Capital Int’l Airport debuts first int’l flight

The New Capital’s mostly dormant Capital International Airport launched its first regular international flight service on Sunday, marking a step toward becoming a fully functioning airport, Bloomberg reports. But for readers of EnterpriseAM — and the foreign investors that flock to Bloomberg — one big takeaway is that the desert megaproject seems to be making progress in fixing the connectivity concerns that have deterred corporate and embassy relocations to the country’s new administrative center.

The news itself isn’t massive, but what’s to come could be. After mainly welcoming government delegations and the occasional seasonal pilot flight — excuse the pun — state-owned carrier Air Cairo, in a logical first step, now operates six weekly flights to Jeddah, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry statement that announced the news. If this first regular international route goes well and proves commercially viable, other airlines may follow.

QatarEnergy adds Malaysia to its long-term LNG supply book

QatarEnergy puts Malaysia on 20-year paper: Qatari state-backed gas producer QatarEnergy has signed a 20-year agreement to supply 2 mn tons per year of LNG to Malaysia starting in 2028 –– the first long-term LNG supply agreement between QatarEnergy and Malaysia’s Petronas.

Doha is pressing hard on long-term pacts: The Malaysia contract lands as the Qatari gas supplier also moves to power Japan’s LNG share –– with a 27-year LNG supply agreement for 3 mn tons to Jera –– the first Qatari-Japanese long-term LNG agreement in over a decade.

UAE, Vietnam’s CEPA is in full action

The UAE-Vietnam comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) is now in effect, bringing into force the trade and market-access measures agreed upon when the pact was signed in 2024, state news agency Wam reports. Vietnam remains the UAE’s largest ASEAN trading partner, with bilateral non-oil trade coming in above USD 16 bn in 2025.

IN CONTEXT- So far this year, the Emirates has inked agreements with Nigeria, the Philippines, and Sierra Leone. Fourteen agreements came into effect by the end of last year, with a CEPA with Japan in the final stages and negotiations with the EU ongoing. The UAE is aiming to hit AED 4 tn in non-oil foreign trade by 2031, though it is likely to reach the figure by 2027.

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