Senior Associate - MENA Equities - Arabic speaker

Role Overview

Senior Associate – MENA Equities Research at Ghobash Group. This role leads independent equity research coverage of MENA-listed companies to support investment decisions and portfolio performance across the Middle East and North Africa region.

Company Overview

Ghobash Group is actively engaged in multi-asset class investment activities across various geographies, carried out by a highly qualified and experienced in-house team of investment professionals. Investment activities include direct investments in startups, taking stakes in established businesses, acquisitions of business enterprises, and setting-up new businesses through collaborative joint venture routes. Ghobash Trading & Investment is also active in private financial investments, including private equity and debt, venture capital, real estate, and publicly listed financial investments. The organization uses an Asset Allocation Matrix to realize risk-adjusted returns on invested capital over a long-term period.

Role Purpose

The Senior Associate will lead independent coverage of MENA-listed companies, producing high-quality equity research, financial models, and valuation outputs to support investment decisions and portfolio performance. The role requires generating actionable investment recommendations, maintaining updated forecasts and valuation frameworks, and continuously monitoring market developments across assigned sectors while engaging directly with company management teams, sell-side analysts, and industry stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Analysis

• Lead coverage across assigned MENA-listed companies and sectors, including Banks, Real Estate, Telcos/Utilities, Consumer, Industrials, Energy, and Transportation.
• Build and maintain advanced financial models with detailed forecasts, scenario analyses, and valuation sensitivities using DCF, Gordon Growth, Residual Income, and relative valuation frameworks.
• Independently produce investment theses and research reports with clear buy/sell/hold recommendations based on financial performance, catalysts, and valuation.
• Maintain up-to-date valuation and peer-comparison tables that reflect internal forecasts and market developments.

Market Monitoring & Insights

• Continuously monitor company disclosures, earnings results, and macroeconomic developments impacting covered sectors.
• Stay updated on regulatory, economic, and geopolitical changes across MENA markets and assess their impact on investments.
• Conduct management meetings, attend investor conferences, and engage with sell-side analysts to gather actionable insights.

Investment Opportunities & Recommendations

• Generate new investment ideas by screening opportunities across MENA markets, including both primary and secondary equity opportunities.
• Prepare and present investment proposals for approval at the Investment Committee, supported by in-depth research and valuation work.

Portfolio Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Portfolio Manager to assess portfolio exposures, risk factors, and performance attribution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business or applicable area of study.
• 10 years of total experience in equity research, investment analysis, or portfolio management, with at least 6 years covering UAE and broader GCC markets.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic (mandatory).
• Proficiency with modern equity research tools including Bloomberg and Eikon.
• Proficiency with MS Office and standard office-based technology.