TUNNEL VISION

Dubai unveiled the first four stations of its planned underground Dubai Loop, including stops at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper and the Dubai International Financial Centre, as part of a $545 million effort to ease downtown congestion. The full network – built with Elon Musk’s Boring Company – is expected to stretch about 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) with 19 stations, and is designed to cut travel time on the initial route from about 20 minutes to three minutes. In a separate above-ground project called the Glydways system, Dubai plans to launch small autonomous electric vehicles running on narrow dedicated lanes and linked to the Metro that can move more than 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

YUAN BET

ADNOC is preparing to raise as much as $2 billion through yuan-denominated dim sum bonds – the UAE energy company’s first debt issuance in China’s currency. The deal, which comes as Gulf borrowers increasingly look to Asian markets for capital, highlights deepening financial ties between the UAE and China, Bloomberg reports. ADNOC is working with banks on the potential offshore yuan bond sale and is meeting investors as part of the process. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned about the security and strategic risks tied to the UAE’s expanding financial and technology links with Beijing.

L’Imad Holding Co: AD Ports Group raised $115 million to support the development of the Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal in Egypt.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: ADIA sold its 50% stake in Sydney’s O’Connell office precinct to Charter Hall for $351 million, as the Abu Dhabi fund rebalances its Asia-Pacific portfolio.

G42: The Abu Dhabi AI company is developing national infrastructure for autonomous AI systems, alongside a large-scale computing centre known as the “agent factory,” CEO Peng Xiao told a panel at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi Investment Council: Saeed Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADIC, an independent unit of Mubadala, told Bloomberg that the organization’s goal was to lift returns by expanding its asset classes – including secondaries, insurance and Bitcoin – without abandoning its endowment-style approach.

🚧 Big Spender: Abu Dhabi developer Aldar awarded $18 billion in contracts across the UAE in 2025, spanning residential, commercial, infrastructure, and logistics projects. 

🛢️ Field Expansion: Oilfield services provider SLB secured a $1.5 billion contract to manage the next development phase of Kuwait’s Mutriba oil field.

⛽ Gas Deal: QatarEnergy, the state-owned oil and gas company, signed a 27-year agreement with Japan’s Jera to supply 3 million tons a year of LNG starting in 2028.

💰 Risky Business: Saudi National Bank is exploring entry into the significant-risk-transfer market as it looks to offload loan exposure, free up capital and expand lending capacity, Bloomberg reports.

🧠 AI Inflation: Artificial intelligence is likely to add to near-term inflationary pressures as governments and companies, particularly in the Gulf, pour unprecedented investment into AI infrastructure, a research chief at BlackRock  told Arabian Gulf Business Insights.

🌴 Muscat Chat: Iran has asked the United States to move diplomatic talks from Turkey to Oman and restrict them to its nuclear program in a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, at Qasr Al Bahr palace in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohamed also met with Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay and with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of L’Imad Holding Co, has become one of the top royal business figures in the UAE, a key point of contact for visitors ranging from U.S. President Donald Trump to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Bloomberg reports.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Riyadh on Tuesday. Prince Mohammed also held a phone call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, swore in three new judges of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, met with Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev on Tuesday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, UAE Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, reviewed the region’s key strategic plans for cultural and tourism projects during a meeting with a delegation led by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

Josh D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as CEO of Walt Disney Co. on March 18. The two came to the UAE last month to tour the future site of Disneyland Abu Dhabi and meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed.

Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates, said during a panel discussion at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday that geopolitical tensions and volatile capital markets have put the world “on the brink” of a capital war

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, called on Gulf countries to create an Airbus-style company that could foster unity and deepen economic integration of the Middle East bloc.

Ben Harburg, the American investor who is the first foreigner to buy a Saudi Pro League team, talked to Bloomberg as he celebrated Al Kholood reaching the semi-finals of the King’s Cup for the first time.

🍽️ Good Eating: The Middle East and North Africa’s 50 best restaurants were named at a glittering ceremony at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night. Leading the list was Khufu’s, a gastronomic restaurant with a knockout view of the Giza Pyramids – the first time a restaurant in Egypt has taken the top spot. Abu Dhabi and Dubai dominated the rest of the list, with Dubai’s Kinoya and Tresind Studio taking second and third place.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and aims to position Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. Qatar holds the 21st edition of its annual international Conference and exhibition on liquefied natural gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

Feb. 3-5, Dubai. World Governments 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 hosts the first regional edition of the real estate technology event. Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Feb. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb. 9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene advisors, financiers, and investors from across the Middle East in the UAE capital. Conrad Etihad Towers.

Feb. 11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb. 11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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. 

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.

SOVEREIGN STEERING

Mubadala Capital, an investment arm of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, joined Waymo’s $16 billion funding round, taking part alongside Silicon Valley investors Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer and Silver Lake. The investment by Mubadala Capital follows its parent fund’s participation in a $2.5 billion Waymo round in 2020. With the new financing, the value of Alphabet’s self-driving unit is being assessed at $126 billion. The UAE plans to expand use of autonomous cars over the rest of the decade, with Dubai targeting 25% of all trips to be self-driving by 2030 and Abu Dhabi aiming for a similar target by 2040.

RONALDO STRIKES

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have sat out of a Saudi Pro League match in protest over a disagreement with the Public Investment Fund. Ronaldo, who plays for the Al Nassr Football Club, skipped Monday night’s game against Al Riyadh, which his team won 1-0. The Portuguese forward, who signed for Al Nassr in 2023, has become enmeshed in the kingdom’s global image, acting as a brand ambassador for tourism and sports ventures. He is also building his own Saudi business empire, from hair loss clinics and real estate to his stake in Al Nassr. Ronaldo reportedly became frustrated after Al Nassr failed to sign any new star players, while leading competitor Al Hilal, which is also backed by the PIF, signed France’s Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad. 

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and Aldar Properties formed a strategic joint venture combining Yas Mall and The Galleria Luxury Collection into an Abu Dhabi retail platform valued at about $2.7 billion.

Mubadala: The fund won more than $827 million from an arbitration linked to the insolvent Signa conglomerate and its founder, bankrupt European property tycoon René Benko, in a decision that could test Austrian solvency laws, Bloomberg reports.

XRG: Private-equity firm Carlyle is in talks with potential UAE partners including International Holding Co. Mubadala and XRG about investing in Lukoil’s international assets, valued at about $20 billion, Reuters reports.

Emirates Global Aluminium: The company owned by Mubadala and Investment Corp. of Dubai, has begun initial investor meetings in the UAE ahead of a potential IPO, which could become one of the Gulf’s largest share sales.

ADNOC: XRG, the international investment arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., signed an agreement with Azerbaijan to acquire an equity stake in the Southern Gas Corridor.

Oman Investment Authority: The sovereign wealth fund plans to sell stakes in roughly 30 companies under a broad divestment drive aimed at boosting private-sector participation and attracting foreign capital.

🏗️ Industrial Partners: Saudi Arabia has agreed to support the development of an integrated industrial and logistics city in Oman’s Dhofar region, including $40 million in financing.

🚦Green Light: Shareholders of KFIC Invest have approved its $26.4 million acquisition of Rasameel, a Kuwaiti Islamic-compliant investment firm.

📈 IPO Prep: Shorooq, an Abu Dhabi based investment firm, launched a Qatar-backed $200 million late-stage growth fund to help mature fintech, software, and AI companies in the GCC and Asia prepare for IPOs.

💵 Opening Floodgates: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority said it is reviewing rules that cap foreign ownership of listed companies at 49% in a sign it could proceed with plans to lift the cap this year.

🛢️ Pipe Dream: Kuwait is planning to open up some of its oil fields to overseas firms and lease part of its pipeline network, Bloomberg reports.

🌉 Casino Link: A 548-meter bridge linking Ras Al Khaimah’s Wynn Al Marjan Island resort to the UAE road network is on track to open in October, with construction 48% complete ahead of the resort’s planned spring 2027 opening.

⛽ Gas Guzzler: Rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers could turn an expected global LNG supply glut into a shortage by 2030, QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told the LNG2026 conference in Doha on Monday.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the World Preservation Lab and BioVault, a collaboration between the Museum of the Future and Colossal Biosciences, at the World Governments Summit 2026. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah to congratulate him on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. Sheikh Abdullah also met with Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of Egypt.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, met with Dr. Khaled El Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, on Tuesday at Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre in University City.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Advisor to the UAE President, told the World Governments Summit in Dubai that the Middle East does not need another confrontation and that he would rather see direct Iranian-U.S. negotiations, leading to understandings, The Circuit’s Omnia Al Desoukie reports. Dr. Gargash was speaking on a panel with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, said during the World Governments Summit on Tuesday that China’s aircraft maker Comac is becoming a serious competitor in global aviation. 

Mohsin Hamad al Hadhrami, Oman’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that work has already begun on the $700 million GCC electrical interconnection between the UAE and Oman.

Ahmed Salem, JP Morgan’s Co-Head of Investment Banking for MENA, told Zawya that the M&A landscape will continue to bring certain sectors into focus, including energy, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. 

Turki Al Shehri was appointed Country Manager for Saudi Arabia at French utility ENGIE.

Jorge Naveawas appointed President of Al-Futtaim Automotive.

🌙 Child’s Play: As Ramadan approaches, children in the Middle East have a special day to celebrate the Muslim holy month. Known as Hag Al Laila in the UAE – meaning “for this night”– children wear traditional clothing and carry colorful woven bags door-to-door as they sing in return for candy and nuts. The tradition is believed to predate Islam and may have even inspired Halloween trick-or-treating. The celebration, taking place tonight, typically starts 15 days before Ramadan, which is likely to fall on Feb. 18 this year.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting startup founders in the Middle East to investors, policymakers and journalists around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and aims to position Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and business  opportunities. MBZUAI campus.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. Qatar holds the 21st edition of its annual international Conference and exhibition on liquefied natural gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

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

Feb. 4, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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

Feb. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb. 9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene advisors, financiers, and investors from across the Middle East in the UAE capital. Conrad Etihad Towers.

Feb. 11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb. 11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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. 

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.

CODE PUSH

Lockheed Martin has opened a new software factory in Riyadh to speed development of advanced digital systems in Saudi Arabia. The facility, officially launched on Sunday, will focus on rapid prototyping and advanced software practices to support modern command-and-control aeronautics systems. It is being developed with Saudi partners, including Saudi Arabian Military Industries, and is designed to build local engineering and software talent. The move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s push to localize high-value technology and expand the country’s digital capabilities.

TRUMP BROTHERS

Investors linked to the UAE’s royal family bought a 49% stake in a cryptocurrency venture founded by members of the Trump family shortly before Donald Trump returned to the White House last year. The Trump firm, World Liberty Financial, whose co-founders include Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Barron Trump, sold the stake to the Emirati firm Aryam Investment 1 – a company overseen by UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed –  for about $500 million, The Wall Street Journal reports. The deal has drawn scrutiny because it coincided with U.S. policy decisions affecting the UAE, including the sale of advanced AI computer chips that the Biden administration had refused to sell to the Gulf state. Spokesmen for the White House, World Financial and Aryam have denied any link between the investment and U.S. government actions.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and Singapore’s GIC are in talks to join a KKR-led consortium seeking to acquire Singapore-based data center operator STT GDC in a deal that could value the company at more than $10 billion, Bloomberg reports.

Public Investment Fund: Ruya Partners, a UAE-based firm backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Mubadala, is raising a $400 million private credit fund to address financing gaps in Saudi Arabia

International Holding Co.: Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of the UAE’s biggest company by value, said in an interview with Semafor that he plans to deploy roughly $2 billion of new capital each month over the next four years to bolster IHC’s international business…

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: ADIA is seeking a $2.6 billion loan, secured by subsidiary Tawreed Investments’ minority stakes in four Australian infrastructure assets, including the Port of Brisbane.

ACWA Power: Germany’s utility EnBW and Saudi Arabia’s PIF-owned ACWA Power signed a draft agreement to develop an ammonia import and treatment pathway that will supply green hydrogen for German energy projects.

Mumtalakat: BlueFive Capital, in which Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund is an investor, said it closed its $3 billion Onyx Fund I, anchored by Gulf sovereign capital and registered with Abu Dhabi Global Market, to pursue opportunistic AI, biotechnology and advanced computing investments in the U.S. and Europe.

💰 New Business: Dubai-based Magellan Capital launched a $975 million hedge fund, one of the MENA region’s largest, marking the first time it has opened its flagship fund to third-party investors.

🏞️ New Land: Aldar, Abu Dhabi’s largest developer, added over 2 million square meters to its land bank, aiming to deliver 3,000 residential units worth nearly $6.3 billion.

💰 Raising Capital: Damac borrowed $600 million via an Islamic bond as part of a pre-approved $2 billion borrowing program.

🎨 Art Record: Safeya Binzagr’s 1968 painting “Coffee Shop in Madina Road” sold for more than $2 million at Sotheby’s Diriyah auction, setting a new record for a Saudi artist and beating a Picasso that sold for $1.6 million.

✌️ Peace Talks: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a second round of Abu Dhabi-hosted peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. is expected to take place on Feb. 4-5, following progress at initial talks in January.

✈️ Return Flight: Emirates airline is preparing to resume flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv after a two-year pause, Bloomberg reports.

📈 Investment Strategy: Egyptian developer Tatweer Misr is considering a local IPO by next year as part of a five-year strategy that includes a potential strategic investor by 2027, $318 million in 2026 investments and possible land acquisitions in Egypt and Oman.

🤝 Working Together: Kamco Invest and PGIM, Prudential Financial’s $1.5 trillion global asset manager, signed an agreement to pursue a strategic partnership focused on joint and co-branded investment solutions.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Vice Presidents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed attended the opening session of the World Laureates Summit on Sunday, along with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai.  

Sheikh Mohamed conferred the Order of the Union upon Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, at the World Laureates Summit.

Sheikh Mohamed has cancelled a state visit to Japan planned for later this week, amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions, Bloomberg reports, citing Japan’s public broadcaster NHK. On Friday, Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Sheikh Mohamed is expected to meet with Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during his visit Abu Dhabi to sign mining-related MoUs.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, received the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões, the highest sovereign cultural order in Portugal, given to him by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor, met with Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of Virgin Group, on Friday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, approved the $136 million Umm Suqeim Beach project.

Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chair of Qatar Museums, tells The Financial Times that the country is hosting Art Basel Qatar as part of its strategy to use art for advancing cultural diplomacy. “Training your eye to look at art builds empathy,” Al Mayassa says. “Culture breeds tolerance.”

Sheikh Abdulla Mohmmed Butti Alhamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Authority, informally met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the premiere of the “Melania” documentary in Washington D.C. on Thursday. 

Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, said that the comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Japan has reached its final stages and that negotiations with the European Union are also progressing positively.

Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, visited Diriyah, the historic site on the outskirts of Riyadh where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded. 

Yaacoub al-Refaie was named Kuwait’s new Finance Minister and Jarrah al-Ahmad al-Sabah was appointed Foreign Minister in a limited cabinet reshuffle.

🏛️ New Beginning: Louvre Abu Dhabi Director Manuel Rabate is stepping down and relocating to India to head the Kiran Nader Museum of Art in New Delhi, 10 years after he helped launch the iconic branch of the Paris landmark in the UAE. The Indian museum is projected to be the largest cultural center in South Asia and scheduled to open within three years.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Feb. 1-3, Dubai. World Laureates Summit. The event brings Nobel Prize winners and top scientists to the UAE to discuss their research and the state of the world. Madinat Jumeirah.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting startup founders in the Middle East to investors, policymakers and journalists around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and aims to position Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and business  opportunities. MBZUAI campus.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. Qatar holds the 21st edition of its annual international Conference and exhibition on liquefied natural gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

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

Feb. 4, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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

Feb. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb. 9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene advisors, financiers, and investors from across the Middle East in the UAE capital. Conrad Etihad Towers.

Feb. 11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb. 11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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. 

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.

MARKET MOMENTUM

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul stock index recorded its biggest January gain in five years as investors positioned themselves for planned market-liberalization steps that include expanded foreign access and efforts to deepen liquidity in the kingdom’s equity market. The rally suggests traders are buying ahead of the reforms that are designed to make it easier for overseas investors to enter and trade Saudi shares, Bloomberg reports. Officials say the changes should boost trading activity and make the market more attractive to global asset funds. Saudi Arabia runs the Middle East’s largest stock exchange, where foreign participation has historically been limited.

HANDS UP

Consumers may soon be able to pay for shopping in the UAE with a wink or a wave. A pilot program by the Central Bank is introducing both facial and palm recognition to replace cards and credit cards. The system was developed through the bank’s Sandbox Program and Innovation Hub, making the UAE the first Middle East country to employ biometric payments. Backed by Network International in Dubai and U.S.-based PopID, the project is currently in a proof-of-concept phase and being demonstrated at offices of the Dubai Land Department. 

Public Investment Fund: Manara, Saudi Arabia’s mining investment company backed by the PIF, is holding early talks with global commodities firms, including Glencore and Mercuria about entering metals trading, Bloomberg reports.

Oman Investment Authority: Oman used a space conference in Muscat to launch satellite-driven initiatives to improve connectivity for energy and minerals exploration, involving state-backed firms under the Oman Investment Authority alongside private partners.

TAQA: Ras Al Khaimah signed its first public-private partnership agreement between EtihadWE, TAQA Water Solutions and Saur International to develop a wastewater plant serving up to 300,000 people.

💰 Bridge Payments: Saudi Arabia will seek to raise $64 billion in private capital investments by 2030 to fund large-scale projects, including bridges, airports and water reservoirs, under a newly launched national privatization strategy.

⚽ Sports Rehab: Saudi healthcare group Al Hammadi Holding paid $15 million for exclusive rights through 2033 to develop medical, rehabilitation and performance services in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with health experts from Italy’s AC Milan.

🏘️ Dock Launch: London Square, a U.K. developer owned by Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties, will launch a $344 million prime residential project on a long-disused London wharf in Battersea this weekend.

🎤 Audio Acquisition: Apple acquired Israeli startup Q.ai, which develops machine-learning tools that can analyze facial expressions to understand “silent speech.” The company did not disclose the price, which the Financial Times pegged at about $2 billion.

📺 Clean Stream: Dubai Media Inc. launched Dubai+, a new family-friendly digital streaming platform backed by the Dubai Media Council.

🚃 Driverless Trams: Californian-based Glydways is working with Dubai and Abu Dhabi to explore the deployment of its autonomous electric mass transit system, which runs on wheels and is faster and cheaper to build than train lines, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports.

🖥️ Data Deal: Abu Dhabi Global Market, Dubai International Financial Center and Qatar Financial Center have reached an agreement on reciprocal data protection in a sign of increasing regional regulatory cooperation. 

🌍 Gold Grievances: A rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has extended into Sudan’s gold trade, which has become a key revenue source during the country’s ongoing conflict, Bloomberg reports.

✈️ Oil Express: Etihad Airways plans to launch a nonstop flight between Abu Dhabi and the Canadian oil capital of Calgary, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Moscow on Thursday.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi Defense Minister, is in Washington this week for talks with senior U.S. officials including Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amid rising concerns about a possible American military strike on Iran. Prince Khalid also met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, on Thursday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, met with Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Minister of Defense, in Dubai on Thursday.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, visited the Sikka Art & Design Festival on Thursday.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said at the Emirati-Kuwaiti Media Forum in Dubai on Thursday that the region cannot afford any more confrontation, describing rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran as “concerning, but unsurprising.”

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s $63 billion Diriyah Gate project, told Arabian Gulf Business Insight that homes worth some $4 billion, including all 140 Ritz-Carlton branded residences, have been sold. 

Moustafa El Shenety, Managing Partner and Head of Investment Banking at Egypt’s Zilla Capital, told Zawya that the bank is targeting an expansion into Morocco in the second half of this year.

🎁 Christo’s Desert: An exhibition opening next week in Doha as part of Art Basel Qatar examines how Bulgarian artist Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude pursued ambitious projects in the Middle East that were never completed. Known for wrapping landmarks around the world, including Berlin’s Reichstag and the Pont Neuf in Paris, Christo’s “Wrapped Oil Barrels” is among the works on display that convey the artist’s multifaceted interest in the region, the Financial Times reports.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb.9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

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

Feb.11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb.11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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. 

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

GOLF SALE

LIV Golf is planning to sell stakes in its teams for the first time, as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund attempts to recoup some of its nearly $5 billion investment in the upstart league. LIV has hired Citigroup to run the sale process and is targeting valuations of as much as $300 million, Bloomberg reports. The league’s goal is for each of its 13 franchises to eventually be worth $1 billion. It comes as sparse attendance and lower-than-expected TV ratings nearly four years after LIV’s splashy launch have left the PIF pondering how much more money it is willing to pour into the project. In the latest setback, LIV golfer Patrick Reed, fresh from winning the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, announced on Wednesday that he was returning to the PGA Tour.

MOSCOW MEETING

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is set to begin a state visit to Russia today and meet President Vladimir Putin as he tries to balance ties with Washington and Moscow amid heightened geopolitical strain. The talks are expected to focus on trade, energy and investment, areas where cooperation has continued despite Western sanctions on Moscow. The visit comes as the UAE positions itself as a diplomatic intermediary, having hosted recent contacts involving Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. Emirati officials frame the trip to Moscow as part of a broader effort to safeguard the country’s economic interests, noting that more than 13,500 Russian firms are registered in the UAE.

Public Investment Fund: The Saudi fund is considering the viability of three stadiums being built for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as the kingdom continues its sweeping review of its most ambitious megaprojects, Bloomberg reports. Stadiums at New Murabba, Neom and Quiddiya Coast, near Jeddah, are all under review. Each stadium has a planned capacity of more than 46,000. 

Public Investment Fund: U.S. Democratic lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of the PIF’s $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts, with more than 40 House Democrats urging the FTC to investigate its potential impact on the U.S. video-game industry.

Mubadala: Abu Dhabi National Insurance Co., which is backed by the sovereign wealth fund, has secured UAE regulatory approval to open a branch in India’s Gujarat International Finance Tec-City.

International Holding Co.: NMDC Group, an IHC company through Alpha Dhabi holding, announced the expansion of its 170+ vessel fleet with a new $168 million dredger.

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA and Dutch pension fund APG are reported to be anchor investors in Hongkong Land’s Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund, which will have more than $8 billion in assets under management. 

ADQ: BigBear.ai, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence company, partnered with Maqta Technologies, the digital arm of ADQ-owned AD Ports Group, to co-develop AI-powered customs and border solutions.

Oman Investment Authority: Oman’s state-owned energy group OQ signed $597 million in agreements with Germany’s MAK and India’s Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation to develop manufacturing industries.

Oman Investment Authority: United Solar Holding secured over $900 million in financing, including debt from OIA’s Future Fund Oman, to complete and launch its Oman polysilicon plant.

🚁 Taking Flight: Joby Aviation, the California-based company trialling flying taxis in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is raising $1 billion to fund plans to double its production capacity by 2027.

🪙 Token Driven: Saudi Arabia is launching a tokenisation “center of excellence” in Al Khobar, led by Open World, to support regulated institutional use of blockchain across assets including energy infrastructure, real estate and carbon credits.

📁 Beyond PDFs: Factify, an Israeli startup developing an AI-friendly alternative to PDF documents, raised $63 million in a seed funding round led by Valley Capital Partners.

🌴 Oasis Office: U.S. investment manager State Street is setting up office in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s wealthy inland city, with plans to create more than 300 financial services jobs.

🏦 Power Banking: Goldman Sachs has created a team of senior bankers to deepen its engagement with Middle East clients, paying special attention to the Gulf sovereign wealth funds, Bloomberg reports.

🧲 Talent Magnet: Saudi Arabia is considering broadening its premium residency program, offering visa-free entry and employment rights to attract more wealthy individuals, skilled professionals and luxury visitors, Reuters reports.

✈️ Flying Teams: Emirates airline plans to hire 20,000 additional operational staff, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians and airport personnel, over the next five years.

⛽ Business Alternative: The EU is seeking alternative gas supplies from Canada, Qatar and North Africa to reduce its reliance on its U.S., Bloomberg reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday at the Qasr al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, met with Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, at Zaabel Palace in Dubai on Wednesday.

Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Prime Minister of Kuwait, held a meeting on Wednesday with visiting Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday. He also met the 2025 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Omar Yaghi.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, approved the launch of three new projects under the Dubai 10X Initiative for adopting future-focused government models.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, launched new digital judicial systems on Wednesday.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday to review Syria’s reconstruction efforts and investment prospects.

Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi was appointed by a Presidential Decree as the new Secretary General of the UAE National Media Authority with the rank of a Ministry Under-Secretary.

Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the UAE’s Federal National Council, met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.

📺 Streaming Hit: Saudi Arabian film “From the Ashes: The Pit” hit the Top 10 list in 21 countries within 24 hours of its release on Netflix. The streaming platform’s first Arabic-language sequel follows “From The Ashes,” one of its most popular films from the Middle East and North Africa region. The film, produced by Ideation Studio, is set in a girls’ school, where the main characters – a group of young women with unresolved conflicts – are trapped underground after flooding causes a collapse. “The early reaction from Saudi audiences (has) been extremely rewarding,” Director Abdullah Bamajboor told The National.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb.9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

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

Feb.11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb.11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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. 

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

DOMESTIC CAPITAL

Saudi Arabia is widening its search for capital by engaging some of the kingdom’s wealthiest families to help attract new investment for its budget-busting megaprojects. The Public Investment Fund hosted a dozen prominent family representatives at a Red Sea meeting last month to discuss their interest in teaming up on future ventures, Bloomberg reports. The government outreach focuses on pairing family offices and other domestic sources with global investors to fund a second phase of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 development plan. Cost overruns and declining oil prices have forced multibillion projects such NEOM’s The Line and Trojena to trim their original plans and slow down construction schedules.

OPEN INTELLIGENCE

The UAE has launched an open-source AI model called K2 Think, publishing its data, algorithms and code in full to compete with OpenAI, Nvidia and Alibaba and other leaders in artificial intelligence. The model’s release by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence makes available the building blocks of its design to researchers and developers around the world, the Financial Times reports. Releasing the so-called “sovereign” model reflects research showing that Chinese groups such as DeepSeek and Alibaba have overtaken their U.S. rivals in global markets. “In the western community there hasn’t been an answer to the Chinese open-weight models yet,” Eric Xing, MBZUAI President Eric Xing, told the FT. “Our production is filling that void.”

Mubadala Capital: The Mubadala sovereign wealth fund’s asset management unit raised $554 million for its new Mubadala Capital Co-Investment Fund, surpassing the original target of $400 million, Semafor reports.

Investment Corp. of Dubai: The emirate plans to build a street paved with gold – part of a new gold district being developed by Ithra Dubai, which is owned by the IHC.

Lunate: Abu Dhabi kicked off its first IPO of 2026 with the ADX listing of Boreas S&P Absolute Luxury UCITS ETF, a Lunate-backed fund offering exposure to 32 global luxury brands including LVMH, Hermès and Ferrari.

💵 Lifestyle Buyout: Saudi lifestyle technology firm Glamera Holding acquired Kuwait’s Bookr Group, broadening its regional footprint as it builds a platform combining beauty, wellness and booking services across Gulf markets.

💰Wind Bet: Saudi developer Riyah Al Sahil secured $305 million in project financing for the Yanbu wind farm, advancing one of the kingdom’s larger renewable energy projects.

💲Aid Lifeline: The World Bank approved $350 million in financing to support Lebanon’s most vulnerable households.

🌐 Legal Eagle: Chameio, an Israeli cybersecurity startup that developed an AI platform to manage the activities of in-house legal departments, raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by Work-Bench and Emerge.

🛢️Oil Barrels: Japan’s Mitsui & Co. has agreed to sell all its onshore oil and gas interests in three Omani blocks to UK-based Kistos Energy for $148 million as part of a portfolio reshuffle.

💸 Investors Welcome: Oman is seeking over $2.6 billion in private investment under its National Aviation Strategy 2040 to modernize aviation and boost connectivity.

✈️ Flight Cuts : International flights to the Middle East are being suspended or rerouted amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions, with airlines such as KLM cancelling or limiting services to destinations including the UAE and Israel.

🙅 Closing Shop: UAE-based Al Habtoor Group has shut down all operations in Lebanon and laid off staff. The decision comes after the company said it would take legal action against Lebanon over an investment dispute involving $1.7 billion losses.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, held a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday who said he welcomes any process to avoid war. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met in Kuwait on Tuesday with Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya.

Martin Edelman, a New York real estate lawyer and advisor to Emirati leaders – who sits on the board of Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX – has been appointed to the Executive Committee of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, The New York Times reports. 

Omar Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said the Abu Dhabi-based Stargate data center project will cost more than $30 billion to build, 50% more than projected when it was announced last May.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, sought backing from wealthy donors at a Dubai lunch on Tuesday hosted by Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey.

Mazen Al Salhani, Syria’s Minister of Tourism, told The National that the country needs as much as $100 billion in investment over the next seven years to revive its tourism sector as the country seeks to bring back international visitors and create jobs.

Meshal Abdullah Mohammad Ali was named Chairman of UAE-based multimedia streaming platform Anghami, succeeding Sheikha Adana Nasser Sabah Al-Sabah who stepped down.

🖼️ Diriyah Dazzle: Sotheby’s holds an art auction this weekend in Riyadh’s historic Diriyah section featuring Saudi artists Mohamed Siam and Dia Aziz Dia, alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Anish Kapoor. The sale coincides with the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which invited artists for its third edition to create works inspired by Bedouin encampments and the journeys of nomadic tribes across the Arabian Peninsula.

Jan. 26-30, Dubai. Gulfood. 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.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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.11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue.

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. 

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

DOMESTIC CAPITAL

Saudi Arabia is widening its search for capital by engaging some of the kingdom’s wealthiest families to help attract new investment for its budget-busting megaprojects. The Public Investment Fund hosted a dozen prominent family representatives at a Red Sea meeting last month to discuss their interest in teaming up on future ventures, Bloomberg reports. The government outreach focuses on pairing family offices and other domestic sources with global investors to fund a second phase of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 development plan. Cost overruns and declining oil prices have forced multibillion projects such NEOM’s The Line and Trojena to trim their original plans and slow down construction schedules. 

OPEN INTELLIGENCE

The UAE has launched an open-source AI model called K2 Think, publishing its data, algorithms and code in full to compete with OpenAI, Nvidia and Alibaba and other leaders in artificial intelligence. The model’s release by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence makes available the building blocks of its design to researchers and developers around the world, the Financial Times reports. Releasing the so-called “sovereign” model reflects research showing that Chinese groups such as DeepSeek and Alibaba have overtaken their U.S. rivals in global markets. “In the western community there hasn’t been an answer to the Chinese open-weight models yet,” Eric Xing, MBZUAI President Eric Xing, told the FT. “Our production is filling that void.”

Mubadala Capital: The Mubadala sovereign wealth fund’s asset management unit raised $554 million for its new Mubadala Capital Co-Investment Fund, surpassing the original target of $400 million, Semafor reports.

Investment Corp. of Dubai: The emirate plans to build a street paved with gold – part of a new gold district being developed by Ithra Dubai, which is owned by the IHC.

Lunate: Abu Dhabi kicked off its first IPO of 2026 with the ADX listing of Boreas S&P Absolute Luxury UCITS ETF, a Lunate-backed fund offering exposure to 32 global luxury brands including LVMH, Hermès and Ferrari.

💵Lifestyle Buyout: Saudi lifestyle technology firm Glamera Holding acquired Kuwait’s Bookr Group, broadening its regional footprint as it builds a platform combining beauty, wellness and booking services across Gulf markets.

💰Wind Bet: Saudi developer Riyah Al Sahil secured $305 million in project financing for the Yanbu wind farm, advancing one of the kingdom’s larger renewable energy projects.

💲Aid Lifeline: The World Bank approved $350 million in financing to support Lebanon’s most vulnerable households.

🌐Legal Eagle: Chameio, an Israeli cybersecurity startup that developed an AI platform to manage the activities of in-house legal departments, raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by Work-Bench and Emerge.

🛢️Oil Barrels: Japan’s Mitsui & Co. has agreed to sell all its onshore oil and gas interests in three Omani blocks to UK-based Kistos Energy for $148 million as part of a portfolio reshuffle.

🛬Foreigners Welcome: Oman is seeking over $2.6 billion in private investment under its National Aviation Strategy 2040 to modernize aviation and boost connectivity.

✈️Shorter Trips: International flights to the Middle East are being suspended or rerouted amid rising U.S.–Iran tensions, with airlines such as KLM cancelling or limiting services to destinations including Dubai, the UAE and Israel.

🛒Closing Shop: UAE-based Al Habtoor Group has shut down all operations in Lebanon and laid off staff.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, held a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday who said he welcomes any process to avoid war. 

Prince Mohamed also chaired the Cabinet session held in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met with Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, upon his arrive to Kuwait on Tuesday.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, sought backing from wealthy donors at a Dubai lunch on Tuesday hosted by Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey.

Martin Edelman, a New York real estate lawyer and advisor to Emirati leaders who sits on the board of Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX has been appointed to the Executive Committee of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, The New York Times reports. 

Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications said that the Abu Dhabi-based Stargate UAE data center project will cost more than $30 billion to build, 50% more than projected when it was announced last May.

Mazen Al Salhani, Syria’s Minister of Tourism, told The National that the country needs as much as $100 billion in investment over the next seven years to revive its tourism sector as the country seeks to bring back international visitors and create jobs.

Meshal Abdullah Mohammad Aliwas named Chairman of UAE-based multimedia streaming platform Anghami, succeeding Sheikha Adana Nasser Sabah Al-Sabah who stepped down.

🖼️ Diriyah Dazzle: Sotheby’s holds an art auction this weekend in Riyadh’s historic Diriyah section featuring Saudi artists Mohamed Siam and Dia Aziz Dia, alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Anish Kapoor. The sale coincides with the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which invited artists for its third edition to create works inspired by Bedouin encampments and the journeys of nomadic tribes across the Arabian Peninsula.

Jan. 26-30, Dubai. Gulfood. 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.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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.11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. This half day event will dive into the key issues shaping alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system, whether you’re based in the region or looking to explore its potential. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

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. 

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

HAPPY PLACE

Bob Iger has confirmed the site for Disneyland Abu Dhabi in an Instagram post picturing the Disney CEO wandering along the shoreline of Yas Island. “Walking the site of what will one day be Disneyland Abu Dhabi! Lots of work ahead, but all very exciting,” the caption reads. The photographs, which show the “Yas” welcome sign in the distance, appear to be taken at a location on the western end of Yas North, which is the only large undeveloped waterfront site remaining on the island. Disney’s seventh theme park, which was announced with great fanfare last May, is expected to open by 2032. It will be built and operated by Abu Dhabi developer Miral, under a licensing arrangement with Disney. Iger met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed last week, along with Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, to discuss progress on the project.

NEW HORIZONS

International Holding Co., the sprawling Abu Dhabi conglomerate headed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, the UAE’s National Security Advisor, is focusing its next wave of growth on India while also weighing new investments in Europe. IHC’s CEO Syed Basar Shueb told The National that the company will spend between $16 billion and $36 billion globally over the next 18 months, targeting sectors including energy, industry and real estate. Executives say India is a core priority because of its size and long-term growth prospects, while Europe remains on the table despite political uncertainty and its tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. “We are pretty significantly investing in India,” Shueb said, adding that “Europe is investable” as well.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund sold a minority stake in Arcadia Consumer Healthcare following the U.S. company’s acquisition by Bansk Group. Meanwhile, Mubadala is teaming up with Brentwood Associates to invest in Los Angeles-based L-Nutra, which develops longevity and nutrition therapies.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining company Maaden raised $1 billion through an Islamic bond issuance as part of its global growth strategy, with its shares hitting a record high on the Saudi stock exchange.

International Holding Co.: Mariam Almheiri, Vice Chair and Managing Director of IHC-owned 2PointZero, was appointed to the board of Global Citizen, an international advocacy organization and movement that aims to end extreme poverty. 

Qatar Investment Authority: Elon Musk’s X, owned by xAI, is being investigated by the European Union over concerns about its chatbot, Grok AI, generating sexual deepfakes. The QIA, along with Abu Dhabi-based tech investor MGX and Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company have all participated in funding rounds for the startup. 

G42: The Stargate UAE data centre project being developed by G42-backed Khazna Data Centers will cost more than $30 billion to build, Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said at the Machines Can Think summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

🏗️ City Builder: Sobha Realty launched its largest-ever project, a $13.6 billion mixed-use development in Dubai featuring 20,000 homes.

🏙️ New Capital: Dubai-based Ayedh Dejem Group signed a $238 million deal with Indonesia’s Nusantara Capital Authority to develop a mixed-use project in the country’s new capital, with construction set to begin in 2027.

💰 Waste to Riches: Kuwait awarded a $3.3 billion contract to a Chinese-led group to construct a major sewage treatment plant, one of its largest infrastructure projects, as the government pushes ahead with long-delayed upgrades to public utilities and services.

🕋 Holy Property: Shares of Saudi real estate developers surged the most in four months after the kingdom began implementing laws allowing foreigners to own a wider range of local property, including in Mecca and Madinah.

💵 Costing Money: Traffic congestion costs residents of Dubai and Riyadh about a full working week each year, with average delays of 35 and 34 hours respectively, according to a new report.

🌴 Palm Inspired: Inspired by Dubai and driven by the grandiose ambitions of a disgraced Chinese developer, Ocean Flower Island – a $12 billion, largely unfinished cluster of artificial islets – stands as a monument to the excesses of China’s real-estate crisis, The New York Times reports. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohamed also met with the heads of delegations participating in the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks hosted by the UAE, which took place on Friday and Saturday. Among the delegates were U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Igor Kostyukov, Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces; Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Staff to the Ukrainian President; and Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Sheikh Mohamed is expected to meet with Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, who begins a state visit to the UAE on Tuesday. 

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor, met with Robert Smith, Founder,  Chairman and CEO of U.S. software investment firm Vista Equity Partners, in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, presented the Dallah Trophy to U.S golfer Patrick Reed, who claimed the fourth DP World Tour title of his career on Sunday.

Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed, Qatar Central Bank Governor and Qatar Investment Authority Chairman, met with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, in Doha on Sunday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in Warsaw to meet with Radoslaw Sikorski, the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Foreign Affairs, today.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC’s Managing Director and Group CEO, is ranked first on a list of Top 40 global leaders in the chemicals sector compiled by the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services Group.

Hamad Al-Hajri, founder of Qatar-based food delivery app Snoonu, has stepped into the role of CEO at Saudi Arabian parent company Jahez International, which acquired Snoonu last year.

Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said that culture has become a key pillar of France-Saudi relations, serving as a new engine for economic cooperation tied to tourism and entertainment.

🎤 No Laughing Matter: Authorities in Lebanon are cracking down on stand-up comedy. One comic, Mario Moubarak, was detained by police at Beirut’s airport on charges of blasphemy because a Catholic group complained that he had told a joke in a video clip about Jesus, the Financial Times reports. Another, Nour Hajjar, was interrogated for 11 hours after he joked about Lebanese soldiers who took second jobs as food delivery drivers because the country’s economic crisis devalued their salaries.

Jan. 26-27, Riyadh. Super Return. A major private equity & venture capital conference held in 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.

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.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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. 

HIGH TECH HUB

Dubai will seek to attract 6,500 new tech companies and 75,000 specialized workers with a $3.5 billion expansion of its Silicon Oasis free zone. Two new projects form the backbone of the expansion. The first, District I0, will be a hub for research, development and innovation, housing small-to-medium enterprises and startups working in industries including robotics, smart mobility, AI and quantum computing. The second element, Block 14, will be a residential and commercial district close to the Dubai Metro Blue Line. Launching the initiative, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the project would contribute to an “advanced, technology-driven business environment for emerging economic sectors.”

UPWARD BOUND

Climbing again on the Red Sea coast after years of delays, the Jeddah Tower is now expected to be completed in 2028, reviving Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to build the world’s tallest skyscraper. The structure is already past the 80th floor and growing one floor every five days, Kingdom Holding CEO Talal Almaiman told Al Arabia TV at the World Economic Forum in Davos. That’s about halfway to the goal of building a kilometer-tall (3,281-feet) building, which will eclipse the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai. The tower is designed to include luxury residences, offices, a hotel and the highest observation deck in any skyscraper. 

Mubadala: Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, was appointed Chair of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, the WEF announced in Davos.

Mubadala: Abu Dhabi AI startup AppliedAI secured new investment from Mubadala and Arbor Ventures to accelerate global expansion of its enterprise platform Opus.

Saudi Aramco: Aramco Ventures, an investment arm of the world’s biggest oil company, is joining with Bill Gates’ VC and Microsoft’s M12 fund to raise $110 million for Austin, Tex.-based Neurophos, a startup developing optical technology to run AI models, Bloomberg reports.

ADQ: Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, backed by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund through AD Ports, launched Metal Park, creating in the UAE capital what it called “the world’s first pay-as-you-grow metals ecosystem.” 

⚡ Power Deals: Oman signed energy generating deals worth about $2.6 billion on Thursday with Qatar’s Nebras Power and South Korea’s Korea Western Power.

🍗 Chicken Dinner: JBS, the Brazilian company that ranks as the world’s biggest meatpacker, said it plans to double production this year at its Saudi chicken processing plant in Jeddah.

🔋 Battery Support: Titan Lithium, the UAE’s flagship lithium refinery, signed a $300 million agreement with Mercedes-Benz to provide battery-grade lithium for its electric vehicles.

🌴 New Gaza: Jared Kushner unveiled a $30 billion vision for rebuilding Gaza, presenting plans at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday that focused on real estate, infrastructure and private capital.

🇨🇳 Gulf Support: The Gulf is becoming central to China’s financial strategy, as Chinese bank lending to the region surged nearly threefold to a record $15.7 billion in 2025, far outpacing financing from U.S., U.K. and eurozone banks, Bloomberg reports. 

🛢️ Oil Strategy: Indian refiners are turning from Russia to the Middle East as higher output quotas from OPEC are keeping global markets well-supplied, softening the impact on prices, Reuters reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed paid a visit to the Unmanned Systems Exhibition  at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on Thursday. Later, Sheikh Mohamed met with both Vice Presidents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met with Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experience, on Thursday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, held separate meetings in Davos with Yvette Cooper, the U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot. 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, attended the graduation ceremony on Thursday of new officer cadets at the Dubai Police Academy.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, witnessed the signing of an agreement between the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance public-private partnerships.

Hussain Sajwani, founder of Dubai-based Damac Properties, spoke to Sky News Arabia about his business expansion into data centers.

Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi, former CEO of LIV Golf and the President of the Saudi Arabian Golf Federation, will join the Board of Directors of California-based Argentum AI. 

Ashish Jain was appointed as CFO of Network International, a Dubai-based fintech company. 

Michael Syn, President of the Singapore Exchange Group, told The National that the Gulf is an increasingly important growth market for SGX, as it expands its commodities, foreign exchange and shipping business in the region.

Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili has been appointed by royal decree as Secretary-General of the UAE’s humanitarian organization Erth Zayed Philanthropies.

🌴 Desert Art: Against the vibrant backdrop of desert canyons and lush palm groves, the fifth AlUla Arts festival is transforming the ancient oasis into a canvas for creative exploration. Running until Feb. 14, the festival is now in its fifth year and has grown into a major draw for Saudi Arabia, attracting 70,000 visitors last year, with that number expected to grow. A highlight is Desert X AlUla, which showcases 11 installations, including Héctor Zamora’s “Tar HyPar,” which transforms the valley into a musical instrument.  “We believe that AlUla, as a destination, was built by artists for artists,” Hamad Alhomiedan, director of arts and creative industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, told Arab News.

Jan. 26-27, Riyadh. Super Return. A major private equity & venture capital conference held in 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.

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.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

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. 

Q-FORCE ONE

President Trump is on track to receive a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar by this summer that will serve as his new Air Force One, after years of delays to the officially contracted replacement aircraft. The Qatari aircraft is being refurbished and retrofitted for presidential use, potentially at significant cost beyond its estimated $400 million value, according to an Air Force statement issued on Wednesday. Trump has described the acquisition as a practical interim solution while the new Air Force One planes remain years behind schedule, even as critics raise concerns about the legalities of accepting such a gift. The statement was released a day after the current Air Force One carrying Trump to Switzerland for the Davos conference had to return to Washington because of an electrical issue, forcing the White House to use a second plane.

CHAT BILLIONS

OpenAI has been courting Middle Eastern investors, including Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, as it prepares to raise as much as $50 billion in its latest funding round. CEO Sam Altman recently visited the region to meet with top investors, Bloomberg reports. The ChatGTP maker, which has previously received backing from Abu Dhabi tech investor MGX and is partnering with G42 to build the huge Starlink data center in the emirate, is seeking funds at a valuation of about $750 billion to $830 billion. It comes as competitor Anthropic, which is backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, is also in talks to raise more funds.

L’Imad Holding: Abu Dhabi folded the owner of McLaren Automotive and its stake in Chinese electric-vehicle maker Nio into the new state-owned fund, Bloomberg reports.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s National Infrastructure Fund and AI company Humain agreed on a $1.2 billion financing framework to develop up to 250 MW of AI data center capacity.

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, which is owned by the PIF, announced that it has launched cargo operations.

Masdar: The UAE-owned sustainable energy company is teaming up with Emirates Utilities Development Co. and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy to develop a massive clean-energy project in the Central Asian nation.

💻 AI Deal: UAE conglomerate Damac Properties secured land and power for about 1GW of U.S. data centre capacity, worth about $12 billion, putting it more than halfway to its U.S. investment target, chairman Hussain Sajwani said at Davos.

💶 Debt Payment: Egypt has paid nearly $5 billion owed to foreign oil and gas companies and aims to cut the remaining debt to $1.2 billion by June 2026, prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said.

🏠 Plot Twist: Developer Object 1 completed a major land acquisition of four waterfront plots on Al Reem Island worth $1.2 billion, advancing its expansion and long-term growth plans in Abu Dhabi.

🛢️ Oil Spending: ​​GCC national oil companies are set to outspend international oil firms over the next two years as they ramp up investment, refocusing on renewables, downstream capacity and diversification, according to S&P Global.

🌧️ Rainy Days: Three scientists have each won grants of up to $1.5 million under the UAE’s cloud seeding program.

🌐 Laser Shift: Israel said its laser-based air defense system will become mobile this year, allowing it to be deployed on vehicles and aircraft as part of efforts to counter rockets and drones more flexibly.

🎓 Educational Expansion: Saudi education provider Almasar Alshamil plans to nearly double its special educational needs centres over the next three years and expand its higher education business following its recent IPO.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, visited the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Britain’s Prince William is set to arrive inSaudi Arabia on Feb. 9 for a three-day visit celebrating a century of diplomatic relations.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, met with Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Davos.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Davos.

Stella Li, BYD Americas CEO, described the Middle East as a “homeland for innovation” during an interview with Arab News in Davos.

Mohit Gaba was appointed Director, Investment Advisory in Dubai at Klay Group, a boutique financial services firm targeted at ultra-high-net-worth families and institutions.

Yousif Al Hammadi was appointed interim CEO of Tabreed, following former CEO Khalid Al Marzooqi’s retirement in November.

🎤 Whenever, Wherever: Shakira will bring her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour to the UAE, headlining Abu Dhabi’s second Offlimits music festival at Etihad Park on Yas Island on April 4. Having last performed at the same venue in 2011, the Colombian singer’s return to the Emirates has been a long-time coming. One of the most successful Latin artists of her generation, Shakira also has Middle Eastern roots – her father is of Lebanese descent.

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

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.