Top 7 AI Platforms for Middle East Market Insights

AI is transforming the Middle East market research landscape. With the region's AI market expected to grow from $4.6 billion in 2024 to $150 billion by 2033, businesses are adopting specialized platforms to tackle unique challenges like diverse regulations, Arabic language intricacies, and cultural nuances. Here's a quick overview of the top 7 AI platforms tailored for Middle East market insights:

• AlphaSense: Advanced natural language processing and sentiment analysis for financial and energy sector insights.
• Sentieo (AlphaSense Subsidiary): Textual and numerical data analysis for investment professionals; focuses on Middle East market trends.
• S&P Capital IQ Pro: GenAI tools for predictive modeling, real-time updates, and energy sector expertise.
• Bloomberg Terminal: Real-time news, AI-powered summaries, and tools for Islamic finance and energy markets.
• EMIS: Emerging markets intelligence with local language content and M&A tracking.
• Crayon: Competitive intelligence platform tracking market trends and competitor activities.
• LSEG Workspace (Zawya Integration): Generative AI tools and exclusive Middle East corporate data via Zawya.

Quick Comparison Table

These tools address the region's unique market needs, helping businesses and professionals stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Energy-rich Middle East will be a hot region for AI in the next decade: Analyst

1. AlphaSense

AlphaSense stands out as a trusted name in market intelligence for Middle Eastern analysis, relied upon by 85% of the S&P 100 and 80% of top asset managers. Below, we explore its advanced AI features, extensive regional data coverage, and practical applications.

AI Capabilities

AlphaSense takes AI and natural language processing (NLP) to a whole new level, going beyond simple keyword searches. The platform dives deep into financial documents, pulling out critical data points, spotting trends, and delivering insights you can act on. Its smart synonym feature ensures it picks up on varied terminology, while its sentiment analysis helps decode the tone and underlying implications of earnings calls and industry reports.

The introduction of Generative Search has been a game-changer, significantly cutting research time. Jonas Eisch, Portfolio Manager at ODDO BHF, shares his experience:

"AlphaSense's Generative Search is the next big thing for us in how we use the platform. It saves us a lot of work and time in our research process, especially in the beginning stages of investigating a company."

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

AlphaSense offers comprehensive coverage of Middle Eastern companies with market caps exceeding $100 million. It indexes data from over 7,000 companies across 60 countries and provides access to a staggering 300 million premium documents for in-depth regional analysis [7]. By aggregating information from diverse sources - such as SEC filings, news articles, broker research, expert calls, regulatory documents, and press releases - it delivers a level of depth that traditional search platforms simply can’t match.

Ideal Use Cases

AlphaSense proves invaluable in areas like energy analysis, due diligence on emerging markets (such as green hydrogen), and tracking geopolitical or regulatory developments. Its strengths in energy sector analysis make it particularly well-suited for the Middle Eastern markets, which are heavily influenced by oil and gas industries. The platform also speeds up earnings research with its sentiment analysis tools and helps uncover new revenue opportunities by providing access to analyst reports that offer unique insights and reliable forecasts.

Bruce On from Ernst & Young highlights the value of AI in the energy sector:

"With confident and responsible adoption of AI, oil and gas companies will unlock the full potential of their workforce, have a greater impact on daily operations, accelerate real-time decision-making, and positively impact the bottom line."

2. Sentieo (AlphaSense Subsidiary)

Sentieo has become an integral part of AlphaSense's ecosystem, bringing along a customer base of over 1,000 clients, including 800 institutional firms. Although Sentieo will no longer accept new customers after May 30, 2025, its technology continues to play a key role in enhancing AlphaSense's market analysis capabilities, particularly in the Middle East. This integration has strengthened AlphaSense’s AI-driven tools across the platform.

AI Capabilities

Sentieo's advanced AI technology powers several standout features within the AlphaSense platform. Its natural language processing capabilities allow for the analysis of textual data from sources like news articles, financial reports, and social media. This helps gauge market sentiment and interpret emotional tones in text, which is especially useful for tracking trends in regions affected by geopolitical events. By combining textual and numerical data, Sentieo also uncovers insights from linguistic and alternative data sources, offering investment teams a sharper edge in emerging markets.

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

The integration of Sentieo technology provides extensive access to financial documents, earnings transcripts, news, market data, and research reports focused on key companies. Its AI-driven search engine allows users to navigate a vast library of financial information while staying updated on real-time market-moving events, economic indicators, and industry trends specific to the Middle East. By consolidating diverse data sets, the platform streamlines the process of monitoring developments across the region.

Ideal Use Cases

With these capabilities, Sentieo is particularly valuable for investment management firms with a focus on opportunities in the Middle East. The platform excels at processing vast amounts of data to pinpoint critical insights, making it a go-to tool for navigating volatile markets. It’s especially useful for analyzing the energy sector and tracking competitors, thanks to its real-time monitoring of news, regulatory filings, and market sentiment.

3. S&P Capital IQ Pro

S&P Capital IQ Pro is a powerful data and analytics platform, processing 135 billion raw data points annually to deliver actionable insights tailored to the Middle Eastern market. Known for its extensive global market and industry coverage, the platform is particularly strong in the energy sector, making it a go-to resource for professionals navigating this space.

AI Capabilities

In September 2024, S&P Capital IQ Pro Labs introduced several GenAI-driven tools to enhance data analysis and market intelligence. These include Transcripts Trending Topics, News Sentiment, Transcripts Key Phrases, and Transcript Summarization, along with Morning, Midday, and Evening IQ Market Summaries and the S&P Global Marketplace GenAI Search.

• Transcripts Trending Topics: Identifies trends from earnings call transcripts by company, sector, or index over customizable time frames.
• News Sentiment: Offers quantitative sentiment signals to provide insights into companies and sectors.
• Transcripts Key Phrases: Highlights key topics in earnings calls using semantic and contextual analysis.
• Transcript Summarization: Delivers concise summaries of transcripts, enhanced with sentiment scores generated through Natural Language Processing.
• S&P Global Marketplace GenAI Search: Simplifies the process of finding relevant market intelligence across S&P Global’s datasets.

These tools provide real-time updates and insights, making the platform an indispensable resource for understanding market movements and trends, particularly in the Middle East.

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

S&P Capital IQ Pro offers extensive coverage of the Middle Eastern markets, with a strong focus on the energy sector. The platform tracks 170+ public energy companies and over 6,140 private energy firms in the Africa/Middle East region, while also covering more than 54 million private companies globally. Beyond energy, the database includes detailed insights into industries such as financial services, insurance, real estate, and others critical to the region's economy.

Ideal Use Cases

The platform’s advanced AI tools and energy sector expertise make it invaluable for analyzing key developments in the Middle Eastern markets. For example, in October 2024, it provided critical data for evaluating ADNOC's proposed $16.3 billion acquisition of Covestro AG, highlighting the increasing global influence of Middle Eastern national oil companies and sovereign wealth funds.

S&P Capital IQ Pro is also a crucial tool for competitor tracking and macroeconomic analysis. Its database includes information on 7,300+ companies and over 1 million financial line items across 170+ industries. For professionals focused on credit risk, the platform offers detailed credit ratings and default probabilities. Additionally, its financial modeling and scenario analysis tools support forecasting and valuation efforts - features especially important in a region shaped by commodity price fluctuations and geopolitical dynamics.

4. Bloomberg Terminal

The Bloomberg Terminal has become a cornerstone for market intelligence, leveraging 15 years of AI advancements. It’s designed to handle the unique challenges of Middle Eastern markets by gathering and analyzing vast amounts of financial data across multiple asset classes, enabling quicker and more precise insights.

AI Capabilities

Bloomberg’s AI infrastructure has evolved significantly, offering tools that process unstructured data with precision. One standout feature is its AI-Powered News Summaries, which use generative AI to distill Bloomberg News into three concise bullet points. Alongside this, the Terminal provides sentiment analysis, trend detection, and summarization tools to help users uncover actionable insights.

As Wayne Barlow, Bloomberg LP's global head of core product, explains:

"LLMs [Long Language Models] and Gen AI [Generative AI] will really allow us to solve problems that were always problems, but we couldn't solve them before using technology, and now we can."

These advancements have paved the way for Bloomberg Terminal’s specialized tools tailored to the Middle East.

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

The Terminal offers tools specifically designed for the region, such as the ISLM <GO> function for Islamic finance and extensive futures data covering the Middle East and Africa. This is especially relevant as global Islamic finance assets exceeded $3.3 trillion in 2023, with Sukuk issuance rising by 10% in Q2 2023 across key markets in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

Giuseppe Netti, Regional Head of Bloomberg for the Middle East & Africa, highlights the importance of these tools:

"This launch represents a milestone in our commitment to developing sophisticated tools for Islamic finance... The Islamic/Sharia-compliant indicator will empower investors with robust data and analytics, crucial for informed decision-making in the dynamic Islamic financial landscape."

Ideal Use Cases

The Bloomberg Terminal stands out for delivering real-time news, data, and trading tools, making it indispensable for professionals monitoring developments in the Middle East. A notable example of its utility came in May 2025, when Saudi Arabia launched HUMAIN, a firm under the kingdom’s $925 billion Public Investment Fund. HUMAIN focuses on data centers, AI infrastructure, cloud capabilities, and Arabic large language models.

With its AI-driven capabilities, the Terminal allows users to quickly grasp breaking news, summarize complex analyses, and decide when deeper exploration is needed. It’s especially valuable for energy sector analysis, macroeconomic research, and tracking market trends across the Middle East.

5. EMIS

EMIS, a platform from ISI Markets with over 30 years of experience in high-growth markets, specializes in delivering in-depth research on emerging markets, with a notable focus on the Middle East. It provides a vast array of intelligence, covering more than 370 industry sectors and profiling 12 million companies across 197 markets. By taking a multi-sector, multi-country approach, EMIS captures the intricate dynamics of emerging markets. Its EMIS M&A service is particularly valuable, tracking deal activity across regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This extensive reach makes it a key resource for targeted M&A and sector-specific analysis.

Ideal Use Cases

EMIS’s comprehensive data is a go-to for professionals seeking detailed insights into emerging markets. Financial institutions, policymakers, consultants, law firms, and researchers rely on it for strategic planning, credit analysis, and business development. Its strengths lie in market intelligence, M&A tracking, and risk evaluation. This makes it especially useful in industries like energy, where understanding regulatory frameworks, competitive landscapes, and investment trends is critical.

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6. Crayon

Crayon is a competitive intelligence platform that keeps an eye on 7 million sources to provide real-time insights into market trends and competitor activities. Based in Singapore, Crayon has made a significant impact in the Middle East, delivering successful AI and machine learning solutions across various industries.

What sets Crayon apart is its ability to deliver a thorough and continuous stream of market intelligence. By monitoring competitors' websites, social media, job postings, and news mentions, it ensures businesses stay updated on key developments as they happen.

AI Capabilities

Crayon uses natural language processing (NLP) within its maya.ai system to deliver insights that help businesses understand market trends and customer behavior - all while maintaining data privacy.

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

Crayon’s presence in the Middle East has yielded impressive results. For example, in 2023, its maya.ai system helped a leading bank enhance travel services, driving $100 million in attributed spending. That same year, Crayon collaborated with a major UAE Islamic bank to launch a personalized lifestyle marketplace, resulting in over $16.4 million in additional spending. Their approach is tailored to the digital maturity of each client, offering end-to-end delivery of data platforms and AI solutions that meet regional needs.

"There is so much power in innovation to drive the greater good and we're excited to leverage our global success in cloud, software, and data and AI to benefit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." – Melissa Mulholland, Crayon CEO

This regional success highlights Crayon’s ability to adapt its services to diverse markets.

Pricing Transparency

Crayon offers flexible pricing tailored to the size and needs of each business. Interested companies can reach out to the sales team for a customized quote that aligns with their goals and budgets.

Crayon’s solutions are well-suited to the Middle East’s growing emphasis on agile, data-driven market strategies.

Ideal Use Cases

With its strong track record and capabilities, Crayon stands out in several areas:

• Competitor Tracking: Keeps marketing, sales, and strategy teams informed with real-time competitor comparisons, including differentiators, objection-handling tips, and client-focused messaging.
• Strategic Planning: Provides actionable insights that help businesses in the Middle East adapt to fast-changing market conditions.
• Market Trend Analysis: As online channels are expected to account for 74% of Travel & Tourism revenue by 2027 and the global market is projected to hit $854.8 billion by 2023, Crayon’s insights are invaluable for businesses looking to thrive in these sectors.

Crayon also enjoys strong user feedback, with an overall rating of 4.5/5. Its functionality and features score 4.7/5, while ease of use is rated 4.6/5. This positive reception underscores its effectiveness in delivering value to its users.

7. LSEG Workspace (Zawya Integration)

LSEG Workspace brings together global market data and specialized insights on the Middle East through its Zawya integration. This combination provides a centralized platform for accessing worldwide financial information alongside trusted regional business news from Zawya, a key source in the Middle East.

Currently, the platform serves over 40,000 customers and 400,000 end users across nearly 190 markets, making it a go-to resource for financial intelligence. Its integration with Zawya, LSEG's premier capital markets and business news service in the region, enhances its utility for those focusing on Middle East markets.

AI Capabilities

LSEG Workspace has introduced a generative AI feature that redefines how users interact with financial data. Its AI capabilities are built around three main pillars: discoverability, visualization, and actionability.

In January 2025, Nej Djelal, Group Head of LSEG Workspace Platform, elaborated on the company's AI approach:

"LSEG has been focusing on three key areas: discoverability, visualization, and actionability to transform the customer experience and enhance decision-making across the investment and trade lifecycle. A key focus has been integrating natural language capabilities, powered by generative AI".

One standout feature is LSEG AI Alerts, which delivers tailored financial updates directly through Microsoft Teams, ensuring that critical information is shared with the right individuals at the right time. These AI-driven tools align seamlessly with the platform's focus on delivering precise regional data.

Middle East-Specific Data Coverage

Through Zawya, the platform offers curated news and intelligence specific to the Middle East and Africa. This includes insights into capital markets, business trends, economic developments, project finance, and Islamic finance.

For example, Zawya provides detailed information on IPOs, bonds, and sukuk issuances in the region, along with in-depth analysis of equity and debt capital markets. It also offers robust coverage of loan syndications, giving users a comprehensive view of the regional financing landscape.

"We're committed to providing our customers with access to the best news and intelligence from around the globe, seamlessly and natively within their workflows. With Zawya, they will now be able to gain the latest accurate insights, make confident data-driven decisions, and maintain an edge in one of the world's most dynamic markets."
– Mahmoud Khliefat, LSEG Head of Investment Banking Capital Markets & Academia

The platform also features exclusive MENA Company Data, delivering detailed corporate information essential for market analysis and business development in the region. This data is especially valuable for understanding the intricacies of Middle East markets.

Ideal Use Cases

LSEG Workspace with Zawya integration offers powerful tools for investment banking, corporate development, and strategic planning by delivering real-time insights into regional markets.

• Investment banking professionals gain access to comprehensive data on regional capital markets, including IPO pipelines, bonds, and sukuk issuances - key elements for navigating Islamic finance markets.
• Corporate development teams can use the exclusive MENA Company Data to identify and evaluate potential customers, partners, and suppliers while uncovering new market opportunities. Relationship intelligence features provide real-time updates on corporate activities, helping users make informed decisions.
• Strategic planning departments benefit from competitor profiling and benchmarking tools, which are essential for crafting effective strategies in the fast-changing Middle East business environment.

This powerful integration positions LSEG Workspace as an indispensable tool for professionals aiming to stay ahead in one of the world's most dynamic regions.

Platform Comparison Table

Here's a snapshot of how various AI platforms stack up across critical criteria. The table below provides a quick overview, followed by a breakdown of the key distinctions.

Key Takeaways on AI Capabilities

AI functionality varies significantly between platforms, catering to different user needs. For instance, LSEG Workspace stands out with its advanced generative AI features and natural language query capabilities, while Bloomberg Terminal is known for its powerful real-time alerts and predictive analytics. On the other hand, AlphaSense and its subsidiary Sentieo excel in automated content discovery and data extraction, making them ideal for research-heavy tasks. S&P Capital IQ Pro leads the way in predictive modeling and risk assessment.

Regional Data Strengths

When it comes to Middle Eastern market insights, platforms like LSEG Workspace and EMIS offer unique advantages. LSEG Workspace benefits from its Zawya integration, providing exclusive MENA corporate data, while EMIS delivers specialized emerging markets content, including local language materials. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Terminal offers extensive global coverage with a strong focus on Middle Eastern market data and news feeds, making it a versatile option for users balancing local and international needs.

Matching Platforms to User Profiles

Choosing the right platform often depends on the user’s specific requirements:

• Large enterprises and financial institutions: Platforms like Bloomberg Terminal and S&P Capital IQ Pro are well-suited for their broad analytics and predictive capabilities.
• Mid-market firms and research professionals: AlphaSense and Sentieo provide targeted tools for content discovery and analysis.
• Marketing and strategy teams: Crayon stands out for its competitive intelligence features.
• Regional specialists: EMIS and LSEG Workspace cater to users needing in-depth Middle Eastern data.

With AI adoption in the Middle East projected to drive market growth to $4.7 billion by 2032, these platforms are poised to play a critical role in shaping strategic decisions across industries.

Conclusion

The AI platforms highlighted here showcase impressive abilities tailored to Middle Eastern market intelligence. AlphaSense shines with its advanced natural language processing and automated content discovery, making it a go-to solution for large enterprises conducting in-depth research. On the other hand, EMIS focuses on emerging markets, offering detailed insights with localized content, making it a standout choice for Middle East-specific analysis.

The region’s financial landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, with AI playing a pivotal role. Notably, the financial sector accounts for 25% of all AI investment in the Middle East and Africa region, translating to $28.3 million dedicated to developing AI solutions. These investments highlight AI’s impact on areas like risk management, fraud detection, and customer service.

Established platforms like Bloomberg Terminal and S&P Capital IQ Pro continue to lead with their cutting-edge predictive analytics and machine learning features. Meanwhile, newer players like Crayon are gaining traction by offering competitive intelligence tools highly valued by marketing and strategy teams. Additionally, LSEG Workspace, through its Zawya integration, delivers exclusive MENA corporate data, making it an essential resource for regional specialists. Together, these platforms cater to a wide range of needs, showcasing the diversity of AI-driven tools available for professionals and organizations.

The projected growth of the Middle East AI in Finance Market - from $625 million in 2023 to $4.7 billion by 2032 - demonstrates the increasing importance of AI in shaping financial strategies. With 90% of investment managers already using or planning to adopt AI in their processes, selecting the right platform has become crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.

These platforms not only address the region’s unique regulatory and market demands but also provide solutions tailored to its complexities. For those looking to explore AI-driven investment tools further, the Best Investing Tools Directory (https://bestinvestingtools.com) offers detailed reviews and comparisons of services like investment research platforms, technical analysis tools, and emerging AI solutions. This resource equips both individual and institutional investors with the insights needed to navigate the fast-changing world of AI-powered financial technology.

FAQs

How do AI platforms like AlphaSense and Sentieo address challenges unique to the Middle East market, such as language diversity and local regulations?

AI platforms like AlphaSense and Sentieo are stepping up to meet the unique demands of the Middle East market by providing multilingual capabilities and ensuring alignment with local regulations. Take AlphaSense, for instance - it uses advanced AI to analyze and process documents in multiple languages, including Arabic and English. This feature is indispensable in a region known for its linguistic diversity, allowing users to tap into critical market insights and regulatory details with ease.

Sentieo brings its own strengths to the table, offering tools specifically designed to navigate the Middle East's regulatory landscape. These tools help businesses remain compliant while accessing vital market intelligence. By bridging language gaps and simplifying complex legal requirements, both platforms equip businesses and investors with the tools they need to make informed decisions in this fast-changing market.

What are the benefits of using LSEG Workspace with Zawya integration for financial professionals in the Middle East?

Leverage LSEG Workspace with Zawya Integration

The LSEG Workspace, combined with Zawya integration, offers financial professionals in the Middle East a powerful resource for accessing real-time financial data, analytics, and market insights tailored specifically to the region. By merging trusted news sources with cutting-edge tools, this integration simplifies workflows and enhances decision-making.

What Makes It Stand Out?

• Tailored insights for MENA: Gain region-specific data and analysis to navigate the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets with confidence.
• Customizable dashboards: Organize and analyze data in a way that suits your unique needs, ensuring efficiency.
• Powerful search capabilities: Quickly locate the most relevant information with advanced search tools.

With these features, professionals can make smarter decisions, streamline operations, and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic MENA market.

What impact will AI growth in the Middle East have on the financial sector and market research over the next decade?

AI's Impact on Finance and Market Research in the Middle East

AI is rapidly transforming the financial landscape in the Middle East, with projections showing explosive growth in the coming years. By 2032, the region's AI-driven finance market is expected to soar from about $625 million in 2023 to an astonishing $4.7 billion, reflecting an annual growth rate of 25.1%. On a broader scale, AI is anticipated to contribute approximately 13.6% to the Gulf Cooperation Council's GDP by 2030, translating to a staggering $320 billion in economic impact.

This growth is set to revolutionize how financial institutions operate. AI will enable smarter decision-making, improve risk analysis, and elevate customer engagement to new heights. In turn, businesses will benefit from sharper, more actionable market insights, fueling innovation and driving progress across various industries. The future of finance in the Middle East is undeniably tied to the rise of AI.

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