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GCC ASSET MANAGEMENT REACHES $2.7 TRILLION IN 2025, UP 10% FROM 2024

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Assets under management (AuM[1]) in the GCC grew by 10% in 2025, reaching $2.7 trillion and marking one of the strongest annual performances in over a decade, according to a new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The findings, released as part of BCG’s Global Asset Management Report 2026: An Imperative for Growth, reveal that the GCC retail segment demonstrated particularly strong performance, recording growth of 14% while institutional assets increased by 9%. While institutional assets continue to dominate the regional market, retail assets are growing at a faster pace, with retail representing 7% and institutional assets accounting for 93% of total regional AuM.

Saudi Arabia continues to anchor regional growth, commanding the highest share of retail mutual funds and ETFs across both the broader Middle East and the GCC, followed by the UAE and Kuwait. The Kingdom’s General Organization for Social Insurance Public Pension Agency (GOSI-PPA) remains the largest pension fund in the region, with Kuwait’s WAFRA maintaining its position as the second largest. Among sovereign wealth funds, the Kuwait Investment Authority recorded the largest externally managed AuM, followed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

“The GCC asset management industry is at an inflection point that demands a fundamentally different approach to competition,” said Lukasz Rey, Managing Director & Partner and Middle East Head of Financial Institutions at BCG. “While near-term dynamics will depend on the broader market environment, the region’s structural fundamentals remain compelling, and many asset managers continue to view the GCC as a strategic priority. Firms that invest in distribution capabilities and technological transformation will be best positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture the opportunities ahead.”

In addition to regional dynamics, BCG’s Global Asset Management Report 2026 identifies key structural forces transforming the industry on a global scale, from the growing centrality of distribution to the adoption of AI-driven operating models and the emergence of tokenization.

Globally, BCG’s report finds that growth is becoming more concentrated among leading firms with scale and distribution access. Revenue growth is decoupling from asset growth as fees decline, while traditional economies of scale are being offset by rising technology investment and fee pressure. Together, these trends point to a more competitive environment in which only a subset of firms is positioned to capture disproportionate growth.

Distribution Becomes the Key Competitive Differentiator

The report emphasizes that the basis of competition in asset management is undergoing a structural shift globally, with distribution emerging as the primary battleground for growth. As product manufacturing becomes increasingly commoditized, control of distribution channels, including platforms, advisors, and institutional relationships, is becoming the key determinant of success.

AI is accelerating these shifts by compressing traditional differentiation and enabling new forms of scale. Globally, BCG estimates asset managers could reduce costs by 25–35% over the next three to five years, while increasing research coverage two- to five-fold and client coverage per relationship manager three to five-fold, all with faster, more scalable personalization. AI allows firms to scale without proportional headcount increases, fundamentally changing the economics of growth. However, most firms remain in early adoption stages, focused on pilots rather than full transformation. Those that fail to redesign their operating models risk falling behind AI-native competitors that can scale faster and operate more efficiently.

“Middle East asset managers have an opportunity to leapfrog traditional operating models by embedding AI and digital capabilities into their core operations,” said Mohammad Khan, Managing Director & Partner at BCG. “While the path forward will require navigating evolving market conditions, firms that move strategically to build scalable distribution networks and technology-enabled platforms will be well positioned to shape the next era of regional asset management.”

Tokenization as a Catalyst for Disruption

Alongside AI, BCG’s global report identifies tokenization and digital assets as emerging forces that could reshape market structure. The value of tokenized real-world assets is projected to reach $14 trillion by 2030 and $55 trillion by 2035, creating new channels for distribution, ownership, and product design. These developments could alter how assets are accessed, transferred, and managed, potentially weakening traditional advantages tied to scale and distribution while enabling new entrants to compete.

“The convergence of tokenization, AI, and evolving investor expectations is reshaping the competitive landscape in ways that favor agility over incumbency,” said Nabil Saadallah, Managing Director & Partner at BCG. “For asset managers in the GCC, success will increasingly hinge on their ability to deliver personalized solutions at scale, those who embrace this shift stand to unlock significant value in a rapidly transforming market.”

As market-driven growth gives way to competition-driven growth, asset managers face a more complex and less forgiving landscape. Capturing net inflows, building scalable distribution, and embedding technology into core operations will determine which firms succeed.

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Delinea Brings Runtime Control for AI Agents to GISEC Global 2026

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Delinea, the identity security platform that governs what humans, machines and AI agents do once they have access, today announced its participation at GISEC Global 2026. Under the theme, “From Access to Action: Governing AI at Runtime,” the company will spotlight the growing need for organisations to govern the actions autonomous AI agents take after access has been granted.

Following its release of new runtime authorisation capabilities for AI agents this summer, Delinea will use GISEC to advance the conversation around runtime authorisation, an approach designed to enforce policy on an agent’s actions within a session, at the time those actions are executed.

As AI agents take on increasingly autonomous roles across databases, cloud environments, infrastructure and business systems, the security challenge is shifting beyond authentication. While an agent may have legitimate access to a system, it can still take an action that exceeds its intended task or creates operational risk. Delinea’s runtime authorisation capabilities enable organisations to apply policy at the point of action — allowing, blocking or escalating activity before it executes.

“AI adoption is moving the identity-security conversation beyond the moment of authentication,” said Mortada Ayad, VP Sales at Delinea. “The question for organisations is no longer simply whether an AI agent can access a critical system. It is whether they can govern what that agent does once it is inside. At GISEC, we want to put that challenge, and the need for runtime control, at the centre of the regional conversation.”

Delinea has strategically adopted a channel-led presence at this year’s show, reflecting its focus on bringing these capabilities to market through the regional partners enterprises rely on to deploy, manage and operationalise complex security programmes. Through its presence at the stands of regional distributor, Shifra, and integrator partner, Defa3, the company will deepen engagement with existing partners, recruit new partners and build the specialist capabilities needed to support secure AI adoption across the region.

The approach builds on the Delinea Partner Advantage Program, launched in July 2026. The program provides partners with clearer rules of engagement, deal protection, tiered incentives and AI-driven enablement, helping them build profitable identity-security practices, while delivering stronger outcomes for customers. It is designed to support selling partners today, with expanding roles planned for managed service providers, global systems integrators, advisory partners and technology partners.

“For a capability this consequential, technology alone is not enough,” Ayad added. “Customers need partners who understand their environment, their risk and how to translate security policy into practical control. Our focus at GISEC is to equip and grow that ecosystem, so organisations can move forward with AI, knowing that authorised access does not become unchecked action.”

Delinea’s runtime authorisation for AI agents enables organisations to govern activity across the systems agents use, including databases, SSH hosts, Kubernetes clusters and cloud consoles. Through just-in-time, task-scoped access, and real-time policy enforcement, organisations can reduce reliance on standing credentials, while maintaining a defensible record of AI-driven activity.

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Tech First Gulf Strengthens its presence in Africa with the appointment of Mustapha Rafiki as General Manager – Maghreb & Francophone Africa

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Tech First Gulf (TFG), a leading value-added technology distributor across the Middle East and Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mustapha Rafiki as General Manager – Maghreb & Francophone Africa. This strategic appointment marks another significant milestone in TFG’s continued regional expansion and reinforces the company’s commitment to strengthening its footprint across Africa.

With over 19 years of experience in the information technology industry, Mustapha brings extensive expertise in business development, channel management, sales leadership, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has successfully built and managed high-performing partner ecosystems while driving sustainable business growth across North, West, East, and Central Africa.

Before joining Tech First Gulf, Mustapha served as Head of B2B Africa at Logitech, where he led business operations across multiple African markets, developing strategic go-to-market initiatives and strengthening channel partnerships. Prior to Logitech, he held the position of Country Manager at Canon, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence, developing strategic alliances, and accelerating growth across key enterprise and commercial segments.

As TFG continues to expand its operations throughout Africa, Mustapha’s appointment reflects the company’s vision of investing in experienced leadership to unlock new opportunities, deepen vendor and partner relationships, and deliver greater value to customers across the markets.

Under his leadership, TFG aims to accelerate regional growth by strengthening its distribution network, expanding strategic technology alliances, enabling channel partners, and introducing innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of enterprises and public sector organizations across the region. His deep understanding of African markets, combined with his proven leadership, will play a vital role in driving TFG’s next phase of growth.

“We are pleased to welcome Mustapha to Tech First Gulf as we continue our expansion across the region. The markets under his leadership offer tremendous opportunities for growth and innovation, and we remain committed to investing in their future through strong leadership and long-term partnerships. Mustapha’s proven track record, strategic vision, and extensive regional expertise make him the ideal leader to accelerate our growth, strengthen our market presence, and deliver lasting value to our partners and customers,” said Mr. Akashdeep (Sky), Chief Strategy Officer, Tech First Gulf

Commenting on his appointment, Mustapha Rafiki said:

“I am excited to join Tech First Gulf at such an important stage of its growth journey. TFG has built a strong reputation for delivering innovative technology solutions and empowering its partner ecosystem. I look forward to working closely with our vendors, partners, and customers to accelerate growth, expand our market presence, and create lasting value across the region.”

As Tech First Gulf continues its regional expansion strategy, the company remains focused on empowering businesses through world-class technology solutions, strengthening strategic partnerships, and building a future-ready digital ecosystem across India, Middle East and Africa.

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Turnitin Expands AI Writing Detection to Support Arabic Language Submissions

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Turnitin recently announced the launch of its AI writing detection capabilities for Arabic language submissions, marking a significant step in supporting educators and students worldwide. This expansion helps equip Arabic-speaking educators with the tools necessary to safeguard academic integrity and nurture original thinking in the classroom.

As AI adoption among students becomes nearly universal, educators require solutions that promote transparency, rather than surveillance. Turnitin goes beyond simply verifying authorship, its tools support the broader learning journey, and help equip students with the critical skills demanded by today’s workforce.

“By providing Arabic-speaking educators with tools that uphold learning integrity, we ensure that they have solutions designed to support original thought and critical thinking, rather than having LLMs replace it,” said James Thorley, Vice President of APAC and EMEA at Turnitin. “While there is no substitute for knowing a student’s writing style, educational background, and institutional AI policies, this tool gives educators insights into areas where AI may have been used. Ultimately, it opens the door to meaningful, informed conversations about the responsible use of AI.”

AI writing detection for Arabic is now available through Turnitin Originality and as an add-on for iThenticate customers. Like the English, Spanish, and Japanese versions, the feature provides educators with an overall percentage of likely AI-generated content, alongside:

Detection capabilities for the leading large language models, reporting designed with educators in mind and seamless integration into existing customer workflows.

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