Emerging markets compared for market entry
Each market’s long-term score next to its score now, plus an indicative first-year cost for a 10-person team. Current conditions as of 24 September 2026 (Gulf, South Asia, Egypt and Turkey refreshed 11 October 2026); long-term scores reviewed 16 October 2026. For a ranking weighted to your plan, run the analysis.
Long-term score: fundamentals that change over years: regulation, tax, openness to foreign investment, political stability, infrastructure and talent (0–10). Long-term risk is banded from it: 7.5+ Low, 6.0–7.4 Medium, below 6.0 High.
Now: the same market adjusted for what is happening today (conflict, shipping disruption, sanctions). Current alert (Monitor → Elevated → High → Severe) flags the live event. An alert with no drop in “Now” means we are watching it, but it has not changed the numbers yet.
| Market | Region | Long-term score | Now | Long-term risk | Current alert | First year, 10-person team¹ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Southeast Asia | 9.1 | 9.1 | Low | None | US$1.8M |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | GCC Markets | 8.3 | 5.0 ▼3.3 | Low | High | US$1.4M |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | GCC Markets | 7.6 | 4.3 ▼3.3 | Low | Severe | US$1.0M |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | GCC Markets | 7.6 | 4.5 ▼3.1 | Low | Severe | US$1.3M |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Southeast Asia | 7.1 | 7.1 | Medium | None | US$563k |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | GCC Markets | 7.1 | 4.8 ▼2.3 | Medium | High | US$967k |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | GCC Markets | 7.0 | 5.0 ▼2.0 | Medium | High | US$1.4M |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Southeast Asia | 6.9 | 6.9 | Medium | None | US$410k |
| 🇨🇳 China | Frontier & Gateway | 6.7 | 6.7 | Medium | None | US$1.0M |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | GCC Markets | 6.6 | 4.0 ▼2.6 | Medium | Severe | US$1.2M |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Southeast Asia | 6.6 | 6.6 | Medium | None | US$438k |
| 🇮🇳 India | South Asia | 6.4 | 6.4 | Medium | Monitor | US$336k |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | Southeast Asia | 6.2 | 6.2 | Medium | None | US$370k |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Broader MEA | 6.2 | 6.2 | Medium | None | US$587k |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Southeast Asia | 6.0 | 6.0 | Medium | None | US$486k |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Frontier & Gateway | 5.9 | 5.9 | High | None | US$498k |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | Frontier & Gateway | 5.9 | 5.5 ▼0.4 | High | Monitor | US$496k |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | Broader MEA | 5.7 | 5.2 ▼0.5 | High | Elevated | US$446k |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Broader MEA | 5.5 | 5.5 | High | None | US$363k |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | South Asia | 5.3 | 4.7 ▼0.6 | High | Monitor | US$256k |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | South Asia | 5.0 | 4.5 ▼0.5 | High | Elevated | US$196k |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Broader MEA | 4.7 | 4.7 | High | None | US$444k |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Frontier & Gateway | 4.5 | 4.5 | High | None | US$192k |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | South Asia | 4.4 | 3.9 ▼0.5 | High | Elevated | US$248k |
¹ Professional-services team (1 manager, 5 professionals, 4 admin and support) in a Grade A office, including setup, audit and tax compliance. Your industry changes this by roughly ±20%: manufacturing is cheaper, technology and financial services cost more.
Scores and costs from EmergingMarketIQ’s dataset. Current conditions updated 24 September 2026 (Gulf, South Asia, Egypt and Turkey refreshed 11 October 2026), long-term scores 16 October 2026. Indicative only. Verify with local advisors.