SOVEREIGN ENGINES

New laws encouraging overseas investment and making it easier to hire foreign talent are driving an unprecedented boom in the Gulf’s sovereign wealth funds. Such deregulatory steps have pushed assets under management in the region’s government-owned funds upwards of $4 trillion, Skadden Arps says in a report published on Thursday. “Gulf SWFs, no longer just passive investors, are taking an active role in big-ticket, controlling-stake M&A transactions outside the region,” Skadden Arps says. The report focuses on the Gulf’s six largest funds: Abu Dhabi’s ADIA, Mubadala and ADQ; Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund; the Kuwait Investment Authority; and the Qatar Investment Authority.

DRONE STATION

First came DXB, the world’s busiest airport for international travelers. Now, there’s DXV, the first commercial hub for flying taxis in the UAE. Dubai approved the establishment of Dubai International Vertiport – based adjacent to Dubai International Airport – setting operations to begin in 2026. It’s the first of four sites developed as part of the emirate’s initial air taxi infrastructure network. The UAE’s  General Civil Aviation Authority, meanwhile, said the total number of drones registered in the country is 23,960 – with 93 companies and 270 individuals having applied so far for permission to fly

Public Investment Fund: PIF-backed Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Co. is cooking up a potential IPO in Riyadh this year with Citigroup and SNB Capital, Bloomberg reports. China’s Lenovo, meanwhile, plans to manufacture computer devices in Saudi Arabia by 2026, following the completion of a $2 billion investment deal with the PIF-owned Alat fund.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund’s Mubadala Capital unit is among three principal funders of Tenvie Therapeutics, a $200 million San Franciso-based startup focused on treatment of neurological diseases that launched this week.

🏡 Home Design: Revie, a Saudi startup that created a platform for home design and renovations, raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Sanabil Venture Studio.

🥘 In-flight Services: Catrion Catering signed a $613 million contract with PIF-owned Riyadh Air to provide in-flight catering and services for five years.

🧠 Cerebral Implant: Japan’s Kaneka Corp. paid an estimated $100 million to acquire EndoStream Medical, an Israeli startup whose implanted device eliminates the need for blood thinners in aneurysm treatment.

🚜 Pest Detector: Fermata, an Israeli startup that helps farmers with early detection of bugs and crop disease, raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Raw Ventures.

💼 Dubai Bound: Hamilton Lane, a U.S.-based money manager, and Hong Kong hedge funds Welwing Capital and Jetha Global are expanding to Dubai, joining a steady stream of finance firms setting up in the Gulf, Bloomberg reports.

💼 Remote Working: Abu Dhabi’s ADGM said it will allow companiesto hire remote employees starting April 1, in a move aimed to align with global workplace trends that promotes flexibility, innovation, and clarity in employment rights.

🚢 Old Town: The LNG shipping market faces tighter capacity by 2027 as aging vessels retire and supply grows, with current weak freight rates expected to rebound amid strong long-term demand, Nicholas Gleeson, CFO of Adnoc L&S, told The National.

🛢️ Private Matters: Lower oil prices are prompting Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to involve private firms in financing major infrastructure projects, but inconsistent delivery, regulatory challenges, and excessive government intervention are undermining investor confidence, AGBI reports.

✈️ Flying Again: Ireland’s ultra low-cost Ryanair plans to operate a full summer schedule from Tel Aviv, following its earlier withdrawal due to regional conflicts.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed issue a decreeappointing Sultan Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Juwaid as Assistant Attorney General at the Federal Public Prosecution.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, received Alexandre Silveira, Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy, to discuss energy and mineral exploration.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, met on Thursday in Nicosia with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.

Hussain Sajwani, Chairman of Damac Properties, signed a deal with blockchain platform MANTRA to tokenize assets in the Middle East worth at least $1 billion.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi Energy Minister, said that the new Petroleum and Petrochemical Law which was approved last Tuesdaycontributes to building a legislative framework for the Saudi energy sector. 

Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army’s top general, was elected President on Thursday by Parliament and promised to rebuild battle-damaged parts of the country.

Fazal Merchant, named as President and CFO of Israel’s $12 billion cloud security firm Wiz to direct the company’s growth and prepare for a U.S. share offering.

Jan. 7-10, Las Vegas, Nev. Consumer Electronics Show. One of the world’s biggest stages for the consumer electronics consumer and the entire tech industry. Las Vegas Convention Center.

Jan. 9-13, Abu Dhabi. International Renewable Energy Youth Forum. Held on the sidelines of IRENA’s Energy Forum. Masdar City.

Jan. 11-13, Abu Dhabi. International Renewable Energy Forum. The U.N. IRENA agency’s Assembly meets to make policy decisions and discuss advancing energy transition efforts. Masdar City.

Jan. 11-13, Dubai. The 1 Billion Followers Summit. An event that covers the world’s top creators and entertainers. Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Jan. 13-18, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The conference brings together changemakers to discuss the key challenges in today’s world. ADNEC.

Jan. 16-19, Dubai. Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Golf Tournament bringing in world class athletes. Emirates Golf Club.  

Jan. 20-24, Davos, Switzerland. World Economic Forum. The annual WEF meeting brings world leaders, business leaders and thought leaders together under one roof to discuss the world’s challenges. Davos-Klosters.  

Jan. 27-30, Dubai. Arab Health. Premier healthcare event where attendees network with global leaders, discuss ground-breaking innovations and seek to shape the future of healthcare. Dubai World Trade Center. 

Jan. 27-28, Riyadh. Private markets in Saudi Arabia and GCC.  Exploring fundraising strategies, value creation and opportunities across private equity, credit and venture capital within Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The Fairmont Hotel.

Feb. 3-6, Dubai. Medlab Middle East 2025. The show attracts exhibitors whether global giants or emerging startups to discuss digital health solutions. Dubai World Trade Centre.

Feb. 4-5, Doha. Seatrade Maritime Qatar Conference and Exhibition. Conference brings industry experts, decision-makers, shipping companies and leaders in technology, energy, finance and investment. Sheraton Grand Doha Resort.

Feb. 9-12, Riyadh. Leap 2025. Riyadh’s tech event that brings in tech innovators and leading experts from around the world to discover new ideas, build new partnerships, and connect with inspiring mentors and investors. Riyadh Front Expo Centre.

Feb. 11-13, Dubai. World Government Summit 2025. Annual event brings in world leaders and business leaders from the region and outside to discuss the most pressing matters. Madinat Jumeirah.

Feb. 14-16, Munich Security Forum. Known as one of the world’s leading forums for debating international security policy. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

Feb. 18-19, Abu Dhabi. The Future of Asset Management Middle East. A two-day conference that gathers leading executives from top asset management companies in the Middle East region. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Canal.

Feb. 22-23, Miami, Fla.. FII Priority. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative connects U.S. and Middle Eastern investors. Faena Hotel & Forum, Miami Beach.