The Gulf states and the family run businesses, where much of the region’s wealth is concentrated, are confronting similar challenges as both face up to an era of change

The oil-rich states of the Gulf Cooperation Council may talk about the need to diversify their economies and open themselves up to foreign investment, but any pick-up in the oil price seems to go hand in hand with reforms being put on the back burner

There is more to Africa than natural resources. Private equity opportunities can be found within markets like Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire, but companies with a regional strategy are most attractive  

South Africa’s private banks may excel in their use of technology, but the country itself faces myriad economic and political problems

Africa is brimming with opportunity, but investors should spread their nets widely and look beyond commodity producers towards other sectors such as infrastructure and consumer-driven industries

Karim EL Solh, CEO of Gulf Capital, talks to Yuri Bender about the impact of low oil prices on the GCC and why private equity may be the best investment route into the region

Nick Wilson of the Qatar Investment Fund and IOTA’s Jean-Charles Charki debate whether Africa or the Gulf states offer greater opportunities to investors

African business owners with expansion plans are increasingly realising they need to professionalise the way they operate, in order to draw capital and increase the firm’s value