ESCAPE ROUTE

Muscat International Airport has turned into a key evacuation hub from the Iran conflict for wealthy Gulf travelers, with a surge in business-jet departures. Since Feb. 28, more than 90 private jets have departed from the normally quiet Omani airport, Bloomberg reports. Private jet broker LunaJets received over 800 evacuation requests in 24 hours amid regional panic, arranging two large group flights from Muscat. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have begun restoring parts of their networks with reduced schedules as regional airspace restrictions ease, warning passengers that some journeys may take longer due to rerouted flight paths.

STALLED CARS

Neolix, a Chinese autonomous delivery vehicle maker, has suspended daily operations of its driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi. The move comes amid rising regional tensions after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel during the sixth day of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, Chinese media outlet Yicai reported on Thursday. The suspension complies with UAE government requirements and aims to ensure the safety of personnel and assets. Other Chinese autonomous vehicle firms are also adjusting operations, with WeRide pausing its robotaxi fleet in Dubai and Pony.ai briefly halting on-road testing in Doha and Dubai before resuming in Doha on Monday.

International Holding Co.: Abu Dhabi-based investment firm 2PointZero Group, an IHC company, has acquired a 60% stake in Italy’s ISEM Packaging Group for $192 million.

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA joined a $500 million financing round for California-based commercial space station developer Vast.

EDGE Group: The Abu Dhabi-owned defense conglomerate signed a strategic agreement to help strengthen Ecuador’s national border protection systems.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabian Mining Company, known as Maaden, said its 2025 net profit more than doubled, and the revenue rose by 19%.

💵 Strategic Plan: Lesha Bank, formerly known as Qatar First Bank, said on Friday it will acquire Guernsey-based aircraft lessor Amedeo Air Four Plus for $1 billion.

🏠 Building Block: Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Majed Real Estate Company awarded a $20.5 million turnkey contract to Emarna Contracting Co. to build eight residential buildings.

💰 Staking Fund: Bahrain-based Investcorp closed a fund that buys minority stakes in private investment firms, securing more than $1.25 billion in commitments.

🚁 Drone Defense: The U.S. and Qatar are in talks with Ukraine about acquiring interceptor drones designed to shoot down Iranian-made Shahed UAVs, with Ukrainian specialists traveling to Doha and Abu Dhabi to share battlefield experience countering the systems, Reuters reports.

🤝 Trade Pact: The UAE and Japan finalized an economic partnership to strengthen bilateral relations and boost trade, investment and cooperation in sectors like technology, logistics, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education.

🗞️ Headline News: German media group Axel Springer has bought London’s Telegraph Media Group in a 575 million-pound ($765 million) deal, scuppering a proposed acquisition by the Daily Mail.

🇦🇪 Solid Ground: Regional business councils say the inflow of companies and wealthy individuals into the UAE is unlikely to be affected in the long term, despite possible short-term disruptions from the war with Iran, Arabian Gulf Business Insights reports. 

👑 Gold Lining: Gold is being sold at a steep discount in Dubai as traders struggle to move bullion out of the precious metals trading hub, Bloomberg reports.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call on Thursday with Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, held a phone call with Sheikh Sabah Khaled AlHamad, Crown Prince of Kuwait.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday. He also met with Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Thursday that Egypt is continuing to try to launch a mediation effort that’s both sincere and honest to stop the Iran war.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, warned on Thursday that the Iran conflict will have effects on energy prices, market sentiment, growth and inflation if it is prolonged.

George Prokopiou: The Greek billionaire’s Dynacom is making a fortune as one of the few legal tanker operators willing to sail to and from the Gulf, the Financial Times reports.

Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, was named Chairman of Egyptian investment bank CI Capital, succeeding Ahmed Issa, Egypt’s former minister of tourism.

Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello was appointed as CEO of the Saudi Red Sea Authority. 

Khalaf Al Habtoor, the Emirati billionaire and founding Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, criticized the U.S. for drawing the Gulf region into conflict with Iran.

📚 Literary Gathering: Dubai’s weeklong “Ramadan Nights by the Creek” program wraps up on Saturday outside the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, featuring poetry readings, live oud performances, and craft workshops. The festival also features a Ramadan market along the waterfront and a dedicated Food Street with cooking demonstrations of traditional Emirati cuisine.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

TOKYO TRIP

The chief of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company has reassured Japanese customers and investors that construction at the company’s massive Ruwais LNG export facility is on track despite the Iran conflict, as Asian countries scramble to secure energy supplies. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and officials from the country’s trade ministry in Tokyo on Thursday amid growing concerns over energy flows to Asia after Qatar suspended LNG output. Japanese buyers, including Mitsui & Co. and Osaka Gas have stakes or long-term off-take agreements in the Ruwais project, while Yokohama, Japan-based JGC Corporation is part of a $5.5 billion joint venture carrying out the engineering, procurement and construction on the project. Al Jaber, who is also the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said energy security continued to be a priority, but “we will not be able to do much if there is any distortion in the Strait of Hormuz.” 

REAL TEST

The UAE’s years-long property rally faces its first major test after Iranian missile strikes unsettled investors, sending shares in developers such as Aldar Properties and Emaar Properties down about 5%. The sell-off comes as analysts had already warned that a pipeline of new housing supply expected by 2028 could outpace population growth, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, bond prices of major developers also dropped sharply, effectively shutting the debt market. With expatriates and overseas buyers underpinning much of the market’s demand, investors say the outlook will depend largely on whether foreign appetite for property in the UAE holds up.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: PayPay Corp., a subsidiary of SoftBank, has secured anchor investments from ADIA, the Qatar Investment Authority, and Visa, which together committed up to $220 million, Reuters reports. 

Mumtalakat: Aluminium Bahrain, owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, declared force majeure to suspend some contracts after shipping disruptions tied to the Iran conflict halted exports.

Qatar Investment Authority: The sovereign wealth fund joined a $500 million funding round for Ayar Labs, a Nvidia-backed semiconductor firm developing technology that uses light instead of copper wiring to move data between AI chips.

🔥 Gas Freeze: Qatar could take weeks to restart LNG shipments after halting production and declaring a force majeure suspension, threatening supplies equal to about a fifth of global LNG trade, Reuters reports.

🛠️ Facilities Management: Saudi Logistics Services Co. acquired a 100% stake in Belgian ground handling firm Aviapartner Liege for $32.8 million.

✈️ Return Flight: Emirates will operate more than 100 flights in and out of Dubai over the next two days, carrying essential cargo and passengers as it works to partially restore its schedule, The National reports.

💰 Chinese Pullback: Some Chinese financial firms are reducing exposure to Middle Eastern debt amid a widening conflict, Bloomberg reports. 

⚡ Grid Guard: TAQA, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., said it activated risk-management and business-continuity plans to protect electricity and water supplies amid the Iran missile conflict.

💰 Tax Incentive: Some wealthy Dubai residents stranded abroad by the Iran war are attempting to return home quickly to avoid losing their tax-free residencies, The Financial Times reports.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held phone calls with multiple foreign ministers and officials on Thursday to discuss the latest regional developments.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call on Wednesday with Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China.

Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, Saudi Ambassador to Spain, met with Shaikha Nasser Al-Nowais, Secretary-General of the U.N. World Tourism Organization, at the organization’s headquarters in Madrid.

Nassef Sawiris, the Egyptian billionaire, was nominated by Adidas to be Chairman of the German sportswear maker, replacing Thomas Rabe.

Ben Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp., was tapped by U.S. President Donald Trump to help keep oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz by offering U.S.-backed political-risk insurance to tanker owners after private insurers pulled coverage, the Financial Times reports.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a LinkedIn post that he has been “working closely with airport authorities, airlines and security agencies to support our frontline teams as operations gradually stabilize.” 

☂️ Nanny Tales: Mary Poppins is coming to Abu Dhabi. The legendary umbrella-toting nanny immortalized in the 1964 Disney film will be singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “A Spoonful of Sugar” at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Performances of the hit West End musical based on the movie run from March 25 to April 15.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

EGYPT DETOUR

Egypt said it could facilitate the transit of Saudi oil through its territory to ease export bottlenecks, positioning the Suez Canal and its pipeline infrastructure as alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said Tuesday that Egypt is prepared to transport Saudi crude from the Red Sea port of Yanbu to the Mediterranean via the Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline, known as Sumed. The proposal comes after Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco told some buyers of its Arab Light crude that cargoes must be loaded at Yanbu on the Red Sea coast – a move sources say is intended to bypass the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on shipping. The Sumed route is not a direct alternative to Hormuz but offers a complementary route. The line runs across Egypt from the Gulf of Suez to the Mediterranean and has a capacity of about 2.5 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

BLOCKED BULLION

Flight disruptions across the Middle East have slowed bullion shipments from Dubai, stalling gold flows from one of the world’s largest trading hubs and tightening logistics for refiners and dealers, Bloomberg reports. The UAE is a key hub in the global gold market, refining and exporting bullion across Asia and serving as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland and London through air cargo. Although the disruption in Dubai is expected to be temporary, prolonged flight suspensions by carriers including Emirates and Etihad Airways could squeeze supplies to key markets, echoing pandemic-era disruptions that created major arbitrage opportunities for banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. Shipping bullion overland to other regional airports is often considered too risky and complex compared with transporting gold in passenger aircraft cargo holds, where insurers typically limit shipments by value rather than weight. Industry experts say armored convoys are possible, but far from ideal.

Saudi Aramco: Shipping rates from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia have doubled as Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, seeks to reroute crude exports away from the Strait of Hormuz toward Red Sea terminals.

AD Ports: The Abu Dhabi-owned shipping company said all its activities have been resumed after the company activated precautionary steps to safeguard its business from the Iran conflict.

International Holding Co.: A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed 2PointZero Group has acquired an undisclosed stake in U.S. health-tech firm Whoop, which has raised over $400 million since 2005.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi’s green energy company will be a minority partner in a $1.2 billion green hydrogen project in Spain’s Andalusia region, approved by Spanish energy company Moev.

💰 Budget Boost: Saudi Arabia approved a new package of spending measures aimed at supporting growth and cushioning the private sector from the economic fallout of regional instability.

🥖 Food Shield: The UAE has secured a six-month strategic food reserve to stabilize domestic markets, Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, calling food security a red line as supply chains face strain.

🔧 Technical Design: Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Mills Company for Food Products signed $19 million in agreements with Bühler AG to supply equipment and technical designs for new and upgraded mills.

📈 Trading Restart: The Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange resumed trading today after a temporary halt triggered by regional tensions.

📊 Market Strain: Investors are reassessing exposure to Gulf assets as oil volatility, disrupted trade routes and rising geopolitical risk ripple through equities, bonds and commodities markets, the Financial Times reports.

🇪🇬 Egyptian Crisis: Egypt’s economy is facing mounting pressure from capital outflows, higher import costs and weaker currency conditions, complicating reform efforts backed by Gulf funding and international lenders, The National reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday to discuss the military escalation in the Middle East. The UAE President received phone calls from world leaders expressing solidarity following the Iranian attacks, including Tanzania’s President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The UAE President also received a phone call from Dr. Ahmed Al‑Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al‑Azhar.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Iran’s latest move as a provocative step likely to draw a coordinated response from Gulf Cooperation Council states, signaling heightened diplomatic and security coordination.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met with Johann Wadephul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, in Berlin.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa reaffirmed his country’s commitment to regional stability and coordination with allies as tensions escalate.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, honored the winners of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation for 2026 on Tuesday.

Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, said Easter bookings across Europe are rising as travelers divert from Middle East destinations affected by the conflict.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, said on Wednesday ⁠that it may ‌take a “couple of weeks” for investors to more fully digest the impacts of conflict in the Middle East.

Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, spoke on Bloomberg Live about how the firm is evolving its business in manufacturing, defense, AI and data to remain competitive not only in  the Middle East.

Dr. Faisal Mohammed Al‑Faqeerwas appointed CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), following the resignation of Abdulrahman Al‑Fageeh.

🎾 Stadium Shock: The escalating Middle East conflict is rippling through global sports, stranding athletes and complicating travel to events such as the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. Tennis tournaments in the UAE were halted, soccer matches in Iran and Qatar were postponed, and Asian Champions League fixtures were delayed as security concerns mounted, Reuters reports. Motor racing has also been hit, with the World Endurance Championship postponing its Qatar season opener and Formula One monitoring whether next month’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can proceed as scheduled. 

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

EXPAT EXODUS

Thousands of Western expats are rushing to leave the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and other Gulf state after three days of Iranian drone and missile strikes. A limited number of commercial flights resumed on Monday from the UAE as the conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran had largely halted aviation. British authorities urged citizens in the Gulf to register online to facilitate possible evacuation. Flight prices between Asia and Europe have surged, and seats were selling out after key Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai International Airport, Reuters reports. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, meanwhile, sought to reassure Dubai residents that the government was working to keep them safe, making a public appearance at the Dubai Mall on Monday, setting off a storm of enthusiastic postings on Instagram and other social media.

TRADE AS USUAL

Seemingly undeterred from pursuing its long-term investment objectives amid Iranian bombardment, the UAE signed a trade pact with Ecuador on Sunday, with more than $3 billion in potential deals on the table. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement at a ceremony in the capital city of Quito on Sunday. It followed a visit to Ecuador by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed, who met with President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa on Sunday ahead of the pact signing. Among the potential deals is a $250 million collaboration between the UAE’s EDGE Group and Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense. Ecuador is the fourth Latin American country to sign a CEPA with the UAE, joining Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia. Al Zeyoudi said the UAE is Ecuador’s largest trading partner across the Arab world and Africa, accounting for about 30% of total trade with the regions combined.

Oman Investment Authority: OQ Exploration and Production, an Oman-listed exploration and production company, said the $1.6 billion Marsa LNG bunkering project is progressing as planned.

Qatar Investment Authority: A consortium of investors including BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, investment group EQT and the QIA agreed to acquire Arlington, Virginia-based utility AES for $10.7 billion.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: The Abu Dhabi sovereign fund sold its Novotel and Ibis hotels in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to Wentworth Capital for $390 million, the Australian Financial Review reports.

Qatar Energy: QatarEnergy said on Tuesday it has decided to temporarily halt downstream production in Qatar, including for urea, polymers, methanol and aluminum.

🍽️ Meal Deal: Saudi Arabia’s airline catering firm Catrion has acquired a majority shareholding in Riyadh-based airport hospitality firm Al Khalejiah Catering Co. in a deal worth as much as $117.56 million.

📺 Streaming Merger: Paramount Skydance said it will combine Paramount+ and HBO Max services into a single streaming platform to challenge Netflix after the Gulf-backed $110 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

🏘️ Winning Bid: United Real Estate Company has emerged as the winning investor for a major waterfront project in Kuwait City.

📉 Airline Pressures: The current Middle East conflict is testing the finances of international airlines as higher costs and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on routes and profitability, the Financial Times reports.

🚆 On Track: Etihad Rail operated a test run of a passenger service from Al Ghuwaifat, near the border with Saudi Arabia, to Al Faya station in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, in co-ordination with the Emergencies, Crisis and Disasters Management Centre.

💻 AI Drive: Ethiopia is launching Medemer Artificial Intelligence University, poised to become Africa’s first university fully dedicated to AI and the world’s second such institution after Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

🚢 Protect Hormuz: China urged all sides in the Iran conflict to immediately halt military operations and protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as tanker traffic has largely stopped amid U.S.-Israel strikes and Iran’s response.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made a public appearance at the Dubai Mall on Monday, together with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defense Minister.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held phone calls with several foreign ministers, including Dr. Fuad Mohammed Hussein of Iraq, Yvette Cooper of the U.K. and Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, held a telephone call with Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of Oman.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, discussed the latest developments in the region with his counterparts from Egypt, Russia and Canada on Monday.

Mohamed Rashid bin Taliah was approved as Dubai’s Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Government Knowledge Exchange by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Joe Lonsdale, a founder of Palantir Technologies, said in a post on X the UAE’s Ministry of Defense “should be lauded” for its preparations to deal with missile fire from Iran.

🏎️ Engine Trouble: Formula One’s governing body is closely monitoring the conflict with Iran in the run-up to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, which opens an F1 season featuring races across the Middle East. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia hold their F1 races in April, while Qatar hosts in November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the season in December. “We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments ‌carefully and ⁠responsibly,” Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Emirati who heads F1’s governing International Automobile Federation, said in a statement.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

STORMY SEAS

Insurance companies are telling ship owners they may cancel policies and raise coverage prices as much as 50% for vessels traveling through the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reports. Cargo war risk insurers – which cover commodities carried on tankers, such as grain and oil – said that they were preparing to cancel policies and renegotiate coverage at higher prices, rather than denying coverage for ships sailing into the region, the newspaper said. Danish container shipping line Maersk, meanwhile, halted sailings through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, citing escalating regional security risks. The move is expected to lengthen shipping times and raise freight costs.

MISSED CONNECTION

Businesses in the UAE and Bahrain are facing network disruption issues as Amazon said its cloud unit’s data centers faced connectivity and power disruptions after Iranian strikes on Gulf countries. Two of its data center zones in the UAE were left without power, according to the company’s status page. Amazon Web Services said earlier that one UAE facility was hit by objects that caused sparks and a fire, leading to a shutdown, and later confirmed another localized power issue in the region, Reuters reports. While some services had started to recover, AWS said that full restoration could take several hours. It did not say whether the outages were linked to the Iranian strikes.

ADNOC: The UAE’s national oil and gas company is delaying a planned debut sale of yuan-denominated notes, Bloomberg reports.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: The Abu Dhabi sovereign fund is in talks with Project Prometheus, an artificial intelligence startup co-led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, which is raising tens of billions of dollars to buy companies impacted by AI, The Financial Times reports.

Core42: The UAE Central Bank is teaming up with Core42, a unit of Abu Dhabi-owned AI company G42, to build a sovereign financial cloud aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across the country’s banking system.

Mubadala: Acelen, owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, will boost diesel output by 10% in June at its Brazilian refinery Mataripe as part of a $143 million investment plan.

🔩 Metal Deal: Aluminium Bahrain, known as Alba, fully acquired Europe’s primary Aluminium smelter, Aluminium Dunkerque from AIP VII Europe Sarl., a subsidiary of AIP Fund VII managed by American Industrial Partners.

💳 Exclusive Club: Suez Canal Bank and Alameda Healthcare Group partnered to integrate premium banking with medical services.

⛽ Production Halt: QatarEnergy ceased liquefied natural gas production after military attacks on its Ras Laffan complex, the world’s biggest natural gas export facility.

✈️ Airport Hit: Iranian strikes disrupted thousands of flights and damaged facilities at Dubai International Airport, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute services and adding to regional travel turmoil.

📈 Closed Shop: The UAE Capital Market Authority announced that the country’s capital markets, including the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market, will be closed March 2-3.

📦 Action Returns: ⁠Dubai’s ‌DP ​World ​said on Monday its operations ​at ⁠UAE’s ​Jebel ‌Ali port ⁠have ⁠resumed, Reuters reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a phone call on Sunday from U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing Iranian attacks on Gulf countries and review developments in the region.

Sheikh Mohamed received a phone call today from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The pair discussed the Iranian attacks in the Gulf and the wider security and military developments in the region.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held phone calls with several foreign ministers on Sunday to discuss regional developments and the repercussions of Iran’s missile attacks.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, concluded his visit to Ecuador, at the invitation of President Daniel Noboa who awarded the Crown Prince the the National Order of Merit in the Grade of Grand Collar.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, visited the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday for a community event during Ramadan.

Samir J. Serhan was appointed CEO of ACWA Power, the Saudi renewable energy company owned by the Public Investment Fund, replacing Marco Arcelli.

Vince Cook, the CEO of National Bank of Fujairah, discussed the bank’s comeback after years of setbacks, in an interview with The National.

Pavel Durov, Founder and CEO of Telegram and a resident of Dubai, said in a post on X that he left the UAE for Europe a week ago, but can’t wait to be back.

🎨 Royal Canvas: Dubai Collection Nights is returning for a fourth edition, opening normally private holdings to the public through exhibitions, tours and studio visits across the city. Among the highlights of the event running through March 14 is Syrian artist Moustafa Fathi’s Untitled, which is from the personal collection of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, The National reports.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

SCREEN DREAM

A $111 billion Gulf-backed bid for Hollywood studio Warner Bros. Discovery appears to have prevailed after streaming giant Netflix dropped out of the fight. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav said the $31-a-share offer from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance would “create tremendous value for our shareholders.” Paramount has aggressively pursued Warner Bros., launching multiple successive offers backed by various configurations of Gulf sovereign wealth funds, including the Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. In December the newly-formed Abu Dhabi state investment vehicle L’imad Holding Co. joined the fray by backing a $108 billion hostile offer. L’imad’s total commitment under the revised offer is not yet known.

WINDY FRONTIER

Masdar, the UAE’s sustainable energy company, will sell a 60% stake in its portfolio of nine wind farms in Portugal to Exus Renewables, while retaining a 40% holding. The projects have entered the final stage of repowering and are due for completion by 2027, the companies said in a statement on Thursday. Once fully operational, the upgraded sites are expected to supply clean electricity to more than 200,000 households and cut carbon emissions by about 41.7 kilotonnes a year. Masdar is seeking to expand across the Iberian peninsula and wider Europe, targeting a global portfolio capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2030.

Public Investment Fund: The PIF appointed Jerry Todd as Acting Head of Investment Strategy while he continues overseeing the national development division, and expanded Chief Financial Officer Yasir Al-Salman’s role to include global capital finance, Bloomberg reports. 

EDGE: AAbu Dhabi Ship Building, part of the UAE-owned Edge Group, expects a surge in military vessel orders and aims to more than double revenue within three years, supported by existing contracts, The National reports.

L’imad Holding: Etihad Airways has become the official partner of McLaren Racing’s Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship programmes from the 2026 season.

🛡️ Defense Contracts: South Korea and the UAE will cooperate on projects worth more than $65 billion, including $35 billion dedicated to the defense industry.

📦 Logistics Aide: Iraq will receive up to $120 million from the International Finance Corporation to expand the capacity of the dedicated container terminal at Umm Qasr Port.

🛠️ Major Win: Larsen & Toubro, an Indian engineering conglomerate, said its power transmission and distribution arm has won contracts to build five substations in the Middle East worth $1.1 billion.

🚗 Driverless Debut: Tesla has begun trials of its self-driving cars in Abu Dhabi, testing the vehicles with safety drivers.

🚄 Chugging Ahead: Egypt is pushing forward with a high-speed rail network linking its Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts, creating what Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir described as a “Suez Canal on Rails.”

🍔 Burger Ban: Abu Dhabi has banned advertising of junk food as part of a drive to tackle obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the emirate.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Abu Dhabi on Thursday at a Ramadan event attended by the rulers of the other six emirates, as well as Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call today with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held separate calls with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, bought a 25% stake in Spain’s UD Almería Football Club through his CR7 Sports Investments Co. The Spanish club is controlled by Saudi businessman Mohamed Al Khereiji.

Mohamed Al Khaja, the UAE Ambassador to Israel, hosted an iftar meal at the Hilton Tel Aviv on Thursday night for some 300 invited guests, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. 

Malak El Baba was named by Visa as its Country Manager for Egypt and leader of the credit card company’s new sub-region comprising Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.

Todd Boehly, Chairman of Eldridge Industries and co-owner of Chelsea FC, posed for a photograph with Sheikh Zayed bin Tahnoon, the son of UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, along with Khalifa Al-Khouri, Chairman of Enercap Energy.

🏛️ Coming Soon: The long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum is expected to open towards the end of this year, Director Stephanie Rosenthal said during a public event this week, The National reports. The Frank Gehry-designed building is nearing completion, with its giant conical-shaped structure now visible across Saadiyat Island’s cultural district, which it shares with Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

April 7-9, Abu Dhabi. Future Health. Bringing together global leaders in government, science, technology and investment. ADNEC.

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

GAS DIPLOMACY

India has signed a $3 billion deal to buy liquefied natural gas from the United Arab Emirates, making it the UAE’s largest LNG customer, as the two countries moved to deepen trade and defense ties. The agreement was struck during a working visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, with both sides pledging to double bilateral trade to $200 billion within six years and pursue a strategic defense partnership, Reuters reports. As per the agreement, Abu Dhabi state firm ADNOC Gas will supply half a million tons of LNG a year to Hindustan Petroleum over 10 years, taking ADNOC’s total contracts with India to more than $20 billion. Indian officials said the defense cooperation would not draw New Delhi into regional conflicts, despite shifting alliances in the Gulf.

TRADE BOT

Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence firm Presight will develop a platform to boost the UAE’s foreign trade capabilities by analyzing real-time data from sources including ports, shipping routes and customs records. The G42 company signed an agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Trade, announced on Monday, to create a series of AI-powered tools that will support its mission to be the world’s first AI-driven trade ministry. “The future of trade belongs to economies that can see early and move fast, Mansoor Al Mansoori, Vice Chairman of Presight, said. “By putting real-time insight into the hands of decision-makers, we reduce friction, compress timelines, and help governments and businesses operate with confidence.”

Mubadala: Mubadala Bio’s subsidiary Bioventure Healthcare secured the European Union’s Good Manufacturing Practice certification, a key requirement for enabling pharmaceutical product export to the EU. 

Public Investment Fund: ACWA Power, the PIF-owned Saudi energy utility, bought Engie’s 17.5% stake in Kuwait’s Az Zour independent water and power project, consolidating its ownership in one of the country’s largest utility facilities.

ADQ: AD Ports Group, majority owned by ADQ, signed an agreement with Nigeria to explore collaboration opportunities across ports, logistics, maritime services and digital trade infrastructure.

ADQ: Safeen Drydocks, part of Noatum Maritime, which is owned by ADQ’s AD Ports Group, fully acquired Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, one of Spain’s most established shipbuilding and repair facilities, for $13 million.

EDGE Group: UAE defense group EDGE and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings have agreed to form a joint venture to co-develop advanced defense technologies.

🍎 Nutrition Bet: Private equity firm Alta Semper agreed to acquire a majority stake in UAE-based sports nutrition company Nature’s Rule, describing the deal as a step toward scaling the business through a more institutional growth strategy.

💻 Blockchain Bonds: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank, issued the region’s first Dirham-denominated digital bond, raising $272.3 million.

🏢 Office Expansion: Egyptian developer Marakez secured $63 million from Kuwait Finance House – Egypt to expand the commercial Mindhaus Campus at its District 5 project in New Cairo.

🌱 Charging ahead: Dubai has expanded its EV Green Charger network to 1,860 points across the emirate.

🚇 Metro Link: Dubai’s RTA has invited consultants to bid for designing a 3km Route 2020 metro extension from the Expo 2020 station to Al Maktoum International Airport’s West Terminal.

📈 Economy Performing: The IMF raised its 2026 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia to 4.5% citing higher oil output, strong domestic demand, and ongoing reforms.

💰 Dreaming Big: Northern Graphite’s plan to build a $200 million graphite battery anode plant in Saudi Arabia with Obeikan has fueled an eightfold revenue growth forecast and a sharp rise in its shares.

🍪 Snack Deal: Dubai-listed Unikai Foods received a $35 million cash takeover bid from a Kuwait’s Al Wafir for Marketing Services.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the fifth edition of World of Coffee Dubai on Monday at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, reviewed the outcome of this year’s Liwa International Festival on Monday.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, attended the opening of the annual UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition on Monday.

Faisal al-Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister, said in an interview with Reuters in Davos that the kingdom’s private sector is taking on a larger role in delivering Vision 2030 projects as the government seeks to shift more execution and financing to companies outside the state.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, led a high-level government and business delegation to the Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the UAE-DRC Trade and Investment day. 

Nayef Nasser Alnasser was appointed Managing Director of Ithmaar Development Company, succeeding Mohammed Khalil Alsayed.

David Hadley, CEO of UAE-based NMC Healthcare, said that hospitals are increasingly under strain as profit margins shrink and may have to consolidate further to unlock economies of scale.

Rashid Al Dhaheri, an Emirati racing driver, won the opening round of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, held at Yas Marina Circuit. 

📺 On the Box: Netflix has unveiled its line-up of Arabic releases for 2026, including new seasons of hit reality shows “Love is Blind, Habibi” and “Dubai Bling.” Season 2 of the streamer’s regional adaptation of the global matchmaking show introduces potential couples on either side of a wall to test if they can form a bond without seeing one-another. “Dubai Bling,” now in its fourth season, follows a cast of fashion-obsessed socialites who revel in delivering snappy one-liners like “I’m not playing hard to get, I am hard to get.”

Jan. 18-21, Riyadh. Big5 Construct Saudi. Latest trends and opportunities among construction companies operating in KSA. Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center located at ROSHN Front.

Jan. 20-21, Dubai. 2026 BAFT MENA Forum. The event brings the region’s senior executives, influencers and industry experts to explore the forces redefining MENA’s financial ecosystem. Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay.

Jan. 20-22, Abu Dhabi. UMEX 2026. The Unmanned Systems Exhibitions and Conference  showcases the latest advances in autonomous systems, robotics, artificial intelligence, and training simulation. ADNEC.

Jan. 26-27, Riyadh. Super Return. A major private equity & venture capital conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Fairmont Hotel. 

Jan. 26-28, Riyadh. Saudi Franchise Expo. The exhibition brings local and international businesses that want to create franchising companies into the kingdom. The Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions, Riyadh.

Jan. 26-30, Dubai. Gulf Food. The world’s largest food and beverage industry event. Dubai World Trade Centre & Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Jan. 29, Dubai. The Great Marketing & Business Minds. In this 4th edition, the event brings the most influential marketing and business leaders for a deep dive into performance-driven marketing, data integration, and the evolving accountability of brand leadership. Pullman Dubai Downtown.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and positions Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar alongside fashion capitals like New York, London, Milan and Paris. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting a new generation of founders in the Middle East to investors, journalists and more around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb. 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between MBZUAI and the U.S. NSF Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and opportunities in Edge AI. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. The 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

Feb. 3, Dubai. World Laureates Summit. Held alongside the World Government Summit, the inaugural event will bring 200 of the world’s top scientific researchers, marking a historic integration of science and government. 

Feb. 3-5, Dubai. World Government Summit. Brings together heads of state, policy makers, top corporate executives to debate global priorities. Madinat Jumeirah. 

Feb. 4-5, Dubai. PropTech Connect Middle East. The Dubai Land Department will host the first regional edition of the real estate technology event. Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene the region’s foremost advisors, financiers, and investors in the UAE capital. TBC

Feb.12-13, Riyadh. PIF Private Sector Forum. The event, in its third edition, aims to support the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiative. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center. 

INDIA BUYING

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed began a visit today to India, where he was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks the UAE President’s third visit, and comes after trade between the UAE and India surged to $100 billion in 2024‑25 following implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The visit also comes as state-owned Etihad Water and Electricity said it is planning a feasibility study for a proposed undersea power link. The “one sun, one world, one grid” initiative would allow solar power to be traded between the countries. The UAE is home to more than 3.5 million Indians, its largest expatriate community.

CREDIT SHIFT

Sovereign wealth funds from the Gulf are putting more money into private lending deals in emerging markets to earn higher returns. The move reflects a search for alternatives as traditional bonds offer lower yields and banks pull back from riskier markets, Bloomberg reports. The Gulf funds – including the UAE’s Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – are teaming up with global asset managers to provide loans directly to companies and projects that struggle to access financing. Mubadala Capital, for example, the sovereign fund’s alternative asset management arm, has secured about $240 million in commitments for its latest Brazil vehicle after closing a $710 million fund focused on the country in 2023.

Masdar: Masdar and French utility Engie have reached financial close on the 1.5GW Khazna Solar PV project in Abu Dhabi, backed by financing from seven banks and a 30-year power purchase agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company. 

International Holding Co.: NMDC Group, majority owned by IHC’s Alpha Dhabi Holding, said its subsidiary NMDC Infra agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Spain’s Lantania Aguas to form Lantania NMDC Water, creating a global water-sector player.

Public Investment Fund: The Royal Commission for AlUla signed a memorandum with SURJ Sports Investment to explore sports programmes, joint investments and hosting major events to boost AlUla’s position as a global sports destination.

Mubadala: Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Mubadala’s Deputy Group CEO, joined the first episode of the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund’s newly-launched podcast series “The Exchange” to talk about conviction-led investing.

💰 Rising Competition: Libya signed a $2.7 billion public-private partnership with Qatari and Italian firms to expand the Misurata Free Zone port into a regional transhipment hub competing with Egypt and Morocco.

🤝 Middle Team: Qatar has become the quiet middleman for Washington’s first $500 million Venezuelan oil sale, holding the proceeds in Doha as the U.S. markets the crude and manages revenues.

💵 Buying Power: Saudi Arabia raised its U.S. Treasury holdings in November to $148.8 billion, lifting it to 17th among foreign holders.

🚢 Red Sea Return: Major container shipping lines are cautiously resuming passage through the Red Sea after more than two years of avoidance, amid improving security conditions.

🌐 Staying Online: Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network is facing a high-profile security challenge as Iran intensifies efforts to restrict access during a crackdown on political unrest.

⛽ Gas Expansion: Chevron and its partners have approved an expansion of Israel’s Leviathan gas field, increasing supplies for domestic use and regional export markets.

⚡ AI Tariff: Abu Dhabi is preparing a dedicated electricity tariff for data centres to protect households and businesses from higher energy bills.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim received Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on his first visit to Qatar on Sunday. Following the visit, Carney announced that Qatar would make significant investments in Canada. 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watched key stages of the Elite Race held as part of the Al Salam Cycling Championship organized by his private office. 

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, son of Qatar’s Emir, attended the Global Champions Arabians Tour – Abu Dhabi, at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Bahrain-based Investcorp, told Bloomberg at Davos that the outlook for IPOs is getting better in Gulf markets. 

Mariam Mohamed AlMusharrekh was appointed  Director General of Government Talent at the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi and Abdulaziz Mohamed Alhammadi was appointed as Director General of Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Energy. 

Rafiza Ghazali was appointed Managing Director, Consumer Banking at Fasset, the UAE-based global Islamic banking and investment platform.

Rajesh Nagpal was appointed Vice President of Enterprise Business for Huawei UAE.

🦁 Mane Attraction: The last drawing of a lion by Rembrandt remaining in private hands will be displayed in Saudi Arabia later this month ahead of its auction in New York, where it is expected to fetch more than $15 million. “Young Lion Resting,” one of six known lion drawings by the Dutch master, will be displayed at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace from Jan. 24 to 25, as part of the Leiden Collection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization chaired by the co-owner of the painting, philanthropist Jon Ayers. Panthera is leading the re-introduction of the critically endangered Arabian leopard to AlUla.

Jan. 18-21, Riyadh. Big5 Construct Saudi. Latest trends and opportunities among construction companies operating in KSA. Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center located at ROSHN Front.

Jan. 20-21, Dubai. 2026 BAFT MENA Forum. The event brings the region’s senior executives, influencers and industry experts to explore the forces redefining MENA’s financial ecosystem. Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay.

Jan. 20-22, Abu Dhabi. UMEX 2026. The Unmanned Systems Exhibitions and Conference  showcases the latest advances in autonomous systems, robotics, artificial intelligence, and training simulation. ADNEC.

Jan.26-27, Riyadh. Super Return. A major private equity & venture capital conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The Fairmont Hotel. 

Jan. 26-28, Riyadh. Saudi Franchise Expo. The exhibition brings local and international businesses that want to create franchising companies into the kingdom. The Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions, Riyadh.

Jan. 26-30, Dubai. Gulf Food. The world’s largest food and beverage industry event. Dubai World Trade Centre & Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Jan.29, Dubai. The Great Marketing & Business Minds. In this 4th edition, the event brings the most influential marketing and business leaders for a deep dive into performance-driven marketing, data integration, and the evolving accountability of brand leadership. Pullman Dubai Downtown.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and positions Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar alongside fashion capitals like New York, London, Milan and Paris. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting a new generation of founders in the Middle East to investors, journalists and more around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between MBZUAI and the U.S. NSF Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and opportunities in Edge AI. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. The 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

Feb. 3, Dubai. World Laureates Summit. The inaugural summit, held alongside the World Government Summit, will bring 200 of the world’s top scientific researchers, marking a historic integration of science and government. 

Feb. 3-5, Dubai. World Government Summit. Brings together heads of state, policy makers, top corporate executives to debate global priorities. Madinat Jumeirah. 

Feb. 4-5, Dubai. PropTech Connect Middle East. The Dubai Land Department will host the first regional edition of the real estate technology event. Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene the region’s foremost advisors, financiers, and investors in the UAE capital. TBC

Feb.12-13, Riyadh. PIF Private Sector Forum. The event, in its third edition, aims to support the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiative. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

SYRIAN STAKES

Qatar’s Estithmar Holding is poised to purchase controlling stakes in two Syrian banks. The investment group plans to take over majority ownership of Shahba Bank and about 30% of Syria International Islamic Bank, Reuters reports. The move would be the first foreign banking acquisition in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad and follows the recent lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria. The year-old interim government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been seeking to bring foreign capital into Syria’s banking system after more than a decade of conflict.

EXPO IPO

Competition to dominate the events space in the Gulf is heating up, with two major groups exploring the potential to launch IPOs this year. Dubai World Trade Centre and U.K.-based Informa Group, which host some of the emirate’s biggest conferences and expos, have hired Rothschild & Co. as a financial adviser for a potential listing in Dubai, Bloomberg reports. The pair announced a joint venture last March to own and operate major events, including the Dubai Airshow and Gulfood. Meanwhile, the organizer of Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative, Richard Attias & Associates, is among eight companies earmarked by the Public Investment Fund for IPOs this year. 

ADNOC: Abu Dhabi’s state oil company is evaluating a potential investment in Venezuela’s natural gas industry as the beleaguered country tries to revive output and attract foreign partners, Bloomberg reports.

TAQA: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Masdar, EDF power solutions and Jinko Power Technology announced the issuance of long-term green bonds to refinance Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Plant, raising more than $870 million. 

Masdar: UAE’s Masdar is partnering with Elite Agro Holding to launch the MENA region’s first agricultural photovoltaic project, combining solar panels with greenhouses. Masdar and Montenegro’s national power utility EPCG, meanwhile, agreed to explore a joint venture to develop and operate large-scale renewable energy projects.

Qatar Investment Authority: Qatar National Bank raised $650 million through a Formosa bond issue in Taiwan, with HSBC, KGI Securities and Standard Chartered acting as joint managers.

ADQ: AD Ports Group signed a $228 million land sale agreement with Danube Properties for a major residential and mixed-use project on roughly 1 million square meters within Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD Town Centre.

Arab Energy Fund: The fund has taken a minority stake in Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Petroleum Supply Co., backing the company’s regional expansion across fuel supply, logistics and related energy services.

💰 Japanese Credit: Saudi Arabia has secured a 12-year, $1.5 billion credit line from Japan’s export credit agency Nexi to support water and energy projects under Vision 2030.

🔋 Clean Projects: The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced a joint venture with Baah and India’s Lohum to develop the country’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery recycling facility in the emirate of Sharjah. 

🚗 Branded Build: UAE developer Binghatti and Mercedes-Benz unveiled an $8.2 billion co-branded development in Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba at a star-studded event hosted by American TV star Terry Crews.

🏦 Open Shop: National Bank of Canada announced the opening of an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre to support Canadian clients expanding into the Middle East.

⭐ Gold Star: Abu Dhabi Customs and the Emirates Drug Establishment launched the Golden List of Pharmaceutical Companies, initially covering 31 firms, to streamline customs procedures and strengthen supply chains.

🛥️ Calm Seas: Danish Shipping company Maersk will resume sailing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal following improved stability in the area, The Wall Street Journal reports. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal, at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed also held a phone call with Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, on Thursday and received a written message from Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, honored the six winners of Great Arab Minds 2025 at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor and Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Co., said talks on Thursday with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg focused on deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and investment.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, met with Nicolas Bos, Group CEO of Richemont, to discuss opportunities in the UAE. Sheikh Maktoum also met with Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD.  

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message  on Thursday from Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said reports that the Public Investment Fund intends to spin off its Manara Minerals subsidiary were inaccurate and any move would have to be announced by the PIF.

Ali Shaath, the former deputy planning minister for the Palestinian Authority who was chosen to lead a U.S.-backed committee to govern Gaza, has proposed pushing war debris into the Mediterranean Sea to speed reconstruction, Reuters reports

Nasser al Sharji was appointed CEO of Oman Airports, replacing Ahmed Al Amri, who has been appointed Chairman of the Muscat Municipality.

Mattar Al Tayer, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority Chairman, said Electric air taxis developed by Joby Aviation are set to begin commercial operations in Dubai by the end of this year, Reuters reports. 

Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No.1 tennis player, has been signed as Emirates airline’s first tennis ambassador as part of the airline’s commitments as the official airline of all four Grand Slams worldwide.

🎨 Under the Hammer: Pieces by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Camille Pissarro and David Hockney are among the highlights in Sotheby’s next major art sale in Saudi Arabia. The “Origins II” auction taking place in Diriyah on Jan. 31 comes amid a growing appetite for fine art investment in the kingdom, where Sotheby’s held its first international sale last January, netting $17 million. Among this year’s works is Warhol’s 1978 painting of Muhammad Ali, originally commissioned by U.S. investment banker Richard Weisman.

Jan. 18-21, Riyadh. Big5 Construct Saudi. Latest trends and opportunities among construction companies operating in KSA. Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center located at ROSHN Front.

Jan. 20-21, Dubai. 2026 BAFT MENA Forum. The event brings the region’s senior executives, influencers and industry experts to explore the forces redefining MENA’s financial ecosystem. Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay.

Jan. 20-22, Abu Dhabi. UMEX 2026. The Unmanned Systems Exhibitions and Conference  showcases the latest advances in autonomous systems, robotics, artificial intelligence, and training simulation. ADNEC.

Jan.26-27, Riyadh. Super Return. A major private equity & venture capital conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The Fairmont Hotel. 

Jan. 26-28, Riyadh. Saudi Franchise Expo. The exhibition brings local and international businesses that want to create franchising companies into the kingdom. The Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions, Riyadh.

Jan. 26-30, Dubai. Gulf Food. The world’s largest food and beverage industry event. Dubai World Trade Centre & Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Jan.29, Dubai. The Great Marketing & Business Minds. In this 4th edition, the event brings the most influential marketing and business leaders for a deep dive into performance-driven marketing, data integration, and the evolving accountability of brand leadership. Pullman Dubai Downtown.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and positions Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar alongside fashion capitals like New York, London, Milan and Paris. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting a new generation of founders in the Middle East to investors, journalists and more around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. The 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

Feb. 3-5, Dubai. World Government Summit. Brings together heads of state, policy makers, top corporate executives to debate global priorities. Madinat Jumeirah. 

Feb. 4-5, Dubai. PropTech Connect Middle East. The Dubai Land Department will host the first regional edition of the real estate technology event. Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene the region’s foremost advisors, financiers, and investors in the UAE capital. TBC

Feb.12-13, Riyadh. PIF Private Sector Forum. The event, in its third edition, aims to support the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiative. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.