GAS DIPLOMACY

India has signed a $3 billion deal to buy liquefied natural gas from the United Arab Emirates, making it the UAE’s largest LNG customer, as the two countries moved to deepen trade and defense ties. The agreement was struck during a working visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, with both sides pledging to double bilateral trade to $200 billion within six years and pursue a strategic defense partnership, Reuters reports. As per the agreement, Abu Dhabi state firm ADNOC Gas will supply half a million tons of LNG a year to Hindustan Petroleum over 10 years, taking ADNOC’s total contracts with India to more than $20 billion. Indian officials said the defense cooperation would not draw New Delhi into regional conflicts, despite shifting alliances in the Gulf.

TRADE BOT

Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence firm Presight will develop a platform to boost the UAE’s foreign trade capabilities by analyzing real-time data from sources including ports, shipping routes and customs records. The G42 company signed an agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Trade, announced on Monday, to create a series of AI-powered tools that will support its mission to be the world’s first AI-driven trade ministry. “The future of trade belongs to economies that can see early and move fast, Mansoor Al Mansoori, Vice Chairman of Presight, said. “By putting real-time insight into the hands of decision-makers, we reduce friction, compress timelines, and help governments and businesses operate with confidence.”

Mubadala: Mubadala Bio’s subsidiary Bioventure Healthcare secured the European Union’s Good Manufacturing Practice certification, a key requirement for enabling pharmaceutical product export to the EU. 

Public Investment Fund: ACWA Power, the PIF-owned Saudi energy utility, bought Engie’s 17.5% stake in Kuwait’s Az Zour independent water and power project, consolidating its ownership in one of the country’s largest utility facilities.

ADQ: AD Ports Group, majority owned by ADQ, signed an agreement with Nigeria to explore collaboration opportunities across ports, logistics, maritime services and digital trade infrastructure.

ADQ: Safeen Drydocks, part of Noatum Maritime, which is owned by ADQ’s AD Ports Group, fully acquired Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, one of Spain’s most established shipbuilding and repair facilities, for $13 million.

EDGE Group: UAE defense group EDGE and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings have agreed to form a joint venture to co-develop advanced defense technologies.

🍎 Nutrition Bet: Private equity firm Alta Semper agreed to acquire a majority stake in UAE-based sports nutrition company Nature’s Rule, describing the deal as a step toward scaling the business through a more institutional growth strategy.

💻 Blockchain Bonds: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank, issued the region’s first Dirham-denominated digital bond, raising $272.3 million.

🏢 Office Expansion: Egyptian developer Marakez secured $63 million from Kuwait Finance House – Egypt to expand the commercial Mindhaus Campus at its District 5 project in New Cairo.

🌱 Charging ahead: Dubai has expanded its EV Green Charger network to 1,860 points across the emirate.

🚇 Metro Link: Dubai’s RTA has invited consultants to bid for designing a 3km Route 2020 metro extension from the Expo 2020 station to Al Maktoum International Airport’s West Terminal.

📈 Economy Performing: The IMF raised its 2026 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia to 4.5% citing higher oil output, strong domestic demand, and ongoing reforms.

💰 Dreaming Big: Northern Graphite’s plan to build a $200 million graphite battery anode plant in Saudi Arabia with Obeikan has fueled an eightfold revenue growth forecast and a sharp rise in its shares.

🍪 Snack Deal: Dubai-listed Unikai Foods received a $35 million cash takeover bid from a Kuwait’s Al Wafir for Marketing Services.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the fifth edition of World of Coffee Dubai on Monday at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, reviewed the outcome of this year’s Liwa International Festival on Monday.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, attended the opening of the annual UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition on Monday.

Faisal al-Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister, said in an interview with Reuters in Davos that the kingdom’s private sector is taking on a larger role in delivering Vision 2030 projects as the government seeks to shift more execution and financing to companies outside the state.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, led a high-level government and business delegation to the Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the UAE-DRC Trade and Investment day. 

Nayef Nasser Alnasser was appointed Managing Director of Ithmaar Development Company, succeeding Mohammed Khalil Alsayed.

David Hadley, CEO of UAE-based NMC Healthcare, said that hospitals are increasingly under strain as profit margins shrink and may have to consolidate further to unlock economies of scale.

Rashid Al Dhaheri, an Emirati racing driver, won the opening round of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, held at Yas Marina Circuit. 

📺 On the Box: Netflix has unveiled its line-up of Arabic releases for 2026, including new seasons of hit reality shows “Love is Blind, Habibi” and “Dubai Bling.” Season 2 of the streamer’s regional adaptation of the global matchmaking show introduces potential couples on either side of a wall to test if they can form a bond without seeing one-another. “Dubai Bling,” now in its fourth season, follows a cast of fashion-obsessed socialites who revel in delivering snappy one-liners like “I’m not playing hard to get, I am hard to get.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feb. 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between MBZUAI and the U.S. NSF Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and opportunities in Edge AI. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

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

Feb. 3, Dubai. World Laureates Summit. Held alongside the World Government Summit, the inaugural event will bring 200 of the world’s top scientific researchers, marking a historic integration of science and government. 

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

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

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

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

INDIA BUYING

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed began a visit today to India, where he was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks the UAE President’s third visit, and comes after trade between the UAE and India surged to $100 billion in 2024‑25 following implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The visit also comes as state-owned Etihad Water and Electricity said it is planning a feasibility study for a proposed undersea power link. The “one sun, one world, one grid” initiative would allow solar power to be traded between the countries. The UAE is home to more than 3.5 million Indians, its largest expatriate community.

CREDIT SHIFT

Sovereign wealth funds from the Gulf are putting more money into private lending deals in emerging markets to earn higher returns. The move reflects a search for alternatives as traditional bonds offer lower yields and banks pull back from riskier markets, Bloomberg reports. The Gulf funds – including the UAE’s Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – are teaming up with global asset managers to provide loans directly to companies and projects that struggle to access financing. Mubadala Capital, for example, the sovereign fund’s alternative asset management arm, has secured about $240 million in commitments for its latest Brazil vehicle after closing a $710 million fund focused on the country in 2023.

Masdar: Masdar and French utility Engie have reached financial close on the 1.5GW Khazna Solar PV project in Abu Dhabi, backed by financing from seven banks and a 30-year power purchase agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company. 

International Holding Co.: NMDC Group, majority owned by IHC’s Alpha Dhabi Holding, said its subsidiary NMDC Infra agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Spain’s Lantania Aguas to form Lantania NMDC Water, creating a global water-sector player.

Public Investment Fund: The Royal Commission for AlUla signed a memorandum with SURJ Sports Investment to explore sports programmes, joint investments and hosting major events to boost AlUla’s position as a global sports destination.

Mubadala: Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Mubadala’s Deputy Group CEO, joined the first episode of the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund’s newly-launched podcast series “The Exchange” to talk about conviction-led investing.

💰 Rising Competition: Libya signed a $2.7 billion public-private partnership with Qatari and Italian firms to expand the Misurata Free Zone port into a regional transhipment hub competing with Egypt and Morocco.

🤝 Middle Team: Qatar has become the quiet middleman for Washington’s first $500 million Venezuelan oil sale, holding the proceeds in Doha as the U.S. markets the crude and manages revenues.

💵 Buying Power: Saudi Arabia raised its U.S. Treasury holdings in November to $148.8 billion, lifting it to 17th among foreign holders.

🚢 Red Sea Return: Major container shipping lines are cautiously resuming passage through the Red Sea after more than two years of avoidance, amid improving security conditions.

🌐 Staying Online: Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network is facing a high-profile security challenge as Iran intensifies efforts to restrict access during a crackdown on political unrest.

⛽ Gas Expansion: Chevron and its partners have approved an expansion of Israel’s Leviathan gas field, increasing supplies for domestic use and regional export markets.

⚡ AI Tariff: Abu Dhabi is preparing a dedicated electricity tariff for data centres to protect households and businesses from higher energy bills.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim received Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney on his first visit to Qatar on Sunday. Following the visit, Carney announced that Qatar would make significant investments in Canada. 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watched key stages of the Elite Race held as part of the Al Salam Cycling Championship organized by his private office. 

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, son of Qatar’s Emir, attended the Global Champions Arabians Tour – Abu Dhabi, at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Bahrain-based Investcorp, told Bloomberg at Davos that the outlook for IPOs is getting better in Gulf markets. 

Mariam Mohamed AlMusharrekh was appointed  Director General of Government Talent at the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi and Abdulaziz Mohamed Alhammadi was appointed as Director General of Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Energy. 

Rafiza Ghazali was appointed Managing Director, Consumer Banking at Fasset, the UAE-based global Islamic banking and investment platform.

Rajesh Nagpal was appointed Vice President of Enterprise Business for Huawei UAE.

🦁 Mane Attraction: The last drawing of a lion by Rembrandt remaining in private hands will be displayed in Saudi Arabia later this month ahead of its auction in New York, where it is expected to fetch more than $15 million. “Young Lion Resting,” one of six known lion drawings by the Dutch master, will be displayed at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace from Jan. 24 to 25, as part of the Leiden Collection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization chaired by the co-owner of the painting, philanthropist Jon Ayers. Panthera is leading the re-introduction of the critically endangered Arabian leopard to AlUla.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feb 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between MBZUAI and the U.S. NSF Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and opportunities in Edge AI. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

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

Feb. 3, Dubai. World Laureates Summit. The inaugural summit, held alongside the World Government Summit, will bring 200 of the world’s top scientific researchers, marking a historic integration of science and government. 

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

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

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

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

SYRIAN STAKES

Qatar’s Estithmar Holding is poised to purchase controlling stakes in two Syrian banks. The investment group plans to take over majority ownership of Shahba Bank and about 30% of Syria International Islamic Bank, Reuters reports. The move would be the first foreign banking acquisition in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad and follows the recent lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria. The year-old interim government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been seeking to bring foreign capital into Syria’s banking system after more than a decade of conflict.

EXPO IPO

Competition to dominate the events space in the Gulf is heating up, with two major groups exploring the potential to launch IPOs this year. Dubai World Trade Centre and U.K.-based Informa Group, which host some of the emirate’s biggest conferences and expos, have hired Rothschild & Co. as a financial adviser for a potential listing in Dubai, Bloomberg reports. The pair announced a joint venture last March to own and operate major events, including the Dubai Airshow and Gulfood. Meanwhile, the organizer of Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative, Richard Attias & Associates, is among eight companies earmarked by the Public Investment Fund for IPOs this year. 

ADNOC: Abu Dhabi’s state oil company is evaluating a potential investment in Venezuela’s natural gas industry as the beleaguered country tries to revive output and attract foreign partners, Bloomberg reports.

TAQA: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Emirates Water and Electricity Company, Masdar, EDF power solutions and Jinko Power Technology announced the issuance of long-term green bonds to refinance Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Plant, raising more than $870 million. 

Masdar: UAE’s Masdar is partnering with Elite Agro Holding to launch the MENA region’s first agricultural photovoltaic project, combining solar panels with greenhouses. Masdar and Montenegro’s national power utility EPCG, meanwhile, agreed to explore a joint venture to develop and operate large-scale renewable energy projects.

Qatar Investment Authority: Qatar National Bank raised $650 million through a Formosa bond issue in Taiwan, with HSBC, KGI Securities and Standard Chartered acting as joint managers.

ADQ: AD Ports Group signed a $228 million land sale agreement with Danube Properties for a major residential and mixed-use project on roughly 1 million square meters within Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD Town Centre.

Arab Energy Fund: The fund has taken a minority stake in Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Petroleum Supply Co., backing the company’s regional expansion across fuel supply, logistics and related energy services.

💰 Japanese Credit: Saudi Arabia has secured a 12-year, $1.5 billion credit line from Japan’s export credit agency Nexi to support water and energy projects under Vision 2030.

🔋 Clean Projects: The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced a joint venture with Baah and India’s Lohum to develop the country’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery recycling facility in the emirate of Sharjah. 

🚗 Branded Build: UAE developer Binghatti and Mercedes-Benz unveiled an $8.2 billion co-branded development in Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba at a star-studded event hosted by American TV star Terry Crews.

🏦 Open Shop: National Bank of Canada announced the opening of an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre to support Canadian clients expanding into the Middle East.

⭐ Gold Star: Abu Dhabi Customs and the Emirates Drug Establishment launched the Golden List of Pharmaceutical Companies, initially covering 31 firms, to streamline customs procedures and strengthen supply chains.

🛥️ Calm Seas: Danish Shipping company Maersk will resume sailing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal following improved stability in the area, The Wall Street Journal reports. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal, at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed also held a phone call with Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, on Thursday and received a written message from Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, honored the six winners of Great Arab Minds 2025 at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor and Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Co., said talks on Thursday with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg focused on deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and investment.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, met with Nicolas Bos, Group CEO of Richemont, to discuss opportunities in the UAE. Sheikh Maktoum also met with Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD.  

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message  on Thursday from Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said reports that the Public Investment Fund intends to spin off its Manara Minerals subsidiary were inaccurate and any move would have to be announced by the PIF.

Ali Shaath, the former deputy planning minister for the Palestinian Authority who was chosen to lead a U.S.-backed committee to govern Gaza, has proposed pushing war debris into the Mediterranean Sea to speed reconstruction, Reuters reports

Nasser al Sharji was appointed CEO of Oman Airports, replacing Ahmed Al Amri, who has been appointed Chairman of the Muscat Municipality.

Mattar Al Tayer, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority Chairman, said Electric air taxis developed by Joby Aviation are set to begin commercial operations in Dubai by the end of this year, Reuters reports. 

Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No.1 tennis player, has been signed as Emirates airline’s first tennis ambassador as part of the airline’s commitments as the official airline of all four Grand Slams worldwide.

🎨 Under the Hammer: Pieces by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Camille Pissarro and David Hockney are among the highlights in Sotheby’s next major art sale in Saudi Arabia. The “Origins II” auction taking place in Diriyah on Jan. 31 comes amid a growing appetite for fine art investment in the kingdom, where Sotheby’s held its first international sale last January, netting $17 million. Among this year’s works is Warhol’s 1978 painting of Muhammad Ali, originally commissioned by U.S. investment banker Richard Weisman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. COLLAB

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

MINING SPINOFF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRADE TROUBLE

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

PETROLEUM PARTNERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TECH PACT

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

ON STANDBY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPEN DOORS

Saudi Arabia’s plan to open its stock exchange to all foreign investors next month could unlock as much as $10 billion in foreign investment, Arab News reports. The change removes long-standing rules that limited access by foreigners mainly to large institutions. Regulators say the changes will make it easier for global funds and individuals to buy Saudi shares directly. Hamza Dweik, head of trading at Saxo Bank for the Middle East and North Africa, told the newspaper that the move will deepen liquidity in a market and is expected to increase Saudi Arabia’s weighting in global emerging-market indices to 4.7% from 3.2%. 

VC BOOM

Venture capital funding in the Middle East jumped 74% last year, hitting a record as startups raised about $3.8 billion across nearly 700 deals. Much of the growth came from foreign investors, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE drawing the largest share of the money, Bloomberg reports, citing data from Magnitt. The surge came even as venture funding stayed weak or slowed in many other regions. Investors have been drawn by government-backed tech pushes, large domestic markets and a growing pipeline of local startups.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: Shares of Chinese AI firm MiniMax, backed by ADIA, more than doubled on their Hong Kong debut, boosting the company’s value to about $14 billion.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar signed its first power purchase agreement in Angola for the 150-megawatt Quipungo solar project, part of the wider 500-megawatt Project Royal Sable, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed Ayar First Investment Co., invested in four major Japanese gaming firms – Capcom, Bandai Namco, Nexon, and Koei Tecmo.

ADQ: Etihad Airways, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, a 21% increase from the previous year.

Mubadala: Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, will headline the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open when the event kicks off at the end of this month, The National reports.

🏢 Trump Towns: Saudi developer Dar Global said it will team up with the Trump Organization on $10 billion of luxury residential, hotel and golf course developments in Riyadh and Jeddah.

🏡 Millionaire Homes: Dubai set a record for luxury home sales last year, with 500 sales above $10 million, totalling more than $9 billion, according to Knight Frank.

🌀 New Energy: Egypt signed $1.8 billion in renewable energy deals, including contracts with Norwegian firm Scatec and China’s Sungrow.

💶 Copper Funds: Oman secured $400 million in financing for the Mazoon Copper Project, the country’s largest copper mining development, led by Qatar-based Ahlibank.

💰 Flight Money: Kuwait’s low-cost airline Jazeera Airways has secured new loans and renewed deals with local banks for up to $152 million.

🌍 Tourist Hotspots: Morocco and Egypt each drew nearly 20 million visitors in 2025 as expanded air links and new attractions such as the Grand Egyptian Museum made them Africa’s most popular destinations.

⚽ Trophy Hunting: Qatar is in talks with FIFA to host the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup in January 2028, as part of its continued pursuit of major football events following the 2022 men’s World Cup.

🖥️ Tech Alliance: Qatar and the UAE are set to join a U.S.-led initiative to secure and diversify semiconductor and AI supply chains, expanding what backers call “Pax Silica” to foster cooperation among Middle Eastern and allied partners.

💵 FDI Surge: Foreign direct investment into Jordan rose 27% in 2025 to nearly $2.1 billion, with Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, accounting for almost a third of the inflows.

✈️ Clear Skies: Airlines from the UAE and Qatar resumed flights to Iran on Sunday after a two-day suspension, with Emirates and flydubai services to Tehran and other cities operating on schedule.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, attended the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the emirate’s gathering dedicated to the “content creation” economy.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has issued a number of decrees, in celebration of the anniversary of his accession, to support key social and economic initiatives.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Ben Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation in Qatar on Monday. The Qatari Prime Minister held a phone call with Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, visited Al Sarooj Park on Monday to review its facilities, following a redevelopment.

Ursula von der Leyen, EU President, said on Friday during a visit to Damascus that the EU will grant Syria around 620 million euros ($722 million) this year and next for post-war recovery, bilateral support and humanitarian aid.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, chaired a meeting of the UAE-France High-Level Business Council in Abu Dhabi. Also attending were Samia Bouazza, CEO at 2PointZero Group, Mohamed Hesham, CEO of ePointZero, and Peter Abraam, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at IHC.

Daisy Ho, HSBC Asset Management’s CEO for Asia and the Middle East, told Bloomberg TV that the bank has a long-term commitment in the Middle East, announcing its asset management arm has been given the green light to open a branch in the UAE.

Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater was appointed CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre, effective Jan. 11, succeeding Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida.

Hasan Hadi, an Iraqi director, was nominated by the Directors Guild of America Awards nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a First-Time Theatrical Feature Film for his debut, “The President’s Cake.”

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump and a political commentator, attended the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Abu Dhabi, where she was interviewed by The National on stage.  

🤖 Haunted Doll: Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi was awarded the $1 million AI Film Award at Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit for his submission “Lilly”. The award, given in partnership with Google Gemini, recognizes films that are at least 70% produced using generative AI tools. The winning film follows the redemptive story of a man who commits a hit-and-run accident and is then haunted by a doll that was lodged in his car bumper. 

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ROBOT RIDES

Apollo Go, the ride-hailing platform owned by Chinese tech company Baidu, will be the first company to test fully driverless vehicles in Dubai, after receiving a permit from the emirate’s Road Transport Authority. The authorization comes as Baidu officially launched a hub for autonomous vehicles in downtown Dubai, which includes charging and maintenance facilities and will eventually serve as a command center for a fleet of more than 1,000 robotaxis. Uber and WeRide launched fully driverless taxis in parts of neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi in November. Both emirates have ambitious plans for driver automation, with Dubai targeting 25% autonomous total transportation by 2030 and Abu Dhabi setting a similar goal for 2040.

AI INFLUENCERS

The existential threat of artificial intelligence to Dubai’s influencer economy was the topic du jour as the enormous 1 billion Followers Summit kicked off across key Dubai landmarks today. The summit, which attracts more than 15,000 top Arab and global creators including the likes of YouTube star MrBeast, features more than 500 speakers taking part in keynote sessions, roundtables, debates and workshops over three days. Egyptian content creator Farah El Kordy and Dhairya Patel, who represents “virtual influencer” Lil Miquela, used a panel discussion to debate whether AI influencers would take over social media. Day 2 features a “fireside chat” with Lara Trump, the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son Eric, who hosts a FOX News show and promotes fitness brands. Among the other guests are U.S. actor and producer Will Smith, Emaar Founder Mohamed Alabbar, and retired English soccer star Rio Ferdinand.

ADQ: AD Ports Group announced a series of senior executive appointments to its Logistics Cluster, including Björn Eckbauer as Senior Vice President of Global Air Freight Development and Procurement and Boris Kuehn as Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Oman Investment Authority: Oman’s state-owned OQ Gas Networks plans to invest nearly $1 billion to build a new 200-kilometer (124-mile) hydrogen pipeline network.

Public Investment Fund: ​​Kathryn Wylde, former CEO of the Partnership for New York City business organization, has held talks about working for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the New York Post reports.

📈 Bond Demand: Abu Dhabi-based Dhafrah PV2 Energy Company raised $870 million through a long-term green bond. 

🏢 Tower Launch: Dubai-traded Union Properties has launched Mirdad Tower 2, the second of four towers in its approximately $545 million Mirdad development in Dubai’s Motor City.

✈️ Terminal Deal: Morocco awarded the $1.3 billion contract for the new terminal at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport to a Moroccan consortium led by SGTM and TGCC.

🚁 Flying Vehicles: Barq Group signed an agreement with U.S.-based Elroy Air to form a $200 million joint venture to build a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi producing the Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft.

⛽Gas Side: Lebanon has has signed an agreement with QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, and Eni for offshore gas exploration in its Block 8 area.

💰 Open Market: Kuwait plans to boost private investment and improve public services by appointing a consultant to solicit new bids on 23 state-backed projects across real estate, infrastructure and municipal assets.

⚖️ Gas Investment: Jordan is advancing a new law to attract investment in hydrogen, biomethane and related projects by regulating gas sales, import, transport, distribution and storage.

🚀 Tourism Sector: Saudi Arabia’s tourism workforce surpassed one million in the third quarter of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year,

⛏️ Mining Giants: Rio Tinto and Glencore have resumed talks on a potential all-share merger that could create a nearly $200 billion global mining giant to rival BHP as the world’s biggest.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Massad Boulos, the White House Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, the UAE Ruler’s Representative to Al Ain, met on Thursday with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan, Chairman of 2PointZero, and Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Vice Chair of 2PointZero, along with Syed Basar Shueb, CEO and Managing Director of International Holding Co., who is a 2PointZero board member.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, appointed Maqsoud Kruse as Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism.

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

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs Families Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erth Zayed, led the foundation’s board meeting to discuss its strategic directions for 2026.

Mario Balotelli, the Italian soccer star, is expected to sign a contract to play with the UAE’s Al Ittifaq team, in one of the biggest signings in UAE football history, The National reports.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, was appointed as the new “CEO Champion” of the U.K.’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pathfinder Initiative.

Shoeil Al-Ayed, CEO of Riyadh Cement Co., told Al-Eqtisadiah the company expects to fully rely on natural gas as an alternative to liquid fuel in its operational processes by 2027.

🦋 Winging It: The sight of 10,000 rainforest-loving butterflies in the desert climate of the UAE might seem improbable, but two new tropical biodomes have brought the unlikely vision to reality. The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi opens today next to The National Aquarium at Al Qana. The domes, which mirror the environment of butterfly habitats in Asia and central South America, also house other species of insects, tarantulas and small exotic animals including a family of sloths and a pair of Palawan bearcats.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AI GETS POSH

A new Saudi-backed partnership is putting artificial intelligence to work at the kingdom’s new luxury seaside resorts. Red Sea Global and Bunat Ventures are launching an AI venture fund targeting startups, with plans to back about 25 budding firms a year, Arab News reports. Beyond funding, the program will give founders access to RSG’s resorts, airport operations and other assets as testing grounds. The partners say the effort is designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem, attract talent and support the kingdom’s broader push into advanced technologies.

BACK FOR MORE

Just a day after the Qatar Investment Authority was named among investors in a $20 billion fundraising for Elon Musk’s xAI, another one of its big AI bets, Anthropic, was reported to be in talks to raise another $10 billion. The AI startup behind ChatGPT competitor Claude is seeking funding at a $350 billion valuation, which has almost doubled since it raised $13 billion from investors including the QIA just four months ago. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, and Coatue Management are leading the new financing, with Microsoft and Nvidia also expected to take part, Bloomberg reports. The QIA and Abu Dhabi fund MGX were among a cohort putting new funds into xAI, the start-up behind generative AI chatbot Grok and social media platform X, it was announced on Wednesday. 

Public Investment Fund: PIF-owned Diriyah Co. signed a joint development deal with Midad Real Estate Investment & Development Co. to build the Four Seasons Diriyah Hotel and private residences. 

G42: Abu Dhabi Police and UAE-based AI spacetech company Space42 signed a preliminary agreement to collaborate on smart security and autonomous vehicle systems.

Aramco: Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC’s shares fell 5% after it announced it will sell $950 million worth of assets across Europe and the Americas as part of a restructure.

Mubadala: Galp Energia is in early talks with the owners of Spain’s Moeve, owned by Mubadala and Carlyle, about combining their Iberian downstream assets through two joint ventures in retail and industrial energy activities, Bloomberg reports.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development: The government fund launched a new Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform to invest $2 billion in innovative water projects worldwide by 2030.

🎭 Fun Fund: Abu Dhabi firm Ethmar International Holding and Los Angeles-based Guggenheim Brothers Media announced they would launch an investment fund in Abu Dhabi focused on media and digital entertainment.

🚰 Blue Bonds: UAE-based lender Emirates NBD raised $1 billion in so-called blue and green bonds aimed at supporting environmental objectives.

🏦 Bond Demand: Israel sold $6 billion of bonds in an oversubscribed international debt offering, an indication that the country’s fiscal position is rebounding since a ceasefire in Gaza took effect in October.

🛫 Debts & Jets: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are in talks to convert about $2 billion of Saudi loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal, deepening military cooperation months after the two nations signed a mutual defense pact, Reuters reports.

🌐 Wifi Connection: Qatar Airways has become the first airline to enable Starlink on the Boeing 787-8, with nearly 120 widebody aircraft now connected after equipping its entire Airbus A350 fleet in a record eight months.

🛢️ Oil Nationals: Iraq has appointed the state-run Basra Oil Company to manage operations at the West Qurna-2 oilfield, in line with its service contract with Russia’s Lukoil.

🍼 Milk Recall: UAE, Kuwait and Qatar joined Saudi Arabia in recalling and warning consumers over some brands of Nestle baby formula, which have shown traces of a toxic substance.

🚆 Next Stop: Etihad Rail has announced additional passenger stations across the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, to open in phases ahead of the service’s launch this year.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Development Council at Qasr Al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, one day after he met with Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, along with Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, and other officials. 

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, President and Chairman of the University of Sharjah, chaired the 60th meeting of the board at the university.

Nigel Farage, the Reform U.K. party leader who has criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for taking gifts from donors, met officials in the UAE and attended last month’s Formula One car race on a trip paid for by the Abu Dhabi government, the Financial Times reports.

Amer Bisat, Lebanon’s Economy Minister, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that the country’s Central Bank is now strong enough to support a plan to pay back depositors whose money has been trapped for years..

Selim Kervanci, CEO of HSBC Middle East, told Bloomberg that the bank is seeing growing interest from Asian firms looking to expand in the region.

Samir Akel was appointed Regional Vice President for Emerging Markets at Nintex, a maker of business automation systems.

Neil Budd was appointed CEO of Finshape, which helps banks implement digital banking operations.

🎸 Sea Shanty: The rich tradition of Kuwaiti pearl-diving music, which boosted morale during long and perilous journeys at sea, is the inspiration behind UAE-based band Boom. Diwan. The band is gearing up to perform at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Red Theater next Wednesday, alongside international guests. Musician Ghazi Al Mulaifi joined The National’s Culture Bites podcast ahead of the performance to talk about his own family’s history of pearl diving and how his band has revived the rhythms of traditional music in a Khaleeji jazz-fusion style. 

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHATBOT BILLIONS

The Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi fund MGX have raised their stakes in xAI, joining a cohort of investors in an upsized $20 billion funding round for Elon Musk’s ChatGPT competitor. The start-up behind generative AI chatbot Grok and social media platform X initially planned to raise $15 billion. The company has more than doubled its valuation since it raised $10 billion in July, delivering a paper windfall to the Gulf funds, which already hold shares alongside Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holdings. The fresh funds will partly be used in xAI’s aggressive infrastructure push, which includes building a 500-megawatt data center in Saudi Arabia in a deal inked with Nvidia and the kingdom’s AI flagship Humain during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington in November.

CREATIVE WATERFRONT

Dubai’s Design District is set to be transformed from blocks of warehouse-like buildings into a sprawling, canal-lined neighborhood with a “pedestrian-first spine” to encourage year-round walking. The masterplan, led by developer Meraas, will cover more than 1.6 million square meters and include cultural quarters, green spaces and five distinct zones combining residences, retail, hospitality, and creative spaces. A central feature, the Design Line, will be a shaded, walkable route lined with art installations and community areas connecting the district. While the project’s value and start date have not been disclosed, Dubai Holding Real Estate said it aims to strengthen the city’s status as a global hub for design, talent and long-term investment.

L’imad Holding Co.: Abu Dhabi-listed Modon Holding has awarded Orascom Construction a $316 million contract to develop the 50-acre Wadi Yemm mixed-use neighborhood within the Ras El Hekma megaproject on Egypt’s North Coast.

ADNOC: Borouge, which is majority owned by the UAE’s national oil company, has completed a proof of concept for AI-powered autonomous operations at its Ruwais facility with Honeywell.

Mumtalakat: BlueFive Capital, owned by multiple groups including Bahrain’s sovereign fund, has been appointed as the first General Partner of a $4.6 billion, 15-year Fund of Funds established by China’s CICC Capital and Chinese steelmaker HBIS Group.

☀️ Renewable Energy: Emirates Islamic has approved a $500 million structured funding loan for Romania’s Mass Group Holding to develop a natural gas-fired power plant in Romania.

🌀 Water Works: Kuwait-listed HEISCO won a $186 million contract from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy for works at the Al-Khairan power plant and Al-Zour plant.

💵 Muscat Bonds: Oman plans to raise $2.2 billion in 2026 through four government development bonds and two sovereign local sukuk issuances to cover its budget deficit and public debt servicing.

🏢 New Offering: Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties is planning to sell long-term U.S. dollar hybrid bonds.

💰 New Hub: Oman is planning to build its own international financial center to attract global institutions in competition with established hubs in neighboring Gulf states. 

✈️ Rescue Flight:Yemenia Airways resumed direct flights between Socotra Island and Jeddah for the first time in years, with the first flight on Jan. 7 set to evacuate stranded foreign tourists.

👶 Milk Warning:The Saudi Food and Drug Authority warned consumers to avoid certain Nestlé baby formulas after a voluntary recall over possible contamination.

💬 Early Chatter: U.K.-based digital bank Revolut is in early talks to acquire Turkish digital bank FUPS as it explores entering the Turkish market, Bloomberg reports. 

🤝 Bonding Together: Israel and Syria have agreed to share intelligence and explore commercial ties through a joint U.S.-supervised mechanism aimed at easing military tensions and boosting diplomatic engagement.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed appointed Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed as Chairman of the National Media Authority and Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi as Vice Chairman.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman chaired a Cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Tuesday. 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, reviewed progress on the Jumeirah Beach 1 development project on Tuesday.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, met with a delegation from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government at his palace in Saqr bin Mohammed City on Tuesday.

Abdulla Al Naboodah, Chairman of Dubai Basketball, told Arabian Gulf Business Insights that the club, which has one of the lowest roster budgets in the EuroLeague, will continue to take a disciplined approach to funding to ensure the long-term viability of the team.

Ahmad Soubra, Head of Value Creation at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said the fund has adopted a “cluster-led investment strategy” in line with the emirate’s shift away from tracking capital inflows in favor of long-term jobs and value.

Tarik Erk was appointed as the new Regional Head at Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

David Abt, Robin Bachmann and James Church-Morley were among a group of 53 executives at Dubai-based FTI Consulting who were promoted to the post of Senior Managing Director.

🐴 A Horse of Course: The Arab world’s cultural obsession with horses has a new monument, with the launch of a dedicated equestrian library at the recently opened Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts campus. The first of its kind in the region, the library’s shelves hold more than 14,000 books on “every aspect” of the field, from equine history and breeding to training, saddlery and stories of famous horses throughout history. There is even a dedicated children’s section. “The ADREA Library is infused with the spirit of horses,” UAE literary figure Isobel Abulhoul, who curated the collection, told Arab News.

Jan. 9-11, Dubai. 1 Billion Followers Summit. A gathering of global content creators to discuss the latest trends. Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, Dubai International Financial Center.

Jan. 11-15, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  With the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence. ADNEC. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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