👋 Hello from the Middle East!
In the Daily Circuit today, we’re looking at the QIA’s new $4 billion joint fund with Indonesia, Saudi help for paying Syria’s World Bank debt, Kuwait’s oil refinery reorganization and Morocco’s invitation for bids to help build and run Africa’s biggest shipyard. But first, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reaches Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are back in talks over helping the kingdom to develop a commercial nuclear power industry.
The on-again, off-again idea that Saudi Arabia has vigorously pursued is being revived during the ongoing Gulf visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who met with Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef in Riyadh on Sunday.
Wright told reporters that the Trump administration may be willing to give Saudi Arabia access to U.S. nuclear technology and allow it to enrich uranium, The New York Times reports.
“We’ve not reached the details on an agreement, but it certainly looks like there is a pathway to do that,” Wright said. “The issue is control of sensitive technology. Are there solutions to that that involve enrichment here in Saudi Arabia? Yes.”
Saudi Arabia has been seeking access for years to U.S. nuclear technology that would help it generate electricity and diversify its economy beyond dependence on oil revenues. The U.S. has attached conditions to ensure that its technology is not used to produce nuclear weapons, terms Saudi Arabia has resisted, citing Iran’s pursuit of atomic arms.
In their quest for nuclear capability, Saudi leaders have also explored obtaining the technology from Russia or China, but they’ve expressed a preference for working with the U.S.
Alkhorayef said his meeting with Wright focused on identifying investment opportunities with the U.S. while building cooperation in mining, especially for minerals needed for production of electric vehicles and their components, Arab News reports.
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📰 Developing Stories
KUWAIT ADAPTS
Kuwait is reorganizing its energy industry amid concerns over plunging oil prices and U.S. trade tariffs. State-owned Kuwait National Petroleum Co. is planning to acquire Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co. (KIPIC), the Kuna news agency reports, citing KNPC Chief Executive Officer Wadha Al-Khateeb. KNPC is in charge of Kuwait’s refining industry while KIPIC runs the Al Zour refinery. Al-Khateeb said Kuwait’s oil and gas industries need to adapt to changing market conditions while offering assurance that obligations to clients will be met.
SYRIA BAILOUT
Saudi Arabia is taking the lead in helping Syria’s new government pay off its debts. As a first step, the kingdom will put up $15 million to cover Syria’s arrears to the World Bank and unlock international aid money to begin the country’s reconstruction, Reuters reports. The plans would be the first known instance of Saudi Arabia providing financing for Syria since Islamist-led rebels toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad last year. It may also be a sign that Gulf Arab support for Syria is beginning to materialize after previous plans, including an initiative by Qatar to fund salaries, were held up by uncertainty over U.S. sanctions, according to Reuters.
💲 Sovereign Circuit
Qatar Investment Authority: Indonesia’s Danantara sovereign wealth fund said it will form a $4 billion joint fund with the QIA to invest in the Indonesian economy, focusing on commodities, renewables, health facilities and technology.
Dubai Holding: Azadea Group, which operates the Zara and Virgin Megastore chains in the Middle East and is part-owned by the Dubai royal family’s investment company, has decided to pause plans for an IPO, Bloomberg reports.
Public Investment Fund: Newcastle City Council has defended seeking Saudi investment as it faces criticism from local campaigners over the kingdom’s human rights record.
↪↩ Closing Circuit
🤝 Gulf Aid: Qatar and Egypt agreed to “work toward” developing a $7.5 billion package of Qatari investments in the Egyptian economy. The two countries announced the plan during a visit on Sunday by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Doha, where he met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim.
💰 Across Borders: Menzies Aviation, a subsidiary of Agility Global, which trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, has agreed to acquire U.S.-based G2 for $305 million. This will boost Menzies’ global reach and its revenue by 20% to $3.1 billion.
💲 Media Business: Saudi Research and Media Group signed a $67 million, three-year deal with Taoq Public Relations to provide operational services for media platforms.
📈 AI Stockbot: BridgeWise, a New York-based AI startup whose chatbot provides stock advice to 25 million users around the world, said it is opening a Middle East regional headquarters in Dubai after Emirates NBD, the city’s biggest lender, invested in the company.
🤖 AI Veteran: Safe SuperIntelligence, the artificial intelligence startup led by OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever with offices in Tel Aviv and Palo Alto, Calif., raised $2 billion in a funding round led by Greenoaks, the Financial Times reports.
🗣 Circuit Chatter
💻 Legal AI: The UAE Cabinet approved the creation of the Regulatory Intelligence Office, which will use AI to unify federal and local laws, enabling real-time legislative updates and tracking of impacts through large-scale data.
🚜 Bioplastic Expertise: Dubai-based Emirates Biotech appointed South Korea’s Samsung E&A to handle engineering, procurement, and construction for its Polylactic Acid plant in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD free zone.
⚓ Ship Shape: Morocco’s state-owned National Ports Agency invited global firms to bid on developing and operating what it says will be Africa’s largest shipyard in Casablanca, Bloomberg reports.
🔴 No Business: Abu Dhabi Global Market regulators fined crypto platform Hayvn Group, its related entities and former CEO Christopher Flinos a total of $12 million for regulatory breaches, banning the executive indefinitely from doing business in the financial zone.
🌍 Power Circuit
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday with Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, to discuss trade and broader economic cooperation in the Balkans.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Ruler of Dubai and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, chaired the UAE Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, met with Ulan Karypbekov, Director of the State Agency for Vehicle and Driver Registration at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, held a meeting with Eric Anziani, Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, on Monday.
➿ On the Circuit
David Petreaus, the former CIA director, was named Chairman of KKR & Co.’s Middle East unit and is setting up a new deals team in the Gulf.
Carmen Haddad, a 25-year veteran banker in Citigroup’s Middle East division, was named Vice Chairman of the company’s private bank with authority over its wealth management operations.
Ari Emanuel, CEO of the Endeavor talent and management agency, is leading a group that won the auction for a portfolio of assets that includes the Miami Open and the Madrid Open tennis tournaments, Bloomberg reports. The consortium, which includes Apollo Global Management and Redbird Capital Partners, said it’s ready to pay more than $1 billion for the assets that Endeavor is selling off.
Nabeel Koshak, the CEO of Saudi Venture Capital, said during a panel discussion at the Human Capabilities Initiative in Riyadh that the firm has invested in more than 56 funds, emphasizing the growth of startups and entrepreneurship in the kingdom.
🎶 Culture Circuit
🛍️ Mall Space: An abandoned shopping mall built in the 1980s now hosts some of Riyadh’s leading galleries after it was transformed into a bustling arts hub, The National reports. Al Mousa Centre, which features nostalgic design elements of Gulf malls of the era, including latticed ceilings and blue-tinted windows, houses 20 galleries and is a key venue for Art Week Riyadh, which runs until Sunday.
📷 Photo of the Day

📅 Circuit Calendar
April 13-15, Riyadh. Saudi Food Manufacturing. Back for a second year, the focus turns to logistics solutions, including advancements in AI-driven supply chains, robotics, and sustainable automation technologies. Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre.
April 14-16, Dubai. IPS Congress. The Middle East’s largest international property sales event. Dubai World Trade Centre.
April 15-17, Dubai. Abu Dhabi Global Health Week. A critical worldwide forum dedicated to shaping the future of health. ADNEC.
April 16, Qatar. Startup Grind Qatar. Qatar Investment Authority presents new startups selected as part of its Fund of Funds program. Workinton Alfardan Centre.
April 16-17, Dubai. FastBull Finance Summit Dubai. Focused on the depth and breadth of global finance, emphasizing areas such as forex and blockchain financial technology. Coca-Cola Arena.
April 17-19, Dubai. World Art Dubai. Annual retail art fair featuring more than 10,000 works for sale. Dubai World Trade Centre.
April 18-20, Dubai. Art Dubai. Three-day city festival spotlights more than 100 contemporary, modern and digital galleries from the UAE and over 40 other countries. Madinat Jumeirah.
April 18-20, Jeddah. STC Saudi Arabian GP. The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by STC returns, promising an electrifying high-speed spectacle on the Red Sea. Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
April 18-20, Abu Dhabi. Middle East Film and Comic Con 2025. The region’s largest pop culture festival returns for its 13th year. ADNEC.
April 21-23, Abu Dhabi. Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit 2025. The Middle East’s largest annual event dedicated to shaping the future of electric mobility. ADNEC.
April 21-25, Dubai. Dubai AI Festival. Bringing together the brightest minds to explore and expand the commercial and economic possibilities of AI technology.” Madinat Jumeirah.
April 29-30, Abu Dhabi. Digital Transformation Summit UAE 2025. In its 37th edition, the summit is expected to be attended by over 300 C-suite executives, directors, and technology leaders. Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resorts.
April 30. May 1, Dubai. Token2049 Dubai. A global conference dedicated to the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. Madinat Jumeirah.
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 20-22, Doha, Qatar. Qatar Economic Forum. Annual conference gathers brings together Qatari government and business leaders with corporate executives, investors and policymakers from around the world. Media City Qatar.