GCC Sovereign wealth funds: Challenges, opportunities, and issues arising from their growing presence on the global landscape

Abstract

GCC SWFs are very active global financial actors, investing primarily in foreign assets; these include equities, bonds, property, precious metals, and other financial instruments (IWG 2008). Unlike private equity and hedge funds, Arab SWFs have a long-term investment vision. GCC SWFs have invested in large companies and have concentrated in a limited number of industries, among them are the financial sector, heavy industry, and logistics. Although these investments have been welcome by host countries, GCC SWFs have garnered the concerns of policymakers and market players. Two main reasons account for such concerns: the dominant role of national governments in the management of these colossal funds. The second concern is related to the issue of transparency and accountability. The lack of transparency of these gigantic funds has propelled a debate about the challenges and opportunities for host nations. Parallel to this debate, strong feelings of protectionism in some Western countries had emerged fuelled by concerns around national sovereignty.