Transactions in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing fell globally during the first 11 months of the year. The Middle East and Africa region experienced the smallest decline in deal activity, with a 5 percent decrease. This contrasts with sharper decreases in regions like North America and South and Central America. The overall decline in global deal activity was primarily driven by a steep drop in venture financing deals. The travel and tourism sector also saw a decline in deal volume globally, with the Middle East and Africa experiencing a relatively moderate 18.2 percent drop compared to other regions.