Global Firms Are Forming Middle East Hubs

Global firms are increasingly formalising their Middle East presence, shifting from short-term market testing to long-term regional strategies. In 2026, this is no longer driven by visibility or opportunism, but by the need to be structurally close to capital, clients and decision-makers. According to UNCTAD, the Gulf continues to attract sustained inbound investment.

Across sports, finance, property, and private client services, firms are moving beyond representative offices toward fully integrated Middle East hubs. This reflects how deal flow in the region is evolving. Transactions are becoming larger, more complex, and increasingly private, requiring sustained on-the-ground engagement rather than fly-in advisory services.

Premier Sports Network has seen this shift play out directly across its Middle East activity. Over the past quarter, several organisations have moved from limited trial engagement to longer-term commitments, signalling confidence in the region’s durability rather than short-cycle growth. These moves mirror a wider pattern of global firms consolidating their Gulf operations as mandates deepen and client relationships mature.

Ras Al Khaimah provides a clear example. As investment interest in the emirate accelerates, driven by long-term tourism, property and infrastructure development, and advisory and professional services, firms are positioning themselves early to support capital inflows. Rather than competing for attention in saturated markets, firms are embedding themselves within emerging growth centres to build long-term relevance.

The same logic applies across the UAE. Firms serving sport-linked sectors, such as venue operations, travel, wealth management, and private clients, are aligning their regional coverage with how clients now operate. Executives, investors, and athletes increasingly manage assets, residences, and commercial interests across multiple jurisdictions in the Gulf, making fragmented advisory models less viable.

What distinguishes the current phase is intent. Firms are not simply opening offices. They are forming regional leadership teams, committing senior decision-makers and integrating Middle East strategy into global operations. This shift is evident in how contracts are structured, partnerships are extended, and services are bundled across borders.

In 2026, forming a Middle East hub is no longer about market entry. It is about market permanence. As capital, sport and private wealth continue to intersect across the region, firms that commit early and structurally are better positioned to capture long-term value.