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. 

U.S. COLLAB

International Holding Co., the vast Abu Dhabi conglomerate overseen by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, has inked a deal to co-invest with the U.S. government’s foreign investment arm. The agreement with the International Development Finance Corp. opens the way for collaboration across a broad swath of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, mining, port operations and data centers. It will focus on projects spanning emerging and frontier markets, with the ability to “deploy capital at scale,” IHC announced. The deal is unconventional for the DFC, which traditionally funds development projects in lower- and middle-income countries, and comes amid shifting U.S. priorities abroad under President Donald Trump.

MINING SPINOFF

Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals will take a more independent course as the kingdom seeks to extract more value from its vast mining resources. The company, a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund and its Ma’aden mining subsidiary, will be spun off to focus on Saudi Arabia’s underground deposits of so-called critical minerals, Reuters reports. Lithium and copper, for instance, are needed for manufacturing electric vehicles and a variety of clean-energy technologies. Separating Manara is intended to attract additional Saudi and foreign investors while shifting away from passive investing toward hands-on mining expertise.

Altérra: The Abu Dhabi climate finance company said financial services group BBVA is committing $250 million to a $1.2 billion climate co-investment vehicle that will be domiciled in the ADGM financial hub.

G42: Cerebras, the AI chipmaker that counts UAE tech investor G42 as its main customer, has made a $10 billion deal to deliver computing power to OpenAI as it attempts to diversify its revenues ahead of an expected IPO.

Public Investment Fund: The PIF and Red Sea Aluminium Holdings agreed on initial terms to develop an aluminum complex in Yanbu.

Lucid Group: The PIF-owned maker of electric vehicles plans to start manufacturing EVs in Saudi Arabia this year, advancing the kingdom’s push to cultivate a domestic auto industry.

Qatar Investment Authority: Prague-based munitions company Defense Company Czechoslovak Group is planning to raise $873 million in an IPO on the Euronext Amsterdam, with commitments from investors including a subsidiary of the QIA. 

Lunate: Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based global investment manager, has launched its Boreas range of thematic Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on Deutsche Börse Xetra, a major European stock exchange.

⚜️ Mining Partners: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources signed three international agreements with Chile, Canada and Brazil to expand partnerships in the mining sector during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

💰 Asia Loans: Kuwait-based Equate Group is seeking a $300 million dual-tranche loan from Asian lenders, led by Mizuho Bank.

🔋 Battery Builder: Canadian miner Northern Graphite and Saudi Arabia’s Al Obeikan Group will form a joint venture to build a battery anode materials plant in the kingdom.

🛏️ Hotel Push: Marriott International and Saudi developer Al Qimmah plan to open more than 2,700 hotel rooms across the kingdom, reflecting a shift toward mid- and upper-mid-scale tourism as Saudi Arabia broadens its accommodation base beyond high-end luxury resorts.

☀️ Clean Vibes: Australian clean-energy companies are increasingly looking to manufacture in the UAE to reduce supply-chain risks and accelerate exports.

⛏️ Dig It: Pakistan plans to announce several joint mining ventures with Saudi Arabia in April, with talks underway on exploratory projects for minerals including copper, zinc, gold and chromite.

🔴 Visa Freeze: Applicants from Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq and nine other Arab countries will not be able to immigrate to the U.S. until further announcement, the state department said.

⚽ Money Ball: Alsharif Faisal bin Jamil, a Jordanian royal, is leading a consortium taking control of England’s Sheffield Wednesday soccer club with the aim of applying science and analytics to improve the team’s performance.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić on Wednesday at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohamed also met with Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, said the kingdom will invest $506 million in development projects in Yemen.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met with Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attended panel discussions held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 on Wednesday.

Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, met with Dr. Vince Henderson, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, on Wednesday.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that the country’s installed renewable energy capacity has now exceeded 7.7 gigawatts, with more projects under development to raise the capacity to more than 23 gigawatts by 2031.

Mohamed Alabbar, CEO of Emaar Properties, said that the tender for the redesigned Dubai Creek Tower, which was originally planned to be taller than Burj Khalifa, will be issued in the next three months, years after the project was put on hold.

Randa Hamed, CEO of Egypt’s Okaz asset management and brokerage firm, told Zawya that the company is planning to launch its first equity fund that will invest in Egyptian stocks.

Travis Scott, the American rapper, will perform at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on March 21, NFL legend Tom Brady announced in a video reel shared by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

🍣 Hat Trick: Lest Dubai’s growing traffic jams prevent anyone from getting their hit of black cod miso, Japanese restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa is opening his third restaurant in the emirate this week. Nobu One Za’abeel is located in The Link – a skybridge cluster of restaurants and bars 100 meters (330 feet) above ground – and will cater mostly to business clientele. The 274-seat restaurant features skyline views, a 28-seat sushi counter and adaptable private dining areas, The National reports.

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. 

TRADE TROUBLE

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

PETROLEUM PARTNERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TECH PACT

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

ON STANDBY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

INNOVATION EXPORTS

The UAE launched a fund to export advanced technologies to poorer nations on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Monday. With initial capital of $200 million, financed by the Abu Dhabi government, the fund will be overseen by the Advanced Technology Research Council, the applied research and development arm of the Abu Dhabi government. ATRC Secretary General Faisal Al Bannai said the aim is to open up technologies developed by the UAE to governments and organizations in poorer nations. “We will have the country become a private client for us to test what they need solved,” he said. The solution would either be donated to the country or sold to it at an affordable price, according to ATRC. Also today, Abu Dhabi formed the non-profit Falcon Foundation, with an initial funding of $300 million to back sustainable open-source AI projects.

SPACE DEBRIS

At a conference in Riyadh on cleaning up orbiting debris, the Saudi Space Agency signed a collaboration agreement for industrial development with Canada’s Northstar Earth and Space Inc. Saudi Arabia is looking to tap into the Montreal-based company’s expertise in monitoring and tracking space objects, the space agency’s CEO Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi said in a statement after meeting Northstar CEO Stewart Bain on Sunday. The kingdom plans to establish a center of excellence specializing in “space situational awareness” with Northstar’s help, the agency said. It will also focus on managing space traffic, with an emphasis on space sustainability, space environment, sensor technologies and advanced data analytics.

Mubadala: Group CEO and Managing Director Khaldoon Al Mubarak told the World Governments Summit on Monday that Mubadala sees growing investment opportunities in India, China and the global transition from carbon-based fuels, The Circuit reports.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi-based Al Ayuni Investment and Contracting Co. said it won the bidding for $532 million in contracts by PIF-owned Diriyah Co. to carry out infrastructure works in the development of tourism and shopping in the ancient Saudi city of Diriyah north of Riyadh.

Khaled Ateeq Aldhaheri has been named CEO of UAE health insurer Daman, a subsidiary of ADQ-backed PureHealth. Aldhaheri, who had held the acting CEO role, had previously held several leadership roles, including Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Abu Dhabi Health Services, or SEHA

🛢️ Oil Cuts: Iraq pledged its commitment to supply cuts accepted by most OPEC members and agreed not to produce more than 4 million barrels of oil a day.

🌍 Common Market: Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council are moving forward with steps to create an economically integrated region, Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi told the World Government Summit on Monday.

🚜 Vertical Farming: Abu Dhabi’s hub for sustainable technology, Masdar City, launched an indoor vertical farm with Alesca Technologies that will grow several varieties of leafy greens, lettuce and herbs.

🛏️ Hotel Stakes: Egyptian real estate developer Talaat Mostafa Group has completed the acquisition of majority stakes in seven state-owned hotels, including the Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel Alexandria and the Marriott Mena House Cairo.

🛒 Shopping Online: E-commerce in the MENA region is growing at a rate of 11% a year and should reach revenue of $57 billion in 2026, according to a report by Flextock.

🚄 Iraq Track: Companies in both Qatar and the UAE are bidding for a $2.5 billion contract to build a metro system in Baghdad.

💰Local Support: Jordan’s Innovative Start-ups and SMEs Fund is investing $5 million in MSA Capital’s venture fund, MSA Novo, to support local start-ups.

 💵 Payroll Platform: HiBob, an Israeli startup that helps manage HR functions, has acquired Pento, a London-based payroll platform, for an estimated $40 million in cash and shares.

💻 Fraud Alert: Australia’s Macquarie Group acquired $32 million worth of shares in BioCatch, an Israeli startup that develops software for preventing bank fraud and money laundering.

🇱🇧 First Funds: Lebanon-based venture capital firm Globivest announced the closing of its first fund for an undisclosed amount.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai today and with Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid had a meeting with Madbouly at the summit today.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to the UAE, where he will be inaugurating the first Hindu temple ‘BAPS Mandir’ in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani kayaked around Bin Ghannam Island, better known as Purple Island, as the country celebrates its first National Sports Day today.

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser told the International Petroleum Technology Conference in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on Monday that demand for oil will continue to be “robust” in 2024.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, attended the launch of the COP Presidencies Troika with Azerbaijan and Brazil, who will host COP29 and COP30, respectively, at Dubai Expo City on Tuesday.

🎓 Arts Degrees: Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University and the Culture Ministry are establishing the kingdom’s first arts college, which will start by offering degrees in design, performing arts, and visual arts.

🏜️ Desert Icons: The art exhibition Desert X AlUla is underway in the mountainous desert region of Saudi Arabia that is under development to attract tourists. A collaboration between Desert X and The Royal Commission for AlUla, and an iteration of the art biennial that originated in California’s Coachella Valley, the event presents a site-specific exhibition where artworks respond to the environment and land, The National reports. The third biennial is organised under the theme In the Presence of Absence, featuring newly commissioned works by 17 artists from around the world. The event opened on Friday and runs until March 23. It is a highlight of AlUla Arts Festival.

Feb. 11-17, Doha, Qatar: Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2024. Professional women’s tennis tournament now in its 22nd edition. International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Feb. 12-14, Dubai, UAE: World Governments Summit. Artificial intelligence takes center stage this year at the global gathering. Madinat Jumeirah.

Feb. 12-13, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Global Smart City Forum. AI and smart city experts convene to discuss the future of these cities and their impact on communities. The Arena.

Feb. 16-18, Munich, Germany: Munich Security Conference. Defense industry, foreign policy and national security leaders gather for annual summit. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

Feb. 19-20, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Capital Markets Forum. A gathering of government ministers, banks and local publicly traded companies to discuss integrating emerging markets with established financial systems. King Abdullah Financial District.

Feb. 21-22, Dubai, UAE: Step Conference. The Dubai edition of the leading tech festival for emerging markets. Internet City.

Feb. 22-23, Miami Beach, FL: FII Priority Miami. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel Miami Beach.

Feb. 26-29, Doha, Qatar: Web Summit Qatar. A Middle East edition of the technology crowd mega-event, gathering investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders. Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. 

Feb. 28-29, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Investopia. A gathering of investors hosted by SALT and Investopia, an investment platform launched by the UAE Ministry of Economy and backed by Mubadala and the Department of Economic Development. St. Regis Saadiyat. 

Feb. 29-March 2, Sakhir, Bahrain: Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Bahrain International Circuit.

March 1, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Family Office Summit. One of the largest meetings in the region for family office leaders and investors. Saadiyat Rotana.  

March 4-7, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: LEAP. A global technology conference for developers, startups, investors, C-suite and media. King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center.

March 5-6, Doha, Qatar: International LNG Forum. Gathering of industry leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the future of gas in a key export market. InterContinental Doha Beach. 

March 7-9, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit.