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Mena investors more willing to rethink portfolios as global peers stay cautious, survey shows
Investors in the Middle East and North Africa are more inclined than global peers to adjust portfolios, favouring markets like Japan amid valuation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty
- PUBLISHED: Fri 3 Apr 2026, 6:00 AM
Investors in the Middle East and North Africa are emerging as some of the most proactive globally when it comes to managing their money, showing a greater willingness than their international peers to rethink and adjust their investment strategies in response to global uncertainty.
New survey data shows that only 52 per cent of investors in the Mena region plan to keep their portfolios unchanged over the next six months, compared with 63 per cent globally. The gap points to a region that is more alert to potential risks and more open to rebalancing, diversifying or shifting exposure as conditions evolve.
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The findings come from Saxo’s Investor Forecast Q1 2026, based on responses from more than 1,600 investors across ten markets. While overall sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, Mena investors stand out for their readiness to review strategy rather than simply staying the course.
Part of that reassessment involves where opportunities are being sought. Japan has emerged as the clear favourite market among investors, with 60 per cent of respondents in Mena expecting the country’s equity market to rise over the next six months. Confidence in Japan is stronger than for the US or broader global markets, reflecting a belief that it offers relatively better value at a time when investors are uneasy about stretched valuations elsewhere. Among Mena respondents aged 36 to 60, optimism around Japan climbs to more than 66 per cent.
“Investors are clearly walking a fine line between optimism and caution,” said Charu Chanana, Chief Investment Strategist at Saxo. “While all sentiment in this survey needs to be caveated with it being conducted in the days leading up to the US and Israel attacks on Iran. That and the ensuing hardship is bound to have changed sentiment for many investors. But, the standout result from this survey is the strong confidence in Japan compared with other major markets. While many investors remain wary of stretched valuations, particularly in the US, Japan is increasingly seen as a market where structural reforms and corporate improvements could continue to drive upside.
That watchfulness is especially evident in Mena. Nearly 79 per cent of investors in the region say concerns about markets being overvalued are pushing them to reconsider their approach — the single biggest factor influencing strategy changes in the survey. Political uncertainty also weighs heavily, with 56 per cent citing the potential impact of Donald Trump’s policies as something that could affect how they invest.
At the same time, many investors are selectively looking for new avenues. Artificial intelligence is seen as both an opportunity and a risk, with more than half of global respondents saying it could prompt changes to their strategy. Women are also more likely to expand their portfolios, with 34 per cent saying they plan to diversify, compared with 26 per cent of men.
Taken together, the results paint a picture of Mena investors as engaged and responsive — less inclined to stand still, more willing to adjust, and increasingly selective about where they see future growth in a fast-changing global landscape.
Associate Editor Somshankar Bandyopadhyay brings more than three decades of experience to the KT newsroom. Currently, he manages the news production of the business section, ensuring that the top economic and business news of the day reaches its readers.