ENERGY INVESTMENT

Middle East sovereign wealth funds are making energy security their top investment priority as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and market volatility reshape portfolio strategies. Some 89% of regional sovereign funds surveyed by Invesco ranked energy security as a key focus, while 67% said they plan to increase investments in critical infrastructure over the next year, Arab News reports. The U.S.-based asset management firm’s annual Global Sovereign Asset Management Study showed all the funds expect the coming decade to be more challenging than the last, driving greater interest in resilient infrastructure, private markets and artificial intelligence. The study was based on interviews with institutions managing a combined $29 trillion in assets.

ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

Egypt is exploring a new mechanism to finance late-stage startups, Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid said. The initiative, which involves the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, aims to address funding gaps at early stages of company growth and support a new integrated investment data system. Farid, speaking on Monday at the 2026 annual investors meeting of Development Partners International, also outlined broader reforms to boost exports, upgrade trade infrastructure, and expand market access through technology and institutional coordination. Separately, the IMF said it has reached a draft agreement with Egypt on program reviews that could unlock about $1.6 billion in funds.

Masdar: The Abu Dhabi renewable energy company, which is owned by Mubadala, ADNOC and TAQA, broke ground on a $1.4 billion wind farm in Kazakhstan.

ADNOC: XRG, ADNOC’s international investment arm, has agreed to acquire a 32% stake in three YPF-operated gas blocks in Argentina.

Qatar Investment Authority: American Express Global Business Travel agreed to be acquired by Long Lake Management in a $6.3 billion all-cash deal, with the backing of major shareholders that include the QIA, Expedia and BlackRock.

DP World: DP World and Lintara Properties, the real estate development platform of Arcapita Group Holdings, have broken ground on a logistics center in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Dubai Holding: Dubai Residential REIT acquired 220 townhouses in Jebel Ali Village for about $243 million, expanding its income-generating portfolio with assets.

💧 Water deal: French utility Suez won a 15-year contract worth $2.3 billion to operate and maintain water and wastewater services in Oman, the company’s biggest-ever Middle East deal.

💳 Fintech push: Saudi buy-now-pay-later company Tabby secured finance licenses in the kingdom, allowing it to broaden its consumer finance offerings as it expands beyond installment payments into wider digital banking services.

🏭 Small Business: Jordan launched a $39 million German-funded program to improve financing, exports and competitiveness for small and medium-sized businesses as part of its 2026-2029 economic reform agenda.

🏦 Debt Issuance: The Arab Energy Fund plans to issue its first $1.4 billion onshore RMB-denominated Panda bonds in China by late 2026 or early 2027 Chief Financial Officer Vicky Bhatia told CNBC Arabia.

📈 Asset Growth: Assets under management in the GCC rose 10% to $2.7 trillion in 2025, driven by strong retail growth led by Saudi Arabia, according to Boston Consulting Group.

🏢 Regional Expansion: State Street, a New York-listed fund manager, has upgraded its license to a fund administration license in Saudi Arabia from the Capital Market Authority, deepening its ties to the Kingdom.

👍 Border Crossing: The UAE Foreign Ministry lifted restrictions on travel Lebanon, provided citizens register with the UAE’s Twajudi emergency service.

🏦 Bank Buyout: Emirates NBD bank is reportedly in early-stage talks to acquire HSBC’s Turkey operations as part of its broader expansion in the country, where it already owns Denizbank, Bloomberg reports.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to discuss France’s role in building a Metro rail line in Muscat and several investment projects.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, received Judha Nugraha, Ambassador of Indonesia, to the UAE in his residence in Saqr bin Mohammed City.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump is the subject of a new PBS Frontline documentary called “The Crown Prince & the President.”

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi said a wave of arrests targeting legislators, politicians and officials on corruption charges is the first phase in a campaign to fight graft and recover public funds.

Razi Almerbati was appointed CEO of Bahrain-based Khaleeji Bank. Almerbati is taking over for Abdulkarim Mohamed Alzakari, who was named acting CEO by the Islamic lender in April.

Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy, met with Stephen Charles Hitchen, British Ambassador to the kingdom, in Riyadh on Monday.

⚽ Poetry play: Arab broadcasters at the World Cup are turning football commentary into an art form, using poetic Arabic and Quranic storytelling to rouse fans across the Middle East. After the record 17th World Cup goal that Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored against Austria, the Yemeni commentator Hassan al-Aidarous fell into a rapture, The Guardian reports. “Let history open its arms,” he intoned. “Let the world bear witness to this moment. Let glory be etched for ever into eternity. I do not call you Leo, I call you history itself!” 

📷 Photo of the Day

July 7-11, Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen & Co. Conference. Annual invitation-only gathering of top figures in technology, finance, media and government. Sun Valley Lodge.

July 8-9, Abu Dhabi. Money Expo Abu Dhabi. Bringing together investors, traders, fintech innovators, and financial institutions to explore the future of finance. ADNEC Center.

July 14-15, Carlisle, Pa.: Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. U.S. President Donald Trump to headline event at U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, joining defense, technology, finance and government leaders for discussions on military innovation and investment.

August 18-19, Dubai. Middle East Event Show. Bringing together professionals from the events industry. Dubai World Trade Center.  

August 28-Sept. 6, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. An annual event celebrating traditional Emirati heritage and culture. ADNEC Center.

August 31-Sept. 3, Riyadh. LEAP Expo Riyadh. A major tech trade show for the Middle East, which includes a global startup live pitch event. RECC Malham.

Sept. 11-13, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles. ADNEC Center.  

Sept. 13-18, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC Center.

Sept. 17-19, Abu Dhabi. International Real Estate & Investment Show 2026. An event targeting investors and consumers rather than trade visitors. ADNEC Center.

ARAMCO CRASH

Saudi authorities are investigating a helicopter crash at Aramco’s Ras Tanura oil refinery complex that killed all 14 people on board, making it one of the kingdom’s deadliest aviation accidents in recent years. The aircraft went down shortly after 6 a.m. on Sunday during an internal flight within the sprawling industrial complex, and the Energy Ministry said investigators have not yet determined the cause. The victims included 11 passengers and three crew members, all of them Saudi nationals. The accident occurred just days after Ras Tanura resumed crude exports for the first time in four months following disruptions during the Iran conflict.

FOOTBALL LAB

Qatar has become FIFA’s testing ground for sporting innovations, including connected match balls, AI-powered player tracking and referee body cameras, before their rollout at global soccer tournaments. Behind the scenes, stadiums in the country now function as live laboratories where new officiating and broadcast technologies are trialed under real match conditions, Wired reports. The systems are designed to answer some of football’s oldest debates, including whether the ball crossed the line, went out of play, or a player was offside, more quickly and accurately than ever before. Since 2021, and especially through events like the FIFA Arab Cup, Qatar has repeatedly hosted early-stage deployments of FIFA’s most advanced tools before they reach the global stage.

L’Imad Holding: AD Ports Group and Emirates Global Aluminium, jointly owned by Mubadala and the Investment Corporation of Dubai, will invest $22.9 million to upgrade EGA’s berth at Khalifa Port.

Mubadala: Rising concentration in equity markets is driving sovereign wealth funds to reduce listed stock exposure and shift capital into private equity, private credit, and infrastructure to finance AI-related data center and energy expansion, the Financial Times reports. Mubadala already has 59% of its assets in private equity, infrastructure and real estate, according to the FT.

Mubadala: Indonesia’s Aceh province is seeking changes to Mubadala Energy’s plan of development for its Tangkulo gas field, as it wants the gas to be processed onshore rather than on a floating facility, Upstream Online reports. 

Public Investment Fund: Blackstone-backed hyperscale data center operator AirTrunk, which is partnering on a $3 billion data center investment with PIF-owned AI company Humain in Saudi Arabia, is close to filing for a $1.5 billion IPO of a real estate investment trust in Singapore.

🏗️ Mecca Makeover: A consortium led by Umm Al Qura for Development signed $1.6 billion of framework agreements to redevelop two districts surrounding Mecca’s Masar Destination project.

🚿 Water Investment: Saudi Arabia’s water sector has attracted over $16 billion in investment as the Kingdom expands private-sector participation and water security efforts, a minister said.

🛒 Build the Mall: Saudi Arabian mall developer Cenomi Centers has awarded a $346 million design-and-build contract for the Al Khobar Downtown Mall and Boulevard in the Eastern Province to Riyadh-based Lynx Contracting.

🏘️ Falling Rents: Tenants in Dubai are finding they hold the upper hand in negotiations, with data showing that rents have eased across all housing categories, The National reports.

🏎️ Robo Racing: Abu Dhabi is taking its autonomous motor racing league to Italy’s Imola, one of Europe’s most demanding circuits, for its first international test after two seasons in Abu Dhabi.

📡 Lift Off: UAE company Orbitworks is sending its first homegrown satellite to a launch site in California, as it prepares to start selling its AI-powered technology to customers in North America and Europe, The National reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call with Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, on Saturday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday to discuss the latest efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Foreign Minister, urged Iran to protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reviewed Suez Canal navigation activity and plans to expand domestic shipbuilding and the authority’s maritime fleet, urging greater localization of vessel manufacturing to meet local demand and boost exports.

Abeer Shoukry-Al Otaiba, founder and CEO of Otaiba Investments, was hired by Alpha Technology Group as Chief Strategy Officer to lead its global AI and technology expansion.

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, was awarded the Marisa Bellisario Award, one of Italy’s highest distinctions recognizing outstanding women leaders, at a ceremony in Rome.

🎥 Lights, Camera, Action: The ancient desert landscape of Saudi Arabia’s AlUla is set to host a wave of new film and television productions in the coming weeks, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. “We have the next two productions in the pipeline, and we have five or six productions within the region also looking to film in AlUla starting in the next couple of weeks,” Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, told the news outlet. Saudi Arabia recently raised its cash rebates for film and TV production costs from 40% to as much as 60% of eligible spending, as it tries to lure international productions to the kingdom amid disruptions from the Iran war.

📷 Photo of the Day

June 29-30, Riyadh. GlobalAiShow. An event focused on generative AI, sovereign AI, and digital infrastructure. Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention. 

July 7-11, Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen & Co. Conference. Annual invitation-only gathering of top figures in technology, finance, media and government. Sun Valley Lodge.

July 8-9, Abu Dhabi. Money Expo Abu Dhabi. Bringing together investors, traders, fintech innovators, and financial institutions to explore the future of finance. ADNEC Center.

July 14-15, Carlisle, Pa.: Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. U.S. President Donald Trump to headline event at U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, joining defense, technology, finance and government leaders for discussions on military innovation and investment.

August 18-19, Dubai. Middle East Event Show. Bringing together professionals from the events industry. Dubai World Trade Center.  

August 28-Sept. 6, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. An annual event celebrating traditional Emirati heritage and culture. ADNEC Center.

August 31-Sept. 3, Riyadh. LEAP Expo Riyadh. A major tech trade show for the Middle East, which includes a global startup live pitch event. RECC Malham.

Sept. 11-13, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles. ADNEC Center.  

Sept. 13-18, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC Center.

Sept. 17-19, Abu Dhabi. International Real Estate & Investment Show 2026. An event targeting investors and consumers rather than trade visitors. ADNEC Center.

TRUMP TAKEOFF

U.S. President Donald Trump will make his first official trip next week aboard the plane gifted by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Trump flies aboard the Boeing 747-8 to North Dakota on July 1 for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication and is then scheduled to visit Mount Rushmore on July 3 before returning to Washington for America’s 250th birthday celebrations on July 4, Bloomberg reports. The aircraft, which underwent a renovation costing hundreds of millions of dollars to make it secure enough for presidential travel, will serve as a temporary Air Force One until Boeing delivers a new presidential fleet in 2028. The Qatari gift, one of the largest ever made by a foreign government to the U.S., has sparked criticism over ethics and national security. Trump said it would be foolish to turn it down, given Boeing’s repeated delays.

BUNGA BUY

A Qatari company has agreed to purchase an infamous villa owned by the late Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in one of Italy’s biggest-ever private real estate sales. Berlusconi’s heirs have agreed to sell Villa Certosa in the Costa Smeralda region on the island of Sardinia to Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani’s Constellation Hotels Holding for about $395 million, Reuters reports. Often used to host heads of state, billionaires and celebrities, the villa was also the setting for Berlusconi’s notorious “bunga bunga” parties, which were the subject of multiple investigations. Set on 300 acres overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the property includes 126 rooms, an amphitheater, a rare cactus collection and a James Bond-style underground grotto for boats to dock.

ADNOC: Adnoc Drilling has activated its newest artificial intelligence-powered walking island rig. The rig is part of a $1.5 billion program awarded by Adnoc Offshore comprising six similar rigs, aimed at boosting output capacity and automation, The National reports.

Masdar: Masdar City has launched Biosphere Labs, the GCC’s first commercially scaled shared life sciences lab, in partnership with M42 and Attentive Science to provide researchers and biotech firms with access to specialized laboratory infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.

Masdar: Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, met with Khamis Al Mazrouei, CEO of Sharjah National Oil Corporation, to mark one year since the inauguration of Sharjah’s first utility-scale solar plant, which was developed through Emerge, Masdar’s joint venture with French energy company EDF.

G42: Peng Xiao, CEO of Abu Dhabi-based G42, has been profiled by Block News International, in an article highlighting his leadership in positioning the company as a major force in global artificial intelligence development and infrastructure.

💰 Settlement Fund: Saudi-listed Ladun Investment Company said its consortium has signed a framework agreement to establish a $1 billion fund for a Mecca redevelopment project.

👨🏻‍🎓 Education Investment: GEMS Education, part of the Dubai-based Varkey Group, plans to invest up to $30 million over three to five years to expand in India with the addition of more than 30 schools.

🌊 Trade Corridor: The UAE and Syria have begun talks to create a logistics corridor linking Syrian ports with Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port and the UAE’s Khalifa Port.

🏙️ Business Shield: Dubai has recruited top executives from banks, airlines, hotels and major companies into a crisis task force to help preserve the emirate’s reputation as the Middle East’s safest business hub, Reuters reports.

🏢 New Bureau: Paris-based investment manager Varenne Capital Partners has opened an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre, marking its expansion into the UAE.

💺 Winged Seat: A viral video posted by Dubai-based artist Naya Rajji shows a new Emirates economy seat with a winged headrest that unfolds for extra comfort and privacy. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Asaad Al-Shaibani, Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Sheikh Mohamed sent a message of congratulations to Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani today, on the anniversary of his accession to power. Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also sent similar messages.

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, approved a new package of Dubai Municipality development projects on Thursday.

Georgios Donis, coach of Saudi Arabia’s national soccer team, said guiding his players in the FIFA World Cup just a month after starting the job has been challenging. “You cannot go to training and just ‌press ⁠a button and have the team play the way the coach wants to play,” Donis told reporters on Thursday. “It takes time.”

Raja Agrawal was appointed Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Nebius, an AI cloud company listed on Nasdaq and headquartered in Amsterdam.

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance, called for stronger global partnerships at the OPEC Fund for International Development Forum this week in Vienna.  

🎭 Arts Launch: Abu Dhabi is planning a major new addition to Saadiyat Island’s cultural district with the announcement of a performing arts center designed by the late Frank Gehry. Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, meaning “house of the arts,” is expected to open in 2030 and will feature a multipurpose performance hall with more than 2,000 seats and an orchestra pit capable of holding up to 120 musicians, The National reports. It will also include a 3,500-seat outdoor amphitheater and a smaller studio theater and a 250-seat jazz venue for more intimate performances. Gehry, the famed architect who died in December aged 96, also designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is due to open later this year.

📷 Photo of the Day

June 29-30, Riyadh. GlobalAiShow. An event focused on generative AI, sovereign AI, and digital infrastructure. Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention. 

July 7-11, Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen & Co. Conference. Annual invitation-only gathering of top figures in technology, finance, media and government. Sun Valley Lodge.

July 8-9, Abu Dhabi. Money Expo Abu Dhabi. Bringing together investors, traders, fintech innovators, and financial institutions to explore the future of finance. ADNEC Center.

July 14-15, Carlisle, Pa.: Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. U.S. President Donald Trump to headline event at U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, joining defense, technology, finance and government leaders for discussions on military innovation and investment.

August 18-19, Dubai. Middle East Event Show. Bringing together professionals from the events industry. Dubai World Trade Center.  

August 28-Sept. 6, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. An annual event celebrating traditional Emirati heritage and culture. ADNEC Center.

August 31-Sept. 3, Riyadh. LEAP Expo Riyadh. A major tech trade show for the Middle East, which includes a global startup live pitch event. RECC Malham.

Sept. 11-13, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles. ADNEC Center.  

Sept. 13-18, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC Center.

Sept. 17-19, Abu Dhabi. International Real Estate & Investment Show 2026. An event targeting investors and consumers rather than trade visitors. ADNEC Center.

UNDER THE SEA

Subsea cable project delays in the Middle East are expected to persist despite the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, raising risks to the region’s ambitions to become a digital hub. Analysts interviewed by the Financial Times said security concerns, insurance restrictions and the need for seabed surveys and redeployed cable-laying ships mean disruptions across the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf are effectively indefinite. They added that the region’s infrastructure now has the reputation of being “a fragile chokepoint,” with past Red Sea cable cuts and geopolitical tensions reinforcing perceptions of vulnerability and deterring new investment. Affected projects include Meta’s 2Africa Gulf segment, the proposed $700mn WorldLink network, Ooredoo’s Fiber in the Gulf, and Sea-Me-We 6, which links Southeast Asia to Europe, all of which are being slowed or paused as geopolitical risk deters new investment.

SAFE PASSAGE

Iran and Oman are working with the International Maritime Organization on a plan to manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising questions over who will oversee one of the world’s busiest oil chokepoints. The discussions follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of any proposal that allows Iran to charge tolls for using the strait. The IMO is coordinating with Iran, Oman and the U.S. on safe shipping routes while discussing a broader agreement on administration of the waterway, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, more than 11,000 stranded seafarers are being evacuated in stages, with ships instructed to wait for routing orders before sailing through either Iranian or Omani waters. 

Public Investment Fund: AviLease, the aircraft leasing company owned by the PIF, priced a $650 million five-year bond that attracted more than $4 billion in orders.

Dubai Holding: Dubai’s government investment arm is considering buying a stake in HScale, the global data center platform backed by Bain Capital, Bloomberg reports. 

Aramco: Sofon Industries, owned by Aramco, is gradually building Saudi Arabia’s sovereign shipbuilding sector by acquiring private shipyards, including one from Zamil in Dammam, as part of a broader strategy to develop and operate major naval industrial complexes, the Intelligence Online reports. 

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA said it would invest 432 million euros ($491 million) as a cornerstone investor in German power company RWE’s 4 billion euro equity capital raising. The QIA is increasing its stake from 9.27% to 9.87%.

Qatar Investment Authority: Ari Emanuel’s U.S.-based investment vehicle MARI, which is backed by the QIA, is in advanced talks to acquire West End and Broadway group ATG Entertainment from Providence Equity Partners for $6 billion, the Financial Times reports.

📈 Investor appetite: Burjeel Holdings raised $500 million through its first international Islamic bond, with investor demand exceeding the amount offered by more than three times.

🎓 Education Playground: Aldar Education and Cranleigh UK announced a $105 million investment to relocate Cranleigh Abu Dhabi to a new purpose-built campus on Saadiyat Island, opening in 2027-2028, which will accommodate up to 2,178 students.

⚡ Electric Dreams: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation awarded contracts worth over $605 million to expand and upgrade electricity transmission infrastructure in western Qatar, including new substations and power lines.

💳 Market Debut: Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan is working with Citigroup and EFG Hermes on a Cairo IPO of its domestic business that could value the company at $900 million to $1 billion, Bloomberg reports.

🏛️ Embassy Reopens: The U.S. reopened its embassy in Kuwait during a visit by ‌Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, months after it was shut down because of Iranian attacks.

🛑 Road Bloc: Iraq said it might consider leaving OPEC unless the group accommodates it with a higher oil production quota, just a few months after the UAE quit the bloc, Bloomberg reports.

🚂 Choo-Choo: The UAE emirate of Fujairah is preparing for a tourism boom after Etihad Rail announced that its first passenger rail service from Abu Dhabi to the emirate will start next week.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met on Wednesday with Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, who visited the UAE as part of a tour of the Middle East. Also attending the meeting were Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun, Adviser to the UAE President; and a number of officials.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call with Yvette Cooper, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held a phone discussion with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi on the progress of the peace talks.

Kuwaiti Colonel Sabah Al Sabah described the dramatic opening moments of Iranian missile attacks to senior British and Nato officers at the Royal United Services Institute Land Warfare conference held in London this week. “The first salvo of Iranian ballistic missiles took flight, and that air defence operation centre became a different kind of place,” Col Al Sabah said. “Every screen aligned, every frequency occupied, every fire unit in the network snapping into a terrible choreography it was designed for.”

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi told Sky News Arabia that U.S. businesses will be given top priority for investment in Iraq, and that up to 500,000 bpd of Iraqi oil could be used to replenish the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Omar Alaoui Mhamdi, ACWA Power’s country manager in Morocco, said in an interview with Asharq Bloomberg that the company is seeking to expand its investments in Morocco’s renewable energy sector and also exploring opportunities in seawater desalination and green hydrogen. 

Abbas Sajwani, son of Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, is nearing a deal to purchase one of London’s priciest mansions, known as the Holme, for about 190 million pounds ($250 million), the Financial Times reports. 

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, took part in the World Economic Forum annual meeting of the New Champions 2026 in Dalian, China.

🏖️ Beach Vibes: As popular Dubai beach bar Barasti prepares to temporarily close its doors this weekend, The National takes a look back at the club’s evolution. A fixture of Dubai’s nightlife since the 1990s, the venue at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark is preparing for a renovation before it reopens next year. The bar, which started out as a beachfront shack-style spot, has grown over the years into a sprawling venue with a beach club, multiple bars, a restaurant and live music space. “Barasti is more than a venue; it is part of Dubai’s story,” Ugur Lee Kanbur, multi-property general manager of Destination Mina Seyahi, told the newspaper. 

📷 Photo of the Day

June 22-25, San Diego. BIO International Convention 2026. The world’s largest event for biotechnology, with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe. San Diego Convention Center.

June 23-25, Cairo. Big5 Construct Egypt. Exploring the latest products, innovations and technologies in the construction industry. Egypt International Exhibition Center.

June 24-25, Dubai. Geospatial & Space Technology Forum. Bringing together government authorities, national space agencies, city planners, and technology innovators. Al Habtoor Grand Resort.

July 7-11, Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen & Co. Conference. Annual invitation-only gathering of top figures in technology, finance, media and government. Sun Valley Lodge.

July 8-9, Abu Dhabi. Money Expo Abu Dhabi. Bringing together investors, traders, fintech innovators, and financial institutions to explore the future of finance. ADNEC Center. 

July 14-15, Carlisle, Pa.: Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. U.S. President Donald Trump to headline event at U.S. Army War College, featuring discussions on military innovation and investment.

August 18-19, Dubai. Middle East Event Show. Bringing together professionals from the events industry. Dubai World Trade Center.  

August 28-Sept. 6, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. An annual event celebrating traditional Emirati heritage and culture. 

August 31-Sept. 3, Riyadh. LEAP Expo Riyadh. A major tech trade show for the Middle East, which includes a global startup live pitch event. RECC Malham.

LNG REBOOT

QatarEnergy expects to restore normal production of liquified natural gas from facilities that were not damaged in the Iran war “within a few weeks,” according to Qatar’s Prime Minister. “QatarEnergy is preparing for operations to come back to normal as soon as the situation in the [Strait of Hormuz] normalizes,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the Financial Times. He said that establishing a hotline between the U.S. and Iran was essential to prevent rogue actors from impeding the reopening of the strait. QatarEnergy suspended output four days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, following a drone attack on the Ras Laffan LNG plant, then declared force majeure on its contracts. It faced a further setback this week when an explosion at one of its facilities killed 13 people and injured dozens more. 

BANK RETREAT

Standard Chartered is exploring a sale of its retail and wealth banking business in Bahrain as the London-based lender shifts resources toward larger markets where it sees greater growth potential. The move will not affect its corporate and investment banking operations in the kingdom, which the bank said will continue serving clients through its international network, The National reports. The planned exit follows a broader strategy to focus on affluent and internationally connected customers across the Middle East. Standard Chartered joins other global lenders that have pared back Bahrain consumer operations, including HSBC, which sold its retail unit to Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait last year, and Citigroup, which exited through the sale of its consumer franchise to Ahli United Bank in 2022.

MGX: Abu Dhabi firm MGX has raised nearly $50 billion from sovereign wealth, pension, and institutional investors to fund AI infrastructure and technology, and now ranks as one of the biggest ever dedicated AI investment vehicles, Bloomberg reports. 

G42: AI cloud and advanced computing company Core42, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s AI-focused G42, is tripling the capacity of its Buffalo, N.Y., data center to 60MW.

L’Imad Holding: AD Ports Group, which is controlled by Abu Dhabi’s L’Imad, acquired an additional 30% stake in Dubai-based Global Feeder Shipping for $300 million, increasing its total ownership to 81%.

Oman Investment Authority: The OIA, alongside SeaTown Holdings International, a unit of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, and Vietnam Oman Investment, has invested $255 million in a private credit deal for Vietnam’s largest hospitality and entertainment brand Vinpearl.

Public Investment Fund: Mike Thompson was appointed as CEO of Riyadh-based facilities management firm FMTECH, which is majority-owned by the PIF, after the recent closing of JLL’s acquisition of a stake in the company. Thompson has worked for JLL for almost 20 years. Separately, Mansour Alammari joined the PIF as a member of its local real estate investments team.

🏨 Tourism Ready: Saudi-based Blacksand has signed an agreement with Marriott International to develop 10 hotels across the Kingdom over the next four years, adding more than 1,300 rooms under multiple Marriott brands, with the first opening planned in Riyadh.

🏭 Expanding Capacity: A subsidiary of Dubai-based Etihad Energy Holding is developing a $300-350 million refinery in Fujairah in partnership with Italian contractor PEG and U.S.-based Honeywell UOP.

👍 One Hand: Qatar’s Gulf Warehousing Company and Meydan Free Zone have formed a partnership to streamline business setup and regional expansion across the UAE and neighboring Gulf markets.

🛡️ Defense IPO: Israel is once again considering share sales for state-owned defense firms Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in the U.S., with officials set to travel in mid-July to explore a potential primary or dual IPO.

💼 New Bureau: Madrid-based law firm Perez-Llorca has opened an Abu Dhabi office in ADGM to capitalize on growing ties between Gulf states and its core markets in Latin America, The National reports.

✈️ Faulty Crafts: Airbus has ordered urgent inspections of 16 A380 aircraft operated mainly by Emirates and Qantas after cracks were found in key wing structures.

📉 Shrinking Economy: The UAE’s real GDP is expected to contract by 2.7% in 2026, following 6.2% growth in 2025, according to S&P Global Ratings.

💰 Easy Payments: Dubai has launched a plan that will allow tenants to pay rent in monthly installments instead of the typical annual or six-monthly cheques. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed met with a delegation from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority on Tuesday, as the sovereign wealth fund marked its 50th anniversary.

Sheikh Mohamed met with Lieutenant General Khaled Darraj Al-Shuraian, Chief of the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad held a phone call with the UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received letters from King Charles III of Britain and Prince William.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on the first leg of a three-nation tour of Gulf countries aimed at easing their concerns about the result of an agreement intended to end the war with Iran, AP reports. Rubio was greeted upon arrival at Al Bateen Executive Airport by UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, met with Meg O’Neill, CEO of BP, at ADNOC Headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, said at an energy conference in Paris on Tuesday that the French oil major needs to prioritize the building of pipelines that could export oil and gas from the Middle East without ships going through the Strait of Hormuz.

🎥 Film Vision: Shivani Pandya Malhotra, the former managing director of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, has set out the vision for her Dubai-based Ta Films production company in an interview with Variety. Ta, which was co-founded with Sangeeta Desai, premiered Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq’s debut feature “The Station” at Cannes and is now targeting two to three films per year. Pandya Malhotra said the company intends to pick projects with an “artistically distinctive” stamp. “The key element is that we want to tell stories from unknown, underrepresented voices, and that we are very, very, talent-led,” she said.

📷 Photo of the Day

June 22-25, San Diego. BIO International Convention 2026. The world’s largest event for biotechnology, with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe. San Diego Convention Center.

June 23-25, Cairo. Big5 Construct Egypt. Exploring the latest products, innovations and technologies in the construction industry. Egypt International Exhibition Center.

June 24-25, Dubai. Geospatial & Space Technology Forum. Bringing together government authorities, national space agencies, city planners, and technology innovators. Al Habtoor Grand Resort.

July 7-11, Sun Valley, Idaho. Allen & Co. Conference. Annual invitation-only gathering of top figures in technology, finance, media and government. Sun Valley Lodge.

July 8-9, Abu Dhabi. Money Expo Abu Dhabi. Bringing together investors, traders, fintech innovators, and financial institutions to explore the future of finance. ADNEC Center. 

August 18-19, Dubai. Middle East Event Show. Bringing together professionals from the events industry. Dubai World Trade Center.  

August 28-Sept. 6, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. An annual event celebrating traditional Emirati heritage and culture. 

August 31-Sept. 3, Riyadh. LEAP Expo Riyadh. A major tech trade show for the Middle East, which includes a global startup live pitch event. RECC Malham.

GAS DIPLOMACY

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

TRADE BOT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

INDIA BUYING

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

CREDIT SHIFT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SYRIAN STAKES

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

EXPO IPO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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