A survey recently released by the Middle East IR Association states that investor relations officers are now exerting increasing importance in their companies. 81% of interviewed practitioners say that they are valued by senior management, as compared to the 73% as a similar study conducted last year has shown. Moreover, 86% of them are responsible for roles in strategic development, a proportion that remains high across recent years.
As Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait are gaining status as emerging markets, the Middle East regional equity market is hoped to revolutionize itself in the near future. IR is now no longer some dispensable department, but a basis for business success as the function is fundamental to maintaining healthy relation and communication with local and international investors. Related teams are also seeing brighter prospect: 31% of interviewed companies state that they are planning to invest more resources to expand the function of IR.

Image source: Flickr