Although M&A deals in the Middle East are up this year by 41% of those in the same period last year, many are cautious as to the prospects for M&A activity in the Middle East. It has been hard to call M&A "back" in the Middle East because of these deals; many of which are the result of long-overdue governmental negotiations. According to Bain & Company partner Luc Luyten, "there may be a need for consolidation in sectors including construction and banking, but this is unlikely to form a major part of a 'modest' pipeline of M&A deals expected in the year ahead."