TRADE TROUBLE

The UAE and China top the list of countries most exposed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on those doing business with Iran. Abu Dhabi is assessing how the proposed measure could disrupt supply chains and trade flows, given the UAE’s role as one of Iran’s largest commercial partners, Bloomberg reports. UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi said he’s still evaluating the possible effects, while details of how the tariff would be applied remain unclear. The UAE, meanwhile, signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Nigeria and the Philippines in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to cut tariffs and deepen trade and investment.

PETROLEUM PARTNERS

French energy giant TotalEnergies has formed a joint venture with Bahrain’s Bapco Energies aimed at boosting trade in petroleum products across the Middle East. The venture called BxT Trading will handle flows from Bapco’s expanded Sitra refinery and draw on TotalEnergies’ global expertise to deepen market access. The companies said they expect the partnership to strengthen Bahrain’s competitiveness and enhance TotalEnergies’ regional presence. Bapco Chairman Sheikh Nasser Al Khalifa and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne signed the 50-50 venture agreement at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Mubadala Capital: Invesco is selling its $18.7 billion Canadian investment fund business to Mubadala Capital-backed CI Global Asset Management amid ongoing consolidation in the mutual fund industry.

AD Ports: KEZAD Group, a unit of AD Ports, formed a joint venture with Sharjah-based BEEAH to provide eco-friendly waste management services across the company’s free zones and industrial districts. 

Emirates Nuclear Energy Co., which is backed by ADQ, said its Barakah plants are now supplying 57% of electricity demand from UAE households.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission, in collaboration with PIF-owned Soudah Development, announced the discovery of 20 ancient rock art sites within the southwest Soudah Peaks area. 

Arab Energy Fund: The Arab Energy Fund plans to allocate more capital to regional funds as Gulf nations seek global investment to diversify their hydrocarbon-dependent economies, CEO Khalid Al-Ruwaigh told Bloomberg.

💰 Record Fund: Abu Dhabi-based digital finance startup Mal raised $230 million in a seed round led by BlueFive Capital, as it prepares to launch an AI-driven Islamic bank.

🩺 New Beds: Saudi Arabia’s Mouwasat Medical Services Co. won approval to build a $240 million hospital in Riyadh.

📈 Private Credit: Saudi Arabia’s Jadwa Investment Co. plans to raise up to $200 million for its flagship private credit fund to capitalize on Gulf demand for alternative financing.

🛡️ Defense Pact: The UAE’s EDGE and Spain’s Indra Group signed an agreement to establish a new defense manufacturing company in Spain to develop smart weapons and munitions. 

✈️ Drone Deal: European missile manufacturer MBDA signed the first export contract for its Sky Warden anti-drone system with Oman on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow in November,Intelligence Online reports.

🛫 African Runway: Ethiopia started construction on what it says will be Africa’s largest airport, a $12.5 billion project that aims to handle up to 110 million passengers annually.

🤝 New Market: Canada will begin negotiations next month on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the UAE as it seeks to diversify trade away from the United States and attract Gulf investment, particularly in liquefied natural gas, Reuters reports. 

🌊 Trade Player: Medina, one of the two Muslim holy cities, is emerging as a strategic hub for maritime transport and supply chains, benefiting from its Red Sea coast location and its key role in the kingdom’s logistics network

🏠 Tower of Wellness: Sharjah developer Arada launched Inaura Downtown, a 42-story skyscraper in central Dubai that will contain apartments, fitness clubs, restaurants and a luxury hotel, all dedicated to “wellness.”

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Daniel Chapo, President of Mozambique, who is taking part in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohamed also met with Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria; and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines.

Sheikh Mohamed conferred the Order of Zayed, the UAE’s highest civilian honour, on Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, on Tuesday.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met with Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and CEO of Chinese electric car maker BYD, on Wednesday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, on Tuesday. Sheikh Abdullah met with Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. He also met with Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa.

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan, Chairman of International Holding Co.’s 2PointZero investment firm, met with Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, on Tuesday. 

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said the world is preparing for “a new era of global development, prosperity and stability through minerals,” speaking on Tuesday to the annual Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

Saeed Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State, met with Maria Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, during her visit to the UAE to participate in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 

Rolf Schilde was appointed Senior Executive Officer at Indosuez Wealth Management Dubai International Financial Centre Branch, while Charles Tort was named Deputy CEO.

👣 Feet First: A drawing of a foot by Michelangelo is on display in Dubai, the first time a work by the Italian Renaissance artist has gone on show in the UAE. The previously unknown sketch is of the right foot of the Libyan Sibyl, a figure who appears on the far east end of the frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. It is one of only 50 known studies related to the chapel. Christie’s will auction the work in New York next month with an estimate of $1.5 million to $2 million.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. UAE leaders host corporate executives, policymakers and environmental groups to debate the future of renewable energy and climate change. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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. 

TECH PACT

Qatar has joined the Trump administration’s international initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on advanced technology, dubbed “Pax Silica.” The pact – which the UAE is scheduled to sign later this week – covers semiconductors, artificial intelligence and secure supply chains. The aim is to make critical technologies more reliable and less vulnerable to disruption as demand rises worldwide. Qatari officials said the agreement will assist the government’s push to build up its digital economy and play a bigger role in global technology infrastructure. Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the U.K. and Australia are already partners to the initiative.

ON STANDBY

Dubai’s global port operator DP World is ready to start operations in Venezuela “within 24 hours” if the situation changes following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by the U.S., its chairman says. “Tomorrow if there’s a cargo opportunity in Venezuela, we will go … We can start within 24 hours if we need to. We know the place very well, the teams, everybody,” Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Chairman and Group CEO, told The National. The container shipping and logistics giant previously ran terminal operations at Venezuela’s Puerto Cabello until 2009, when the military took over the country’s ports and airports under former President Hugo Chavez. Since then U.S. sanctions have made it difficult to return.

PureHealth: The Abu Dhabi-based company, backed by ADQ, International Holding Co. and Alpha Dhabi, launched a central research center to consolidate clinical research across its hospitals, clinics and labs.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Electricity Co., backed by the PIF, secured a five-year loan of up to $1.5 billion, arranged by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

Public Investment Fund: Private equity firm EWPartners, backed by the PIF, is seeking to close an $800 million Saudi Arabia-based fund backed by investors from the GCC and East Asia to invest in supply chains, logistics, and digital infrastructure, including data centers.

Maaden: Saudi Arabian Mining Company, a PIF company, has added 7.8 million ounces of gold reserves across four sites.

Aramco: Arabian Drilling Co. has secured three Saudi Aramco land rig contract extensions worth $373 million, adding 25 rig years to its backlog, with operations phased throughout the year.

💰 UAE Partnership: First Abu Dhabi Bank announced a strategic collaboration agreement with U.S. asset manager T. Rowe Price to expand investment services across the Gulf.

🌐 Star Power: Sama X secured a license from Bahrain’s telecom regulator to launch SpaceX’s Starlink broadband services in the kingdom.

🚆 Global Loop: UAE-based BNW Developments has awarded a AED1 billion ($272 million) contract to China Railway Group subsidiary CREC4 for a prime Dubai project.

📈 Lebanon Rally: Lebanese government bonds surged to their highest levels in almost five years on Monday amid growing hopes that a proposed banking law could unlock deposits and pave the way for debt restructuring.

💔 Deals Off: Somalia’s government annulled all agreements with the UAE, including port and security deals.

🛢️ Last Chance: Iraq will allow Russia’s Lukoil to retain its 75% stake in the West Qurna-2 oilfield for one year to either resume operations or sell its share, denying reports of nationalization.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attended the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on Tuesday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines arrived in the UAE late Monday evening for a one-day visit at the invitation of the UAE President.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister,  held a phone call on Monday with Dr. Fuad Mohammed Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq. Sheikh Abdullah also held a call with Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, reviewed the main strategic energy and water projects in the region during a meeting with a delegation from the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, led by Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Department.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, attended a reception hosted by Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, for the marriage of his son Othman.

Dina Powell McCormick was named President and Vice Chairman of Meta, reporting to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. She was previously U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, and President and Vice Chair at BDT & MSD Partners.

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, met with several foreign officials ahead of the Future Minerals Forum, which starts today in Riyadh. The meetings included Brazil’s Minister of Mining and Energy Alexandre Silveira, Pakistan’s Minister of Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake and Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Louis Watum Kabamba.

Eric Trump, son of U.S. President Donald Trump and Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, told Asharq Al-Awsat he expects that Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its stock market to foreign investors will attract billions of dollars in new capital.

Will Smith, the U.S actor, attended the Middle East premier of National Geographic’s “Pole to Pole with Will Smith” in Dubai on Monday.

Serena Sebastiani was appointed as new Group Chief Strategy and Venture Officer at Fuze, one of the Middle East and Turkey’s fastest-growing financial infrastructure providers.

🎻 Musical Awakening: A sweeter sound than the more commonly-heard squealing of racing car tires has been building over Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island in recent weeks. The UAE National Orchestra, a new 100-piece ensemble made up of musicians from 30 different countries, has been warming up in a warehouse at Yas Creative Hub for its debut public performance, The National reports. The orchestra’s opening show this Thursday at the Emirates Palace Auditorium will see it perform “The Beginning,” an Emirati Symphony commissioned from Lebanese composer Nadim Tarabay.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. UAE leaders host corporate executives, policymakers and environmental groups to debate the future of renewable energy and climate change. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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. 

OPEN DOORS

Saudi Arabia’s plan to open its stock exchange to all foreign investors next month could unlock as much as $10 billion in foreign investment, Arab News reports. The change removes long-standing rules that limited access by foreigners mainly to large institutions. Regulators say the changes will make it easier for global funds and individuals to buy Saudi shares directly. Hamza Dweik, head of trading at Saxo Bank for the Middle East and North Africa, told the newspaper that the move will deepen liquidity in a market and is expected to increase Saudi Arabia’s weighting in global emerging-market indices to 4.7% from 3.2%. 

VC BOOM

Venture capital funding in the Middle East jumped 74% last year, hitting a record as startups raised about $3.8 billion across nearly 700 deals. Much of the growth came from foreign investors, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE drawing the largest share of the money, Bloomberg reports, citing data from Magnitt. The surge came even as venture funding stayed weak or slowed in many other regions. Investors have been drawn by government-backed tech pushes, large domestic markets and a growing pipeline of local startups.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: Shares of Chinese AI firm MiniMax, backed by ADIA, more than doubled on their Hong Kong debut, boosting the company’s value to about $14 billion.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar signed its first power purchase agreement in Angola for the 150-megawatt Quipungo solar project, part of the wider 500-megawatt Project Royal Sable, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed Ayar First Investment Co., invested in four major Japanese gaming firms – Capcom, Bandai Namco, Nexon, and Koei Tecmo.

ADQ: Etihad Airways, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, a 21% increase from the previous year.

Mubadala: Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, will headline the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open when the event kicks off at the end of this month, The National reports.

🏢 Trump Towns: Saudi developer Dar Global said it will team up with the Trump Organization on $10 billion of luxury residential, hotel and golf course developments in Riyadh and Jeddah.

🏡 Millionaire Homes: Dubai set a record for luxury home sales last year, with 500 sales above $10 million, totalling more than $9 billion, according to Knight Frank.

🌀 New Energy: Egypt signed $1.8 billion in renewable energy deals, including contracts with Norwegian firm Scatec and China’s Sungrow.

💶 Copper Funds: Oman secured $400 million in financing for the Mazoon Copper Project, the country’s largest copper mining development, led by Qatar-based Ahlibank.

💰 Flight Money: Kuwait’s low-cost airline Jazeera Airways has secured new loans and renewed deals with local banks for up to $152 million.

🌍 Tourist Hotspots: Morocco and Egypt each drew nearly 20 million visitors in 2025 as expanded air links and new attractions such as the Grand Egyptian Museum made them Africa’s most popular destinations.

⚽ Trophy Hunting: Qatar is in talks with FIFA to host the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup in January 2028, as part of its continued pursuit of major football events following the 2022 men’s World Cup.

🖥️ Tech Alliance: Qatar and the UAE are set to join a U.S.-led initiative to secure and diversify semiconductor and AI supply chains, expanding what backers call “Pax Silica” to foster cooperation among Middle Eastern and allied partners.

💵 FDI Surge: Foreign direct investment into Jordan rose 27% in 2025 to nearly $2.1 billion, with Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, accounting for almost a third of the inflows.

✈️ Clear Skies: Airlines from the UAE and Qatar resumed flights to Iran on Sunday after a two-day suspension, with Emirates and flydubai services to Tehran and other cities operating on schedule.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, attended the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the emirate’s gathering dedicated to the “content creation” economy.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has issued a number of decrees, in celebration of the anniversary of his accession, to support key social and economic initiatives.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Ben Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation in Qatar on Monday. The Qatari Prime Minister held a phone call with Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, visited Al Sarooj Park on Monday to review its facilities, following a redevelopment.

Ursula von der Leyen, EU President, said on Friday during a visit to Damascus that the EU will grant Syria around 620 million euros ($722 million) this year and next for post-war recovery, bilateral support and humanitarian aid.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, chaired a meeting of the UAE-France High-Level Business Council in Abu Dhabi. Also attending were Samia Bouazza, CEO at 2PointZero Group, Mohamed Hesham, CEO of ePointZero, and Peter Abraam, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at IHC.

Daisy Ho, HSBC Asset Management’s CEO for Asia and the Middle East, told Bloomberg TV that the bank has a long-term commitment in the Middle East, announcing its asset management arm has been given the green light to open a branch in the UAE.

Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater was appointed CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre, effective Jan. 11, succeeding Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida.

Hasan Hadi, an Iraqi director, was nominated by the Directors Guild of America Awards nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a First-Time Theatrical Feature Film for his debut, “The President’s Cake.”

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump and a political commentator, attended the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Abu Dhabi, where she was interviewed by The National on stage.  

🤖 Haunted Doll: Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi was awarded the $1 million AI Film Award at Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit for his submission “Lilly”. The award, given in partnership with Google Gemini, recognizes films that are at least 70% produced using generative AI tools. The winning film follows the redemptive story of a man who commits a hit-and-run accident and is then haunted by a doll that was lodged in his car bumper. 

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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. 

ROBOT RIDES

Apollo Go, the ride-hailing platform owned by Chinese tech company Baidu, will be the first company to test fully driverless vehicles in Dubai, after receiving a permit from the emirate’s Road Transport Authority. The authorization comes as Baidu officially launched a hub for autonomous vehicles in downtown Dubai, which includes charging and maintenance facilities and will eventually serve as a command center for a fleet of more than 1,000 robotaxis. Uber and WeRide launched fully driverless taxis in parts of neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi in November. Both emirates have ambitious plans for driver automation, with Dubai targeting 25% autonomous total transportation by 2030 and Abu Dhabi setting a similar goal for 2040.

AI INFLUENCERS

The existential threat of artificial intelligence to Dubai’s influencer economy was the topic du jour as the enormous 1 billion Followers Summit kicked off across key Dubai landmarks today. The summit, which attracts more than 15,000 top Arab and global creators including the likes of YouTube star MrBeast, features more than 500 speakers taking part in keynote sessions, roundtables, debates and workshops over three days. Egyptian content creator Farah El Kordy and Dhairya Patel, who represents “virtual influencer” Lil Miquela, used a panel discussion to debate whether AI influencers would take over social media. Day 2 features a “fireside chat” with Lara Trump, the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son Eric, who hosts a FOX News show and promotes fitness brands. Among the other guests are U.S. actor and producer Will Smith, Emaar Founder Mohamed Alabbar, and retired English soccer star Rio Ferdinand.

ADQ: AD Ports Group announced a series of senior executive appointments to its Logistics Cluster, including Björn Eckbauer as Senior Vice President of Global Air Freight Development and Procurement and Boris Kuehn as Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Oman Investment Authority: Oman’s state-owned OQ Gas Networks plans to invest nearly $1 billion to build a new 200-kilometer (124-mile) hydrogen pipeline network.

Public Investment Fund: ​​Kathryn Wylde, former CEO of the Partnership for New York City business organization, has held talks about working for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the New York Post reports.

📈 Bond Demand: Abu Dhabi-based Dhafrah PV2 Energy Company raised $870 million through a long-term green bond. 

🏢 Tower Launch: Dubai-traded Union Properties has launched Mirdad Tower 2, the second of four towers in its approximately $545 million Mirdad development in Dubai’s Motor City.

✈️ Terminal Deal: Morocco awarded the $1.3 billion contract for the new terminal at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport to a Moroccan consortium led by SGTM and TGCC.

🚁 Flying Vehicles: Barq Group signed an agreement with U.S.-based Elroy Air to form a $200 million joint venture to build a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi producing the Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft.

⛽Gas Side: Lebanon has has signed an agreement with QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, and Eni for offshore gas exploration in its Block 8 area.

💰 Open Market: Kuwait plans to boost private investment and improve public services by appointing a consultant to solicit new bids on 23 state-backed projects across real estate, infrastructure and municipal assets.

⚖️ Gas Investment: Jordan is advancing a new law to attract investment in hydrogen, biomethane and related projects by regulating gas sales, import, transport, distribution and storage.

🚀 Tourism Sector: Saudi Arabia’s tourism workforce surpassed one million in the third quarter of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year,

⛏️ Mining Giants: Rio Tinto and Glencore have resumed talks on a potential all-share merger that could create a nearly $200 billion global mining giant to rival BHP as the world’s biggest.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Massad Boulos, the White House Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, the UAE Ruler’s Representative to Al Ain, met on Thursday with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan, Chairman of 2PointZero, and Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Vice Chair of 2PointZero, along with Syed Basar Shueb, CEO and Managing Director of International Holding Co., who is a 2PointZero board member.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, appointed Maqsoud Kruse as Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Thursday. Prince Faisal also held a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs Families Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erth Zayed, led the foundation’s board meeting to discuss its strategic directions for 2026.

Mario Balotelli, the Italian soccer star, is expected to sign a contract to play with the UAE’s Al Ittifaq team, in one of the biggest signings in UAE football history, The National reports.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, was appointed as the new “CEO Champion” of the U.K.’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pathfinder Initiative.

Shoeil Al-Ayed, CEO of Riyadh Cement Co., told Al-Eqtisadiah the company expects to fully rely on natural gas as an alternative to liquid fuel in its operational processes by 2027.

🦋 Winging It: The sight of 10,000 rainforest-loving butterflies in the desert climate of the UAE might seem improbable, but two new tropical biodomes have brought the unlikely vision to reality. The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi opens today next to The National Aquarium at Al Qana. The domes, which mirror the environment of butterfly habitats in Asia and central South America, also house other species of insects, tarantulas and small exotic animals including a family of sloths and a pair of Palawan bearcats.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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.

AI GETS POSH

A new Saudi-backed partnership is putting artificial intelligence to work at the kingdom’s new luxury seaside resorts. Red Sea Global and Bunat Ventures are launching an AI venture fund targeting startups, with plans to back about 25 budding firms a year, Arab News reports. Beyond funding, the program will give founders access to RSG’s resorts, airport operations and other assets as testing grounds. The partners say the effort is designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem, attract talent and support the kingdom’s broader push into advanced technologies.

BACK FOR MORE

Just a day after the Qatar Investment Authority was named among investors in a $20 billion fundraising for Elon Musk’s xAI, another one of its big AI bets, Anthropic, was reported to be in talks to raise another $10 billion. The AI startup behind ChatGPT competitor Claude is seeking funding at a $350 billion valuation, which has almost doubled since it raised $13 billion from investors including the QIA just four months ago. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, and Coatue Management are leading the new financing, with Microsoft and Nvidia also expected to take part, Bloomberg reports. The QIA and Abu Dhabi fund MGX were among a cohort putting new funds into xAI, the start-up behind generative AI chatbot Grok and social media platform X, it was announced on Wednesday. 

Public Investment Fund: PIF-owned Diriyah Co. signed a joint development deal with Midad Real Estate Investment & Development Co. to build the Four Seasons Diriyah Hotel and private residences. 

G42: Abu Dhabi Police and UAE-based AI spacetech company Space42 signed a preliminary agreement to collaborate on smart security and autonomous vehicle systems.

Aramco: Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC’s shares fell 5% after it announced it will sell $950 million worth of assets across Europe and the Americas as part of a restructure.

Mubadala: Galp Energia is in early talks with the owners of Spain’s Moeve, owned by Mubadala and Carlyle, about combining their Iberian downstream assets through two joint ventures in retail and industrial energy activities, Bloomberg reports.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development: The government fund launched a new Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform to invest $2 billion in innovative water projects worldwide by 2030.

🎭 Fun Fund: Abu Dhabi firm Ethmar International Holding and Los Angeles-based Guggenheim Brothers Media announced they would launch an investment fund in Abu Dhabi focused on media and digital entertainment.

🚰 Blue Bonds: UAE-based lender Emirates NBD raised $1 billion in so-called blue and green bonds aimed at supporting environmental objectives.

🏦 Bond Demand: Israel sold $6 billion of bonds in an oversubscribed international debt offering, an indication that the country’s fiscal position is rebounding since a ceasefire in Gaza took effect in October.

🛫 Debts & Jets: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are in talks to convert about $2 billion of Saudi loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal, deepening military cooperation months after the two nations signed a mutual defense pact, Reuters reports.

🌐 Wifi Connection: Qatar Airways has become the first airline to enable Starlink on the Boeing 787-8, with nearly 120 widebody aircraft now connected after equipping its entire Airbus A350 fleet in a record eight months.

🛢️ Oil Nationals: Iraq has appointed the state-run Basra Oil Company to manage operations at the West Qurna-2 oilfield, in line with its service contract with Russia’s Lukoil.

🍼 Milk Recall: UAE, Kuwait and Qatar joined Saudi Arabia in recalling and warning consumers over some brands of Nestle baby formula, which have shown traces of a toxic substance.

🚆 Next Stop: Etihad Rail has announced additional passenger stations across the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, to open in phases ahead of the service’s launch this year.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Development Council at Qasr Al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, one day after he met with Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, along with Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, and other officials. 

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, President and Chairman of the University of Sharjah, chaired the 60th meeting of the board at the university.

Nigel Farage, the Reform U.K. party leader who has criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for taking gifts from donors, met officials in the UAE and attended last month’s Formula One car race on a trip paid for by the Abu Dhabi government, the Financial Times reports.

Amer Bisat, Lebanon’s Economy Minister, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that the country’s Central Bank is now strong enough to support a plan to pay back depositors whose money has been trapped for years..

Selim Kervanci, CEO of HSBC Middle East, told Bloomberg that the bank is seeing growing interest from Asian firms looking to expand in the region.

Samir Akel was appointed Regional Vice President for Emerging Markets at Nintex, a maker of business automation systems.

Neil Budd was appointed CEO of Finshape, which helps banks implement digital banking operations.

🎸 Sea Shanty: The rich tradition of Kuwaiti pearl-diving music, which boosted morale during long and perilous journeys at sea, is the inspiration behind UAE-based band Boom. Diwan. The band is gearing up to perform at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Red Theater next Wednesday, alongside international guests. Musician Ghazi Al Mulaifi joined The National’s Culture Bites podcast ahead of the performance to talk about his own family’s history of pearl diving and how his band has revived the rhythms of traditional music in a Khaleeji jazz-fusion style. 

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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.

CHATBOT BILLIONS

The Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi fund MGX have raised their stakes in xAI, joining a cohort of investors in an upsized $20 billion funding round for Elon Musk’s ChatGPT competitor. The start-up behind generative AI chatbot Grok and social media platform X initially planned to raise $15 billion. The company has more than doubled its valuation since it raised $10 billion in July, delivering a paper windfall to the Gulf funds, which already hold shares alongside Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holdings. The fresh funds will partly be used in xAI’s aggressive infrastructure push, which includes building a 500-megawatt data center in Saudi Arabia in a deal inked with Nvidia and the kingdom’s AI flagship Humain during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington in November.

CREATIVE WATERFRONT

Dubai’s Design District is set to be transformed from blocks of warehouse-like buildings into a sprawling, canal-lined neighborhood with a “pedestrian-first spine” to encourage year-round walking. The masterplan, led by developer Meraas, will cover more than 1.6 million square meters and include cultural quarters, green spaces and five distinct zones combining residences, retail, hospitality, and creative spaces. A central feature, the Design Line, will be a shaded, walkable route lined with art installations and community areas connecting the district. While the project’s value and start date have not been disclosed, Dubai Holding Real Estate said it aims to strengthen the city’s status as a global hub for design, talent and long-term investment.

L’imad Holding Co.: Abu Dhabi-listed Modon Holding has awarded Orascom Construction a $316 million contract to develop the 50-acre Wadi Yemm mixed-use neighborhood within the Ras El Hekma megaproject on Egypt’s North Coast.

ADNOC: Borouge, which is majority owned by the UAE’s national oil company, has completed a proof of concept for AI-powered autonomous operations at its Ruwais facility with Honeywell.

Mumtalakat: BlueFive Capital, owned by multiple groups including Bahrain’s sovereign fund, has been appointed as the first General Partner of a $4.6 billion, 15-year Fund of Funds established by China’s CICC Capital and Chinese steelmaker HBIS Group.

☀️ Renewable Energy: Emirates Islamic has approved a $500 million structured funding loan for Romania’s Mass Group Holding to develop a natural gas-fired power plant in Romania.

🌀 Water Works: Kuwait-listed HEISCO won a $186 million contract from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy for works at the Al-Khairan power plant and Al-Zour plant.

💵 Muscat Bonds: Oman plans to raise $2.2 billion in 2026 through four government development bonds and two sovereign local sukuk issuances to cover its budget deficit and public debt servicing.

🏢 New Offering: Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties is planning to sell long-term U.S. dollar hybrid bonds.

💰 New Hub: Oman is planning to build its own international financial center to attract global institutions in competition with established hubs in neighboring Gulf states. 

✈️ Rescue Flight:Yemenia Airways resumed direct flights between Socotra Island and Jeddah for the first time in years, with the first flight on Jan. 7 set to evacuate stranded foreign tourists.

👶 Milk Warning:The Saudi Food and Drug Authority warned consumers to avoid certain Nestlé baby formulas after a voluntary recall over possible contamination.

💬 Early Chatter: U.K.-based digital bank Revolut is in early talks to acquire Turkish digital bank FUPS as it explores entering the Turkish market, Bloomberg reports. 

🤝 Bonding Together: Israel and Syria have agreed to share intelligence and explore commercial ties through a joint U.S.-supervised mechanism aimed at easing military tensions and boosting diplomatic engagement.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed appointed Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed as Chairman of the National Media Authority and Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi as Vice Chairman.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman chaired a Cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Tuesday. 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, reviewed progress on the Jumeirah Beach 1 development project on Tuesday.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, met with a delegation from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government at his palace in Saqr bin Mohammed City on Tuesday.

Abdulla Al Naboodah, Chairman of Dubai Basketball, told Arabian Gulf Business Insights that the club, which has one of the lowest roster budgets in the EuroLeague, will continue to take a disciplined approach to funding to ensure the long-term viability of the team.

Ahmad Soubra, Head of Value Creation at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said the fund has adopted a “cluster-led investment strategy” in line with the emirate’s shift away from tracking capital inflows in favor of long-term jobs and value.

Tarik Erk was appointed as the new Regional Head at Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

David Abt, Robin Bachmann and James Church-Morley were among a group of 53 executives at Dubai-based FTI Consulting who were promoted to the post of Senior Managing Director.

🐴 A Horse of Course: The Arab world’s cultural obsession with horses has a new monument, with the launch of a dedicated equestrian library at the recently opened Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts campus. The first of its kind in the region, the library’s shelves hold more than 14,000 books on “every aspect” of the field, from equine history and breeding to training, saddlery and stories of famous horses throughout history. There is even a dedicated children’s section. “The ADREA Library is infused with the spirit of horses,” UAE literary figure Isobel Abulhoul, who curated the collection, told Arab News.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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. 

BANKING MAGNET

Saudi Arabia has persuaded 20 of the world’s top 30 banks to expand their presence in the kingdom. Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih told the government’s Shoura Council on Monday that global financial firms have responded well to a series of incentives and regulatory requirements requiring that they base their regional operations in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Gazette reports. Among those setting up local headquarters in Riyadh last year were Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and BNY Mellon. Under rules that took effect in 2024, multinational firms must maintain their primary regional office in the kingdom to qualify for Saudi government contracts.

GLOBAL GROWTH

Alpha Dhabi Holding plans to invest $8 billion over the next five years, with recent divestments providing additional funding for growth. The Abu Dhabi-based investment company, which is 45% owned by International Holding Co., the vast conglomerate run by UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, most recently generated $1.4 billion when it exited UAE-based real estate investor Modon in October. Derek Nicholson, Alpha Dhabi’s Chief Strategy Officer, told Zawya that the company seeks acquisitions with “the right risk profile, returns, and synergies.” Alpha Dhabi also sees potential to monetize its assets through IPOs, accelerated bookbuilds or strategic sales, he said.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: A subsidiary of ADIA became the lead investor in a $770 million continuation fund run by Beijing-based CDH Investment, widening the Abu Dhabi fund’s footprint in China.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi-based Dhafrah PV2 Energy Company, a joint venture between TAQA, Masdar, EDF Renewables and China’s Jinko Power, has mandated BNP Paribas and HSBC as joint global coordinators for a dollar-denominated green bond.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi’s green energy company has signed a power purchase agreement to develop a 200MW floating solar project on Malaysia’s Chereh Dam, its first investment in the country.

Public Investment Fund: Soudah Development, a PIF company, and National Grid SA, a subsidiary of Saudi Electricity Company, signed an agreement valued at more than $347 million to develop and deliver advanced power infrastructure for the Soudah Peaks.

Qatar Investment Authority: Mastercard has given an official license for QNBGroup, a QIA company, to begin issuing and receiving digital financial transactions in Syria.

💰 Closing Gaps: First Abu Dhabi Bank and Afreximbank have closed the funding gap on Nigeria’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by providing a $1.1 billion loan, enabling construction to move forward on the key link to Lekki Deep Sea Port.

🤝 Plastic Loan: The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector extended a $20 million medium-term Islamic finance facility to Jordan’s Applied Plastic Industries Company.

💸 Diverse Economy: Saudi Arabia’s investments now equal 32% of GDP and non-oil fixed capital at 40%, according to Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih.

𖣘 Breezing In: Dubai-based Alcazar Energy is reportedly in talks to acquire Egypt’s Jabal Al-Zait wind farm for up to $350 million after submitting the top bid.

💵 Hybrid Bond: Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest property developer, has mandated Citi as sole structuring advisor and global coordinator, alongside a syndicate of banks, for a planned dollar-denominated hybrid notes offering.

📈 Market Leader: Oman’s Muscat Securities Market was the GCC’s best-performing index in 2025, rising 28.2% year on year, according to Kamco Invest.

🏦 Private Equity: Goldman Sachs has launched a secondaries advisory franchise in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, appointing former Rothschild banker Andrei Brougham to lead the effort.

📉 Cutting Down: Israel’s central bank surprised markets by cutting its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 4%, defying most analysts’ expectations.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call on Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, received Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Monday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday during a visit to Cairo.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmansent their condolences to Jordan’s King Abdullah after the passing of former Prime Minister Ali Abu Al-Ragheb. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Vice Presidents Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed also sent condolences.

Hugh Baker was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Adnoc Logistics and Services a few months after the departure of former CFO Nicholas Gleeson.

Ann Haydon MBE was appointed as the new Principal of GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail.

Mazen Abdulrazzaq Al Romaihas was appointed Chairman of the Saudi Tadawul Group and Yazeed Abdulrahman Al Humaid was appointed Vice Chairman.

🎨 Pattern Recognition: The vibrant papier-mâché sculptures and distinctive pattern-making of pioneering Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim are the focus of a new immersive solo show at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation. “Two Clouds in the Night Sky” spans more than three decades of the artist’s work, including an installation commissioned for the exhibition, titled “Time/Place/Void.” The work, which comprises four interconnected rooms each decorated with Ibrahim’s signature pattern drawings in different color combinations, is described as a “giddy and uplifting experience” in a review by The National.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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. 

PARIS MATCH-UP

Competition between Paris Saint-Germain, a team that has dominated European soccer for decades, and Paris F.C., which is owned by the family of luxury titan Bernard Arnault, is shaping up to be one of the richest match-ups in sports, The Wall Street Journal reports. The two teams played a rare capital city derby match in Paris on Sunday at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, located just across the street from Paris F.C.’s home ground at Stade Jean-Bouin. PSG, backed bythe Qatar Investment Authority and known for its vast spending and star talent, won the game 2-1. Antoine Arnault, Bernard’s eldest son, told the Journal his aim is sustainable growth and a stronger local connection instead of pouring money into buying star players immediately.

SYRIAN STRUGGLE

Syrian businesses, from tourism shops to wineries, are struggling amid cultural and regulatory confusion since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Wineries can still produce but are unable to sell wine because there is no clear law governing alcohol, forcing some producers into losses after nearly two years without sales, The Guardian reports. Bars in Damascus face inconsistent enforcement of alcohol rules, with some raids and arbitrary closures even as party scenes persist behind the scenes. Despite uncertainty and security concerns, many Syrians remain hopeful for clearer rules and stability as they navigate the economic aftershocks of the regime change.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: Abu Dhabi’s largest sovereign wealth fund is investing $65 million in the IPO of Chinese AI startup MiniMax.

ADNOC: ADNOC Drilling Co. said it has completed the acquisition of a 70% stake in SLDC Holdings, which operates drilling rigs in Kuwait and Oman.

International Holding Corp.: Emirates Stallions Group, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s IHC, appointed Tariq Nazzal as CEO of its real estate subsidiary, Royal Development Holding.

⛽ Gas Cooperation: Egypt and Qatar signed a draft agreement to boost cooperation in LNG sales and imports, including terms for supplying Qatari shipments to Egypt’s Ain Sokhna and Damietta ports, Reuters reports.

📞 Telecom Merger: UAE telecoms operator e& said its Pakistani subsidiary PTCL has completed the $400 million acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, merging it with Ufone to form Pakistan’s second-largest mobile operator.

🪛 Digging Deeper: UAE-based Dana Gas received a $50 million payment from the Egyptian Government to support drilling seven more wells under the programme in Egypt.

💰New Town: Michel Massoud’s $1.4 billion hedge fund Melqart Asset Management plans to open a Dubai office in the second quarter, Bloomberg reports.

🏢 Solid Ground: OSON, a fintech firm operating across Central Asia, established its global headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

📜 New Look: The UAE government has issued two new federal decree laws to update how its capital markets are regulated, strengthening the independence and powers of the Capital Market Authority and setting clearer rules to make the financial sector more stable, fair, and aligned with international standards.

📉 Slower Activity: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector kept growing in December, but the pace of growth slowed compared with November, showing weaker increases in business activity and new orders, even though overall expansion stayed positive.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call last Thursday with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister, met with current and former cabinet ministers to mark the 20th anniversary of his becoming Premier.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, received Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia, on Sunday to discuss the prospects for strengthening bilateral relations.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdisalam Abdi Ali, in Riyadh on Sunday.

Jamal Fares Al-Ruwaie, Bahrain’s U.N. representative, participated in the flag-raising ceremony in New York on Friday to mark his country’s becoming a member of the Security Council for a two-year term. 

Claire Dubbelman, Deputy Race Director for Formula 1, plans to go to work for Saudi Arabia’s national motorsport federation, PlanetF1.com reports.

Hammam bin Nasser bin Juraied was appointed as Executive Director of the Arab Gulf Program for Development.

Hala Badri, Director-General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, told Gulf Business that the city is planning to offer grants and other incentives to bring artists to the city and attract investment to its cultural institutions.

🦁Jungle King: Saudi Arabia’s largest nature reserve plans to bring Asiatic lions back to the kingdom more than a century after they were wiped out by hunting. The move is part of a wider effort to reintroduce 23 endangered or locally extinct species to the vast Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, including leopards, oryx and the donkey-like Persian onager, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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. 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.

BUGATTI BID

Egypt’s billionaire Sawiris family is seeking to enter the high-stakes world of super sports cars. HOF Capital, a firm cofounded by two members of the clan, and BlueFive Capital are in talks to buy Porsche’s stake in Bugatti Rimac, Bloomberg reports. The discussions center on Porsche’s holding in the venture it runs with Rimac Group, which combines the Bugatti brand with Rimac’s electric performance technology. If completed, the deal could also include Porsche’s stake in Rimac itself, potentially bringing fresh capital into the Croatian electric car business.

FISCAL RESET

Bahrain is introducing a broad set of fiscal reforms designed to cut public spending while raising revenue through new corporate tax measures. The plan includes increasing fuel prices and modifying electricity and water tariffs, but guarantees that subsidies for basic household consumption remain intact. Officials presented the reforms as aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 plan, aiming to strengthen fiscal discipline and diversify the economy away from crude oil dependence. Lawmakers are expected to phase in the new corporate tax framework and other measures over the next few years as part of efforts to attract investment and streamline government procedures.

Mubadala Energy: Adnan Bu Fateem, COO of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund’s energy arm, described 2025 as a “pivotal year” for the company, marked by its entry into the U.S. market with natural gas making up about 70% of production.

ADQ: Abu Dhabi National Energy Co, Taqa, secured 85% debt financing from 14 local and international banks for its $980 million Al Dhafra power plant in Abu Dhabi.

Qatar Investment Authority: Qatar-based Barwa Real Estate Group, backed by QIA-owned Qatari Diar, a QIA company, signed two refinancing agreements with Qatar National Bank worth $557 million.

🏡 Building Blocks:UAE-based Luxe Developers appointed Aquapile Contracting to carry out shoring and piling works for its $626 million La Mazzoni luxury wellness project on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, which is scheduled for completion in 2028.

🏦 Bonds Auction: Egypt’s Ministry of Finance began to auction about $100 million worth of three-year local sovereign Islamic bonds, which follows last week’s interest rate cut.

💷 Working Capital: Saudi Lime Industries signed a one-year, Islamic-compliant $6.7 million loan with Emirates NBD to support working capital for its construction-material business.

📊 Fiscal Reset: Bahrain has approved a package of fiscal reforms, including changes to corporate income tax rules and spending cuts, as the Gulf kingdom seeks to rein in rising debt and narrow budget deficits.

💵 Courting Investors: Egypt rolled out new incentives, including streamlined laws and expanded “golden licences,” to attract Gulf investors as it targets $15 billion in foreign direct investment in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

💼 Job Hunting: Unemployment among Saudi nationals dropped to 7.5% in Q3 2025, down by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, official data showed.

🏦 Green Light: Bank of Palestine has received initial approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market for a full banking license, a step that would allow the lender to expand operations in the UAE financial hub while offering corporate, retail and treasury services.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the World Sports Summit on Monday. 

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of the northern emirate of Sharjah, approved the emirate’s general budget for 2026 of $12.2 billion.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Energy Council, met with Suhail bin Mohammed, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Chairman of Etihad Water and Electricity Company.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar, the Governor of Riyadh, met with Lebanese Ambassador Ali Karanouh at Al-Hakam Palace on Monday.

Abbas Sajwani, the 26-year-old son of UAE billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani of Damac Group, is reviving Dubai’s long-vacant “Big Ben” office tower and plans to complete refurbishment by the end of 2026 amid strong office demand, Bloomberg reports.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, led a government delegation to Egypt on Monday to negotiate a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan Al-Khatib.

Hussain Sultan Lootah, Acting CEO of ENOC Group and Chairman of Horizon Djibouti Terminals, has concluded a strategic visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia, where he met with Djibouti President IsmailOmar Guelleh.

👠 Fashion Forward: Saudi Arabia is sending a cohort of budding young professionals to study in Paris as it tries to cultivate a homegrown fashion industry. The sojourn in France will be part of a new Executive Master’s Program in Fashion and Luxury created by the Saudi Fashion Commission, Arab News reports. The 15-month course is being run in partnership with Paris-based Institut Français de la Mode, combining study in Riyadh and Paris with online instruction.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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.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. 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.

MINING SHOWDOWN

A UAE-based mining company, Axis International, is seeking $29 billion from the government of Guinea after its license to mine bauxite was cancelled earlier this year. The company has filed the case at a World Bank arbitration court, arguing that Guinea unfairly took away its permit and caused huge financial losses by shutting down the project, Bloomberg reports. Guinea says it has been revoking licenses from companies it believes have not met their commitments, as it tries to exert more control over its natural resources. The dispute is one of several legal battles involving Guinea’s mining sector following a wave of license cancellations under the current military-led government.

AI READY

More than a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s businesses say they’re using artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency and competitiveness. Technology and communications firms are leading the shift, while finance and education are also embracing AI, even as sectors such as construction remain slower to adapt, Arab News reports. Use of cloud computing is also growing, with 47% of businesses in the kingdom employing cloud service, according to a survey by the General Authority for Statistics. The report showed that internet access for businesses across Saudi Arabia has reached 98%.

Public Investment Fund: ACWA Power, which is owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, signed a $400 million public-private partnership with the government of Azerbaijan to develop the country’s first large-scale Caspian Sea reverse-osmosis desalination plant.

Ma’aden: The PIF-owned Saudi Arabian Mining Co. plans to form a $5 million joint venture with Australia’s Midana Exploration to explore and develop minerals inside the kingdom.

Oman Investment Authority: State-owned Oman Electricity Transmission Co. said it plans to invest over $2.6 billion by 2030 to expand Oman’s national electricity grid.

🏝️Coastal Financing: Nigeria secured about $1.2 billion in financing from the UAE to help build part of a planned coastal highway as the country tries to improve transportation links along its southern corridor.

🚰Water Investments: Jordan’s government spent nearly $500 million on supply infrastructure, wastewater treatment and renewable energy projects in 2025.

🕋Pilgrimage Hub: Gulf-based consulting firm Pace has formed a joint venture with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to support the next phase of expansion of the Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

🚀Iranian Satellites: Iran said it launched three satellites-Paya, Zafar-2, and Kowsar- from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome into a 500-kilometer orbit for environmental and agricultural purposes.

 💵 Fund Complete: Saudi Arabia-based Mufeed Co. secured a 12-month, Islamic-compliant $4.7 million loan from Saudi Awwal Bank to support its operations and expansion, with no related parties involved.

💰Deposit Relief: Lebanon’s cabinet approved a draft law designed to allow some depositors to recover funds frozen in the banking system.

🐭Good Stuff:The 1 Billion Followers Summit has announced Disney+ as a strategic partner for its fourth edition, to be held in Dubai from Jan. 9–11 under the theme “Content for Good.”

🌍Stepping Out: The GCC outbound travel and tourism market is forecast to almost double over the next decade, growing to $138 billion by 2033.

🏢New Location: Asia Pacific International Arbitration Chamber will open an affiliated entity and office at its Dispute Resolution Hearing Centre, at ADGM.

SUAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks on Friday to discuss relations between their two countries. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and  Deputy Prime Minister, received a phone call on Monday from Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, received GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi on Monday at Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Ahmed Kouchouk, Egypt’s Finance Minister, said on Saturday that external debt of the country’s budget agencies has decreased by $4 billion.

Charbel Yazbeck, Head of Risk at Dubai National Insurance, was appointed Acting CEO following the resignation of A.R. Srinivasan.

Hoo Gon Kim was appointed President of Kia Corp. for the Middle East and Africa starting Jan.1.

🍾 Star Turns: International music stars will headline New Year’s Eve celebrations in Abu Dhabi, with events ranging from black-tie galas at luxury hotels to large outdoor concerts. John Legend is set to perform at a $950-a-plate gala dinner at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, followed by fireworks and a live set featuring hits such as All of Me. Alicia Keys will headline the first New Year’s Eve edition of the Saadiyat Nights concert series, returning after a sold-out 2024 show.

Dec. 29-30, Dubai. World Sports Summit. Athletes, investors, and decision-makers discuss how sports can change the face of humanity. Madinat Jumeirah Arena.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

Jan. 12-14, Dubai. Intersec. Billed as the world’s premier event for security, safety, and fire protection. Dubai World Trade Center.

Jan. 12-15, Dubai. Dubai International Project Management Forum. Bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can unite diverse communities. Madinat Jumeirah.

Jan. 13-15, Riyadh. Future Minerals Forum. The conference aims to hold conversations among governments, investors, and innovators to secure the minerals essential for a sustainable, tech-enabled future. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.

Jan. 13-15, Abu Dhabi. World Future Energy Summit. The annual event brings in policy makers and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of working towards net zero. ADNEC. 

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 who want to create franchising companies into the kingdom.The Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions, Riyadh.

Jan.29, Dubai. The Great Marketing & Business Minds. In this 4th edition, the event brings 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. 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 is to support the Fund’s Private Sector Engagement Strategic Initiative. King AbdelAziz International Conference Center.