Saudi Arabia Leads Gulf M&A With 74 Deals in First Half of 2026

Saudi Arabia recorded 74 mergers and acquisitions in the first half of 2026, and Saudi Arabia plus the UAE accounted for about 65% of all Middle East deal activity, according to PwC’s mid-year report. The region saw an estimated 272 M&A transactions in total, slightly above the 271 recorded a year earlier, showing that dealmaking remained concentrated in the Gulf despite geopolitical uncertainty and more selective investors. PwC said technology, media and telecoms was the most active sector, while most transactions were small or mid-sized, underscoring how Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to anchor regional M&A.