NO BONUS

Qatar Airways has told its 60,000 employees that they will not get bonuses this year, as it “prioritizes long-term stability” amid flight disruptions caused by the Iran conflict. The state-owned carrier has been the worst affected in the region by a number of suspended flights and is operating at less than 60% of its usual schedule, Bloomberg reports. By comparison, Emirates reduced this year’s staff bonus by just two weeks to 20 weeks of salary. The bonus cuts come even as airline staff have worked through high-stress conditions, with Iran repeatedly targeting airports and surrounding infrastructure with drones and missiles earlier in the conflict. Qatar Airways posted a more than 7% decline in annual net profit on Wednesday, but said it was making progress on rebuilding its global schedule.

DIGITAL WIN

Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Co. has executed a $30 million transaction using blockchain technology developed by the ADI Foundation, a part of its Sirius digital arm. The transaction using DDSC, a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin built on the ADI Chain, represents a “defining milestone” for the stablecoin system in the UAE and shows that it can handle high-value financial flows, IHC said in a statement. The company said it will now focus on increasing institutional adoption, expanding use cases and building cross-border payment and trade corridors linking the Middle East with key global markets. ADI Foundation, launched two years ago, is a philanthropic initiative closely tied to Abu Dhabi’s broader push to expand its influence in financial technology and data infrastructure, an effort spearheaded by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Chairman of IHC and the UAE National Security Advisor.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: ADIA was named among the funds backing CVC Capital Partners’ voluntary offer to take Italian drugmaker Recordati private in a potential $12 billion deal, in one of the biggest European healthcare transactions this year.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman, chaired ADIA’s first Board of Directors meeting for 2026 on the company’s 50th anniversary.

G42: Core42, a G42 company, has raised $550 million in structured trade finance from HSBC to expand its AI cloud and compute infrastructure across the U.S. and Europe.

Mubadala: Acelen, owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign fund, has secured $1.5 billion from a consortium led by HSBC and International Finance Corporation to begin building a $3 billion biofuels refinery in Bahia, Brazil.

Mubadala: Mubadala Energy is expected to announce a final investment decision within months for its Tangkulo gas development in Indonesia’s South Andaman block.

Masdar: Masdar signed a deal with China’s Sungrow to supply 7.5GWh of battery storage and 2.6GW of solar inverter capacity for Abu Dhabi’s 24/7 gigascale solar project.

Public Investment Fund: Video-game publisher Take-Two Interactive, which counts the PIF’s Savvy Games Group as a major shareholder, has confirmed a Nov. 19 release date for “Grand Theft Auto VI,” expected to be one of the top-selling video games of all time, with a marketing campaign to begin this summer.

🛢️ Oil Discovery: Egypt has announced its largest oil and gas discovery in 15 years: a Western Desert well with an estimated 330 billion cubic feet of gas and 70 million barrels of oil equivalent.

🏦 Support Provided: Emirates NBD has provided a $100 million loan to Luxembourg-based CPI Property Group to cover deferred payments on its Dubai luxury property portfolio.

💰 Investing Inwards: Egypt’s Sky Investments Holding plans to invest $300-$350 million in logistics over three years, mainly expanding East Port Said Port and developing new projects in Ain Sokhna and Alexandria as part of a broader $500 million investment plan.

🏗️ Border Post: Two consortia of Omani and Saudi companies have secured contracts worth $192 million to develop infrastructure in an economic zone near the Omani-Saudi border, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports.

👍 Thumbs Up: Cantor Bank, part of the New York financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has been granted approval to operate within the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

🪙 Crypto War: One of the Iranian regime’s key financiers secretly moved billions of dollars through Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, despite repeated red flags, The Wall Street Journal reports.

⚓ Port Plot: Abu Dhabi National Company for Building Materials is exploring an integrated logistics hub at Oman’s Port of Salalah to expand re-exports of building materials to markets including India, China and East Africa.

💼 Touch Down: Dutch legal firm TMF Group will begin operating within the Dubai International Financial Center.

🗓️ New Dates: Dubai’s flagship tourism industry expo, Arabian Travel Market, postponed due to the Iran conflict, has been rescheduled again to Sept. 14-17.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, approved a $400 million economic relief package to support the city’s business and tourism sectors, including suspending the hotel tax. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Julia Klöckner, President of the German Bundestag, Omid Nouripour, Vice President of the Bundestag, and Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, on Thursday as part of his working visit to Germany.

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

Mohamed Alabbar, the Emirati founder of Emaar, said his Noon e-commerce platform will cut staff numbers in half in the next three months, as he hires artificial intelligence agents across his companies.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, met with Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, on Thursday.

Yogesh Mehta, Founder of Petrochem, spoke with Arabian Gulf Business Insight about the effects of the Iran war, saying that with both imports and exports curbed, manufacturers have had to limit production. “The crisis has taken two wheels off the car,” he said.

🎥 Movie Magic: From the winding alleys of Al Seef to the gleaming skyline of One&Only One Za’abeel, Dubai is more than a backdrop in Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan: Ghost War,” The National reports. The latest installment in the espionage thriller franchise, which was shot in early 2025 in collaboration with the Media Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism,  premiered on Prime Video on Wednesday. The film sweeps through Dubai Marina’s glittering waterfront and the desert’s vast silence, blending contrast into cinematic scale. Cameras also capture Emirates Towers, Gate Avenue in DIFC, and Burj Park.

📷 Photo of the Day

June 1-4, Baghdad. Iraq Oil and Gas Technology Exhibition. Exploring industry-leading solutions propelling the oil, gas, and energy sectors into the future. Baghdad International Fairground.

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 10-11, Doha. Project Qatar. The international construction and building materials exhibition showcases cutting-edge innovations and sustainable solutions. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

June 15-18, Cairo. Africa Health Excon. An annual event that brings together leaders and policy makers in health care. AlManara International Conference Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

June 23-24, Abu Dhabi. Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit. Industry leaders, investors, architects, and innovators explore the trends and technologies shaping the next era of real estate. Conrad Etihad Towers.

June 24, Dubai. Energy & Sustainability Summit. The summit aims to drive forward the effective decarbonization of the Middle East’s construction and energy sectors, in support of Net Zero agendas, and their short- and long-term goals. Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa.

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

DISCOUNT ROLLS

Tariffs on British goods entering the Gulf, from the luxury Rolls-Royce cars favored by royalty to the chocolate and butter that line the aisles of Waitrose supermarkets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will be dropped under the terms of a new trade deal. The Gulf Cooperation Council signed the milestone free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Wednesday, strengthening economic ties between post-Brexit Britain and the six-member bloc that comprises the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. The deal, announced by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, is expected to add as much as $5 billion to the U.K. economy and will eventually strip away $780 million in duties a year. The GCC nations combined are the U.K.’s 10th-largest trade partners, accounting for about $71 billion in bilateral trade.

DAMASCUS MOMENT

The UAE is accelerating its push into Syria, treating the country as a strategic gateway for expanding trade networks and regional influence. Central to this strategy are Syrian ports, particularly Tartus and Baniyas, which are increasingly viewed as alternatives to Gulf maritime routes and as anchors in a wider logistics corridor linking the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe and Iraq. The approach is being pursued through large-scale capital commitments, including an estimated $11 billion investment by Emaar Properties in Damascus and coastal projects, as well as a $800 million port expansion deal by DP World at Tartus, Foreign Policy reports.

ADNOC: The state energy company said that the UAE’s new crude pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is about 50% complete and being fast-tracked to double export capacity via Fujairah by 2027, Reuters reports.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Awwal Bank has agreed to a $1.7 billion financing deal with PIF-backed construction firm AlBawani.

Dubai Holding: Dubai Holding Asset Management, a unit of Dubai Holding, has awarded a $185 million contract to Group AMANA to build the 390-home Lantana Hills gated community in Dubai Science Park.

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA and COFIDES, Spain’s state-owned financial institution, announced a joint $330 million fund to invest in green transition, digital transformation and technological innovation projects in Spain.

Mubadala: Mubadala’s assets under management increased by 17% to $385 billion in 2025.

Mubadala Capital: Infrastructure investor I Squared Capital is among the firms that have advanced to the second phase of bidding to acquire a $5 billion Brazilian port owned by Trafigura Group and Mubadala Capital, Bloomberg reports.

🛍️ Going South: Dubai South and UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim will jointly develop a $16.9 billion retail and living community near Al Maktoum International Airport.

💰 Funding Round: The Exploration Company, a UAE-linked European aerospace startup, is seeking $200 million in new funding from global and UAE sovereign investors to advance its rocket engine development and space projects.

🦄 Unicorn Play: Morocco’s credit guarantee agency Tamwilcom is signing agreements to provide “millions of dirhams” to three local gaming startups in a state-sponsored attempt to create 1-2 new companies worth at least $1 billion by 2032.

🛡️ High Growth: The GCC insurance market is projected to reach $61.8 billion by 2030, growing at 4.9% annually with Saudi Arabia leading regional expansion.

📉 IPO Doubts: The Indian IPO of Jio Platforms, a unit of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, is facing delays and valuation concerns amid geopolitical tensions and market volatility.

💼 Consulting Slump: Saudi Arabia has stopped giving new work to consultants as the Iran war rattles its finances, the Financial Times reports.

🏘️ Property IPO: Dubai Investments expects to go ahead with listing its real estate unit Dubai Investments Park on the emirate’s stock exchange before the end of 2026, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with a delegation of Al Ain Football Club players and staff, following the team’s victory in the ADNOC Pro League.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched a batch of AI agents to be used in tax auditing and customer service.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday. Sheikh Abdullah also met with Alexander Dobrindt, the German Minister of the Interior.

Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, met with Jihad Azour, Director at the International Monetary Fund of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Trade, outlined the country’s aggressive logistics infrastructure expansion plans, speaking at a meeting with the UAE India Business Council. 

Louis Margueritte, CEO of Business France, told The National “nearly 500 decision-makers from the Gulf” are expected at next month’s Vision Golfe Forum in Paris.

Kamran Abbas was appointed CEO of real estate and facilities management company International Real Estate Partners.

🎤 Race Stage: U.S. pop-rock group Imagine Dragons has been added to the lineup for the after-race concert series at this year’s Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix. The band, known for hits including “Believer,” “Radioactive,” “Demons” and “Thunder,” will headline Saturday, Dec. 5 at Etihad Park. The race weekend runs from Dec. 3 to Dec. 6 at Yas Marina Circuit.

📷 Photo of the Day

June 1-4, Baghdad. Iraq Oil and Gas Technology Exhibition. Exploring industry-leading solutions propelling the oil, gas, and energy sectors into the future. Baghdad International Fairground.

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 10-11, Doha. Project Qatar. The international construction and building materials exhibition showcases cutting-edge innovations and sustainable solutions. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

June 15-18, Cairo. Africa Health Excon. An annual event that brings together leaders and policy makers in health care. AlManara International Conference Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe.Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

June 23-24, Abu Dhabi. Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit. Industry leaders, investors, architects, and innovators explore the trends and technologies shaping the next era of real estate. Conrad Etihad Towers.

June 24, Dubai. Energy & Sustainability Summit. The summit aims to drive forward the effective decarbonization of the Middle East’s construction and energy sectors, in support of Net Zero agendas, and their short- and long-term goals. Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa.

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

TAKING FLIGHT

Riyadh Air’s first commercial flight will finally take off on July 1, after delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries repeatedly pushed off its debut. The Saudi flag carrier has started selling tickets for its daily Riyadh-London service, which will be operated using its new Boeing 787-9 fleet. Backed by billions of dollars from the Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air is aimed at business and luxury travelers, competing directly with Gulf rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways. British Airways, meanwhile, has postponed the restart of flights to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv until Aug. 1 because of the Iran war, while also cutting planned service levels and permanently dropping Jeddah from its route network.

FAIRWAY FALLOUT

Saudi-backed LIV Golf has begun preparing for the end. The upstart league that’s losing its funding from the Public Investment Fund is making contingency plans for a possible U.S. bankruptcy filing if it fails to secure new investors before the season ends in August, Bloomberg reports. LIV executives are seeking private equity firms, family offices and wealthy investors while also considering restructuring options if fundraising efforts fail, the news agency says. The league says revenues have doubled this year and insists its team-based golf model still has long-term potential despite ongoing financial losses and failed merger talks with the PGA Tour.

Public Investment Fund: Elon Musk’s rocket maker SpaceX could file publicly for an IPO as soon as today, after appointing Goldman Sachs as its lead bank in what could be the biggest stock market listing of all time. Saudi Arabia’s PIF holds a stake of just under 1% in SpaceX via its AI firm Humain and has been in talks to invest more in the stock market debut. Other Gulf funds have stakes, including Abu Dhabi’s AI investment vehicle MGX, which is backed by Mubadala and G42.

Public Investment Fund: The Saudi sovereign wealth fund is in talks with potential investors to sell a minority stake in Newcastle United to help finance stadium and infrastructure expansion plans that could cost more than $1.3 billion, Reuters reports.

MGX: Abu Dhabi’s MGX participated in a $2.1 billion Series B funding round for Isomorphic Labs, a U.K.-based drug design and development company.

Lunate: The Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment manager backed Manara Ventures, a $70 million Islamic-compliant fund, to support startups in Jordan.

ADNOC: The UAE national oil company’s logistics arm ADNOC Distribution  and Americana Restaurants formed a strategic partnership to expand restaurant and convenience retail offerings across roadside fuel stations.

Masdar: The Emirati renewable company is reportedly withdrawing from Spain’s Moeve-led 300MW Onuba green hydrogen project, the first phase of the planned 2GW Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley.

QatarEnergy: Qatar’s state-owned oil company has entered Uruguay’s upstream sector by acquiring interests in three offshore exploration blocks from Shell.

📈 Doha IPO: Estithmar Holding, a Qatari conglomerate that’s part of the billionaire Al-Khayyat family’s empire, is working with Rothschild & Co. on a potential initial public offering of its healthcare unit Apex Health, Bloomberg reports.

🏠 Estate Sale: A 39-bedroom Bel Air mansion listed for $400 million, the most expensive U.S. home on the market, is being sold by a member of Qatar’s royal family.

📉 Scaling Back: Saudi Arabia cut its U.S. Treasury holdings by $10.8 billion to $149.6 billion in March, while the UAE reduced its portfolio by $5.8 billion to $114.1 billion.

⛏️ Mining Venture: Dubai-based Averi Finance is in talks with South African mining company Mantengu over a reverse takeover that would list Averi in Johannesburg, Bloomberg reports.

🏡 Broker Beachhead: Century 21 Real Estate established its Middle East regional headquarters in Dubai, using the emirate as a base for expansion across Gulf property markets.

🏘️ Shutting Down: Dubai’s real estate brokerage sector is undergoing rapid consolidation as a market slowdown is expected to force up to 30% of the emirate’s roughly 8,000 agencies to shut down in the coming months, Arabian Business reports.

🏀 Ball Drama: Liwa North America and CEO Paul Edalat claim in a lawsuit against the NBA that he helped initiate a deal with Emirates but was later excluded from final negotiations and left uncompensated, with the NBA denying liability and the dispute now continuing in federal court.

🏢 New Bureau: Swedish strategic communications consultancy Kreab Worldwide opened its first Middle East office in Riyadh, under the name “Kreab Saudi Arabia.”

🚂 Choo Choo: Etihad Rail has completed its first passenger station in Fujairah’s Madinat Al Hilal area  ahead of passenger service launches later this year.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, honored the winners of the 2nd edition of the Zero Bureaucracy Award at a ceremony on Tuesday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, approved a $272 million international space cooperation program.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, during a working visit by the UAE top diplomat to Berlin.

Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Interior, visited the Tasleeh Holding stand during the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience in Abu Dhabi. 

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that a Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and the United Kingdom will be signed in London today.

Alexus Grynkewich, U.S. Air Force General and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, said on Tuesday that NATO is not drawing up any plans for a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz and would need a political decision to do so.

Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, CEO of Jeddah Airports Company, met with Sean Chiao, CEO of Singapore’s Surbana Jurong Group, to explore collaboration to support the airport’s expansion and development plans.

Yahya Shaheen Alhammadi was appointed Managing Director at defense company Raytheon Emirates, a subsidiary of U.S.-based multinational defense and aerospace company RTX.

⌚ Cuckoo Clock: A global shopping frenzy over a new watch collaboration has forced retailers in Dubai to cancel launch events and move stock off-site to avoid the chaotic scenes that have unfolded elsewhere, The National reports. The much-hyped Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop watch launched on May 16, but competition for the watches became so intense across cities around the world that police intervened to disperse crowds, in some cases using tear gas and dogs. In Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, launches were cancelled before they even started, and the watches remain unavailable while retailers re-evaluate how to release them in an organized fashion.

📷 Photo of the Day

May 18-20, Muscat. Oman Petroleum and Energy Show. Examining the future of sustainable energy and Oman Vision 2040. Oman Convention & Exhibition center.

May 19-21, Abu Dhabi. International Exhibition for National Security & Resilience. This conference focuses on cybersecurity, policing, national security, emergency response, and advanced security technologies. ADNEC.

June 1-4, Baghdad. Iraq Oil and Gas Technology Exhibition. Exploring industry-leading solutions propelling the oil, gas, and energy sectors into the future. Baghdad International Fairground.

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 10-11, Doha. Project Qatar. The international construction and building materials exhibition showcases cutting-edge innovations and sustainable solutions. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

June 15-18, Cairo. Africa Health Excon. An annual event that brings together leaders and policy makers in health care. AlManara International Conference Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe.Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

June 23-24, Abu Dhabi. Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit. Industry leaders, investors, architects, and innovators explore the trends and technologies shaping the next era of real estate. Conrad Etihad Towers.

June 24, Dubai. Energy & Sustainability Summit. The summit aims to drive forward the effective decarbonization of the Middle East’s construction and energy sectors, in support of Net Zero agendas, and their short- and long-term goals. Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa.

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

AI CAPTAIN

The UAE will train 80,000 government workers in the use of AI agents as part of a plan to deliver at least half of government services using the technology within two years. The training program will target AI capabilities in five categories: leadership, technical skills, specialist roles, the general workforce and support for trainers. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the plans during a meeting of the UAE Cabinet at Qasr Al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi on Monday. He said the goal was to “be the best government in the world” at adopting Agentic AI.

DESERT EXPRESS

Saudi Arabia’s ultra-luxurious Dream of the Desert unveiled its Riyadh headquarters and announced the appointment of Raffaele Breschi as General Manager and CEO of Arsenale International, overseeing the project. The train was conceived as the kingdom’s answer to the Orient Express and built by Italy’s Arsenale Group. Passengers will pay between $4,000 and $28,000 for the 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) trip through the Saudi desert. The train evokes a gilded vision of Arabian travel, with interiors conceived by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman. Each coach features plush sleeper cabins with private bathrooms, marble-accented dining cars serving regional cuisine, and lounges adorned with brass, walnut, and desert-hued fabrics.

Mubadala: Bahrain-based Investcorp Capital, backed by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, acquired a diversified U.S. industrial real estate portfolio comprising 19 properties valued at more than $200 million.

Public Investment Fund: Taiba Investments Co., a PIF-backed company, finalized a $633 million deal to develop three hotels owned by Osool Integrated Real Estate in central Madinah.

Qiddiya: The Saudi entertainment city being built by the PIF picked Google Cloud to run its digital systems.

Aramco: Saudi Arabia’s national oil company teamed up with France-based Pasqal to launch the kingdom’s first quantum computer, which Aramco said would be used in efforts to accelerate lower‑carbon fuel development.

AD Ports Group: The Abu Dhabi-owned international ports operator agreed to acquire MBS Logistics, expanding its freight forwarding and logistics network.

Qatar Investment Authority: Doha has launched a $30 million Tech Venture Fund run by Qatar Science and Technology Park under the Qatar Foundation. The first set of partners includes Dubai-based Global Ventures and VentureSouq, as well as San Francisco’s Builders VC, U.S./U.K.-based White Star Capital, and Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures.

☀️ Sun Power: Oman Nama Power and Water Procurement has signed a major renewables power deal to curb gas reliance, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports.

🏋️ Money Muscle: UAE-based company GymNation  secured a $100 million investment facility from HPS Investment Partners, part of BlackRock, to expand in the Gulf. 

✈️ Mega Hangar: Emirates broke ground on a $5.1 billion engineering facility in Dubai, which is being delivered by China Railway Construction Corporation.

🚖 Robotaxi Cover: Dubai Insurance was selected as the insurer for Dubai Taxi Co.’s new autonomous taxi fleet

📈 ETF Trailblazer: SAB Invest, the investment arm of Saudi Awwal Bank, became the first market maker for ETFs on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul Exchange  under new stock market rules.

🚦 Green Light: AI-powered digital Islamic finance platform Mal has secured preliminary approval from the Central Bank of the UAE to launch a bank.

🏰 Palace Living: Abu Dhabi’s opulent Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is planning to build 35 private mansions within its grounds. 

🌴 Dubai Style: Indonesia plans to create a tax-free financial center in Bali’s Kura Kura Special Economic Zone, modeled on the Dubai International Financial Centre, the Financial Times reports. 

✈️ Flight Path: Israel has put forward a proposal for Emirates airline to fly direct flights between Tel Aviv and New York, Jewish Insider reports.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, chaired a UAE Cabinet meeting in the attendance of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; and Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Sheik Mohammed has inaugurated the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s new headquarters in the Al Jaddaf neighborhood.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met withYvette Cooper,  U.K. Foreign Secretary, on Tuesday, during his working visit to London.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director of ADNOC, said in a post on X that a drone assault on the Barakah nuclear plant on Sunday was a “terrorist attack on a peaceful project…, and on the right of every nation to build, to progress, and to deliver clean energy to its people.” 

Robert Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, said in a social media post that he met at the Milken Global Summit in Los Angeles earlier this month with Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Global Market, as the firm was preparing to establish an office in the financial center.

Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, said that cutting 8,000 jobs is not just a cost-cutting move. “It’s replacing, in some cases, lower-value human capital with the financial capital and investment capital we’re putting in,” he told the Financial Times.

Dunja Gottweis, Director of Art Dubai – which wrapped up on Monday – told Artsy that despite being delayed due to the ongoing war in the region, “Our galleries, collectors, and partners have come together and really shown up.”

Archer Fu was appointed Senior Vice President, East, at Aramex, the shipping and logistics company acquired by ADQ.

Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, will lead the Council’s delegation on an official visit to the European Parliament in France’s Strasbourg from May 19 to 22.

🎥 Courting Hollywood: Saudi Arabia is raising the stakes in its bid to become a global hub for film production, offering to pay back the majority of production costs and accelerate payouts to attract major productions to the kingdom. In an announcement at the Cannes Film Festival, the Saudi Film Commission said it would increase cash rebates from 40% to 60% of eligible expenditure, improve disbursement processes and create a “more supportive operating environment.”

📷 Photo of the Day

May 18-20, Muscat. Oman Petroleum and Energy Show. Examining the future of sustainable energy and Oman Vision 2040. Oman Convention & Exhibition center.

May 18-19, Riyadh. Stadium and Sports Innovation Summit. The future of stadiums, smart sports infrastructure, and sports innovation in Saudi Arabia. Hyatt Regency Al Olaya.

May 19-21, Abu Dhabi. International Exhibition for National Security & Resilience. This conference focuses on cybersecurity, policing, national security, emergency response, and advanced security technologies. ADNEC.

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe: Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

LAND CORRIDOR

The UAE emirate of Sharjah and Oman have launched a new sea-and-land logistics corridor to diversify Gulf trade routes amid the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The arrangement allows goods to cross borders more easily, giving access to Oman’s east coast ports of Sohar, Duqm and Salalah, The National reports. Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Gulf countries have ramped up trucking routes to allow free movement of goods via alternative routes. Dubai’s new “green corridor” with Oman has become a vital trade artery, with customs declarations surging from 12,000 in March to almost 100,000 in April.

TALENT WAR

Swiss multinational bank UBS Group AG has lost several senior wealth management bankers in the Middle East, less than two years after hiring them. Among those departing are Rana Al Emam and Ali Khunji, who joined UBS from HSBC Holdings in 2024 to expand the bank’s wealth business in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Al Emam moved to Banco Santander, while Khunji joined J. Safra Sarasin earlier this year, Bloomberg reports. The moves are a visible indicator of the intense competition for talent in regional wealth management, though some firms have been recently scaling back since the war with Iran started.

Public Investment Fund: The PIF has been named the official tournament supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and Asia, with the partnership to cover initiatives worldwide, including grassroots movements, youth, women’s football, education and infrastructure, Reuters reports. 

ADQ: Abu Dhabi-listed developer Modon Holding, appointed by ADQ, and U.S.-based ultra-luxury hospitality company Montage Hotels & Resorts, launched Montage Ras El Hekma within the $35 billion Ras El Hekma master plan on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.

Masdar: The Abu Dhabi green energy company is pushing ahead with the deployment of $45 billion globally despite the Iran war, with plans to deliver 100 gigawatts of capacity by 2030.

AD Ports: AD Ports Group launched the Consortium of UAE Shipbuilders, led by Noatum Maritime, to unite national maritime companies and strengthen collaboration, procurement and competitiveness.

Mubadala: Luca Molinari, Co-CEO of Private Equity at Mubadala, was a guest on Mubadala’s podcast The Exchange, in which he reflects on today’s investment environment.

🔋 Hydrogen Push: Saudi Arabia Refineries Co. signed a deal with China’s Ally Hydrogen Energy to develop a green ammonia plant and hydrogen equipment hub in Jazan Industrial City.

💧 Delta Expansion: Egypt unveiled a $15 billion “New Delta” megaproject aimed at expanding agricultural land and boosting food security through large-scale desert reclamation and infrastructure investment.

💵 Insurance Money: Private equity firm BlueFive Capital will invest $34 million in troubled Saudi-listed insurer Gulf General Cooperative Insurance.

💰 Investing India: The UAE pledged $5 billion in investments across key sectors in India, including energy, defense, infrastructure, shipping and advanced technology, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.

🌍 Eying Africa: Power International Holding, owned by the Qatari billionaire Al-Khayyat family, is targeting major African infrastructure projects, including Ethiopia’s planned $12.5 billion airport and a 400-kilometer highway in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

⚓ Sailor Strain: Commercial sailors operating in Gulf shipping lanes are facing mounting danger and exhaustion as the Iran conflict disrupts maritime routes and raises security risks across the region, the Financial Times reports.

🫩 Qatar Challenge: The growing pressure on Qatar’s economy from the Iran war is making it difficult for the country to preserve its role as a stable Gulf financial and diplomatic hub, The New York Times reports.

🏦 Beyond War: Asset managers and hedge funds are expanding in the Middle East and opening new offices, saying the Iran conflict won’t alter their long-term regional commitment, the Financial Times reports.

🚢 Saving Hormuz: Defense firms are preparing to deploy autonomous mine-clearing drones in and around the Strait of Hormuz to reopen shipping lanes, the Financial Times reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim held a phone call on Friday to discuss regional developments. 

Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took part in a closed roundtable at Investopia Europe on how the UAE and Italy can multiply private capital into priority African markets.

Jassem Al Zaabi, Group CEO and Managing Director of L’imad Holding, has become central to Abu Dhabi’s efforts to manage its oil wealth amid rising geopolitical risk, Bloomberg reports.

Mohamed Alabbar, the Emirati founder of Emaar Properties, announced that his e-commerce platform Noon plans to launch operations in Syria.

Roberto Mancone was appointed CEO of du Pay, the digital financial services arm of UAE telecom company du.

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, met with Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, on Saturday to discuss Iran’s threats to vessels and seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, attended the CEO Forum Africa in Rwanda, where he led a delegation of business executives and government officials.

Mohammad Al Hawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment, led delegates from the UAE to the Investment Summit in Maryland, where they met with U.S. Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Diane Farrell.

🎮 Game On: Emirati company Red Dunes Games has gone from indie start-up to global player in just four years, growing a catalogue of diverse titles, from publishing 1990s anime-inspired hit “Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past!” to developing an original game inspired by the UAE’s pearl-diving heritage. The firm was founded by two friends who met in college 25 years ago and charted separate career paths across film, animation, cybersecurity and nuclear energy before finally starting their dream company together, The National reports. “We want people to know that high-quality games can come from Emirati leadership,” Co-Founder Sultan Al Darmaki said.

📷 Photo of the Day

May 15-17, Dubai. Art Dubai. A special edition of the annual event taking place in Dubai, bringing together artists from the region and the Global South. Madinat Jumeirah.

May 15, Milan. Investopia Global – Milan. The UAE investment conference series lands in Europe with a high-level delegation of leaders from companies including EDGE Group, 2PointZero and Khazna Data Centers. Palazzo Mezzanotte. 

May 18, Paris. Investopia Roundtable – Paris. A high level B2B/B2G investment roundtable in Paris that will bring together about 30 senior government officials, business leaders, and investors. Embassy of the UAE in Paris.

May 18-20, Muscat. Oman Petroleum and Energy Show. Examining the future of sustainable energy and Oman Vision 2040. Oman Convention & Exhibition center.

May 18-19, Riyadh. Stadium and Sports Innovation Summit. The future of stadiums, smart sports infrastructure, and sports innovation in Saudi Arabia. Hyatt Regency Al Olaya.

May 19, Abu Dhabi. International Exhibition for National Security & Resilience. This conference focuses on cybersecurity, policing, national security, emergency response, and advanced security technologies. ADNEC.

May 19-21, Abu Dhabi. World Utilities Congress. Global policymakers, industry leaders and innovators discuss transforming the utilities sector into resilient, low‑carbon systems. ADNEC. 

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe: Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

LNG EQUITY

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Energy will provide equity financing for a $13 billion liquified natural gas export plant being built on the U.S. Gulf Coast by Caturus, a subsidiary of Kimmeridge Energy Management Co. Mubadala Energy, which already owned a 24% stake in Houston-based Caturus, is backing the project alongside EOC Partners, BlackRock Inc., Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board and a fund managed by Ares, Bloomberg reports. The investment comes as the Gulf’s sovereign wealth funds have continued to push ahead with foreign deal-making, despite the uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is blocking oil and gas flows from the region. The UAE, in particular, reaffirmed its plans to invest more than $1 trillion in the U.S. 

OMAN IPO

Oman India Fertiliser Co. is weighing an IPO that could value the company at more than $2.5 billion, potentially making it one of the Sultanate’s biggest stock offerings. The fertilizer producer, which is backed by the Oman Investment Authority and the Indian government, is planning to raise several hundred million dollars, with shareholders selling a combined stake of about 25%, Bloomberg reports. It comes amid a rally in fertilizer prices driven by the regional conflict and would offer a welcome boost for both the Muscat exchange and the wider Middle East region, where deal flow had already started to slow down before the war began. Société Générale, Arqaam Capital Ltd. and Bank Muscat SAOG are among the arrangers working on the deal. 

G42: Shares in California-based chipmaker Cerebras, which counts UAE tech investor G42 among its biggest customers, soared 68% on the first day of trading on the Nasdaq, valuing the company at $67 billion.

G42: Presight signed an agreement with the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro to develop a next-generation AI-powered “Smart Nation” platform to oversee infrastructure, traffic management, public safety, and integrated emergency response systems.

Mubadala: Emirates Global Aluminium is in advanced talks to buy a stake in Omani rival Sohar Aluminium as it expands outside the UAE and adapts after Iran-related disruptions forced major production cuts and shipping changes, Reuters reports. 

DP World: The Dubai-owned port operator said it remains bullish on African expansion despite inflation pressures linked to the Iran war and will keep investing in countries including Mozambique and Congo, Bloomberg reports.

Masdar: Masdar and German energy company RWE received U.K. approval for the 3-gigawatt Dogger Bank South offshore wind projects.

💰 Retail Finance: Gulf retail group Brands For Less secured a $68 million sustainability-linked Islamic financing facility from Emirates Islamic to support its operations and working capital needs.

🚧 Housing Investments: VIE Communities, an Emirati-Egyptian joint venture, launched operations in Egypt with two mixed-use developments in New Cairo valued at a combined $2.8 billion.

⚖️ Nearing Settlement: Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar have agreed to pay a total of $18 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission allegations that they made false and misleading representations about Adani Green Energy, Bloomberg reports.

🤖 Expanding Reach: Vista Equity Partners, a U.S. tech-focused private equity company, opened an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market.

👍 Good News: Senegal is nearing a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund after talks to resolve its debt issues, Abdullah Almusaibeeh, the President of Riyadh-based lender Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

🏭 Smelter Plans: Commodity trader Trafigura is considering a $900 million aluminum smelter project in Egypt that would rely on renewable energy, part of Cairo’s push to attract industrial investment.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in the UAE for an official visit on Friday.

Sheikh Mohamed met with a delegation from the UAE defense company EDGE Group on Thursday. 

Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met with Will Ahmed, CEO of Whoop, last week in Abu Dhabi, according to an Instagram post by the Egyptian-American entrepreneur. 

Sheikh Khaled chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the ADNOC Board of Directors, held at the company’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi today.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the U.K.’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in London on Thursday, where they discussed the repercussions of the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Richard Attias, the events impresario who consults for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accompanied U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing, Intelligence Online reports.

Bob Diamond, the former Barclays CEO, praised the response in the Gulf to the Iran war, saying, “I probably have more confidence today in the leadership and the future of the economies like Qatar and the UAE.”

Mariam Almheiri, Vice Chair and Managing Director of 2PointZero, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Co., appeared on Morning Joe to discuss the company’s anti-poverty efforts with New York’s Global Citizen.

Nabil Sultan was appointed CEO of Dubai-based dnata, Loadstar reports. Sultan joins dnata from Emirates Cargo. 

Dwayne Lysaght and Alberto Piana were appointed as Co-Heads of Investment Banking for the EMEA region at U.S. investment bank JPMorgan, as part of a wider leadership shuffle.

Omran Sharaf, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, led a delegation to the U.S. to discuss further cooperation across critical, emerging, and advanced technologies.

🎭 Abu Dhabi Orb: An international version of the blockbuster Sphere Vegas is expected to open on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island by 2029. The $1.7 billion Sphere Abu Dhabi is being built between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and will have a capacity of 20,000 people. It will be used for concert residencies, combat sports and business conferences.

📷 Photo of the Day

May 15-17, Dubai. Art Dubai. A special edition of the annual event taking place in Dubai, bringing together artists from the region and the Global South. Madinat Jumeirah.

May 15, Milan. Investopia Global – Milan. The UAE investment conference series lands in Europe with a high-level delegation of leaders from companies including EDGE Group, 2PointZero and Khazna Data Centers. Palazzo Mezzanotte. 

May 18, Paris. Investopia Roundtable – Paris. A high level B2B/B2G investment roundtable in Paris that will bring together about 30 senior government officials, business leaders, and investors. Embassy of the UAE in Paris.

May 18-20, Muscat. Oman Petroleum and Energy Show. Examining the future of sustainable energy and Oman Vision 2040. Oman Convention & Exhibition center.

May 18-19, Riyadh. Stadium and Sports Innovation Summit. The future of stadiums, smart sports infrastructure, and sports innovation in Saudi Arabia. Hyatt Regency Al Olaya.

May 19, Abu Dhabi. International Exhibition for National Security & Resilience. This conference focuses on cybersecurity, policing, national security, emergency response, and advanced security technologies. ADNEC.

May 19-21, Abu Dhabi. World Utilities Congress. Global policymakers, industry leaders and innovators discuss transforming the utilities sector into resilient, low‑carbon systems. ADNEC. 

June 3-4, Dubai. MENA Investor Conference. Capital market trends, GCC macro outlooks, and investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The Ritz Carlton DIFC. 

June 5-7, Dubai. Dubai Esports & Games Festival. More than two weeks of events, tournaments and game launches, including GameExpo 2026. Dubai World Trade Center. 

June 17-19, Rome: FII Priority Europe: Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds a conference focusing on European business links with the Middle East. Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

June 17, Tashkent. Investopia Global – Tashkent. The UAE’s flagship investment conference lands in Uzbekistan, bringing together leaders from government and the private sector to create new investment opportunities. Venue TBA.

FINAL OFFER

Warner Bros. Discovery has tentatively opened a crack in the door for a Gulf-backed buyout by David Ellison’s Paramount, asking for a “best and final proposal” for the entertainment and media Goliath, while continuing to pursue its $82.7 billion deal with Netflix. Paramount, which submitted an amended offer last week, said on Tuesday that it welcomed the chance to have “good faith and constructive discussions.” Paramount has aggressively pursued WBD, launching multiple successive offers backed by various configurations of Gulf sovereign wealth funds. In December the newly-formed Abu Dhabi state investment vehicle L’imad Holding Co. joined the fray by backing a $108 billion hostile offer.

EXPO EXPOSED

A data breach that exposed identity documents of high-level attendees at Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 has been secured and was limited in scope, according to organizers. Scans of more than 700 documents, including passports and state ID cards, were discovered to be accessible online via an unprotected cloud storage server, uncovered by a freelance security expert, the Financial Times reports. Those exposed included former White House communications director and investor Anthony Scaramucci, billionaire hedge fund manager Alan Howard and former British prime minister Lord David Cameron. Organizers blamed a vulnerability at a third-party vendor. “The environment was secured immediately upon identification, and our initial review indicates that access activity was limited to the researcher that identified the issue,” an unnamed representative of ADFW told The National.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund boosted its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust to 12.7 million shares worth $630.6 million in Q4 2025, a 46% increase in its holdings. The cryptocurrency has fallen more than 40% from its all-time peak in October.

L’imad Holding: AD Ports Group has grown its global network to 36 ports and terminals as the Abu Dhabi-backed operator accelerates international acquisitions and logistics investments.

Public Investment Fund: The Saudi sovereign wealth fund transferred its roughly $3 billion, 11-million-share stake in gaming studio Take-Two Interactive to subsidiary Savvy Games Group ahead of the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.

The Sovereign Fund of Egypt: Egypt is preparing to transfer stakes in about 60 state-owned companies to its sovereign wealth fund ahead of potential EGX listings, part of Cairo’s broader push to attract private investment and ease fiscal pressure.

Qatar Investment Authority: Hamad Al-Khater, Qatar’s Airways’ new CEO, told Bloomberg he intends to prioritize relations with Airbus, which has demonstrated that “they’ll be able to deliver” on their promises.

🧪 Fertilizer Pivot: UAE fertilizer producer Fertiglobe is targeting increased sales to Europe as the EU tightens curbs on Russian supplies, CEO Ahed El-Hoshy told Bloomberg.

📦 Logistics Partners: Saudi Ports Authority and MEDLOG, the logistics arm of global container shipper MSC, inaugurated a $40 million integrated logistics center at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

💻 AI Risks: Palo Alto Networks is is acquiring Israeli cybersecurity startup Koi for an estimated $400 million, targeting emerging risks from autonomous AI agents on corporate systems, Calcalist reports.

🔴 Red Planet: The UAE Space Agency has extended the Emirates Mars Mission through 2028, allowing its Hope Probe to continue scientific observations of the planet’s atmosphere beyond its original timeline.

🚢 Treading Water: Iran and Russia plan to conduct joint navy drills in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean tomorrow, raising further security concerns after Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz for several hours on Tuesday. 

🛢️ Friendly Handover: Iraq’s cabinet approved an amicable settlement with Lukoil over the transfer of operations of one of the world’s largest oilfields to the state-run Basra Oil Company, following U.S. sanctions on the Russian energy giant.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, visited the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday to review strategic plans for the future of the nation’s labour system.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, arrived in Venezuela, where he was greeted by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, honored the winners of the seventh edition of the Minister of Interior’s Excellence Award during a ceremony held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Michael Doersam, CFO of Emirates, said he plans to step down in June after a decade in the role. The Dubai-based airline said it will announce a successor “in due course.”

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, launched a package of capital projects on Monday valued at $810 million.

Damien Drap was appointed Chief Operating Officer, Haresh Bajaj as Chief Product Officer and Denis Agiev as Chief Technology Officer of Prypco, a UAE-based PropTech platform.

Morgan Parker, Vice Chairman of the management committee at Qiddiya Investment Co., spoke to Arab News about what drives Saudi Arabia’s huge entertainment project. “At its heart, Qiddiya City is about play,” Parker said. “Imagine a whole city dedicated to facilitating those experiences,” Parker said. “That’s what we’re building.”

🧑‍🎨 Fixer-Upper: The Triumph of David, an 18-meter-long painted leather artwork depicting a royal procession and inspired by the biblical story of David and Goliath, is now on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi, following a painstaking two-year restoration project. The origins of the 17th-century artwork, which was last displayed on the walls of a Parisian hotel, are uncertain, but it is stylistically linked to artists associated with the Dutch master Rembrandt, The National reports. 

March 25-27, Miami. FII Miami 2026. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Public Investment Fund’s Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MOON DANCE

The Qatar Investment Authority has co-led a $350 million fundraising round for a company manufacturing space suits for NASA’s Artemis III moon mission and building the world’s first commercial space station. Texas-based Axiom Space, which is valued at more than $2.5 billion, received backing from the QIA, along with Type One Ventures, Hungary-based IT company 4iG and Florida-based 1789 Capital, which counts Donald Trump Jr. as a partner. The company will use the funds to enhance its spacesuits and build the first two modules of its space station, which is expected to be the future successor of the International Space Station. It comes amid global rivalry over space technology and as Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans for a potential IPO this year. 

DATA CORRIDOR

An Iraqi-Emirati consortium is planning a $700 million high-speed cable linking the UAE to Turkey through Iraq, aiming to ease pressure on crowded east-west data routes. The project, called WorldLink, would run underwater from Fujairah in the UAE to Iraq’s Faw Peninsula, then continue overland to the Turkish border. Backers say the network will be built in stages over about five years to serve big cloud and AI companies while offering a faster alternative to routes that pass through the Suez Canal, Reuters reports. The plan underscores intensifying Gulf competition to become a regional hub for digital connectivity and data-center investment.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi fund backed a $31 million fundraising round by Dubai-based fractional property investment app Stake, which was led by Emirates NBD. Other investors included Saudi Aramco’s venture capital arm and Middle East Venture Partners.

Mubadala: Mubadala Bio, a subsidiary of Mubadala, has completed the full acquisition of Al Ittihad Drug Store and Global Medical Supply Chain  following its initial 80% stake purchase at the end of 2024. 

Mubadala Capital: The sovereign wealth fund’s investment is taking on more complex deals following its $6.2 billion Clear Channel Outdoor buyout, as it seeks higher returns by targeting niche opportunities that larger rivals often avoid, Bloomberg reports.

Mubadala: The co-founders of Turkish grocery and food delivery platform Getir are seeking $700 million in damages from the Abu Dhabi fund, alleging in a London court that it failed to transfer key assets promised under a restructuring agreement. It comes after Mubadala agreed to sell Getir’s delivery operation in Turkey to Uber for $335 million.

L’imad Holding: Modon Holding has awarded $316 million contract to Egypt’s Orascom Construction to deliver a mixed-use project within the $35 billion Ras El Hekma development.

L’imad Holding: EMSTEEL Group and Oldendorff Carriers have signed a five-year $162 million freight agreement to transport iron ore pellets to the UAE.

Dubai Holding: Dubai Holding and U.K.-based Nord Anglia Education have partnered to develop and operate premium K-12 schools across Dubai.

Public Investment Fund: Flyadeal, which is indirectly owned by the PIF, plans to more than double its fleet from 45 to over 100 aircraft by 2030, adding wide-body Airbus A330 jets alongside its Airbus A320 fleet to operate flights to destinations across Southeast Asia.

🔥 LNG Lock-In: U.S. gas producer Caturus signed a 20-year deal to supply Saudi Aramco with 1 million tons per year of LNG from its planned Louisiana export project, underscoring long-term global demand for American gas.

💰 Digging Funds: Kuwait Energy Basra Company, an oil and gas company operating in Iraq, secured a $346 million reserve-based lending facility from Arab Energy Fund to expand Iraq’s Block 9 oil field

💵 Property Play: EIGHTClouds, a Dubai-based alternative investment firm, has launched an open-ended real estate fund, aiming to raise over $300 million.

🚧 Belt Billions: China’s Belt and Road Initiative reached a record $213.5 billion in 2025, with the Middle East accounting for about $39.4 billion, driven by construction and energy projects.

🏗️ Property Push: Gulf real estate markets are expected to keep expanding into the first half of 2026, led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, according to the Kuwait-based Markaz research organization.

✈️ Luxury Flying: Dubai-based premium leisure airline Beond signed a letter of intent with Bahrain’s civil aviation regulator to launch operations in the kingdom.

🛃 Visa Clampdown: Riyadh is tightening scrutiny of business visas, disrupting the long-standing “fly-in fly-out” model used by UAE-based professionals to work in Saudi Arabia without relocating.

🛑 One Stop: The UAE and Bahrain have launched a one-point travel pilot enabling preclearance at departure through Zayed International Airport and Bahrain International Airport, ahead of a planned Unified GCC Tourist Visa.

🛢️ Pipe Dream: Algeria said that construction of the $13 billion Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, linking Nigeria, Niger and Algeria, will begin after Ramadan.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call on Monday with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, met with Aziz Tashbulatov, Minister of Interior of Uzbekistan.

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, met with Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Eileen Jennings-Brown was appointed as Chief Technology Officer of Juvenescence, a clinical-stage AI-enabled biotech company developing novel medicines to extend healthy lifespan, which has new research offices in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and President and CEO of QatarEnergy hosted a farewell reception in honor of Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Shaibi, QatarEnergy’s Executive Vice President for Finance and Planning, who is retiring.

📷 Decisive Moment: The remarkable career of Ramesh Shukla, the UAE’s first royal photographer, is being remembered after his death on Sunday at the age of 87. Shukla, who arrived by boat from Mumbai in 1965, saw his life change forever after a chance meeting with the UAE’s Founding Father Sheikh Zayed at the Sharjah Camel Festival, where he snapped his photograph. The budding photographer gifted the resulting image to the late UAE President and from that day on remained by his side capturing some of the key moments in the history of the emirates, The National reports.

March 25-27, Miami. FII Miami 2026. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Public Investment Fund’s Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OLD NEW HAND

Saudi Arabia’s tapping veteran banker Fahad Al-Saif as Investment Minister appears to signal a pragmatic pivot toward deal-making that delivers hard cash, as the kingdom pushes to triple annual foreign direct investment to $100 billion by 2030. The appointment comes as Riyadh scales back costly megaprojects while maintaining pressure to advance Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic diversification agenda. Al-Saif orchestrated Saudi Arabia’s $21.5 billion bond issue in 2017 that established the kingdom as one of the most active emerging-market sovereign issuers, and most recently led investment strategy at the $1 trillion Public Investment Fund. He told the American Business Forum in Miami in November that the PIF would shift from a growth phase centered on deploying capital to an “impact” phase aimed at turning investments into productive industries. What that means should become clear in the coming weeks, with the PIF expected to lay out its refreshed plans for the next five years.

SPACE SHOT

The UAE has successfully launched its first homegrown rocket to conduct space research. The tiny projectile, weighing 13 kilograms (29 pounds), blasted off on Friday from a remote island off Abu Dhabi and soared to an altitude of 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) before a parachute opened and the vessel landed in the UAE desert, The National reports. The flight itself was a test of the UAE’s ability to launch a reusable research rocket, which was equipped with an engine, injectors, tanks, control systems and avionics that were designed and built by the government’s Technology Innovation Institute. “This launch is a defining moment for science and engineering in the UAE,” said Najwa Aaraj, the institute’s CEO.

International Holding Co.: The Abu Dhabi-owned conglomerate, led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, said 2025 revenue jumped 29% from the previous year to $30.3 billion, while profit after taxes rose 35% to $9.4 billion.

Mubadala: Blue Owl, a New York-based asset manager whose backers include the Abu Dhabi Mubadala sovereign wealth fund and the Qatar Investment Authority, is seeking new deals tied to rising demand for AI infrastructure and financing, The Information reports.

Mubadala: The fund joined Japan’s SBI Investment Co. and a Saudi billionaire family in backing Egyptian ecommerce startup Breadfast in a $50 million financing round. 

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Basic Industries Corp. signed an agreement to supply raw materials to a joint venture between the PIF and Pirelli Tyre.

ADNOC: The six listed companies owned by Abu Dhabi’s national oil company posted a combined $9.7 billion net profit for the 2025 financial year, based on revenues of $51.8 billion.

💰Strategic Takeover: Jeddah-based SISCO said its portfolio firm Green Dome Investments acquired 100% of Dubai-based cold-chain logistics provider Transcorp International for $61 million.

🛡️ Defense Startup: Anduril, a Silicon Valley defense startup founded by former Palantir employees and backed by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz and 8VC, is seeking to raise funds at a $60 billion valuation, The Information reports.

🚢 Shipping Sale: Hapag-Lloyd, a German cargo shipping company whose backers include Qatar Holding and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is in advanced talks to acquire Israel’s ZIM Integrated Shipping for $3.5 billion, Bloomberg reports.

📈 Parallel Push: Saudi Arabia is expanding the role of Nomu, the kingdom’s small-cap equity market, as a stepping-stone for companies to access capital before potentially graduating to the main Tadawul exchange, Arab News reports.

💬 Another Try: Warner Bros. Discovery is weighing whether to re-engage in sale talks with Paramount Skydance after receiving a revised offer, Bloomberg reports. 

🌐 New Defense: Saudi intelligence has quietly approached rival defense data vendors for Palantir-like tools to hedge against geopolitical risk after U.S. control concerns, Intelligence Online reports.

🤝 New Arrival: Charles Park Family Office, a U.K.-based multi-family office, formed a strategic partnership with financial planning firm AES International to establish a Dubai presence.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim, following his arrival in the UAE on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday. 

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative conference in Miami in March, marking his second consecutive appearance at the event, Reuters reports. 

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in a discussion session at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

Prince Faisal met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and his delegation on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, granted the title of Arab Hope Maker and a cash prize of AED1 million to Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi from Morocco on Saturday.

Queen Rania of Jordan visited Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani and his family at their Mumbai residence, Antilia, on Saturday.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, and Ahmad Alattar, UAE Ambassador to Germany, hosted a reception on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The event was attended by UAE figures including Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President and Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State. European dignitaries included Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, and Katherina Reiche, Germany’s Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy.

Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, met on Saturday with the European Union’s Special Representative for the Gulf region Luigi Di Maio, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s Prime Minister, told Bloomberg that his government can overcome differences with the International Monetary Fund over a proposed law to let depositors recover trapped funds from the country’s banks.

Sultan Al Neyadi, the astronaut who is UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs, won a silver medal in jiu-jitsu on Friday at the Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi.

Abdulaziz Mohammed Faraj Al Mulla was appointed as Director General of the UAE Federal Tax Authority by a presidential decree. 

✈️ Modern Treasure: Abu Dhabi’s decommissioned airport terminal will be protected from demolition, as one of 40 buildings and sites added to the emirate’s Modern Heritage Register. The old Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport, which opened in 1982, was designed by French architect Paul Andreu, who was also responsible for Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and Terminal 3 at Dubai. Other sites added to the list include the Corniche Hospital, Madinat Zayed Bus Station and the Abu Dhabi Geneva Flower Clock. 

March 25-27, Miami. FII Miami 2026. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Public Investment Fund’s Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLAUDE BILLIONS

Abu Dhabi tech investor MGX co-led a $30 billion funding round in U.S. firm Anthropic, the maker of the Claude AI chatbot. The deal, led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and Coatue Management, roughly doubled Anthropic’s valuation to $380 billion. Anthropic, founded in 2021, has rapidly grown its revenue run rate to $14 billion, focusing on safer AI applications for sectors like finance, healthcare, and software. MGX, which was set up less than two years ago with support from Mubadala and tech conglomerate G42, has been expanding its U.S. tech footprint, including stakes in OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, and participation in a $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centres.

RAISING ROBOTS

The Qatar Investment Authority has backed a Tesla Optimus rival that plans to sell humanoid robots for the price of a car. Austin, Texas-based Apptronik raised $520 million in a round backed by investors including Google, Mercedes-Benz and the QIA, valuing the company at about $5 billion. Apptronik plans to use the new funds to speed up production of its Apollo robot and expand its global pilot programs and commercial deployments. The QIA has been raising its stakes in advanced technology, with recent investments in Elon Musk’s xAI, U.S.-based chipmaker Positron and OpenAI competitor Anthropic.

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA and Franklin Templeton announced the launch of a day-traded mutual fund with an initial capital of $200 million.

Mubadala: Mubadala Energy awarded Texas-based SLB multiple drilling contracts for an offshore gas project in Indonesia.

Public Investment Fund: PIF subsidiary Saudi Arabian Military Industries, known as SAMI, signed a deal with a Turkish company to jointly develop unmanned surface vehicles.

L’imad Holding: AD Ports Group will invest $87 million in a new dry bulk terminal at the Port of Douala in Cameroon.

XRG: Adnoc’s international investment arm signed an agreement with Eni and YPF to advance the Argentina LNG project.

Norges Bank Investment Management: Norway’s wealth fund cut ties with Turkish financial firm Istanbul Portfoy Yonetimi AS after regulators fined one of its top managers for market manipulation.

🎮 Games Talk: Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group reportedly nearing a $6 billion deal to buy mobile gaming studio Moonton from China’s ByteDance.

⛽ Exploring Libya: QatarEnergy has entered Libya’s energy sector by securing a 40% stake in an offshore block alongside Eni, under the country’s first licensing round since 2007.

⚡ Power Grant: Egypt secured $107 million from the European Union to modernize its power grid and integrate renewables.

🛢️ Oil Assets: Saudi-backed Midad Energy signed a term sheet to acquire sanctioned overseas assets of Russia’s Lukoil with an all-cash deal.

🏗️ New CEO: Dubai’s DP world has replaced long-time CEO Sultan bin Sulayem with Group Deputy CEO and CFO Yuvraj Narayan, following scrutiny over Sulayem’s communication with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

🚢 Carrier Warrior: U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to send a second aircraft carrier strike group, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East ahead of possible military action in Iran.

🚖 Robot Rollout: WeRide and Uber have extended robotaxi services to downtown Abu Dhabi, the first autonomous vehicle deployment in the UAE capital’s city center. 

🧠 New Arrival: Humain-backed Luma AI, a Silicon Valley AI film production startup, announced plans to open an office in Riyadh and said that it has formed a partnership with Publicis Groupe Middle East to support AI-driven advertising.

🗞️ Headline Deal: The limbo over ownership of London’s Telegraph Media Group is dragging on after the U.K. government intervened in the Daily Mail’s $682 million bid, nearly three years after a UAE-backed deal was blocked, Bloomberg reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, on Thursday at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, on Thursday.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, met with Lutfullah Goktas, Turkey’s Ambassador to the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote about the UAE’s relationship with Europe in an article published by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor, said on X that he met with Ana Botín, CEO of the Banco Santander Group, on Thursday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, chaired the first Defense Council meeting of 2026.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, arrived in Munich on Thursday to head the Kingdom’s delegation at the Munich Security Conference. 

Brad Smith, Vice President of Microsoft, spoke to Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala, about the AI transformation underway in the UAE. 

Dr. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Aldhaheri was appointed Chairman of Dubai-based healthcare and education investor Amanat Holdings. 

Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Finance, met with Ted Pick, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, on Thursday in Doha.

André Erasmus was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Auriga International Management Consultancy, a hospitality and real estate advisory firm.

🎨 Ancient Creativity: Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a sandstone shelter at Umm Erak Plateau containing a continuous record of human art spanning 10,000 years. The 100-metre-long rock shelter features ancient drawings from 10,000–5,500 BCE, including red-pigmented depictions of animals that reflect early prehistoric life. Archaeologists also found flint tools and pottery fragments from the Middle Kingdom and Roman era, indicating the site was used continuously over thousands of years.

Feb. 13-15, Munich. Munich Security Conference. A global forum for senior political, military and diplomatic leaders to debate major international security challenges. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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