Middle East investor relations foster regional growth at Muscat conference
The Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) has successfully wrapped up its flagship 2025 Annual Conference, held on 24–25 September at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat. Organised in partnership with the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), the two-day event attracted over 1,200 participants and 200 companies from 55 countries, representing a significant gathering for the region’s investor relations community. The event took place under the patronage of His Excellency Ahmed bin Jaafar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, reflecting strong institutional support for the conference.
MEIRA’s CEO, Paolo Casamassima, highlighted that the conference’s success symbolises the maturity and growth potential within Middle East investor relations, demonstrating the profession’s pivotal role in supporting regional capital markets. Haitham Al Salmi, CEO of MSX, described hosting the conference as a major milestone for Oman and the broader financial sector. He emphasised the conference’s strategic role in showcasing Oman’s competitive advantages while reinforcing commitments to transparency, good governance, and sustainable investment practices.
The conference programme was comprehensive, featuring seven panels and 22 workshops on key topics shaping the future of investor relations, such as digital transformation, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, corporate governance, capital market development, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence. In addition to traditional panels and workshops, attendees benefited from keynote speeches and TED Talks, offering diverse insights into these crucial areas.
A standout component of the event was the extensive corporate access meetings, delivered in partnership with Arqaam Capital and HSBC. These facilitated 639 investor meetings with 104 booked investors, illustrating the high level of engagement and networking enabled by the conference. This practical aspect underscored MEIRA’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue between companies and investors across the region.
The event culminated in the prestigious MEIRA IR Awards Gala Dinner, sponsored by Ooredoo, held at the St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort. This ceremony celebrated excellence in investor relations, recognising 50 winners across various categories who set new standards in transparency, engagement, and best practices in the Middle East. The gala provided a fitting conclusion to two days of impactful dialogue and networking, blending celebration with professional recognition.
Several major sponsors and strategic partners were integral to the conference’s success. Mega Sponsors included OQ and Sohar International—the latter also actively contributing through senior leadership participating in panel discussions on capital markets. Strategic Sponsors Omantel and Ominvest also supported the event, reinforcing their commitment to advancing the investor relations ecosystem within Oman and the broader GCC region. Ominvest’s sponsorship reflects its focus on transparency, governance, and investor engagement, aligning closely with the conference’s core themes.
MEIRA itself is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the investor relations profession and elevating regional capital markets through best practice standards in corporate governance. It connects over 600 IR and ESG professionals and more than 200 corporate members across the Middle East, working closely with stock exchanges and regulators to enhance the attractiveness and efficiency of regional markets.
The Muscat Stock Exchange, established relatively recently following privatisation efforts, manages Oman’s securities market with a mandate to adopt international standards and foster a modern, competitive market environment. Its partnership with MEIRA for this conference emphasises Oman’s growing role as a rising financial hub in the Middle East, committed to transparency, investor engagement, and sustainable capital markets practices.
The 2025 MEIRA Annual Conference thus not only reinforced existing industry momentum but also provided a forward-looking platform to explore innovations and emerging trends critical to investor relations. With a record turnout and high-level engagement, MEIRA and MSX have together advanced the region’s financial ecosystem, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and professional development that will resonate well beyond the conference itself.