DUBAI BUFFER

Dubai has managed to keep supermarket shelves stocked despite the Iran conflict by relying on large inventories, diversified suppliers and rapid logistics adjustments. Supermarket chains such as Carrefour, operated in the UAE by Majid Al Futtaim, increased orders and drew on existing warehouse reserves while sourcing additional products from Europe and India to offset delays from usual Gulf routes, Bloomberg reports. Iran, the top supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables to the UAE, has banned exports of all food and agricultural products until further notice. UAE Economy Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said at a briefing in Abu Dhabi last week the country has strategic reserves of essential items to cover four to six months and keep prices stable.

GULF BOTTLENECK

About 1,000 vessels carrying roughly 20,000 crew members are unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid fears of Iranian attacks, cutting traffic by nearly 90%. The International Maritime Organization says many of the ships are idling near the narrow waterway, while 2,474 vessels, including 178 oil tankers, have remained in the Gulf waters since March 5. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed “grave concern” after recent attacks killed at least seven seafarers and called on operators to exercise “maximum caution.” Roughly 20% of the world’s oil is transported through the Strait of Hormuz.

Public Investment Fund: The Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s Roshn Group signed a $177 million deal with Miskan Real Estate to develop a property in Riyadh.

International Holding Co.: Judan Financial, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s IHC, acquired a 50.1% stake in Alpha Wave Global, a U.S.-based investment management firm.

Mubadala: Mubadala Bio announced the launch of two cardiovascular medications, Ticagrelor and Tirofiban, produced through its UAE subsidiaries.

📈 Coming Home: Shareholders of Dubai Residential REIT approved a $150 million dividend for the second half of 2025, which followed its May 2025 listing on the Dubai Financial Market.

🏨 Touch Down: Dubai-based Azizi Developments has broken ground on a 5-star hotel in its Azizi Riviera community, kicking off a $20.4 billion investment plan that includes 10 hotels.

🧠 AI Jackpot: Vast Data, an Israeli startup focused on AI infrastructure that includes Nvidia, Goldman Sachs and General Atlantic among its investors, raised $1 billion in a private equity funding round that valued the company at $30 billion, Calcalist reports.

✈️ Airport Builders: Companies from China, the U.S., Turkey, France, and Singapore are among 89 firms that expressed interest in developing Saudi Arabia’s Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport as part of an initial bidding process.

🏡 Cooling Down: Moody’s Ratings expects Dubai’s real estate sales to decline slightly and price increases to slow, while noting that the market’s overall fundamentals remain stable.

💰 Deficit Dreams: The surge in oil prices amid the Iran war could help narrow Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit if exports by Saudi Aramco continue, Tim Callen, a former IMF mission chief to Saudi Arabia, tells Arabian Gulf Business Insight.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, met for an iftar meal with other members of the government and issued a statement pledging their “determination and capability” to overcome the challenges of being attacked by Iran.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh ​Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani spoke by phone with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday to discuss efforts to keep the Iran conflict from widening.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Cyprus on Monday, where he met with President Nikos Christodoulides and West German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held a phone call with  New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Jasem Al-Budaiwi, the GCC Secretary-General, met with China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

Rayan Qutub, Head of the Logistics Council at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could push global shipping lines to reroute operations to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports, potentially adding about 250,000 containers and 70,000 vehicles per month.

Omar Alsebeyi, acting CEO at Etihad Rail Freight, argues in an opinion piece that the future of UAE logistics will depend on transporting products by train.

🗿 Sculpture City: Riyadh will install 25 large-scale sculptures across public spaces in the Saudi capital that were made during  the city’s seventh Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium. The two-month event that wrapped up last week turned Riyadh’s Tahlia Street into an open-air studio where Saudi and international artists carved works from granite, reclaimed metal and other materials, Arab News reports. The sculptures will join Riyadh’s permanent public art collection as the city expands efforts to incorporate contemporary art into its urban spaces.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

AUTO ACCESS

The trade pact negotiated last week by the UAE and Japan should strengthen Japanese auto exports by gradually removing tariffs. The agreement calls for the UAE to eliminate duties on many finished cars from Japan within seven years, easing costs for manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda, Nippon reports. Japanese officials say the deal will help their companies compete more effectively with South Korean automakers, whose country already has a similar trade agreement with the UAE spaced over 10 years. The UAE has become Japan’s biggest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, making the Gulf market increasingly important for Japanese car exports.

HORSE HAVEN

Qatar transported 75 competition horses and their grooms for refuge in Belgium after cancelation of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha due to the Iran conflict. Another 63 horses are scheduled to make the crossing from Qatar to the “Horse Inn” in Liege, Belgium, this week, Equnews reports. The Belgian facility is a hub for moving high-value sport horses for the Olympics and major tournaments, often in response to geopolitical crises. Meanwhile, leading European trainers and owners say they will delay decisions on sending horses to the $30 million Dubai World Cup meeting, watching security developments in the Middle East before committing runners to the March 28 event, TDN reports.

Saudi Aramco: The world’s largest oil company is offering ​some 4 ‌ million barrels of Saudi crude in ​rare tenders ​as the U.S.-Iran conflict ⁠disrupted exports from ​the Middle East, Reuters reports. 

ADNOC: The Abu Dhabi energy giant said it is adjusting offshore production while maintaining normal onshore operations and activating contingency protocols to ensure global delivery continuity.

Bapco Energies: Bahrain’s main energy company made a force majeure declaration, suspending operations that have been affected by the Iran conflict.

💰 Raising Capital: Dubai-based TruDoc Healthcare said it has raised $15 million in a Pre-Series B round backed by the Al Nahyan and Al-Ketbi families, and Pulsar Capital, to accelerate its goal of becoming the GCC’s largest virtual-first healthcare provider.

📊 Slowing Down: Startup funding in the MENA region fell to $327 million across 62 deals in February, down by 38% year-on-year.

💶 Dividend Due: Saudi investment company Savola Group proposed a dividend of $136 million for 2025 after reporting a 13% year-on-year increase in revenue.

✈️ Jet-Set Bet: Muscat Airport in Oman has asked private jet operators to avoid using the airport so it can prioritize government and commercial flights, as airspace closures disrupt regional travel and the airport becomes a key hub for European repatriation flights, The Financial Times reports.

🏗️ Risky Business: UAE homebuilders are likely to conserve cash after the Middle East geopolitical shock, with falling property viewings and heavy reliance on overseas demand creating risk despite near-term stability, Fitch Ratings said. 

⚡ Power Link: Tunisia’s share of the ELMED electricity interconnection project with Italy is estimated at $676 million and is expected to generate $83 million to $211 million annually, shared equally between all parties, according to Wael Chouchane of Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss the conflict with Iran and other regional issues. Sheikh Mohamed also held a call with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, received a phone call from Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah, Kuwait’s Prime Minister on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, met with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, on Sunday. Also present were Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates Airline and Chairman of Dubai Airports.

Saad al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, told The Financial ‌Times that all Gulf energy producers would shut down exports within weeks if the Iran conflict continues ​and drives oil ⁠to $150 a barrel.

Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the UAE Central Bank, said in a statement that the UAE’s banking systems had “very strong” levels of capital adequacy and liquidity.

Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS, the world’s largest visa processing company, told The Financial Times he is confident global migration will remain resilient despite tensions from the Iran conflict.

📚 Devouring Fiction: The Big Bad Wolf book fair has extended its Dubai run through March 15, offering more than 1 million English-language titles at discounts of up to 95%. Founded in Kuala Lumpur in 2009, Big Bad Wolf has grown into a touring book sale held in cities across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, The National reports. Outside the UAE, the Big Bad Wolf sale has also been staged in Saudi Arabia.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

ESCAPE ROUTE

Muscat International Airport has turned into a key evacuation hub from the Iran conflict for wealthy Gulf travelers, with a surge in business-jet departures. Since Feb. 28, more than 90 private jets have departed from the normally quiet Omani airport, Bloomberg reports. Private jet broker LunaJets received over 800 evacuation requests in 24 hours amid regional panic, arranging two large group flights from Muscat. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have begun restoring parts of their networks with reduced schedules as regional airspace restrictions ease, warning passengers that some journeys may take longer due to rerouted flight paths.

STALLED CARS

Neolix, a Chinese autonomous delivery vehicle maker, has suspended daily operations of its driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi. The move comes amid rising regional tensions after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel during the sixth day of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, Chinese media outlet Yicai reported on Thursday. The suspension complies with UAE government requirements and aims to ensure the safety of personnel and assets. Other Chinese autonomous vehicle firms are also adjusting operations, with WeRide pausing its robotaxi fleet in Dubai and Pony.ai briefly halting on-road testing in Doha and Dubai before resuming in Doha on Monday.

International Holding Co.: Abu Dhabi-based investment firm 2PointZero Group, an IHC company, has acquired a 60% stake in Italy’s ISEM Packaging Group for $192 million.

Qatar Investment Authority: The QIA joined a $500 million financing round for California-based commercial space station developer Vast.

EDGE Group: The Abu Dhabi-owned defense conglomerate signed a strategic agreement to help strengthen Ecuador’s national border protection systems.

Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabian Mining Company, known as Maaden, said its 2025 net profit more than doubled, and the revenue rose by 19%.

💵 Strategic Plan: Lesha Bank, formerly known as Qatar First Bank, said on Friday it will acquire Guernsey-based aircraft lessor Amedeo Air Four Plus for $1 billion.

🏠 Building Block: Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Majed Real Estate Company awarded a $20.5 million turnkey contract to Emarna Contracting Co. to build eight residential buildings.

💰 Staking Fund: Bahrain-based Investcorp closed a fund that buys minority stakes in private investment firms, securing more than $1.25 billion in commitments.

🚁 Drone Defense: The U.S. and Qatar are in talks with Ukraine about acquiring interceptor drones designed to shoot down Iranian-made Shahed UAVs, with Ukrainian specialists traveling to Doha and Abu Dhabi to share battlefield experience countering the systems, Reuters reports.

🤝 Trade Pact: The UAE and Japan finalized an economic partnership to strengthen bilateral relations and boost trade, investment and cooperation in sectors like technology, logistics, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education.

🗞️ Headline News: German media group Axel Springer has bought London’s Telegraph Media Group in a 575 million-pound ($765 million) deal, scuppering a proposed acquisition by the Daily Mail.

🇦🇪 Solid Ground: Regional business councils say the inflow of companies and wealthy individuals into the UAE is unlikely to be affected in the long term, despite possible short-term disruptions from the war with Iran, Arabian Gulf Business Insights reports. 

👑 Gold Lining: Gold is being sold at a steep discount in Dubai as traders struggle to move bullion out of the precious metals trading hub, Bloomberg reports.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call on Thursday with Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, held a phone call with Sheikh Sabah Khaled AlHamad, Crown Prince of Kuwait.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday. He also met with Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Thursday that Egypt is continuing to try to launch a mediation effort that’s both sincere and honest to stop the Iran war.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, warned on Thursday that the Iran conflict will have effects on energy prices, market sentiment, growth and inflation if it is prolonged.

George Prokopiou: The Greek billionaire’s Dynacom is making a fortune as one of the few legal tanker operators willing to sail to and from the Gulf, the Financial Times reports.

Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, was named Chairman of Egyptian investment bank CI Capital, succeeding Ahmed Issa, Egypt’s former minister of tourism.

Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello was appointed as CEO of the Saudi Red Sea Authority. 

Khalaf Al Habtoor, the Emirati billionaire and founding Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, criticized the U.S. for drawing the Gulf region into conflict with Iran.

📚 Literary Gathering: Dubai’s weeklong “Ramadan Nights by the Creek” program wraps up on Saturday outside the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, featuring poetry readings, live oud performances, and craft workshops. The festival also features a Ramadan market along the waterfront and a dedicated Food Street with cooking demonstrations of traditional Emirati cuisine.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

TOKYO TRIP

The chief of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company has reassured Japanese customers and investors that construction at the company’s massive Ruwais LNG export facility is on track despite the Iran conflict, as Asian countries scramble to secure energy supplies. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and officials from the country’s trade ministry in Tokyo on Thursday amid growing concerns over energy flows to Asia after Qatar suspended LNG output. Japanese buyers, including Mitsui & Co. and Osaka Gas have stakes or long-term off-take agreements in the Ruwais project, while Yokohama, Japan-based JGC Corporation is part of a $5.5 billion joint venture carrying out the engineering, procurement and construction on the project. Al Jaber, who is also the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said energy security continued to be a priority, but “we will not be able to do much if there is any distortion in the Strait of Hormuz.” 

REAL TEST

The UAE’s years-long property rally faces its first major test after Iranian missile strikes unsettled investors, sending shares in developers such as Aldar Properties and Emaar Properties down about 5%. The sell-off comes as analysts had already warned that a pipeline of new housing supply expected by 2028 could outpace population growth, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, bond prices of major developers also dropped sharply, effectively shutting the debt market. With expatriates and overseas buyers underpinning much of the market’s demand, investors say the outlook will depend largely on whether foreign appetite for property in the UAE holds up.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: PayPay Corp., a subsidiary of SoftBank, has secured anchor investments from ADIA, the Qatar Investment Authority, and Visa, which together committed up to $220 million, Reuters reports. 

Mumtalakat: Aluminium Bahrain, owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, declared force majeure to suspend some contracts after shipping disruptions tied to the Iran conflict halted exports.

Qatar Investment Authority: The sovereign wealth fund joined a $500 million funding round for Ayar Labs, a Nvidia-backed semiconductor firm developing technology that uses light instead of copper wiring to move data between AI chips.

🔥 Gas Freeze: Qatar could take weeks to restart LNG shipments after halting production and declaring a force majeure suspension, threatening supplies equal to about a fifth of global LNG trade, Reuters reports.

🛠️ Facilities Management: Saudi Logistics Services Co. acquired a 100% stake in Belgian ground handling firm Aviapartner Liege for $32.8 million.

✈️ Return Flight: Emirates will operate more than 100 flights in and out of Dubai over the next two days, carrying essential cargo and passengers as it works to partially restore its schedule, The National reports.

💰 Chinese Pullback: Some Chinese financial firms are reducing exposure to Middle Eastern debt amid a widening conflict, Bloomberg reports. 

⚡ Grid Guard: TAQA, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., said it activated risk-management and business-continuity plans to protect electricity and water supplies amid the Iran missile conflict.

💰 Tax Incentive: Some wealthy Dubai residents stranded abroad by the Iran war are attempting to return home quickly to avoid losing their tax-free residencies, The Financial Times reports.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held phone calls with multiple foreign ministers and officials on Thursday to discuss the latest regional developments.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone call on Wednesday with Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China.

Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, Saudi Ambassador to Spain, met with Shaikha Nasser Al-Nowais, Secretary-General of the U.N. World Tourism Organization, at the organization’s headquarters in Madrid.

Nassef Sawiris, the Egyptian billionaire, was nominated by Adidas to be Chairman of the German sportswear maker, replacing Thomas Rabe.

Ben Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp., was tapped by U.S. President Donald Trump to help keep oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz by offering U.S.-backed political-risk insurance to tanker owners after private insurers pulled coverage, the Financial Times reports.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a LinkedIn post that he has been “working closely with airport authorities, airlines and security agencies to support our frontline teams as operations gradually stabilize.” 

☂️ Nanny Tales: Mary Poppins is coming to Abu Dhabi. The legendary umbrella-toting nanny immortalized in the 1964 Disney film will be singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “A Spoonful of Sugar” at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Performances of the hit West End musical based on the movie run from March 25 to April 15.

March 25-27: Miami Beach, Fla. FII PRIORITY Miami 2026. Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative holds annual U.S. conference. Faena Hotel.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

EGYPT DETOUR

Egypt said it could facilitate the transit of Saudi oil through its territory to ease export bottlenecks, positioning the Suez Canal and its pipeline infrastructure as alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said Tuesday that Egypt is prepared to transport Saudi crude from the Red Sea port of Yanbu to the Mediterranean via the Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline, known as Sumed. The proposal comes after Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco told some buyers of its Arab Light crude that cargoes must be loaded at Yanbu on the Red Sea coast – a move sources say is intended to bypass the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on shipping. The Sumed route is not a direct alternative to Hormuz but offers a complementary route. The line runs across Egypt from the Gulf of Suez to the Mediterranean and has a capacity of about 2.5 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

BLOCKED BULLION

Flight disruptions across the Middle East have slowed bullion shipments from Dubai, stalling gold flows from one of the world’s largest trading hubs and tightening logistics for refiners and dealers, Bloomberg reports. The UAE is a key hub in the global gold market, refining and exporting bullion across Asia and serving as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland and London through air cargo. Although the disruption in Dubai is expected to be temporary, prolonged flight suspensions by carriers including Emirates and Etihad Airways could squeeze supplies to key markets, echoing pandemic-era disruptions that created major arbitrage opportunities for banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. Shipping bullion overland to other regional airports is often considered too risky and complex compared with transporting gold in passenger aircraft cargo holds, where insurers typically limit shipments by value rather than weight. Industry experts say armored convoys are possible, but far from ideal.

Saudi Aramco: Shipping rates from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia have doubled as Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, seeks to reroute crude exports away from the Strait of Hormuz toward Red Sea terminals.

AD Ports: The Abu Dhabi-owned shipping company said all its activities have been resumed after the company activated precautionary steps to safeguard its business from the Iran conflict.

International Holding Co.: A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed 2PointZero Group has acquired an undisclosed stake in U.S. health-tech firm Whoop, which has raised over $400 million since 2005.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi’s green energy company will be a minority partner in a $1.2 billion green hydrogen project in Spain’s Andalusia region, approved by Spanish energy company Moev.

💰 Budget Boost: Saudi Arabia approved a new package of spending measures aimed at supporting growth and cushioning the private sector from the economic fallout of regional instability.

🥖 Food Shield: The UAE has secured a six-month strategic food reserve to stabilize domestic markets, Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, calling food security a red line as supply chains face strain.

🔧 Technical Design: Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Mills Company for Food Products signed $19 million in agreements with Bühler AG to supply equipment and technical designs for new and upgraded mills.

📈 Trading Restart: The Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange resumed trading today after a temporary halt triggered by regional tensions.

📊 Market Strain: Investors are reassessing exposure to Gulf assets as oil volatility, disrupted trade routes and rising geopolitical risk ripple through equities, bonds and commodities markets, the Financial Times reports.

🇪🇬 Egyptian Crisis: Egypt’s economy is facing mounting pressure from capital outflows, higher import costs and weaker currency conditions, complicating reform efforts backed by Gulf funding and international lenders, The National reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday to discuss the military escalation in the Middle East. The UAE President received phone calls from world leaders expressing solidarity following the Iranian attacks, including Tanzania’s President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The UAE President also received a phone call from Dr. Ahmed Al‑Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al‑Azhar.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Iran’s latest move as a provocative step likely to draw a coordinated response from Gulf Cooperation Council states, signaling heightened diplomatic and security coordination.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met with Johann Wadephul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, in Berlin.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa reaffirmed his country’s commitment to regional stability and coordination with allies as tensions escalate.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, honored the winners of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation for 2026 on Tuesday.

Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, said Easter bookings across Europe are rising as travelers divert from Middle East destinations affected by the conflict.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, said on Wednesday ⁠that it may ‌take a “couple of weeks” for investors to more fully digest the impacts of conflict in the Middle East.

Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, spoke on Bloomberg Live about how the firm is evolving its business in manufacturing, defense, AI and data to remain competitive not only in  the Middle East.

Dr. Faisal Mohammed Al‑Faqeerwas appointed CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), following the resignation of Abdulrahman Al‑Fageeh.

🎾 Stadium Shock: The escalating Middle East conflict is rippling through global sports, stranding athletes and complicating travel to events such as the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. Tennis tournaments in the UAE were halted, soccer matches in Iran and Qatar were postponed, and Asian Champions League fixtures were delayed as security concerns mounted, Reuters reports. Motor racing has also been hit, with the World Endurance Championship postponing its Qatar season opener and Formula One monitoring whether next month’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can proceed as scheduled. 

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

EXPAT EXODUS

Thousands of Western expats are rushing to leave the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and other Gulf state after three days of Iranian drone and missile strikes. A limited number of commercial flights resumed on Monday from the UAE as the conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran had largely halted aviation. British authorities urged citizens in the Gulf to register online to facilitate possible evacuation. Flight prices between Asia and Europe have surged, and seats were selling out after key Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai International Airport, Reuters reports. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, meanwhile, sought to reassure Dubai residents that the government was working to keep them safe, making a public appearance at the Dubai Mall on Monday, setting off a storm of enthusiastic postings on Instagram and other social media.

TRADE AS USUAL

Seemingly undeterred from pursuing its long-term investment objectives amid Iranian bombardment, the UAE signed a trade pact with Ecuador on Sunday, with more than $3 billion in potential deals on the table. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement at a ceremony in the capital city of Quito on Sunday. It followed a visit to Ecuador by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed, who met with President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa on Sunday ahead of the pact signing. Among the potential deals is a $250 million collaboration between the UAE’s EDGE Group and Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense. Ecuador is the fourth Latin American country to sign a CEPA with the UAE, joining Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia. Al Zeyoudi said the UAE is Ecuador’s largest trading partner across the Arab world and Africa, accounting for about 30% of total trade with the regions combined.

Oman Investment Authority: OQ Exploration and Production, an Oman-listed exploration and production company, said the $1.6 billion Marsa LNG bunkering project is progressing as planned.

Qatar Investment Authority: A consortium of investors including BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, investment group EQT and the QIA agreed to acquire Arlington, Virginia-based utility AES for $10.7 billion.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: The Abu Dhabi sovereign fund sold its Novotel and Ibis hotels in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to Wentworth Capital for $390 million, the Australian Financial Review reports.

Qatar Energy: QatarEnergy said on Tuesday it has decided to temporarily halt downstream production in Qatar, including for urea, polymers, methanol and aluminum.

🍽️ Meal Deal: Saudi Arabia’s airline catering firm Catrion has acquired a majority shareholding in Riyadh-based airport hospitality firm Al Khalejiah Catering Co. in a deal worth as much as $117.56 million.

📺 Streaming Merger: Paramount Skydance said it will combine Paramount+ and HBO Max services into a single streaming platform to challenge Netflix after the Gulf-backed $110 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

🏘️ Winning Bid: United Real Estate Company has emerged as the winning investor for a major waterfront project in Kuwait City.

📉 Airline Pressures: The current Middle East conflict is testing the finances of international airlines as higher costs and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on routes and profitability, the Financial Times reports.

🚆 On Track: Etihad Rail operated a test run of a passenger service from Al Ghuwaifat, near the border with Saudi Arabia, to Al Faya station in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, in co-ordination with the Emergencies, Crisis and Disasters Management Centre.

💻 AI Drive: Ethiopia is launching Medemer Artificial Intelligence University, poised to become Africa’s first university fully dedicated to AI and the world’s second such institution after Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

🚢 Protect Hormuz: China urged all sides in the Iran conflict to immediately halt military operations and protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as tanker traffic has largely stopped amid U.S.-Israel strikes and Iran’s response.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made a public appearance at the Dubai Mall on Monday, together with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defense Minister.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held phone calls with several foreign ministers, including Dr. Fuad Mohammed Hussein of Iraq, Yvette Cooper of the U.K. and Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, held a telephone call with Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of Oman.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, discussed the latest developments in the region with his counterparts from Egypt, Russia and Canada on Monday.

Mohamed Rashid bin Taliah was approved as Dubai’s Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Government Knowledge Exchange by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Joe Lonsdale, a founder of Palantir Technologies, said in a post on X the UAE’s Ministry of Defense “should be lauded” for its preparations to deal with missile fire from Iran.

🏎️ Engine Trouble: Formula One’s governing body is closely monitoring the conflict with Iran in the run-up to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, which opens an F1 season featuring races across the Middle East. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia hold their F1 races in April, while Qatar hosts in November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the season in December. “We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments ‌carefully and ⁠responsibly,” Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Emirati who heads F1’s governing International Automobile Federation, said in a statement.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

STORMY SEAS

Insurance companies are telling ship owners they may cancel policies and raise coverage prices as much as 50% for vessels traveling through the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reports. Cargo war risk insurers – which cover commodities carried on tankers, such as grain and oil – said that they were preparing to cancel policies and renegotiate coverage at higher prices, rather than denying coverage for ships sailing into the region, the newspaper said. Danish container shipping line Maersk, meanwhile, halted sailings through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, citing escalating regional security risks. The move is expected to lengthen shipping times and raise freight costs.

MISSED CONNECTION

Businesses in the UAE and Bahrain are facing network disruption issues as Amazon said its cloud unit’s data centers faced connectivity and power disruptions after Iranian strikes on Gulf countries. Two of its data center zones in the UAE were left without power, according to the company’s status page. Amazon Web Services said earlier that one UAE facility was hit by objects that caused sparks and a fire, leading to a shutdown, and later confirmed another localized power issue in the region, Reuters reports. While some services had started to recover, AWS said that full restoration could take several hours. It did not say whether the outages were linked to the Iranian strikes.

ADNOC: The UAE’s national oil and gas company is delaying a planned debut sale of yuan-denominated notes, Bloomberg reports.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: The Abu Dhabi sovereign fund is in talks with Project Prometheus, an artificial intelligence startup co-led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, which is raising tens of billions of dollars to buy companies impacted by AI, The Financial Times reports.

Core42: The UAE Central Bank is teaming up with Core42, a unit of Abu Dhabi-owned AI company G42, to build a sovereign financial cloud aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across the country’s banking system.

Mubadala: Acelen, owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, will boost diesel output by 10% in June at its Brazilian refinery Mataripe as part of a $143 million investment plan.

🔩 Metal Deal: Aluminium Bahrain, known as Alba, fully acquired Europe’s primary Aluminium smelter, Aluminium Dunkerque from AIP VII Europe Sarl., a subsidiary of AIP Fund VII managed by American Industrial Partners.

💳 Exclusive Club: Suez Canal Bank and Alameda Healthcare Group partnered to integrate premium banking with medical services.

⛽ Production Halt: QatarEnergy ceased liquefied natural gas production after military attacks on its Ras Laffan complex, the world’s biggest natural gas export facility.

✈️ Airport Hit: Iranian strikes disrupted thousands of flights and damaged facilities at Dubai International Airport, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute services and adding to regional travel turmoil.

📈 Closed Shop: The UAE Capital Market Authority announced that the country’s capital markets, including the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market, will be closed March 2-3.

📦 Action Returns: ⁠Dubai’s ‌DP ​World ​said on Monday its operations ​at ⁠UAE’s ​Jebel ‌Ali port ⁠have ⁠resumed, Reuters reports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a phone call on Sunday from U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing Iranian attacks on Gulf countries and review developments in the region.

Sheikh Mohamed received a phone call today from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The pair discussed the Iranian attacks in the Gulf and the wider security and military developments in the region.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held phone calls with several foreign ministers on Sunday to discuss regional developments and the repercussions of Iran’s missile attacks.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, concluded his visit to Ecuador, at the invitation of President Daniel Noboa who awarded the Crown Prince the the National Order of Merit in the Grade of Grand Collar.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, visited the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday for a community event during Ramadan.

Samir J. Serhan was appointed CEO of ACWA Power, the Saudi renewable energy company owned by the Public Investment Fund, replacing Marco Arcelli.

Vince Cook, the CEO of National Bank of Fujairah, discussed the bank’s comeback after years of setbacks, in an interview with The National.

Pavel Durov, Founder and CEO of Telegram and a resident of Dubai, said in a post on X that he left the UAE for Europe a week ago, but can’t wait to be back.

🎨 Royal Canvas: Dubai Collection Nights is returning for a fourth edition, opening normally private holdings to the public through exhibitions, tours and studio visits across the city. Among the highlights of the event running through March 14 is Syrian artist Moustafa Fathi’s Untitled, which is from the personal collection of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, The National reports.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

SCREEN DREAM

A $111 billion Gulf-backed bid for Hollywood studio Warner Bros. Discovery appears to have prevailed after streaming giant Netflix dropped out of the fight. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav said the $31-a-share offer from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance would “create tremendous value for our shareholders.” Paramount has aggressively pursued Warner Bros., launching multiple successive offers backed by various configurations of Gulf sovereign wealth funds, including the Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. In December the newly-formed Abu Dhabi state investment vehicle L’imad Holding Co. joined the fray by backing a $108 billion hostile offer. L’imad’s total commitment under the revised offer is not yet known.

WINDY FRONTIER

Masdar, the UAE’s sustainable energy company, will sell a 60% stake in its portfolio of nine wind farms in Portugal to Exus Renewables, while retaining a 40% holding. The projects have entered the final stage of repowering and are due for completion by 2027, the companies said in a statement on Thursday. Once fully operational, the upgraded sites are expected to supply clean electricity to more than 200,000 households and cut carbon emissions by about 41.7 kilotonnes a year. Masdar is seeking to expand across the Iberian peninsula and wider Europe, targeting a global portfolio capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2030.

Public Investment Fund: The PIF appointed Jerry Todd as Acting Head of Investment Strategy while he continues overseeing the national development division, and expanded Chief Financial Officer Yasir Al-Salman’s role to include global capital finance, Bloomberg reports. 

EDGE: AAbu Dhabi Ship Building, part of the UAE-owned Edge Group, expects a surge in military vessel orders and aims to more than double revenue within three years, supported by existing contracts, The National reports.

L’imad Holding: Etihad Airways has become the official partner of McLaren Racing’s Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship programmes from the 2026 season.

🛡️ Defense Contracts: South Korea and the UAE will cooperate on projects worth more than $65 billion, including $35 billion dedicated to the defense industry.

📦 Logistics Aide: Iraq will receive up to $120 million from the International Finance Corporation to expand the capacity of the dedicated container terminal at Umm Qasr Port.

🛠️ Major Win: Larsen & Toubro, an Indian engineering conglomerate, said its power transmission and distribution arm has won contracts to build five substations in the Middle East worth $1.1 billion.

🚗 Driverless Debut: Tesla has begun trials of its self-driving cars in Abu Dhabi, testing the vehicles with safety drivers.

🚄 Chugging Ahead: Egypt is pushing forward with a high-speed rail network linking its Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts, creating what Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir described as a “Suez Canal on Rails.”

🍔 Burger Ban: Abu Dhabi has banned advertising of junk food as part of a drive to tackle obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the emirate.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Abu Dhabi on Thursday at a Ramadan event attended by the rulers of the other six emirates, as well as Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call today with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held separate calls with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, bought a 25% stake in Spain’s UD Almería Football Club through his CR7 Sports Investments Co. The Spanish club is controlled by Saudi businessman Mohamed Al Khereiji.

Mohamed Al Khaja, the UAE Ambassador to Israel, hosted an iftar meal at the Hilton Tel Aviv on Thursday night for some 300 invited guests, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. 

Malak El Baba was named by Visa as its Country Manager for Egypt and leader of the credit card company’s new sub-region comprising Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.

Todd Boehly, Chairman of Eldridge Industries and co-owner of Chelsea FC, posed for a photograph with Sheikh Zayed bin Tahnoon, the son of UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, along with Khalifa Al-Khouri, Chairman of Enercap Energy.

🏛️ Coming Soon: The long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum is expected to open towards the end of this year, Director Stephanie Rosenthal said during a public event this week, The National reports. The Frank Gehry-designed building is nearing completion, with its giant conical-shaped structure now visible across Saadiyat Island’s cultural district, which it shares with Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

DOWN UNDER

XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company ADNOC, is considering taking over Shell’s stake in Australia’s largest LNG export facility. The British oil giant is talking with potential buyers, including XRG and Midocean Energy, which is backed by Saudi Aramco, for its 16.67% stake in the North West Shelf plant, Bloomberg reports. XRG has been attempting to rapidly expand its LNG assets in the Asia-Pacific market, but has encountered some friction with acquisitions. In September, it walked away from a $19 billion takeover bid for Australia’s second-largest gas producer, Santos, after failing to agree on key terms.

MEGA UNLOCK

Egypt has secured about $2.3 billion in funding from the IMF after completing two reviews of its reform program. The payout follows a preliminary agreement reached in December covering the latest revisions of Egypt’s economic overhaul and its climate-focused financing program. In its latest monetary policy report, the Central Bank of Egypt said the country’s macroeconomic outlook is “cautiously improving,” supported by investment from the Gulf and other countries, along with stronger tourism and money sent home by Egyptians working abroad. Still, the IMF warned that uneven reforms, high debt and regional tensions continue to pose risks.

Public Investment Fund: Lucid, the California-based electric vehicle maker majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, reported a 55% rise in 2025 deliveries, nearly doubling its production.

G42: A $100 million fund launched by G42’s Presight and Abu Dhabi investment company Shorooq has announced its first five investments, including four U.S.-based companies and one Abu Dhabi-based startup.

Emirates Global Aluminium: The UAE company, which is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and Investment Corp. of Dubai, is ramping up aluminum shipments to the U.S. as supply shortages push American prices higher, Bloomberg reports.

Aramco: Saudi Aramco has halted liquified petroleum gas exports from its Juaymah terminal after structural damage to a delivery system, triggering emergency protocols and the cancellation of propane and butane shipments while the impact is assessed, Reuters reports.

📡 Fiber Bet: Bahrain’s Beyon Group won a $2.8 billion contract to build and operate Kuwait’s nationwide fiber communications network under a 50-year public-private partnership.

🔰 Defense Partners: EDGE Group and Spain’s EM&E Group signed an agreement to explore a UAE-based joint venture backed a $1.5 billion commercial pipeline.

💵 Debt Market: Abu Dhabi is entering debt markets for the first time this year, joining a slew of Gulf issuers looking to take advantage favourable rates and strong demand, Bloomberg reports.

🛡️ Plan B: Gambit Security, an Israeli startup that helps companies keep operating after cyberattacks, raised $56 million in a round led by Kleiner Perkins and Spark Capital. 

🧠 Data Push: Zoho, an Indian software firm backed by the billionaire Vembu family, is in talks to build data centers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, Bloomberg reports.

💰 Wealth Magnet: The UAE drew about 9,800 new millionaires in 2025, according to a report by the Dubai International Financial Centre.

🏍️ Food Fight: Governments across the GCC are introducing measures to tame the food delivery industry’s predatory pricing  and protect local restaurants and consumers.

💰 New Ventures: National Bank of Bahrain is exploring expansion into Turkey, Egypt and parts of Central Asia as merger talks with Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait continue.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington on Wednesday. Sheikh Abdullah also met with Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior and held a phone call with Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Advisor, met with Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.

Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, is mediating the third round of U.S.-Iran talks, which started in Geneva today. The Iranian delegation is led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner representing the U.S.

Masood Mohamed Sharif was appointed new Group CEO of e& following the resignation of Hatem Dowidar.

Abdullah Jefri was appointed Division Director for GCC countries, at the International Financial Cooperation, a member of the World Bank Group.

Thamer Al-Muhid, CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries, outlined the company’s plans for developing and supporting defense industries inside the Kingdom in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

☕ Bean Revival: Saudi Arabia is fueling a coffee renaissance by promoting locally grown beans and blending centuries-old hospitality rituals with a boom in modern cafés such as Qaysariat al-Kitab and Elixir Bunn in Riyadh, New Lines Magazine reports. The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund established the Saudi Coffee Company in 2022 to market its Khawlani beans, planting 600,000 trees and investing in sustainable production methods.

Feb 23-26, Miami. iConnections Global Alts Miami 2026. Billed as the largest cap intro event in the world. Miami Beach Convention Center.

March 25-27, Miami. FII Miami 2026. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Public Investment Fund’s Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.

CHIP SALE

Chipmaker Cerebras, a critical partner in the UAE’s ambition to become an AI powerhouse, has filed for an IPO in the U.S. The California-based company, which counts UAE tech investor G42 as its main customer, has been meeting with prospective investors before a listing that could take place as soon as April, The Information reports. Cerebras previously planned to go public last year, but withdrew from the process in December, raising about $1 billion in a private funding round earlier this month instead. In January, it made a $10 billion deal with OpenAI to deliver 750 megawatts of computing power through to 2028, which was seen in part as an attempt to diversify its revenue sources ahead of an IPO.

DREAM ROUTE

Saudi Arabia’s newest national carrier, Riyadh Air, has confirmed it will launch daily flights to Cairo as it accelerates the build-out of its international network. CEO Tony Douglas said the Egyptian capital was a strategically chosen early destination, describing the route as an important step in positioning Riyadh as a global hub. The announcement came at a time when Saudi aviation authorities are advancing plans to strengthen the kingdom’s air-transport ecosystem, highlighting new initiatives aimed at boosting passenger traffic and sector investment. The airline will operate the route using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, with services scheduled to commence shortly after the airline receives its first aircraft in the coming weeks.

International Holding Co.: Burjeel Holdings, the IHC-backed operator of hospitals and medical clinics in the Middle East, is sounding out private credit investors about a potential debt-raising round, Bloomberg reports.

L’imad Holding: Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of L’imad-owned Etihad Airways, said that the company plans to hire between 2,500 to 3,000 new employees per year through 2030, The National reports.

ADNOC: The UAE national oil company’s transition under its Group CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, to a broad-based energy firm with a significant focus on sustainable fuels, is explored in a New York Times feature story.

Qatar Investment Authority: Citigroup agreed to sell a 24% equity stake in Banamex, one of Mexico’s largest banks, to investors including the QIA, General Atlantic and Blackstone.

Public Investment Fund: An investment group that includes the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, together with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, made an offer for Electronic Arts’ $1.5 billion senior notes.

Lucid Group: The PIF-backed U.S. electric vehicle maker plans to expand in Qatar and across the Middle East in 2026.

Qiddiya: A bullet train planned for Saudi Arabia’s PIF-funded sports and entertainment city will cut travel time to Riyadh to 30 minutes from the present 2 ½ hours, Asharq Al Awsat reports.

🛢 Energy Development: Kuwait Petroleum, the national oil company, has drawn interest from BlackRock, Brookfield and EIG for a potential pipeline transaction valued at about $7 billion, Reuters reports.

📦 Package Deal: Asmo, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and DHL Supply Chain, signed a deal with Bahrain-based Arcapita to develop and operate a logistics facility in King Salman Energy Park.

🚦 Green Light: The Islamic Development Bank approved $2.4 billion to finance major infrastructure and development projects across its member countries, including Bahrain, Jordan and Kazakhstan. 

🤝 Joint Efforts: The Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company, a joint Egyptian-Emirati venture, plans to invest nearly $516 million in this fiscal year to boost crude output by about 15%.

🏍️ Moving On: U.S.-based home delivery company DoorDash will exit Qatar, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan amid fierce market competition, Bloomberg reports. 

👷 Jobs Jolt: Saudi Arabia’s labor market is drawing more private-sector participation as government policies push companies to expand local employment and workforce development programs.

💊 Monopoly Block: The UAE has moved to block medical monopolies by requiring pharmaceutical companies to appoint more than one authorized agent for each product. 

💻 AI Protection: Gulf Countries are investing heavily in AI in part to gain protection by the U.S., according to an analysis article published by Foreign Policy magazine.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, during his visit to Washington on Tuesday.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel today for a two-day visit and was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jack Selby, a Managing Director of Palantir founder Peter Thiel’s family office, is courting other family offices in the Middle East to raise as much as $300 million for venture capital firm Copper Sky.

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called on Iraq to withdraw a list of coordinates and a map submitted to the UN related to its maritime zones as it violated Kuwait’s sovereignty, he argued. 

Meriam ElOuazzani was appointed as Vice President for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region at Censys, an internet intelligence company.

🏰 Castle Card: The small village of Masfout, in the UAE’s Hajar Mountains, has been added to U.N. Tourism’s global list of best villages, amid a national push to position rural and mountainous regions as tourism drawcards. The village, known for its hiking trails and roadside pottery markets, drew attention last week when cyclists competing in the UAE Tour passed through the newly opened Masfout Gate, showcasing its dramatic fort-like architecture to a global TV audience.

Feb 23-26, Miami. Global Alts Miami 2026. Billed as the largest cap intro event in the world. Miami Beach Convention Center.

March 25-27, Miami. FII Miami 2026. A summit on disruptive technology and investment trends hosted by the Public Investment Fund’s Future Investment Initiative Institute. Faena Hotel, Miami Beach.

March 31-April 2, Dubai. Arab Media Summit. The annual gathering brings together Arab media personnel, influencers and organizations. DWTC. 

April 6-13, Dubai. Quantum Innovation Summit. Part of Global Quantum Week, focusing on quantum technology and applications. Grand Hyatt.

April 6-7, Riyadh. Real Estate Supply Chain Forum. Transforming the real estate supply chain landscape. Mandarin Oriental. 

April 7-9, Dubai. Middle East Energy. Discover what’s new in energy. Dubai World Trade Centre. 

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

April 11-20, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Fostering collaboration between regional publishing sectors and creative industries. ADNEC.

April 20-22, Riyadh. Future Aviation Forum. Exploring the future of air transport, sustainability, advanced air mobility, and artificial intelligence. King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

April 13-16, Riyadh. LEAP 2026. Global tech event covering AI, 5G and startups. RECC Malham.

April 21-23, Dubai. UITP Summit 2026. A high-level event for the public transport sector looking at the future of urban mobility. Dubai World Trade Centre

April 24-26, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film & Comic Con. Featuring some of the world’s biggest brands in film, TV, sci-fi, animation, manga, comics and collectibles.

April 29-30, Dubai. TOKEN2049 Dubai. A global gathering for the crypto ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.