhere in the GCC?
Saudi Arabia approved a new Commercial Transactions Law on 27 October 2026, which will change the rules for commercial contracts once it takes effect (). Bahrain is using Golden Licences to speed up approvals for large projects. Ownership rules, approvals and timelines differ in each GCC country, so get advice from a licensed advisor in the market where you are selling.
Deal counts in the first half of 2026 were lower than a year earlier, but deals did not stop. EY counted 390 MENA deals worth $46.7 billion in H1 2026, and new GCC deals were announced in late October and early November despite the FII postponement.
Why was the FII 2026 conference postponed?
The FII Institute moved its 10th edition, planned for 26 to 29 October 2026 in Riyadh, to 2027. Gulf News linked the decision to regional tensions and Houthi attacks on the Kingdom. The institute said it wanted the event to meet the expectations of its partners and delegates.
Who is buying businesses in the GCC?
Three groups are most active: sovereign-linked investment platforms, private equity firms and regional companies expanding in their own sector. In late October and early November 2026, Apollo invested in Mubadala Capital, Investcorp joined a consortium buying Saudi company REDA Gulf, and Magrabi Retail agreed to buy Dubai Optical.
What happened at Gateway Gulf 2026?
Gateway Gulf is Bahrain's investment forum, held on 1 and 2 November 2026 in Manama. Bahrain's finance minister said it was expected to generate more than 110 investment announcements worth over $20 billion. Bahrain also awarded Golden Licences to four projects worth $3.89 billion.
Is it a good time to sell a business in the GCC?
It can be, if your business is established and your records are ready. Buyers are still active, but they are choosing carefully and will ask how you performed during 2026. A current valuation is the best first step.
Thinking about selling your business in 2027? Contact our team for a confidential conversation about timing, value and the buyers most likely to be interested.
