FINAL OFFER

Warner Bros. Discovery has tentatively opened a crack in the door for a Gulf-backed buyout by David Ellison’s Paramount, asking for a “best and final proposal” for the entertainment and media Goliath, while continuing to pursue its $82.7 billion deal with Netflix. Paramount, which submitted an amended offer last week, said on Tuesday that it welcomed the chance to have “good faith and constructive discussions.” Paramount has aggressively pursued WBD, launching multiple successive offers backed by various configurations of Gulf sovereign wealth funds. In December the newly-formed Abu Dhabi state investment vehicle L’imad Holding Co. joined the fray by backing a $108 billion hostile offer.

EXPO EXPOSED

A data breach that exposed identity documents of high-level attendees at Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 has been secured and was limited in scope, according to organizers. Scans of more than 700 documents, including passports and state ID cards, were discovered to be accessible online via an unprotected cloud storage server, uncovered by a freelance security expert, the Financial Times reports. Those exposed included former White House communications director and investor Anthony Scaramucci, billionaire hedge fund manager Alan Howard and former British prime minister Lord David Cameron. Organizers blamed a vulnerability at a third-party vendor. “The environment was secured immediately upon identification, and our initial review indicates that access activity was limited to the researcher that identified the issue,” an unnamed representative of ADFW told The National.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund boosted its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust to 12.7 million shares worth $630.6 million in Q4 2025, a 46% increase in its holdings. The cryptocurrency has fallen more than 40% from its all-time peak in October.

L’imad Holding: AD Ports Group has grown its global network to 36 ports and terminals as the Abu Dhabi-backed operator accelerates international acquisitions and logistics investments.

Public Investment Fund: The Saudi sovereign wealth fund transferred its roughly $3 billion, 11-million-share stake in gaming studio Take-Two Interactive to subsidiary Savvy Games Group ahead of the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.

The Sovereign Fund of Egypt: Egypt is preparing to transfer stakes in about 60 state-owned companies to its sovereign wealth fund ahead of potential EGX listings, part of Cairo’s broader push to attract private investment and ease fiscal pressure.

Qatar Investment Authority: Hamad Al-Khater, Qatar’s Airways’ new CEO, told Bloomberg he intends to prioritize relations with Airbus, which has demonstrated that “they’ll be able to deliver” on their promises.

🧪 Fertilizer Pivot: UAE fertilizer producer Fertiglobe is targeting increased sales to Europe as the EU tightens curbs on Russian supplies, CEO Ahed El-Hoshy told Bloomberg.

📦 Logistics Partners: Saudi Ports Authority and MEDLOG, the logistics arm of global container shipper MSC, inaugurated a $40 million integrated logistics center at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

💻 AI Risks: Palo Alto Networks is is acquiring Israeli cybersecurity startup Koi for an estimated $400 million, targeting emerging risks from autonomous AI agents on corporate systems, Calcalist reports.

🔴 Red Planet: The UAE Space Agency has extended the Emirates Mars Mission through 2028, allowing its Hope Probe to continue scientific observations of the planet’s atmosphere beyond its original timeline.

🚢 Treading Water: Iran and Russia plan to conduct joint navy drills in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean tomorrow, raising further security concerns after Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz for several hours on Tuesday. 

🛢️ Friendly Handover: Iraq’s cabinet approved an amicable settlement with Lukoil over the transfer of operations of one of the world’s largest oilfields to the state-run Basra Oil Company, following U.S. sanctions on the Russian energy giant.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, visited the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday to review strategic plans for the future of the nation’s labour system.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, arrived in Venezuela, where he was greeted by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, honored the winners of the seventh edition of the Minister of Interior’s Excellence Award during a ceremony held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Michael Doersam, CFO of Emirates, said he plans to step down in June after a decade in the role. The Dubai-based airline said it will announce a successor “in due course.”

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, launched a package of capital projects on Monday valued at $810 million.

Damien Drap was appointed Chief Operating Officer, Haresh Bajaj as Chief Product Officer and Denis Agiev as Chief Technology Officer of Prypco, a UAE-based PropTech platform.

Morgan Parker, Vice Chairman of the management committee at Qiddiya Investment Co., spoke to Arab News about what drives Saudi Arabia’s huge entertainment project. “At its heart, Qiddiya City is about play,” Parker said. “Imagine a whole city dedicated to facilitating those experiences,” Parker said. “That’s what we’re building.”

🧑‍🎨 Fixer-Upper: The Triumph of David, an 18-meter-long painted leather artwork depicting a royal procession and inspired by the biblical story of David and Goliath, is now on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi, following a painstaking two-year restoration project. The origins of the 17th-century artwork, which was last displayed on the walls of a Parisian hotel, are uncertain, but it is stylistically linked to artists associated with the Dutch master Rembrandt, The National reports. 

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.

MOON DANCE

The Qatar Investment Authority has co-led a $350 million fundraising round for a company manufacturing space suits for NASA’s Artemis III moon mission and building the world’s first commercial space station. Texas-based Axiom Space, which is valued at more than $2.5 billion, received backing from the QIA, along with Type One Ventures, Hungary-based IT company 4iG and Florida-based 1789 Capital, which counts Donald Trump Jr. as a partner. The company will use the funds to enhance its spacesuits and build the first two modules of its space station, which is expected to be the future successor of the International Space Station. It comes amid global rivalry over space technology and as Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans for a potential IPO this year. 

DATA CORRIDOR

An Iraqi-Emirati consortium is planning a $700 million high-speed cable linking the UAE to Turkey through Iraq, aiming to ease pressure on crowded east-west data routes. The project, called WorldLink, would run underwater from Fujairah in the UAE to Iraq’s Faw Peninsula, then continue overland to the Turkish border. Backers say the network will be built in stages over about five years to serve big cloud and AI companies while offering a faster alternative to routes that pass through the Suez Canal, Reuters reports. The plan underscores intensifying Gulf competition to become a regional hub for digital connectivity and data-center investment.

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi fund backed a $31 million fundraising round by Dubai-based fractional property investment app Stake, which was led by Emirates NBD. Other investors included Saudi Aramco’s venture capital arm and Middle East Venture Partners.

Mubadala: Mubadala Bio, a subsidiary of Mubadala, has completed the full acquisition of Al Ittihad Drug Store and Global Medical Supply Chain  following its initial 80% stake purchase at the end of 2024. 

Mubadala Capital: The sovereign wealth fund’s investment is taking on more complex deals following its $6.2 billion Clear Channel Outdoor buyout, as it seeks higher returns by targeting niche opportunities that larger rivals often avoid, Bloomberg reports.

Mubadala: The co-founders of Turkish grocery and food delivery platform Getir are seeking $700 million in damages from the Abu Dhabi fund, alleging in a London court that it failed to transfer key assets promised under a restructuring agreement. It comes after Mubadala agreed to sell Getir’s delivery operation in Turkey to Uber for $335 million.

L’imad Holding: Modon Holding has awarded $316 million contract to Egypt’s Orascom Construction to deliver a mixed-use project within the $35 billion Ras El Hekma development.

L’imad Holding: EMSTEEL Group and Oldendorff Carriers have signed a five-year $162 million freight agreement to transport iron ore pellets to the UAE.

Dubai Holding: Dubai Holding and U.K.-based Nord Anglia Education have partnered to develop and operate premium K-12 schools across Dubai.

Public Investment Fund: Flyadeal, which is indirectly owned by the PIF, plans to more than double its fleet from 45 to over 100 aircraft by 2030, adding wide-body Airbus A330 jets alongside its Airbus A320 fleet to operate flights to destinations across Southeast Asia.

🔥 LNG Lock-In: U.S. gas producer Caturus signed a 20-year deal to supply Saudi Aramco with 1 million tons per year of LNG from its planned Louisiana export project, underscoring long-term global demand for American gas.

💰 Digging Funds: Kuwait Energy Basra Company, an oil and gas company operating in Iraq, secured a $346 million reserve-based lending facility from Arab Energy Fund to expand Iraq’s Block 9 oil field

💵 Property Play: EIGHTClouds, a Dubai-based alternative investment firm, has launched an open-ended real estate fund, aiming to raise over $300 million.

🚧 Belt Billions: China’s Belt and Road Initiative reached a record $213.5 billion in 2025, with the Middle East accounting for about $39.4 billion, driven by construction and energy projects.

🏗️ Property Push: Gulf real estate markets are expected to keep expanding into the first half of 2026, led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, according to the Kuwait-based Markaz research organization.

✈️ Luxury Flying: Dubai-based premium leisure airline Beond signed a letter of intent with Bahrain’s civil aviation regulator to launch operations in the kingdom.

🛃 Visa Clampdown: Riyadh is tightening scrutiny of business visas, disrupting the long-standing “fly-in fly-out” model used by UAE-based professionals to work in Saudi Arabia without relocating.

🛑 One Stop: The UAE and Bahrain have launched a one-point travel pilot enabling preclearance at departure through Zayed International Airport and Bahrain International Airport, ahead of a planned Unified GCC Tourist Visa.

🛢️ Pipe Dream: Algeria said that construction of the $13 billion Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, linking Nigeria, Niger and Algeria, will begin after Ramadan.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call on Monday with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, met with Aziz Tashbulatov, Minister of Interior of Uzbekistan.

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, met with Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Eileen Jennings-Brown was appointed as Chief Technology Officer of Juvenescence, a clinical-stage AI-enabled biotech company developing novel medicines to extend healthy lifespan, which has new research offices in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and President and CEO of QatarEnergy hosted a farewell reception in honor of Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Shaibi, QatarEnergy’s Executive Vice President for Finance and Planning, who is retiring.

📷 Decisive Moment: The remarkable career of Ramesh Shukla, the UAE’s first royal photographer, is being remembered after his death on Sunday at the age of 87. Shukla, who arrived by boat from Mumbai in 1965, saw his life change forever after a chance meeting with the UAE’s Founding Father Sheikh Zayed at the Sharjah Camel Festival, where he snapped his photograph. The budding photographer gifted the resulting image to the late UAE President and from that day on remained by his side capturing some of the key moments in the history of the emirates, The National reports.

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.

BARGAINING CHIPS

The U.S. may ease restrictions on the UAE’s purchase of Nvidia’s advanced semiconductor chips amid preparations for President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf this month. While no decision has been made, the issue is considered a powerful bargaining card as the White House seeks greater investment from the UAE’s sovereign wealth funds and tech firms, Bloomberg reports. Trump met in March with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, the UAE’s National Security Adviser and Chairman of sovereign funds ADIA and ADQ, who visited Washington in part to push for access to Nvidia chips. Access. During Sheikh Tahnoon’s trip, the UAE unveiled plans to spend as much as $1.4 trillion over the next decade on energy, semiconductors, AI infrastructure and manufacturing in the U.S.

MIDAS TOUCH

Emirates airline has signed a deal with Greece that includes a codeshare with national carrier Aegean, expanding access to popular destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes. The deal is the cherry on top of a successful outreach mission for the Greek National Tourism Organization at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai this week, Greek newspaper To Vima reports. Flydubai, which will already be operating flights to Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu this season, is looking at introducing new routes by next year and potentially operating off-season flights. Qatar Airways is adding a route to the port city of Thessaloniki and mulling a 15% increase in seats on its long-haul flight from Australia to Athens.

Public Investment Fund: The PIF has raised $1.25 billion through Islamic bonds that were heavily oversubscribed, attracting over $9 billion in investor orders.

Mubadala Capital: The Abu Dhabi asset manager plans to use its $10 billion investment in U.S.-based TWG Global to connect with popular sports franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, and U.K.’s Chelsea FC soccer team, benefiting in a similar way to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s association with professional golf and tennis, Global SWF reports.

M42: M42’s Digital Health Solution platform and Reem Hospital have formed a joint venture to launch Nafas, a comprehensive digital mental health platform for Abu Dhabi residents.

💰 Capital Influx: Foreign investment in Gulf stocks has surged, with equity inflows doubling to $60 billion by end-2024 and market capitalization reaching $4.2 trillion, Zawya reports.

💲 Syria Attracts: Syria has signed a $260 million deal with French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM to expand and operate Latakia port, the country’s main maritime gateway, Reuters reports. 

⛏️ Bitcoin Mine: Abu Dhabi-listed Phoenix Group has expanded its bitcoin mining operations in Ethiopia by securing an additional 52MW of power, boosting its total capacity there to 132MW and its global capacity to over 500MW across five countries.

💸 Aid Benefits: U.S. funding for Jordan’s $6 billion desalination project was briefly halted under aid cuts but resumed within two months, with assurances that most of Jordan’s $1.45 billion annual aid package would remain intact.

₿ Crypto Blackouts: Kuwait is cracking down on cryptocurrency miners, blaming them for causing power shortages leading to blackouts, Reuters reports.

⛽ Gas Talks: QatarEnergy, one of the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas suppliers,, is in talks with Japan’s Jera and Mitsui firms for a long-term deal to supply LNG from its North Field expansion project, Reuters reports.

🏦 Mideast Hub: Bank of New York Mellon received a licence to set up a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, enabling it to bid on government contracts.

🌐 U.S. Expansion: UAE’s e& Carrier & Wholesale Services has launched e& Wholesale Americas in Miami, expanding its global presence across the Americas, the company said.

⛰️ Investor Magnet: Oman is seeking an additional $10 billion in foreign investment for tourism projects over the next few years, building on the $10 billion already secured since the pandemic to develop hotels and integrated tourism complexes.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a phone call on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who thanked him for the UAE’s mediation in a Russia-Ukraine exchange of prisoners last month.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, toured the Arabian Travel Market 2025 conference ahead of its conclusion on Thursday.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Advisor, posted on Instagram that he had a meeting with Tim Ferriss, American entrepreneur and author of “The 4-Hour Workweek,” and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant to discuss the importance of productivity and self-directed learning.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, met Daniel Nobo, President of Ecuador, on Thursday in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also had a meeting with the Ecuadorian president. 

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, UAE Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, held a meeting in Dubai on Thursday with Masahiro Kihara, President and Group CEO of Mizuho Financial Group.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group Managing Director and Group CEO, visited the Vienna headquarters of OMV. ADNOC and OMV agreed in March to merge their petrochemical units and establish the $60 billion thermoplastics giant Borouge Group International.

MrBeast, a YouTuber and businessman, has signed an agreement with Riyadh Season, in the presence of Saudi entertainment chief Turki Al-Sheikh, to produce exclusive content and appear at next season’s opening ceremony.

Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Governor, met with industry leaders during a privately held meeting of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council on Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai. 

Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Peru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, pitched boosting Peru’s $70 million share of South American exports to Saudi Arabia by promoting agricultural products and inviting Saudi investors to a September trade exhibition.

Hend Al Otaiba, former UAE Ambassador to France, reflects in an opinion piece for Khaleej Times on the value of her connection with Léa Solidarité Femmes, a French association supporting survivors of abuse.

🖼️ Art Sale: The latest auction of Middle Eastern & Contemporary Art by Christie’s features an all-star lineup of artists reflecting the diversity of creative influences that shape the region. An exhibition of the sale starts tomorrow at Christie’s Dubai, with bids continuing until May 8, when the online auction wraps up. Leading the listings in a tribute to female artists is Samia Halaby’s “Water Lilies,” with an estimate of $100,000-$150,000.

April 25 – May 11, Dubai. Dubai Esports and Gaming Festival. Dubai’s gaming and esports extravaganza brings together global players, creators, fans, and industry leaders. Dubai World Trade Center. 

May 4 – 7, Los Angeles. Milken Institute Global Conference. Business executives, government officials and thought leaders address some of the world’s biggest opportunities and challenges. Beverly Hilton.

May 5-6, Abu Dhabi. Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit. Shaping Responsible Governance of AI & Emerging Technologies in a Future Digital Economy. St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

May 6-7, Dubai. MENA Capital Market Summit. The event will bring together 1,500 businesses, decision-makers and global financial leaders to discuss the capital market. Madinat Jumeirah.

May 6-8, Dubai. Airport Show. Showcasing the latest technological advancements in the airport industry. Dubai World Trade Center.

May 6-8, Dubai, GISEC. The 14th edition of the Middle East and North Africa’s largest cybersecurity event, under the theme “Securing an AI-Powered Future.” Dubai World Trade Center. 

May 12-13, Dubai. Dubai FinTech Summit. Exploring a future where finance is accessible, inclusive, and empowering. Madinat Jumeirah.

May 13, Riyadh. Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum. An invitation-only event to be held during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia. The forum will bring together government, business, finance and innovation to discuss the next chapter of business between the two countries. Venue TBA.

May 13-14, Dubai. Low Carbon Fuels MENA. The conference promises a space for industry leaders, potential partners, and innovators to discuss potential opportunities and challenges. Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers.  

May 13-15, Dubai. CABSAT. The Middle East & Africa’s leading event for content, broadcast, media & entertainment industry professionals looking to leverage the latest technology and innovation in creating the next-gen content. Dubai World Trade Center.

May 13-15, Dubai. World Police Summit. Uniting law enforcement professionals, policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to redefine the standards of modern policing. Dubai World Trade Center.

May 16, Milan. Investopia Europe 3rd Edition. Highlighting discussions around transforming the global economy. Featured speakers include Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia, and UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship Alia Abdulla Al Mazrouei. Palazzo Mezzanotte.

May 16-17, Tirana, Albania. FII Priority Europe 2025. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund sponsors a regional business summit focused on Europe and is affiliated with the annual Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. National Theater of Opera and Ballet.

May 20-22, Doha, Qatar. Qatar Economic Forum. Annual conference bringing together Qatari government and business leaders with corporate executives, investors and policymakers from around the world. Media City Qatar.

May 26-27, Abu Dhabi. Building the Future Summit. This Forbes event serves as an exclusive platform for industry leaders, investors, architects, and innovators to explore the latest trends shaping the future of real estate. Louvre Abu Dhabi.

May 29-30, Tripoli, Libya. Building the Future Summit. A Forbes event that is designed to help delegates from Libya understand their investment opportunities, foster strategic partnerships, and showcase key reforms that will drive economic progress. Venue TBA.