It would seem that a large number of frontier markets are concentrated in the Middle East these days. Iran is a major energy trader with China and Russia; Dubai is opening movie studios in Hollywood; and Iraq is now exporting oil.

And now, Syria is becoming the next hot spot for Middle East opportunities.

President Bashar al-Assad has recently introduced new laws that make it easier for international companies to do business in socialist Syria. Al-Assad is quick to point out that these changes are economic only, and not political in nature, but economics commentator Jihad Yazigi told the BBC that it’s a way for Syria to break its isolation:

“It’s a circle. More investments improve political relations and political relations attract more investment [sic] and more investments.”

More investments like Lafarge (LG:Paris) and Total (TOT:NYSE) teaming up after French President Sarkozy took a trip to Syria in early September. Lafarge will set up two cement factories, making it the largest foreign investor in Syria, and Total would extend its operations at the Deir Ez Zor oil block and sign a gas development deal.

Other European companies are investing in Syria, too. EADS (EAD:Paris) and Alstom (ALO:Paris) both have long-term deals in the country.

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The easiest way to pocket gains in emerging markets is to follow the money.

This may sound odd coming from a bunch of contrarians who usually bet against Wall Street. But we’re not talking about Wall Street this time. We’re talking about the REAL BIG MONEY…Sovereign Wealth Funds.

SWFs are usually owned by the central bank of a government that has trillions in surplus. SWFs have grown in power most recently with the commodity boom. Surging prices in oil, natural gas and precious metals have given SWFs in the Persian Gulf and Asia in particular increased clout in how they want to shape the world.

Now we find that SWFs in the Persian Gulf are moving into oil-rich Southest Asia — tipping off investors to stable, long-term growth opportunities.

At the end of last year, the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) signed a deal with the Indonesian government to establish a $1-billion fund aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure. Once a government starts investing in infrastructure, you know that the economy is set for growth.

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