US executives’ post 9/11 perceptions of competing middle eastern nations as foreign direct investment options

In this study, perceptual mapping was used to identify the post 9/11 positions of ten, competing Middle Eastern nations as foreign direct investment (FDI) options. The perceived position of the “ideal” nation also was identified. FDI executives indicated that a limited number of Middle Eastern nations are positioned to benefit from future foreign direct investments. However, none of the nations studied hold a strategically superior position. The stability of a nation’s political and economic risk, economic opportunities, and natural resources contributes to a nation’s perceived position. Some nations face more significant FDI obstacles than others.