DUBAI. Interest among corporate executives for investments in the Middle East is at an all-time high, according to strategic management consulting firm A. T. Kearney’s Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index. The survey reveals that Middle East investment destinations attained the highest-ever rankings in the ten-year history of the Index, with two locations placing among the top 25 most attractive investment destinations. The UAE jumped to 8^th position in the 2007 index, up from 22nd in 2005 index. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar made their debut in the current Index while Saudi Arabia and Egypt, although not ranked among the top 25 globally, were particularly attractive to investors from developing markets. Compared with a year ago, 29 percent of investors report a more positive outlook toward the UAE, placing it fourth behind India, China, and Brazil in terms of increased investor optimism globally. “Reforms in a number of countries have greatly improved the climate and infrastructure for global business. Corporate investors are also obviously attracted to the wealthy regional market and the availability of services industry hubs like Dubai,” said Paul A. Laudicina, managing officer and chairman of A. T. Kearney. The index provides an insight into investor sentiment and future prospects for international investment flows in the years ahead. Companies participating in the survey account for more that $3.8 trillion in global revenue.

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