A.T. Kearney in the news archive — Middle East

 

Middle East telecom operators can generate up to USD 75 bn additional shareholder value
8 November 2009
A.T. Kearney analysis of Middle East telecom groups shows a potential increase in EBITDA of up to USD 9.5 billion which can be achieved by 2013 translating into creation of additional shareholder value worth more than USD 75 billion. Capturing this value would make Middle East telecom stocks an attractive investment proposition, resulting into higher valuation multiples and would help them get closer to their grand ambitions of becoming top 10-20 in the world.

Major opportunities for GCC insurance companies to increase profitability by improving underwriting approach
4 November 2009
The insurance market in the GCC is faced with an opportunity to significantly maximize profitability according to global management consultancy A.T. Kearney. In the developing GCC insurance sector cost efficiency and differentiation are key factors to remain competitive and improve margins. Managing underwriting is one of the key enablers to achieve this.

MENA region represents US$ 30 billion in asset management revenue opportunities for developers
3 October 2009
A.T. Kearney sees an untapped revenue opportunity of US$ 30 billion in ancillary revenues for developers in the MENA region, of which around $5-10 billion are in UAE and an additional $8-12 billion are in Saudi Arabia.Typically the real estate developers have used geographic and asset-type diversification as a strategy to manage risks. However, in a global crisis situation, the benefits of diversification are limited. Developers globally and in the GCC are therefore carefully considering opportunities to refine their strategies and business models to make the most out of the current situation.

Biggest Media Online Deal Confirms Potential for Middle East
27 September 2009
Yahoo’s acquisition of Jordan-based Maktoob, the largest Arabic multi-service online community, for a rumoured figure of up to $100m, is the biggest online media deal in the history of the Middle East according to A.T. Kearney, a leading global strategic consulting firm.This deal could well be a catalyst for the region’s internet market and lead to a boost for the online media sector across the whole region. Internet entrepreneurs in the region will be inspired by the success enjoyed by Maktoob’s founders and other western media players and investors/venture capital funds will start to focus more on the Middle East

REITs Can Attract Fresh Capital to the GCC
6 September 2009
A.T. Kearney sees definite opportunities for GCC based and managed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and similar types of investment funds to attract billions in foreign direct investment into the region’s real estate markets. REITs are structured and regulated investment portfolios made of various real estate assets from a range of asset classes and are privately or publicly owned. Their main purpose is to give individual investors access to real estate portfolio investments without personally owning assets and to allow for asset owners to access a broader and more liquid investor base.

Only 16 percent of companies fail due to economic crisis, while 54 percent fail due to wrong strategy
1 September 2009
The majority of all insolvencies can be traced back to questionable strategy and investment decisions according to global management consultancy A.T. Kearney. Instable cost structures, insufficient liquidity and belated respectively inconsistent management response to the crisis are among the most frequent reasons for company insolvencies. This is the key finding of a study in which top-management consultancy A.T. Kearney surveyed more than 1.200 insolvencies. 

Restructuring in the Real Estate Sector Clear Sign of Key Lessons Learned
25 August 2009
A.T. Kearney in a recent study concluded that the awaited consolidation wave in the real estate industry in the UAE and GCC has started. Developers demonstrate that they are mindful of lessons learnt from past real estate cycles in other markets, where companies that survived have built strong differentiated capabilities and diversified across the value chain to stabilize sources of revenues. In similar markets such as Singapore and Hong-Kong, which have been hit strongly by real estate cycle bursts in the past decades, only two to three major developers have survived and reinforced themselves.

Unbundling provides opportunities for MENA 
17 August 2009
A.T. Kearney's recent review of electricity regulation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) led to opportunities identified for unbundling, separating electricity supply from networks. Unbundling is expected to be a key facilitator for competition through discriminatory-free network access for third parties, and thus lead to efficiency gains.

Potential for 35-50 percent retail margin improvement
1 August 2009
A potential 35-50% margin improvement in the food retail sector has been identified by A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms. According to A.T. Kearney, expert retail analyses indicate that the bottom line can be improved through focused integrated store operations, presentation, assortment and promotions.

Desertec potential revenue streams may account US$ 90bn for the Middle East and North Africa
19 July 2009
A.T. Kearney sees Desertec as a key opportunity for the Middle East to generate revenues by selling electricity in long-term fixed contracts to Europe. According to A.T. Kearney calculations, potential revenues for the Middle East and North Africa may reach US$ 90bn p.a.

More than $1.8. billions recoverable in the GCC
11 July 2009
A.T. Kearney has examined ways for Middle East companies to free up much needed funds. Their research showed that at a time where funding of investments is under scrutiny, strategic sourcing can recover funds in the short to medium term.

Jordan ranks 9th in Global Services Location Index
4 July 2009
Jordan gains 5 points and features for the first time in the top ten in this year’s Global Services Location Index (GSLI). The GSLI, which is published every two years by international management consulting firm A.T. Kearney analyzes and ranks the top 50 countries worldwide for locating outsourcing activities.

Saudi Arabia ranks 5th in Global Retail Attractiveness
27 June 2009
The stable economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia boosts the countries retail potential and brings Saudi Arabia to 5th position in this years Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), a study by A.T. Kearney of retail investment attractiveness among 30 emerging markets.

UAE ranks 4th in Global Retail Attractiveness
20 June 2009
The United Arab Emirates made the biggest move in the 2009 A.T. Kearney eighth annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), rising 16 places to fourth position as its oil-driven economy proved more resistant to widespread downturn than other countries, according to global management consulting firm.

GCC Banks May See Wave of Mergers and Acquisitions
1 June 2009
A.T. Kearney research reveals that banks in the Middle East have seen unprecedented growth over recent years and many still reported profits in 2008. Moreover, banking assets in relation to GDP today are still comparatively low in most GCC countries, leaving ample room for growth for the banking industry and its players.

Egypt Ranks 6th in Global Services Location Index, According to A.T. Kearney Study
19 May 2009
Egypt has increased its ranking by 9 points in this year’s Global Services Location Index (GSLI) by A.T. Kearney. With improved capabilities, diverse language skills and its close proximity to Europe, Egypt’s continual focus on improving the sector is beginning to pay solid results.

Middle East a bright Spot for the Media
11th May 2009
While the media and entertainment industry struggles worldwide, the Middle East is providing a bright spot, said a recent A.T. Kearney study. The pan-Arab media industry is according to recent research growing faster than the economy in general, at average about 19 percent per year in the last years compared to 3 to 4 percent in Europe and the US.

Cost Management Approach for Mobile Business
20 April 2009
Large telecommunication operators often do not have the competitive edge over their smaller counterparts in terms of cost performance, a study by A.T. Kearney, said. Often, cost advantages for big operators are not reaped due to operational inefficiencies and complexities

Company Alliances, an Opportunity for Middle East Companies
5 April 2009
Globalization and technological advances have made strategic alliances beneficial to companies looking to work together. Recent international A.T. Kearney research has found that industries which commonly use alliances as a means of collaboration for the good of all parties are; pharmaceuticals (18 percent), high-tech (16 percent) and energy (11 percent).

Growing Profits without Growing Revenue
15 March 2009
While research indicates that external factors, such as economic climate, technology innovations and investor expectations do influence profits, internal value drivers, which can be controlled by the company, are far more important for company profitability.

Telecoms need to refocus to grow
5 March 2009
Only 29% of telecom groups realize an increase in aggregate profitability when integrating acquisitions, raising urgency to focus on extracting value and synergies from acquisitions

Airline Capacity Growing Faster Than Passenger Demand
1 March 2009
Despite dropping passenger traffic many regional airlines are still pushing forward with plans to expand their fleets.

Inaugural “Green Mobile Award” awarded
18 February 2009
Philippines-based wireless services provider SMART Communications (SMART) was awarded the first-ever “Green Mobile Award”.

Harnessing the power of the sun
17 February 2009
A.T. Kearney report shows viability of UAE government renewable energy target.

Companies With a Commitment to Sustainability Tend to Outperform Their Peers During the Financial Crisis
9 February 2009
A.T. Kearney's analysis found that in 16 of the 18 industries studied, companies committed to sustainability outperformed industry averages by 15% over the six months from May through November 2008.

Lack of Funds Threatens Utilities Growth
2 February 2009
Utilities in the Middle East will require more than a trillion US dollars in the next years to finance both the growth of the sector, as well as improvements in terms of efficiency and sustainability.

Harnessing The Power Of The Sun
20 January 2009
Despite the current financial crisis, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is growing. The continued regional growth of the population and economy creates a rise in regional energy demands.