Press Release Content

As an Addendum to the announcement of the launch of Zawya Funds Ranking, here are the Winning Middle East Funds in the 9 categories covered by the ranking system:

CATEGORY: Name of Fund

- Egypt Equity: Credit Agricole Egypt Fund I

- GCC Equity: Al Ahli Gulf Fund

- Kuwait Equity: Burgan Equity Fund

- Saudi Arabia Equity: Al Arabi Saudi Companies Fund

- Saudi Arabia Money Market: Al Razeen Riyal Fund

- UAE Equity: TNI UAE Blue Chip Fund

- Kuwait Equity - Islamic: Al Safwa Investment Fund

- Saudi Arabia Equity - Islamic: Al Rajhi Local Shares Fund

- Saudi Arabia Trade Finance – Islamic: Commodity Trading Fund (SAR)

The rest of the Middle East Funds ranked by Zawya Funds Ranking can now be accessed on the Zawya Funds Monitor homepage: www.zawya.com/funds.

Criteria & Component Weightings:

- Minimum Fund size: $15 million

- As of date” Dec 31st 2008

- Fund must be in a category* that contains at least 4 other funds (total 5).

- At least 3 year of available historical data

Four components are measured in Zawya’s new Funds Ranking system, weighted as follows:

Returns 30%
Volatility 20%
Fees 20%
Compliance 30%

* Categories are asset type and/or geographic focus

Visit www.zawya.com/funds for more information on methodology and listings.

Notes and contacts

About Zawya

Zawya focuses on the developing business and investment environment in the Middle East. The company provides professionals with the means to identify, assess, monitor and help generate business and investment opportunities in both the public and private markets.

Thousands of premium members use Zawya's information resources, technology applications and online network to better connect to opportunities across the GCC, Levant, Iraq, North Africa.

Zawya operates through two separate divisions, Professional Investors and Business Development Services, specifically set to empower members according to their needs either with respect to investment or business opportunities. Headquartered in Dubai, Zawya has presence in Lebanon, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

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