Kuwaiti investors ranked second, with 17 percent, among the GCC nationals to own stocks in companies across the Gulf region for the year 2013, an economic report said Sunday.
According to the report, conducted by the GCC General Secretariat Information Sector, Saudi shareholders were at the top of the list with 44 percent, Emiratis were third with 16 percent, Bahrainis 12 percent, Omanis 9 percent and Qataris 2 percent.
The resolution which was adopted by the GCC leaders in the Doha Summit in 2002 that stipulated equality amongst the Gulf citizens in terms of ownership of stocks and establishment of companies was a major factor in driving up the percentage of stocks that could be owned by GCC citizens, the report indicated.
The total shares of companies listed jumped from 20 percent in 1985 to 96 percent in 2013. The total number of listed companies is 659 with a capital of USD 226 billion, the report pointed out.