TOURISM TOLL

The Gulf’s travel and tourism industry is expected to lose 137,000 jobs this year because of the Iran conflict. Employment across the six GCC countries is forecast to fall 4.3% from 3.2 million in 2025, with Saudi Arabia losing 69,000 jobs and the UAE 46,000, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Hotel occupancy across the Middle East fell 19% through July, while revenue per available room dropped 21%. The WTTC expects Middle East travel and tourism activity to contract 14.5% this year, making it the only region in the world forecast to decline.

TAXING TUNES

The UAE will start charging businesses an annual royalty fee to play copyrighted music on their premises, pulling the country into line with international practices. The permit will cover entities including shopping malls, fitness centers, cafes and restaurants, but non-commercial settings like schools and charity events will be exempt. The fees, which will be scaled to business size and type of music used, will be managed by Emirates Music Rights Association and Music Nation, a collective management organization founded and chaired by Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak. The fees will apply from Dec. 1, with 10% of the funds collected going towards the newly established Cultural Support Fund for Music. 

Mubadala: Emirates Global Aluminium, which is owned by Mubadala and the Investment Corp. of Dubai, plans to spend $400 million to restore its main smelter to pre-war production levels in the first quarter of next year, although shipments will depend on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has boosted its stake in Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties from 27.01% to 28.03% of the company’s issued share capital.

Qatar Investment Authority: Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel engineered a $6 billion deal to buy U.K.-based ATG Entertainment through his investment firm Mari, backed by the QIA, Apollo Global Management and RedBird Capital.

Qatar National Bank: The QIA-backed lender is seeking a $2 billion syndicated loan to refinance existing debt.

Oman Investment Authority: A French-Omani consortium, including OIA’s OQ energy firm and Paris-based EDF Power Solutions, secured financing for a $130 million wind project in northeastern Oman.

💰 Crypto Capital: Cryptocurrency platform Bitget has launched a $300 million institutional capital program to help build trading institutions across the Middle East and North Africa.

🏦 Raising Cash: Saudi Arabia’s National Building & Marketing Co. renewed a $36 million credit facility with Alinma Bank.

🏠 Prewar Property: Abu Dhabi’s property market has already outperformed all of last year, according to government data, with residential sales values reaching $23.5 billion by mid-August. However, much of the growth came in the first quarter, before the Iran war began on February 28. 

🏘️ Ratings Review: Moody’s Ratings has placed Dubai-based luxury developer Binghatti Holding’s ratings on review for a potential downgrade based on the company’s deteriorating liquidity profile and uncertainty about its ability to generate cash flows amid war-driven uncertainty, The National reports.

⚖️ Ousting Outlaws: Kuwait has warned foreign residents they face deportation if convicted of operating or facilitating unlicensed businesses, under a new law imposing up to five years in prison and fines of as much as $330,000.

🛢️ Back in Business: Saudi offshore drilling contractor ADES Holding has received resumption notices for all temporarily suspended offshore rigs in the kingdom, as operations recover amid regional conflict.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met businessman Yusuff Ali, Chairman of LuLu Group International, and a number of employees during a visit to a shopping center in Abu Dhabi.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held a phone call with Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, on Tuesday.

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, received Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, on Tuesday in El Alamein, Egypt.

Dr. Samir bin Abdulaziz Altubayyeb, Adviser to the Saudi Ministry of Defense and CEO of the Ministry of Defense Transformation Program, led a Saudi delegation to the U.K. Defense Academy and the U.S. National Defense University.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star who plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr, married his long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez in a civil and ⁠private ceremony ​in ⁠Cascais, ‌Portugal.

Jonathan Seal, CEO of the Sharjah-based Arada’s U.K. arm, met with government officials at Downing Street and proposed a plan to accelerate homebuilding that includes eased lending procedures for first-time buyers, stamp duty reforms, and simplified planning rules.

Turki Al-Sheikh, the Saudi Arabian boxing power broker, backed out of a deal to buy English Championship football club Derby County.

🤼 Comic Return: WWE star and actor John Cena will attend the Middle East Film and Comic Con in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled for Sept. 11-13 after being postponed in April. Cena joins a lineup of celebrities including Japanese actor Mackenyu, who plays Roronoa Zoro in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of manga hit “One Piece,” The National reports. A multiple-time world champion, Cena is one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling.

📷 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. 

OIL SPILL

Oman is dealing with an oil slick covering about 390 square kilometres after the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which was carrying about 1 million barrels of Russian Urals crude, ran aground off the Hallaniyat Islands. The vessel appears to have been stranded for about seven weeks and had previously been sanctioned by the U.K. and EU, Bloomberg reports. The slick is spreading north and northeast, with the nearest point about 7km from the shoreline, threatening coral reefs, fish, turtles, dolphins and whales in the area. Authorities are using aerial surveillance, satellite imagery and subsea inspections to contain the spill, secure the vessel and transfer its remaining cargo.

POSH SCHOOLS

Dubai’s private-school market is expanding its “super-premium” tier as wealthy families seek traditional British education, with new schools continuing to open despite regional tensions. Taaleem’s Harrow Dubai will open on Aug. 31 with fees of $21,800 to $34,853. “Five years ago, there was a huge surge in mid-market schools. Super-premium is not something that’s been particularly developed, and in the last three years, it’s certainly been a focus for education providers,” Simon O’Connor, Headmaster of Harrow Dubai, told Arabian Gulf Business Insight. The school will initially enroll more than 375 pupils representing over 50 nationalities and replicate the independent school model of its U.K. namesake. Queen Elizabeth’s School Dubai Sports City will also open Aug. 31, charging up to $37,196 for Years 7 and 8 and offering facilities including a 400-meter athletics track and a football programme with the Real Madrid Foundation.

Saudi Aramco: The state-owned oil giant has delayed the restart of its 400,000-barrel-a-day Jazan refinery to Aug. 30 after a weekend attack caused a fire at the facility.

G42: Space42, a G42 company, signed a $7 million deal with South Korea’s Autonomous A2Z to deploy Level-4 autonomous vehicles in the UAE.

Public Investment Fund: PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan was seen alongside U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the final round of LIV Golf’s event at the Trump National Bedminster on Sunday. It comes as the struggling league said last week that it had secured a lead investor, reported to be British investment firm BC Partners, after the PIF said in April that it would pull funding.

🛎️ Luxury Fund: Sports Boulevard Real Estate Development and Investment Co. has partnered with Rikaz Properties to launch a $186 million fund to develop a five-star hotel in Riyadh’s Hittin district.

💰 Pulling Cash: Foreign investors reduced their exposure to GCC equities, withdrawing a net $415 million from regional markets in July as the Iran conflict escalated again.

✈️ Jet Deal: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise will buy four Boeing 777F freighters and lease them to Saudia, with deliveries scheduled from October 2026 to May 2027 to support the Saudi carrier’s expanding cargo network.

👍 Thumbs Up: Oman and Emirates Investment Holding Co. will submit a non-binding expression of interest to acquire Muscat-based investment banking and financial services firm Fincorp, in which it already holds a 51.2% interest.

🔎 Chain Research: NYU Abu Dhabi has secured a renewed six-year grant from Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative to advance research into how blockchain can improve market efficiency, trade and inclusive economic growth.

🛢️ Pipe Dream: Egypt and Libya are nearing the launch of a $1 billion-plus project to build an 800-kilometer oil pipeline linking Tobruk to Alexandria to transport Libyan crude to Egyptian refineries.

💾 Backup Plan: Dubai banks are spending millions to back up data overseas amid continued disruptions to Amazon Web Services in the UAE following damage to its data centers from Iranian strikes in March, The Banker reports. 

🏖️ Beach Days: The construction of a 550-meter beachfront has been completed at the Wynn Al Marjan casino resort in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, The National reports.

⚖️ Tax Relief: Entrepreneurs have welcomed a move by the UAE to extend corporate tax relief for small businesses with annual revenue of up to Dh3m ($810,000) until 2029.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, during which Zelensky congratulated the Crown Prince on the signing of a regional defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan last week.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, shared an image on social media on Monday of himself with three of his grandsons in London. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call with Anita Anand, Canada’s Foreign Minister, on Monday.

Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, met with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare on Monday. 

Fahad Al Mheiri, Boeing’s Vice President for the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa, told The National that Gulf airlines remain committed to their Boeing orders and deliveries despite the Iran war, citing long-term growth prospects and resilient aviation hubs.

Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group, has had charges of conspiracy and securities and wire fraud against him dismissed by a U.S. district judge, ending a major case that threatened his conglomerate’s expansion plans. Adani Group reportedly secured a loan of about $800 million to help fund its push into data centers from a group of overseas lenders following the court decision.

Todd Boehley, Chairman and CEO of asset manager Eldridge Industries, is rolling out AI across companies ranging from Chelsea Football Club to film studio A24, after acquiring a 50% stake in European AI company Sudolabs, the Financial Times reports.

Yasemin Bedir was appointed as President of Mastercard’s Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

🧺 Honing Craft: A new museum in the UAE emirate of Sharjah will be the first in the region dedicated to contemporary crafts. The Irthi Museum, to be launched by the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council in the Sharjah Creative Quarter, will hold exhibitions and collections as well as focusing on research, education and design, The National reports. “The Irthi Museum stands as a living bridge between heritage techniques and contemporary expressions,” Reem BinKaram, director-general of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, said.

📷 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. 

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. 

SHIP SHAPE

Abu Dhabi’s national oil company ADNOC is spending $1.3 billion to bolster its fleet of tankers as it continues to ramp up Gulf exports despite threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC Logistics & Services bought six very large crude carriers, almost doubling its current fleet of eight, as well as five very large gas carriers. ADNOC has been using tactics including shipping under darkness with transponders switched off and military escorts to shuttle crude and other refined products out of the Gulf. Using its own vessels gives the company greater freedom to make these riskier voyages, as it takes a more assertive and expansive stance following its departure from OPEC. The UAE has also been increasing oil shipments from the eastern emirate of Fujairah, which sits outside the Strait, via a cross-country pipeline. ADNOC L&S will take delivery of the vessels this quarter.

TALL ORDER

The construction of Jeddah Tower has topped 100 floors, with planned completion on track for 2028, according to Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Co. The tower, which is designed to surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest building, has reached level 106, or about 430 meters. The project will feature luxury residences, offices, a hotel and the highest observation deck in a skyscraper. Kingdom Holding, which is controlled by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, gave the update while reporting first-half earnings. The company reported a 38% decline year-on-year in first-half net profit to $160 million, citing lower dividend income, higher costs and increased taxes. Net asset value rose 15% driven by a 62% increase in the value of the company’s stake in SpaceX following its IPO on the Nasdaq. 

DP World: DP World has agreed to acquire six U.K. grocery logistics sites from GXO Logistics, expanding its European footprint and strengthening its end-to-end supply chain services.

QatarEnergy: ConocoPhillips said delays to its Qatar LNG project – in which it is a partner with QatarEnergy – are expected to last months rather than a year, with no impact on free cash flow anticipated despite disruptions caused by the U.S.-Iran war.

Public Investment Fund: The U.K.’s antitrust watchdog has given the all-clear to Paramount Skydance’s Gulf-backed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, saying the takeover doesn’t raise any competition concerns in Britain. The PIF, the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi’s L’Imad Holding are all backing the deal, which faces legal challenges in the U.S.

⚽ Sponsorship Deal: Arsenal has extended its long-running partnership with Emirates until 2033, with the airline continuing as the soccer club’s shirt sponsor, training kit partner and stadium naming rights holder.

🌙 Faithful Finance: Global Islamic finance assets are expected to reach $9.6 trillion by 2030, up from $6.2 trillion in 2025, according to Standard Chartered.

📦 Top Export: Egypt’s exports to China have jumped in recent months to $8 billion, driven by investment inflows from Chinese companies into industrial projects.

🔴 No Entry: Iran is reportedly seeking to restrict U.S. and Israeli vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz under a proposed deal with Oman, potentially complicating efforts to restore normal energy flows, Bloomberg reports.

✈️ Flying Back: Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to Bahrain and Kuwait from Aug. 8, with Qatar also restoring service to Erbil after weeks of disruption due to regional tensions.

💰 Seeking Alternatives: Saudi property developers are increasingly using private real estate funds to finance new projects, as regulatory reforms and Vision 2030 drive demand for alternative funding.

💼 Power Team: Forbes has released its annual Top 100 CEOs list for the Middle East, highlighting the executives driving growth, innovation and transformation across the region’s most influential organizations.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohmed bin Rashid were seen meeting in London on an unofficial visit.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman held a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, toured Abu Dhabi’s  floating hospital on Thursday.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, CEO of Sharjah-based developer Arada, told Arabian Gulf Business Insight that supply chain disruptions, construction delays and lower-margin acquisitions weighed on first-half performance, but the company expects sales to recover in the second half.

Davis Parakal, CEO of money transfer company Remitly for the GCC, told Arabian Gulf Business Insight that the company  plans to launch in Saudi Arabia within a year.

Khaled Alshamlan, CEO of Kuwait Finance House, said in an interview with Forbes Middle East that the group has strengthened its position as a global Islamic finance leader, with the sector’s assets surpassing $4.4 trillion in 2025, while KFH drives growth through its dominant market share, expanding sukuk portfolio and international investment strategy.

Feras Al Jarmani has been appointed to lead HSBC Private Bank’s UAE Market.

🎨 Hidden Treasure: The son of pioneering Saudi artist Abdulsattar Al-Mussa has unearthed a previously unknown artwork by his late father hidden in storage, Arab News reports. The painting, believed to date back to 1979, features a woman washing another woman’s feet. One of the most significant Gulf artists of his generation, Al-Mussa was known for figurative work focusing on the daily lives of Saudi people. The painting was created in Moscow, where the artist trained and lived for much of his life. “My mom actually remembers the painting, because she saw him working on it. But then it disappeared and he never talked about it, and we never saw it. I don’t know why,” his son Ali Al-Mussa said. 

📷 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. 

STRAIT GAINS

ADNOC has managed to move more oil through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months than any other producer. Abu Dhabi’s national oil company has been using tactics including switching off transponders to make ships less detectable as they pass through the narrow passage to exit the Gulf. ADNOC was the only Middle Eastern producer to reach pre-war levels of seaborne exports in June and July, according to estimates from Vortexa, Bloomberg reports. It comes as Iran said a deal negotiated with Oman for proposed shipping lanes was in the final stages, raising hopes that an agreement to open the Strait will come within days. Brent is trading near $80 a barrel, switching between modest gains and losses as traders await an update.

SAUDI OFFICE MARKET

Saudi Arabia’s pressure on foreign companies to host their regional headquarters in the kingdom has helped drive up its office market even amid the regional conflict. Riyadh office occupancy reached 97% in Q2 as multinational companies continued relocating under the policy. Prime office rents rose 3% year-on-year, held back only by a rental freeze, driven by strong demand from technology and healthcare firms and a shortage of high-quality space. In contrast, the residential market weakened, with transaction volumes down 14% and total traded value falling by around a quarter as higher borrowing costs weighed on buyers. Real estate investment consultancy CBRE said the divergence reflects a maturing market adjustment rather than a downturn, with planned new supply expected to reshape the balance over time.

International Holding Company: IHC reported a 220% jump in second-quarter profit to $3.5 billion, driven by higher energy and mining revenue, as quarterly revenue rose 34% to Dh33.4 billion.

Kuwait Investment Authority: The KIA has secured a $4.25 billion three-year syndicated loan from 14 banks, marking a rare regional financing deal since the Iran conflict disrupted lending markets.

ADNOC: The Abu Dhabi national oil company has hired Morgan Stanley’s global Co-Head of Energy Michael O’Dwyer as Chief Investment Officer, Reuters reports.

L’Imad Holding: ADNEC Group, a part of L’Imad-owned Modon Holding, has received 13 awards at the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards for event management and services.

🏢 Trump Tower Dubai: London-listed Dar Global has awarded the construction contract for the podium for Dubai’s future Trump Tower to Gulf Asia Contracting, marking the project’s transition into the next stage of construction.

✈️ Expansion Plans: Egypt plans to expand Cairo International Airport’s capacity by 40 million to 70 million passengers with a new $3.5 billion fourth terminal.

🛎️ Distress Sales: Dubai’s tourism slowdown caused by the regional conflict could trigger distressed hotel sales by year-end as debt-laden owners come under pressure, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. 

🛫 Gate Open: Syria reopened Deir Ezzor International Airport on Wednesday, restoring civilian air links to the country’s east after more than a decade of closure, The National reports.

💼 Job Test: Hiring regained momentum in the UAE in July following the sharp slowdown triggered by the Iran conflict, but experts say the real test will be how many expatriate workers return after the summer holidays.

🪁 Wind Win: King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu has received one of its largest-ever shipments of wind energy equipment as Saudi Arabia expands its renewable energy sector, Arab News reports.

🦐 Shrimp Farm: Construction of one of Oman’s largest aquaculture projects – a shrimp farming project in the Shinas province – is 80% complete.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday.

King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Alamein on Wednesday.

Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, received Dr. Mamadou Tangara, High Representative of the African Union Commission for Mali and the Sahel, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Jordan.

Fabio Piano was appointed Vice Chancellor and CEO of NYU Abu Dhabi, effective immediately.

Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, led the UAE delegation to attend the opening ceremony of Games of the Future 2026, hosted in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

Abdulla Mubarak Saeed has been appointed Chairman of Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority.

🏰 Top Palace: Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan, the palace which serves as the formal offices of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, has been named among the world’s Top 100 Global Attractions and Experiences for 2026 by Trip dot com. The palace, which opened to the public in 2019, houses the Great Hall, an immense room decorated with Arabian architectural details and featuring a 37-meter-wide central dome. Visitors can also see the Spirit of Collaboration chamber, a meeting room adorned with an ornate chandelier made from 350,000 pieces of crystal, and the Qasr Al Watan Library, which houses more than 50,000 books and other works.

📷 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. 

CASINO TOWN

Wynn Resorts said its first Middle East casino will open in September 2027, after construction delays linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict pushed back the timeline. The cost of the project, located on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al-Khaimah, has risen by $600 million to $5.7 billion due to higher material and shipping expenses. CEO Craig Billings said during a company briefing that the company remains confident in the UAE’s ability to manage geopolitical risks, citing the resilience of Dubai’s aviation sector, Bloomberg reports. The resort will feature 22 restaurants, an events center, private prayer rooms and a grand ballroom, joining a broader wave of entertainment developments in the region.

ROBOT ROUND

Dubai-based Moove has closed a $250 million investment round led by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, valuing the fleet management startup at $2.1 billion, as it pivots towards servicing self-driving cars. Moove, which has partnerships with Uber Technologies and Google-owned Waymo, is planning to expand its network of “Nests,” where autonomous vehicles are charged, serviced and maintained, largely by other robots. The Series C funding round was co-led by Toyota’s Growth Fund Woven Capital and Ion Pacific. Moove, which started out providing car financing for drivers on ride-hailing apps, was founded in Nigeria in 2020 before expanding to the UAE, India, the U.S. and the UK. The funds will also be used to launch Moove in new markets.

Saudi Aramco: The world’s biggest oil company is exploring ways to expand its export capacity amid attacks from Iran and Yemen, including a possible expansion of its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, Bloomberg reports.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: Shares in Indian hospital group Manipal Health Enterprises rose 11% in their Mumbai debut on Wednesday following the company’s $960 million initial public offering, in which ADIA took a 4.8% anchor stake.

Public Investment Fund: Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium comprising Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, marking a new chapter for the gaming company under private ownership.

Public Investment Fund: A U.S. federal judge in California has scheduled a 12-day trial to start on March 2 to hear cases against Paramount Skydance’s Gulf-backed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. 

Lucid Group: The struggling PIF-backed electric vehicle maker is planning to cut expenses and come up with $1.4 billion in cash savings this year, new CEO Silvio Napoli tells Bloomberg.

🏀 Staying Away: The NBA has decided not to hold preseason games in the Middle East for the first time in five years, with plans in Abu Dhabi shelved because of the ongoing Iran war, ESPN reports.

⛽ Oil Output: OPEC crude production rose by 1.16 million barrels a day in July to 19.44 million barrels a day, led by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, though output remains below pre-war levels due to ongoing shipping disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, Bloomberg reports.

💰 Freelance Fraud: Kuwait has suspended new single-owner business licenses as part of a wider crackdown on commercial permit abuse.

🛢️ Oil Pivot: Syria has told the U.S. it is willing to sharply reduce imports of Russian oil as part of negotiations to lift remaining American sanctions, Reuters reports.

🚆 Corridor Crunch: India’s ambitions to build an economic corridor that would carry goods by ship and rail across the Arabian Peninsula and reach the Mediterranean through Israel have been stalled by tensions between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the Financial Times reports.

🌍 Africa Push: The UAE is expanding its footprint across Africa through investments in ports, agriculture and infrastructure, the Financial Times reports.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the weekly meeting of ministers in Jeddah, in which they reiterated that dialogue is an essential part of de-escalation in the region.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan, Chairperson of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park and President of the American University of Sharjah, accepted the patronage of the Magdi Yacoub Institute by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, Founder and Director of the Institute.

Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney, appears along with current CEO Josh D’Amaro in a new feature-length documentary “Worldbuilders,” to be released on Disney+ on Aug. 20. The documentary, which promises to give behind-the-scenes insight into the building of Disneyland Abu Dhabi, also features filmmaker James Cameron and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, The National reports.

Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, has called senior staff members to an emergency meeting in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, as he fights criticism over a now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Wassim Chourbaji was appointed Senior Vice President and President of Europe, Middle East and Africa for computing company Qualcomm.

Paul Wheeler was appointed CEO of Sapiens, succeeding Mike Ettling, as the ADIA-backed insurance software provider accelerates its AI transformation.

🎨 Guggenheim Chief: Abu Dhabi has chosen the curator who will put the finishing touches on one of the world’s most anticipated museum openings. Valerie Hillings has been named the inaugural director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, taking charge of the Frank Gehry-designed institution as it prepares to open on Dec. 11 in the Saadiyat Cultural District. A longtime curator who helped shape the Abu Dhabi museum’s collection and strategy, Hillings will oversee the opening exhibitions and public programs at what will be the largest museum in the Guggenheim network, The National reports.

📷 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. 

ALTERNATIVE LAND

Turkey is positioning itself as a new wealth hub between Europe and the Middle East, unveiling tax incentives to attract wealthy expats and overseas investors amid instability in rival centers, from London to Dubai. The measures include reduced inheritance taxes, exemptions on overseas income for up to 20 years and an amnesty programme for undeclared foreign assets, echoing incentives previously offered by the U.K.’s non-dom regime, Bloomberg reports. The push comes as Turkey seeks to strengthen its financial credentials after years of inflation, currency volatility and political uncertainty, while Gulf hubs face renewed questions over regional security risks. Officials say Turkey aims to become a global center for investment and capital management, though analysts note it remains unclear how many wealthy individuals will choose it over established destinations in the Gulf and Europe.

WHOOP MOVE

Whoop is planning to open another office in the UAE, fresh on the back of raising $575 million in funding from investors led by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala earlier this year. Will Ahmed, CEO of the Boston-based wearable fitness tracker company, said the move was “critical for growth” both in the GCC, as well as in Africa and Asia. “If you’re an entrepreneur like me, you’re used to going to places and being told ‘no’, and you’re used to going to places and being told, ‘well, that seems hard’. With the culture of Abu Dhabi, it’s an environment where people say ‘yes, let’s do it’ or ‘hey, how can this actually be bigger?’,” he told Mubadala’s company podcast. Whoop’s funding round in March, which was also backed by Abu Dhabi’s 2PointZero Group and the Qatar Investment Authority, valued the company at $10.1 billion.

Mubadala Capital: Brazilian company Acelen Renováveis, which is fully owned by the asset management arm of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, is driving a $3 billion project to make sustainable aviation fuel from the macaúba fruit, Bloomberg reports.

Masdar: Masdar has secured up to $130.5 million in financing for four U.K. battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, with a combined capacity of 205 MW/540 MWh.

Masdar: Jordan’s SEPCO and SITE Technology have signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract for a 25 MW wind farm in Ma’an Governorate, fully funded by the UAE through Masdar under a cooperation agreement signed in February, with SEPCO set to operate and maintain the project after completion.

Saudi Aramco: The Saudi state oil company gained the largest commercial payoff among sponsors of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Brand Finance estimating it added $1.08 billion in brand value and $26.1 billion in corporate value through its sponsorship, Asharq Bloomberg reports.

DP World: DP World has signed an agreement with Kenya’s GulfCap Africa to develop the Mombasa Industrial Park Special Economic Zone.

🏗️ Mall Haul: Saudi industrial group Senaat’s construction unit Zodcon won a $62 million contract from Hamat Group for construction work on a shopping mall development in Mecca. 

🐄 Dandy Dairy: Qatari dairy and ice cream producer Dandy priced its IPO at the bottom of its marketed range, valuing the company at $141 million and raising about $56.6 million ahead of its Qatar Stock Exchange listing.

🪺 Nest Exit: Egypt’s Beltone Venture Capital has sold part of its stake in proptech startup BirdNest, realizing a 3.5 times return while maintaining a strategic investment to support the company’s future growth.

🧴 Beauty Hit: German consumer goods company Beiersdorf, the maker of Nivea skin-care products, said fighting in the Middle East has disrupted deliveries and hurt sales in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

✈️ Canceled Trips: Emirates and Etihad have extended flight cancellations to Bahrain and Kuwait for a third consecutive week amid regional tensions.

📉 Sales Impact: Marriott said the Iran conflict weighed on second-quarter sales and warned the war could further hit travel demand and delay new hotel projects in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reports. 

🧑🏽 Coming Home: Dubai’s population has rebounded to 4.73 million, surpassing pre-Iran war levels, but population growth is expected to grow at just 2% this year, about half the rate of prior years.

🚢 Trapped Aboard: About two dozen crew members aboard the seized cargo ship MSC Francesca are entering their fourth month under Iranian guard off the country’s coast, with no indication of when they will be released, The New York Times reports. 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Foreign Minister, held a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Monday. Sheikh Abdullah also held a phone call with Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, on Tuesday.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Culture, has appointed Mohammed Hasan Alwan as Acting President of Riyadh University of Arts.

Jordan Rochester, a former strategist at Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group known as “Mr. Brexit” for his commentary on the U.K.’s split from the European Union, was hired by U.S.-based Tudor Investment Corp. as a fixed-income and currency strategist based in Dubai. Bloomberg reports.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, met with Dr. Mohammed Nidal Al-Shaar, Syria’s Minister of Economy and Industry, to discuss ways to conduct further trade and investment.

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, penned an opinion article published by The New York Times to “set the record straight” on the company’s Gulf-backed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. and counter speculation about his politics, loyalties and intentions.

⭐ Billboard Hit:  Lebanese singer and actress Haifa Wehbe was selected as the face of Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York City, Arab News reports. One of the Arab world’s most enduring pop stars, Wehbe was named Spotify’s Equal global ambassador for July. The program amplifies female artists, connecting their music with global audiences.

📷 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. 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. 

MATCH POINT

Mubadala is devoting about $170 billion to U.S. interests, roughly 44% of its portfolio, spanning AI and healthcare to energy and advanced manufacturing. The strategy was at the center of discussions at a Milken Institute forum last week, held alongside the Mubadala D.C. Open, the UAE sovereign wealth fund’s annual ATP 500/WTA 500 tournament in Washington, D.C. “For Mubadala, the U.S. is our most strategic and attractive investment market,” said Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Mubadala’s Chief Strategy & Risk Officer. Among the participants were tennis champion Venus Williams, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Will Ahmed, Co-Founder and CEO of Whoop; Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota); Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Richard Ditizio, CEO of the Milken Institute.

CASH CRUNCH

Aldar and other UAE developers reported higher profits in the first half of 2026, but a surge in construction and handovers is pushing companies to take on more debt. Dubai’s Binghatti and Abu Dhabi’s Modon and Aldar have increased borrowing as they shift from selling off-plan units to completing existing projects amid weaker speculative demand, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. Binghatti spent about $354 million more than it generated from operations, while capital tied up in developments more than tripled, and buyer escrow funds fell by $872 million as completions rose 16% to 1,669 units. Aldar and Modon also saw borrowing rise as construction commitments increased, although both said supply chains remained largely unaffected by the conflict.

Public Investment Fund: The departure of several star players from PIF-owned Newcastle United and the U.K. football club’s failure to sign others is explored in The New York Times.

ADNOC: The Abu Dhabi national oil company will switch the benchmark for pricing all of its Abu Dhabi crude grades from Murban futures to Platts Dubai beginning Nov. 1, saying the new mechanism will improve pricing transparency.

ADNOC: The complex mechanics of the company’s plans to add a massive 6.8 billion cubic feet per day to national gas output are examined in an analysis published by The National. 

🏦 Egypt Expansion: Emirates NBD will acquire HSBC Egypt’s retail banking business, resulting in a pre-tax gain of about $300 million for HSBC.

✈️ European Landing: Saudi Arabia’s SAL Logistics completed its first international acquisition, buying Belgium’s Aviapartner Liège for about $32 million and establishing an operating base in Liège, one of Europe’s busiest air cargo hubs.

🌱 Fintech Funding: UAE-based fintech Epic Markets raised $10 million in a pre-seed round from Karatage to develop a multi-asset brokerage platform for retail investors, Arab News reports.

🎮 Game On: Saudi game studio Ash Games, which is due to release its flagship title “Nomad” in 2027, raised $1.5 million in seed funding, co-led by Merak Capital and Impact46 through the Merak Gaming Fund. 

🚢 Crude Movement: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export hub of Yanbu appeared to record its busiest oil-loading day since Houthi threats disrupted Red Sea shipping last month, Bloomberg reports. 

🌐 Future Ready: Saudi-backed AI data centre developer DataVolt expects to secure financing for all its projects under construction in the kingdom within six months.

💰 India Plan: UAE companies and sovereign wealth funds are expected to ramp up investments in India, focusing on AI, logistics, food security and infrastructure, as the two countries target doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.

♟️ Pawn Shop: A Dubai-based entrepreneur has reimagined pawn shops for the Gulf market, offering a service that gives clients quick cash for temporarily selling their luxury watches, with an agreement to repurchase them after 30 or 60 days.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday and “stressed the need to prioritize dialogue to reduce escalation and the importance of making every possible effort to achieve calm that paves the way for diplomatic solutions.”

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held a phone call on Sunday with King Abdullah II  of Jordan.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call with Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, on Sunday. Sheikh Abdullah met with Ed Miliband, U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in London on Friday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak, President of the UAE Football Association, welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, which would have seen it sell off a stake in the World Cup.

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, said the energy giant “won’t shy away” from the Gulf, even as it tries to diversify production outside the Middle East with investments in Mozambique and Papua New Guinea, Reuters reports.

Mike Pompeo, former CIA director and then secretary of state during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, told The Nationalview that the Iran conflict was a “global war” and that Gulf states would eventually join the U.S. in delivering a blow that would “fundamentally change the nature of what’s going on inside of Iran.” 

Larry Ellison, the owner of Oracle, is the subject of a New York Times Magazine feature looking into the 81-year-old billionaire’s debt-fuelled scramble to transform his company for the AI era, backed by Gulf and Chinese interests.

Dennis Jol, CEO of  Abu Dhabi-based AIQ, appeared on “Managing Middle East with Dan Murphy” to discuss how the company uses real-world data and infrastructure from oil giant ADNOC to give its AI technology an edge.

Ahmed Mohamed Janahi was appointed CEO of Bahrain Airport Company, the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport.

👻 Ghost Stories: The myths and folklore passed down through generations of Emiratis have been channeled into the supernatural horror series “Kaa’inaat,” which has returned for its second season, streaming on StarzPlay with English subtitles. “A common refrain we heard from our elders was, ‘Don’t go walking into the farms at night, because you will not be alone,’” Emirati actor Abdullah Bin Haider told The National of his childhood in Khor Fakkan, a coastal community in the eastern emirate of Fujairah.

📷 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. 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.