TUNNEL VISION

Dubai unveiled the first four stations of its planned underground Dubai Loop, including stops at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper and the Dubai International Financial Centre, as part of a $545 million effort to ease downtown congestion. The full network – built with Elon Musk’s Boring Company – is expected to stretch about 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) with 19 stations, and is designed to cut travel time on the initial route from about 20 minutes to three minutes. In a separate above-ground project called the Glydways system, Dubai plans to launch small autonomous electric vehicles running on narrow dedicated lanes and linked to the Metro that can move more than 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

YUAN BET

ADNOC is preparing to raise as much as $2 billion through yuan-denominated dim sum bonds – the UAE energy company’s first debt issuance in China’s currency. The deal, which comes as Gulf borrowers increasingly look to Asian markets for capital, highlights deepening financial ties between the UAE and China, Bloomberg reports. ADNOC is working with banks on the potential offshore yuan bond sale and is meeting investors as part of the process. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned about the security and strategic risks tied to the UAE’s expanding financial and technology links with Beijing.

L’Imad Holding Co: AD Ports Group raised $115 million to support the development of the Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal in Egypt.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority: ADIA sold its 50% stake in Sydney’s O’Connell office precinct to Charter Hall for $351 million, as the Abu Dhabi fund rebalances its Asia-Pacific portfolio.

G42: The Abu Dhabi AI company is developing national infrastructure for autonomous AI systems, alongside a large-scale computing centre known as the “agent factory,” CEO Peng Xiao told a panel at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi Investment Council: Saeed Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADIC, an independent unit of Mubadala, told Bloomberg that the organization’s goal was to lift returns by expanding its asset classes – including secondaries, insurance and Bitcoin – without abandoning its endowment-style approach.

🚧 Big Spender: Abu Dhabi developer Aldar awarded $18 billion in contracts across the UAE in 2025, spanning residential, commercial, infrastructure, and logistics projects. 

🛢️ Field Expansion: Oilfield services provider SLB secured a $1.5 billion contract to manage the next development phase of Kuwait’s Mutriba oil field.

⛽ Gas Deal: QatarEnergy, the state-owned oil and gas company, signed a 27-year agreement with Japan’s Jera to supply 3 million tons a year of LNG starting in 2028.

💰 Risky Business: Saudi National Bank is exploring entry into the significant-risk-transfer market as it looks to offload loan exposure, free up capital and expand lending capacity, Bloomberg reports.

🧠 AI Inflation: Artificial intelligence is likely to add to near-term inflationary pressures as governments and companies, particularly in the Gulf, pour unprecedented investment into AI infrastructure, a research chief at BlackRock  told Arabian Gulf Business Insights.

🌴 Muscat Chat: Iran has asked the United States to move diplomatic talks from Turkey to Oman and restrict them to its nuclear program in a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, at Qasr Al Bahr palace in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohamed also met with Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay and with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of L’Imad Holding Co, has become one of the top royal business figures in the UAE, a key point of contact for visitors ranging from U.S. President Donald Trump to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Bloomberg reports.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Riyadh on Tuesday. Prince Mohammed also held a phone call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, swore in three new judges of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, met with Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev on Tuesday.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, UAE Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, reviewed the region’s key strategic plans for cultural and tourism projects during a meeting with a delegation led by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

Josh D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as CEO of Walt Disney Co. on March 18. The two came to the UAE last month to tour the future site of Disneyland Abu Dhabi and meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed.

Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates, said during a panel discussion at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday that geopolitical tensions and volatile capital markets have put the world “on the brink” of a capital war

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, called on Gulf countries to create an Airbus-style company that could foster unity and deepen economic integration of the Middle East bloc.

Ben Harburg, the American investor who is the first foreigner to buy a Saudi Pro League team, talked to Bloomberg as he celebrated Al Kholood reaching the semi-finals of the King’s Cup for the first time.

🍽️ Good Eating: The Middle East and North Africa’s 50 best restaurants were named at a glittering ceremony at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night. Leading the list was Khufu’s, a gastronomic restaurant with a knockout view of the Giza Pyramids – the first time a restaurant in Egypt has taken the top spot. Abu Dhabi and Dubai dominated the rest of the list, with Dubai’s Kinoya and Tresind Studio taking second and third place.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and aims to position Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. Qatar holds the 21st edition of its annual international Conference and exhibition on liquefied natural gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

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

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

Feb. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb. 9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene advisors, financiers, and investors from across the Middle East in the UAE capital. Conrad Etihad Towers.

Feb. 11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb. 11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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

Feb. 13-15, Munich. Munich Security Conference. A global forum for senior political, military and diplomatic leaders to debate major international security challenges. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

SOVEREIGN STEERING

Mubadala Capital, an investment arm of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, joined Waymo’s $16 billion funding round, taking part alongside Silicon Valley investors Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer and Silver Lake. The investment by Mubadala Capital follows its parent fund’s participation in a $2.5 billion Waymo round in 2020. With the new financing, the value of Alphabet’s self-driving unit is being assessed at $126 billion. The UAE plans to expand use of autonomous cars over the rest of the decade, with Dubai targeting 25% of all trips to be self-driving by 2030 and Abu Dhabi aiming for a similar target by 2040.

RONALDO STRIKES

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have sat out of a Saudi Pro League match in protest over a disagreement with the Public Investment Fund. Ronaldo, who plays for the Al Nassr Football Club, skipped Monday night’s game against Al Riyadh, which his team won 1-0. The Portuguese forward, who signed for Al Nassr in 2023, has become enmeshed in the kingdom’s global image, acting as a brand ambassador for tourism and sports ventures. He is also building his own Saudi business empire, from hair loss clinics and real estate to his stake in Al Nassr. Ronaldo reportedly became frustrated after Al Nassr failed to sign any new star players, while leading competitor Al Hilal, which is also backed by the PIF, signed France’s Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad. 

Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and Aldar Properties formed a strategic joint venture combining Yas Mall and The Galleria Luxury Collection into an Abu Dhabi retail platform valued at about $2.7 billion.

Mubadala: The fund won more than $827 million from an arbitration linked to the insolvent Signa conglomerate and its founder, bankrupt European property tycoon René Benko, in a decision that could test Austrian solvency laws, Bloomberg reports.

XRG: Private-equity firm Carlyle is in talks with potential UAE partners including International Holding Co. Mubadala and XRG about investing in Lukoil’s international assets, valued at about $20 billion, Reuters reports.

Emirates Global Aluminium: The company owned by Mubadala and Investment Corp. of Dubai, has begun initial investor meetings in the UAE ahead of a potential IPO, which could become one of the Gulf’s largest share sales.

ADNOC: XRG, the international investment arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., signed an agreement with Azerbaijan to acquire an equity stake in the Southern Gas Corridor.

Oman Investment Authority: The sovereign wealth fund plans to sell stakes in roughly 30 companies under a broad divestment drive aimed at boosting private-sector participation and attracting foreign capital.

🏗️ Industrial Partners: Saudi Arabia has agreed to support the development of an integrated industrial and logistics city in Oman’s Dhofar region, including $40 million in financing.

🚦Green Light: Shareholders of KFIC Invest have approved its $26.4 million acquisition of Rasameel, a Kuwaiti Islamic-compliant investment firm.

📈 IPO Prep: Shorooq, an Abu Dhabi based investment firm, launched a Qatar-backed $200 million late-stage growth fund to help mature fintech, software, and AI companies in the GCC and Asia prepare for IPOs.

💵 Opening Floodgates: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority said it is reviewing rules that cap foreign ownership of listed companies at 49% in a sign it could proceed with plans to lift the cap this year.

🛢️ Pipe Dream: Kuwait is planning to open up some of its oil fields to overseas firms and lease part of its pipeline network, Bloomberg reports.

🌉 Casino Link: A 548-meter bridge linking Ras Al Khaimah’s Wynn Al Marjan Island resort to the UAE road network is on track to open in October, with construction 48% complete ahead of the resort’s planned spring 2027 opening.

⛽ Gas Guzzler: Rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers could turn an expected global LNG supply glut into a shortage by 2030, QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told the LNG2026 conference in Doha on Monday.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met with Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the World Preservation Lab and BioVault, a collaboration between the Museum of the Future and Colossal Biosciences, at the World Governments Summit 2026. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, held a phone call with Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah to congratulate him on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. Sheikh Abdullah also met with Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of Egypt.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, met with Dr. Khaled El Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, on Tuesday at Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre in University City.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Advisor to the UAE President, told the World Governments Summit in Dubai that the Middle East does not need another confrontation and that he would rather see direct Iranian-U.S. negotiations, leading to understandings, The Circuit’s Omnia Al Desoukie reports. Dr. Gargash was speaking on a panel with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, said during the World Governments Summit on Tuesday that China’s aircraft maker Comac is becoming a serious competitor in global aviation. 

Mohsin Hamad al Hadhrami, Oman’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that work has already begun on the $700 million GCC electrical interconnection between the UAE and Oman.

Ahmed Salem, JP Morgan’s Co-Head of Investment Banking for MENA, told Zawya that the M&A landscape will continue to bring certain sectors into focus, including energy, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. 

Turki Al Shehri was appointed Country Manager for Saudi Arabia at French utility ENGIE.

Jorge Naveawas appointed President of Al-Futtaim Automotive.

🌙 Child’s Play: As Ramadan approaches, children in the Middle East have a special day to celebrate the Muslim holy month. Known as Hag Al Laila in the UAE – meaning “for this night”– children wear traditional clothing and carry colorful woven bags door-to-door as they sing in return for candy and nuts. The tradition is believed to predate Islam and may have even inspired Halloween trick-or-treating. The celebration, taking place tonight, typically starts 15 days before Ramadan, which is likely to fall on Feb. 18 this year.

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026. Some of the biggest names on the WTA Tour compete in the UAE capital, including defending champion Belinda Bencic. Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.

Feb. 1-4, Doha. Web Summit Qatar. Connecting startup founders in the Middle East to investors, policymakers and journalists around the world. Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

Feb 1-6, Dubai. Dubai Fashion Week. The event showcases the latest collections by global and regional designers and aims to position Dubai as a major creative hub on the global fashion calendar. Dubai Design District.

Feb. 2-4, Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi AI Summit. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Athena Institute to advance research, entrepreneurship and business  opportunities. MBZUAI campus.

Feb. 2-5, Doha. LNG2026. Qatar holds the 21st edition of its annual international Conference and exhibition on liquefied natural gas. Qatar National Convention Center. 

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

Feb. 4, Abu Dhabi. MEVCA Investors Summit 2026. A forum that provides “knowledge sharing, strategic discussion, and ecosystem engagement” for venture capitalists. ADGM. 

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

Feb. 8-12, Riyadh. World Defense Show. Brings together global weapons manufacturers, government procurement officers and defense contractors. Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Feb. 9-12, Dubai. WHX Dubai 2026. World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) brings together global healthcare professionals, innovations and ideas within the sector. Dubai Exhibition Center. 

Feb. 10-11, Abu Dhabi. Top Advisors & Investors Summit. The event will convene advisors, financiers, and investors from across the Middle East in the UAE capital. Conrad Etihad Towers.

Feb. 11, Dubai. AIMA Middle East Forum. A conference for alternative asset managers in the UAE and the wider alternative assets eco-system. Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai.

Feb. 11-12, Cairo. Ai Everything Middle East and Africa, Egypt. Bringing together AI leaders, innovators, startups, investors, and policymakers to explore transformative technologies and accelerate AI adoption across industries. Egypt International Exhibition Center.  

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

Feb. 13-15, Munich. Munich Security Conference. A global forum for senior political, military and diplomatic leaders to debate major international security challenges. Hotel Bayerischer Hof.