GRACE PERIOD

The UAE has activated emergency bankruptcy protections for businesses whose financial distress can be directly linked to the Iran war, temporarily shielding them from creditor-led insolvency proceedings and giving them more time to restructure. The measures apply to companies seeking court protection after Feb. 28, when hostilities escalated, and allow them to negotiate with lenders and suppliers without having to file for bankruptcy due to temporary payment difficulties. Courts can also allow existing management to remain in control, permit companies to continue paying staff and approve new funding while restructuring talks are underway. The rules are designed to prevent otherwise viable businesses from failing due to short-term cash-flow problems and to encourage creditors and debtors to reach restructuring agreements.

AI FACTORIES

Saudi Arabia’s data centers are evolving into “AI factories” as companies accelerate adoption of generative and agentic AI, a senior Nvidia executive says. “We’re witnessing one of the most significant infrastructure transformations since the advent of cloud computing. For decades, data centers were built to process, store and distribute information. Today, they are evolving into AI factories — purpose-built infrastructure that generates intelligence at scale,” Marc Domenech, Nvidia’s Vice President of Enterprise for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa and Southern Europe, told Arab News. The Kingdom has invested more than $4.26 billion in data centers since 2016, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 

Public Investment Fund: PIF-backed Saudi mining company Maaden said its project pipeline remains strong, with phase one of its Phosphate 3 development to start operations by the end of this year and first gold at its newest gold mine, Ar Rjum, forecast for the end of 2028, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. Maaden reported a 16% year-on-year growth in quarterly revenue, driven by higher commodity prices, with aluminium delivering its best-ever financial performance.

PIF: Paramount Skydance has agreed to sign contracts with major theater chains guaranteeing that it will release 30 movies a year in cinemas as part of its efforts to secure its $110 billion Gulf-backed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Bloomberg reports. The PIF, the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi’s L’Imad Holding are all backing the deal.

HUMAIN: Saudi AI startup MOZN received a strategic investment from PIF-backed HUMAIN, coupled with a partnership to build sovereign AI solutions for financial institutions and public-sector organizations.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: ADIA has committed $5.7 million as an anchor investor in Indian auto-parts maker Dhoot Transmission’s $322 million IPO, which opens today.

Madayn: Oman’s Sohar Industrial City, operated by government-owned Madayn, secured more than $557 million in investments in the first half of 2026 via 39 agreements.

🛡️ Financial Security: The World Bank approved a $100 million grant to help Syria modernize its financial sector, improve payment security and efficiency, strengthen financial integrity and expand access to financial services.

🤖 AI Bid: Israeli AI startup Decart is in advanced talks to be acquired by a major international technology company for as much as $7 billion, with SpaceX, Amazon and Nebius believed to be among those interested.

☀️ Solar Capacity: Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Harfi Co. and the Syrian Electricity Company have signed three power purchase agreements to develop solar projects near Damascus with a combined capacity of 760MW and 1,077MWh of battery storage.

💊 Healthy Finances: Dubai-based longevity health-tech company Longevium raised $7 million in its first funding round to develop an AI-powered longevity research laboratory at Dubai Science Park.

🌱 Startup Recovery: MENA startups raised $172.6 million across 45 deals in July, up 16% from the previous month, led by Saudi Arabia with $106.6 million, followed by the UAE with $46.6 million.

🔥 Fire Down: Saudi Arabia extinguished a fire at its Jazan oil refinery, hours before Yemen’s Houthi militants claimed responsibility for an attack on the facility.

📦 Shipping Reshape: Jebel Ali’s role as the Gulf’s largest container port faces uncertainty as shipping lines are forced to reroute because of threats in the Strait of Hormuz, Maritime analysts say.

✈️ Near Miss: An air safety investigation is underway in Australia after a Jetstar A320 and Qatar Airways 777 came within meters of colliding on the tarmac at Sydney Airport, the second near miss there in two weeks.

🏦 Evading Sanctions: Iran-linked crypto exchange Shelbit processed more than $6.3 billion in transactions between May 2024 and March 2026, before being sanctioned by the U.S., according to blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs.

🏛️ Charm Offensive: The way the UAE has won over Washington over the past two decades is seen as the ultimate case study in how to run a government public relations campaign in D.C., the Financial Times reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Doha on Sunday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, received a phone call from Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, his Kuwaiti counterpart, on Sunday.

Hussain Sajwani, Founder of Dubai-based Damac Properties, met with Michael Dell, Chairman & CEO of Dell Technologies, last week.

Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad, UAE Minister of Justice, held a phone call with Jim O’Callaghan, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, to discuss the extradition of the alleged organized crime boss Daniel Kinahan to Ireland on Sunday. 

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, attended the inauguration ceremony of Abelardo de la Espriella, President of Colombia.

Frank McCourt, the American billionaire and former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is committing $300 million to a new horse showjumping league that promises to transform the sport, which is heavily linked to Gulf royalty, into a franchised global league. 

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, flew to Florida to visit Jared Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, not long after his standoff with the Trump administration over Anthropic refusing a Defense Department requirement to permit “all lawful uses” of the company’s AI, The Information reports.

🎷 Jazzing it Up: Saudi musicians will be given opportunities to train and work alongside international artists through a partnership between Jazz in Jeddah and the Saudi Music Commission, Arab News reports. Jazz in Jeddah is a platform and festival organized by cultural initiative Call of Culture. It stages events in historic Jeddah, blending jazz with Saudi musical heritage.

📷 Photo of the Day

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

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

August 30-Sept. 2, Riyadh. Big 5 Construct. The event connects construction industry stakeholders with suppliers in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

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

Sept. 1-3, Dubai. Middle East Energy.  A three-day energy exhibition in Dubai brings together utilities, developers, manufacturers and industry professionals. Dubai World Trade Centre.  

Sept. 1-3, Doha. Qatar Event Show. Brings together the events industry through a three-day program featuring exhibitions, conferences, workshops and networking opportunities. Doha Exhibition & Convention Center.

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

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

Sept. 14-18, Dubai. Arabian Travel Market. The flagship global travel trade show, which was postponed in May, returns, bringing 55,000+ travel professionals, 2,800+ exhibitors and representatives from 166 countries. Dubai World Trade Centre.

Sept. 15-17, Dubai. Arab Media Forum. The region’s largest media gathering, organized by the Dubai Press Club. Dubai World Trade Centre.

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

Sept. 20, New York. Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg: UNGA Special Edition 2026. The forum will host a special leadership gathering alongside the 2026 UNGA in New York, bringing together global leaders to explore capital, risk and resilience in a volatile global economy.

Sept. 28-Oct. 1, Singapore. SuperReturn Asia. The region’s premier private capital gathering. Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Abu Dhabi. LIVEX 2026. Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Livability and Investment Exhibition. ADNEC Centre.

Oct. 7-9, Singapore. Milken Institute Asia Summit. Bringing together a global community of influential leaders shaping the next era of intelligence, collaboration and growth. Four Seasons Hotel.

Oct. 21-24, Riyadh. Six Kings Slam. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will defend his Six Kings Slam title when the exhibition tournament returns, to be streamed globally on Netflix. ANB Arena.

Oct. 26-29, Riyadh. Future Investment Initiative Tenth Edition 2026. Saudi Arabia’s keystone annual business conference, sponsored by the Public Investment Fund. King Abdulaziz International Convention Center. 

OFFICE DAYS

Fueled in part by optimism about the increase in asset classes in the Gulf, global real estate investment is expected to reach $952 billion in 2025 and surpass $1 trillion by 2026, according to Savills. The London-listed real estate giant said the prime office market is driving growth in MENA, with Dubai and Riyadh seeing increased leasing and rental activity. The UAE’s status as a global trade and tourism hub and Saudi Arabia’s push to make companies move regional headquarters to the kingdom have boosted demand for Grade-A offices and luxury residential developments. Researchers at Savills are especially optimistic about prime office markets globally, with strong rental growth expected in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India, the UK, and Spain.

DATA-DRIVEN

KKR plans to invest in Gulf Data Hub, one of the largest independent data center platforms in the Middle East, amid skyrocketing global data consumption driven by AI and cryptocurrencies. The announcement will make the global investment firm a major player in the regional data storage market, as GDH owns a portfolio of seven state-of-the-art data centers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and additional facilities planned in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, Bloomberg reports. Prior investments by KKR in the region include a strategic partnership with ADNOC to create ADNOC Oil Pipelines and the acquisition of a commercial aircraft portfolio from Etihad Airways through Altitude Aircraft Leasing in 2020.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed Ma’aden mining company is considering an international bond sale this year to help fund an investment program worth more than $12 billion over the next five years, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, PIF-owned Riyadh Air will receive fewer aircraft from Boeing this year than originally planned, a setback to its ambitious launch preparations.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund responded to accusations by a founder of Getir that it staged an “illegal coup” on the Turkish delivery company. Mubadala issued a statement that said the company’s founders were unable to fulfill the terms of a June 2024 restructuring plan so “Mubadala, in collaboration with the independent board members, has agreed on an alternative transaction structure.” 

G42: The Abu Dhabi-owned tech company will be an official AI partner for the UAE cycling team Emirates XRG, providing advanced analytics and real-time data to enhance riders’ performance during the 2025 UCI World Tour cycling season.

🟢 Green Deals: Masdar signed for the first time a set of agreements with the Philippines to develop renewable energy projects totallying 1 gigawatt by 2030.

🖥️ African Tech: Sequence Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Egypt, plans to launch a $50 million fund next year to invest in tech startups in Africa, Sequence CEO Seifallah Zoghbi, told Asharq Business.

🪄 Magic Making: Kuwait Real Estate Company and IFA Hotels and Resorts launched the $952.9 million “Al Tay Hills” project in Sharjah, which will feature 1,100 villas and townhouses with private pools.

🛢️ Oil Delivery: Indian Oil Corp. purchased 7 million barrels of spot Middle Eastern and African crude via tenders, including Abu Dhabi’s Murban, as U.S. sanctions on Russia disrupt supply and tighten ship availability.

🌐 Data Storage: Chinese computer maker Lenovo acquired Israeli data storage startup Infinidat for an undisclosed price estimated at several hundred million dollars and plans to establish a development center in Israel, Globes reports.

💲 Sell Stake: Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest listed real estate firm, is in talks with several parties, including Adani Group, to sell a stake in its Indian business, Reuters reports.

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏿 Young Talent: Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, announced the launch of the Young Mining Professionals Association, a partnership with mining giant, Ma’aden.

🇯🇴 Ground Cargo: Menzies Aviation, a ground handling services company, inaugurated a new air cargo center at Queen Alia International Airport, in collaboration with Jordan’s Ministry of Investment.

📈 Stable Region: Moody’s forecasts that oil production and large investments will boost MENA’s economic growth by 0.8 percentage points to 2.9% in 2025, while maintaining a stable outlook for regional sovereign credit.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a meeting on Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who came to Abu Dhabi to discuss how to restore regional stability amid expectations that a ceasefire in the Gaza war will be signed next week.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met with Prof. Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University, to discuss how to foster collaboration in academic fields. 

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attended a dinner reception held at Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah which was hosted by the Korean Business Council and attended by delegations from multinational companies based in Korea.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani has been appointed as the CEO of Qatar Media Corp. in addition to his current role as Director of Media Development Department.

Waleed Al Awadhi was appointed CEO of the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority, replacing Dr. Maryam Al Suwaidi, the first woman to hold the position, who stepped down.

Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, told The National that the carrier is closely monitoring the geopolitical developments in Syria to weigh on the potential demand for flights. Eidhagen told AGBI that the carrier also plans to increase flights from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv. 

Mohammad Abdelqader el Ramahi, Chief Green Hydrogen Officer at Masdar, said that Oman is well positioned to be a hydrogen hub and stressed the need for increased joint investments in green hydrogen to strengthen Oman’s role as a regional clean energy hub.

Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Mining Development at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, said that the country plans to invest $32 million in 2025 in mining incentives aimed at supporting companies with the right technical expertise.

Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of UAE’s Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said that the university is keen to strengthen collaboration with leading companies and industries in the region to develop research and innovations that address climate change challenges, and diversify energy sources.

Dr. Farah Al Zarooni, Assistant Under-Secretary for Standards and Regulations at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, announced a new project to recycle used tires into raw materials.

Jan. 16-19, Dubai. Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Golf Tournament brings in world class athletes. Emirates Golf Club.  

Jan. 20-24, Davos, Switzerland. World Economic Forum. The annual WEF meeting brings world leaders and business executives together to discuss the world’s greatest policy challenges. Davos-Klosters.  

Jan. 27-30, Dubai. Arab Health. Premier healthcare event where attendees network with global leaders, discuss ground-breaking innovations and seek to shape the future of healthcare. Dubai World Trade Center. 

Jan. 27-28, Riyadh. Private markets in Saudi Arabia and GCC.  Exploring fundraising strategies, value creation and opportunities across private equity, credit and venture capital within Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The Fairmont Hotel.

Jan. 27-30, Miami, Fla. iConnection Miami Alts. Networking event for fund managers and finance industry professions. Miami Beach Convention Center.

Jan. 30, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit. The one-day conference is sponsored by the Middle East Venture Capital Association. ADGM.

Feb. 1-8, Abu Dhabi: Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Top women tennis stars compete in WTA 500 tournament. International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City.

Feb. 3-6, Dubai. Medlab Middle East 2025. The show attracts exhibitors whether global  giants or emerging startups to discuss digital health solutions. Dubai World Trade Centre.

Feb. 4-5, Doha. Seatrade Maritime Qatar Conference and Exhibition. Conference brings industry experts, decision-makers, shipping companies and leaders in technology, energy, finance and investment. Sheraton Grand Doha Resort.

Feb. 9-12, Riyadh. Leap 2025. Riyadh’s tech event that brings in tech innovators and leading experts from around the world to discover new ideas, build new partnerships, and connect with inspiring mentors and investors. Riyadh Front Expo Centre.

Feb. 11-13, Dubai. World Government Summit 2025. Annual event brings in world leaders and business leaders from the region and outside to discuss the most pressing matters. Madinat Jumeirah.

Feb. 14-16, Munich Security Forum. Known as one of the world’s leading forums for debating international security policy. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

Feb. 17-21, Abu Dhabi: IDEX 2025. Military contractors from around the world show their wares at one of the most prominent international defense exhibitions. ADNEC Center.

Feb. 17-21, Dubai. Gulf Food. In its 30th edition, the exhibition brings in many more companies to show their work on food and the industry’s use of technology. Dubai World Trade Center. 

Feb. 18-19, Abu Dhabi. The Future of Asset Management Middle East. A two-day conference that gathers leading executives from top asset management companies in the Middle East region. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Canal.

 Feb. 22-23, Miami, Fla. FII Priority. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative connects U.S. and Middle Eastern investors. Faena Hotel & Forum, Miami Beach.

Feb. 25, Dubai. Family Office Summit 2025. Global fund leaders managing $1 trillion in assets will meet under the theme, “Taking Money Out of Cash.” Ritz Carlton Jumeirah Beach

Dubai Future Foundation CEO Khalfan Belhoul told The Circuit the government-backed entity’s Future Fund has $300 million to invest, with check sizes around $2-5 million, as well as a fund of funds to spur venture capital investing in the private sector. “When the private sector sees that a government fund is anchoring them, it raises comfort for them to invest in this new high-risk, high-return asset class. The region is emerging when it comes to VC,” he said.  

Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, told a session in Davos of the Youth Majis at the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, known as MISK, that the climate finance industry must recognize the need for investors to see a profit. “The biggest issue of the climate is that only one-sixth of the money that needs to be going to climate financing is going to climate financing” he said. “You have to understand who has the money. You have to be practical…Profit is a great motivator. If you inject those practicalities into it, I think you’re going to make a lot of progress.”

Noor Sweid, co-founder and partner at venture capital fund Global Ventures, asked former Ferrari CEO Jean Todt what he believed the future holds for Formula-E, the all-electric racing series he created, and he emphasized the need to get more people to switch to EVs. “There’s a lot to be done. We need to educate people more. Very few cars are electric.”

Lipstick Stock: Saudi online cosmetics retailer Nice One is planning an IPO and has invited a range of international banks to manage the share sale.

Shutting Down: The Kuwaiti Alshaya Group, which manages brands such as American Eagle, H&M, Mothercare and Victoria’s Secret in Egypt, has decided to close some stores in response to the country’s precarious economic condition.

 Self-Drivers: Mobileye, the Jerusalem-based company that makes equipment for self-driving cars, said it won a contract with an unnamed “major Western automaker.”

Sukuk Spread: Qatar International Islamic Bank has set a spread of 120 basis points over U.S. Treasuries for its $500 million senior sustainable Islamic Sukuk bonds maturing in January 2029.

Cyber Lock: Vicarius, an Israeli startup that helps customers defend against cyber attacks, raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by Bright Pixel Capital.

Big Data: Cardumen Capital, an Israeli-European venture capital firm, raised $120 million for an early-stage tech fund that will invest in AI, cybersecurity and big data.

Kuwait’s new Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, has cleaned house and named a new roster of top cabinet members. Emad Al-Ateeqi was appointed Oil Minister, Anwar Al-Mudhaf is the new Finance Minister and Abdullah Al-Yahya will take up the post of Foreign Minister.

Adventure Park: The Saudi Public Investment Fund unveiled its new water sports and adventure tourism resort called “The Rig” inspired by the design of offshore oil platforms.

Extreme Sports: The Mubadala Arena hosts the second Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship on Friday featuring a jiu-jitsu No Gi match i between UFC’s Aljamain Sterling and Chase Hooper.

Jan. 19, Davos, Switzerland: World Economic Forum. Final day of the World Economic Forum conference at the Davos Congress Centre. 

Jan. 22-24, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Real Estate Future Forum. A gathering of government officials, developers and investors exploring development opportunities in the kingdom. Four Seasons Hotel. 

Jan. 22-25, Abu Dhabi, UAE: UMEX. The only conference in the Middle East dedicated to drones, robotics and autonomous systems. Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center. 

Jan. 23, Dubai, UAE: Oracle CloudWorld Tour. A conference featuring Oracle database and cloud products. Dubai World Trade Centre.  

Jan. 24, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Kuwait Innovation Forum. Startup investors, policymakers meet for an annual conference. Arraya Ballroom.

Jan. 25, Dubai, UAE: Casino Countdown. First Middle East conference to focus solely on the gaming industry, sponsored by Arabian Business. Atlantis The Royal Hotel.

Jan. 25-27, Manama, Bahrain: Health/Wellness Expo 2024. Annual gathering of medical professionals and alternative treatment specialists. Exhibition World Bahrain.

Jan. 29-Feb. 1, Dubai, UAE: Arab Health. The biggest trade show in the region for medical devices and healthcare. Dubai World Trade Centre.

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

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

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