A Postcard from the Middle East: Women Investors on the Rise

January 7, 2011 A Postcard from the Middle East Women Investors on the Rise  Women investors in the Middle East are gaining more control over their finances, and are becoming increasingly conscious about wealth management. Walking into a women's only bank in Dubai often feels like entering a spa, such is the exclusivity of these banks. These women-only banks originally sprouted up in Saudi Arabia as a way of catering to wealthy Arab women in a society where women are not allowed to freely mingle among men. These days though, it's not just banks that are courting affluent women investors. Now, there is a women's floor on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, and a wealth management company last year launched an investment strategy product aimed solely at women investors in the Middle East. Why all the fuss? The statistics from a study by the Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) are startling. Women investors control around 22% of the assets under management in the Middle East. That is around $0.7 trillion. And this is wealth that is expected to grow 8% through the years to 2014. Women in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, are estimated to hold billions in personal wealth; $12 billion belongs to Saudi Arabian women, of which 75% sits in cash deposits and 20% in unit trusts. Clearly, this is a fast-growing segment that businesses around the world are seeking to tap. There have been a few trailblazing women investors from the Middle East who have overcome the typical hurdles that women investors face. Nahed Taher quit a job at Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank because she found it 'boring' and then became the chief executive officer of Gulf One Investment Bank, the first Saudi woman to head a bank in the Gulf Region. Taher recently vaulted to Forbes' list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2006. Awareness, however, is growing. The Financial Services for Women Middle East Summit was recently held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai with the focus on the female customer. Or should we say the women investor who is increasingly sophisticated and looking for varied and high profile investment products that suit her risk appetite. In which case, there is much work to be done in that field. Strategies have to be retooled to fit the expectations of the wealthy Middle Eastern woman investor. Studies have to be conducted to understand and analyze these women's investment appetite. Several financial products may have to be tailored to meet their needs. For it has become quite apparent, the rich woman investor from the Middle East wants more from her bank than a spa.

Please visit our web site at www.thomaswhite.com to learn more about 45 countries worldwide, as well as the Thomas White Funds. Short introductions to our most recent content are given below. Monthly Economic Reviews Middle East / Africa New Oil exporting countries in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region will see their GDP boom in 2011 on the strength of rising energy prices, while importers like Morocco will witness a decline, according to a new report published by Credit Agricole CIB Bank. Read more Green Report Promote Renewable Energy, Buy an REC Many a time due to high expenses, green technologies don't progress beyond small scale implementation. Now, there may be hope in the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Read more

Thank you for subscribing to our email communication services. You may subscribe to additional services here . Remove me from this list You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Thomas White Funds carefully before making an investment decision. Prospectus(es) with this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-800-811-0535 or by visiting www.thomaswhite.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money as it explains the risks associated with investing in international markets. These include risks related to social and political instability, market illiquidity and currency volatility. The information contained in this message does not, in any way, constitute investment advice and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security discussed herein. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of any security mentioned herein. Thomas White International, Ltd. may, from time to time, have a position or interest in, or may buy, sell or otherwise transact in, or with respect to, a particular security, issuer or market on our own behalf or on behalf of a client account. © Thomas White International, Ltd. 2011