TODAY: Talabat’s IPO is covered + ADIA closes in on slice of Malaysia Airports.

Good morning, friends. We have the latest on Talabat’s IPO as the subscription window for institutional investors closes tomorrow, and an update on ADIA’s foray in snapping up a piece of Malaysia Airports. A bit closer to home, the Saudi Rail Exhibition is kicking off today in Riyadh and we’ll have a roundup of outcomes in our coverage tomorrow.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Saudi-UK JV to drive 100+ MW data centers development in the Kingdom: Saudi’s DuneVaults and the UK’s Pure Data Centres partnered to form a JV to build hyperscale data centers in the Kingdom, with over 100 MW in capacities, according to a press release from Pure Data Centers.

Looking ahead: “We are dedicated to establishing over 1k MW of sustainable data center capacity in Saudi Arabia,” Faisal AlRahbiny, founder and managing director of Dune Vaults said.

IN OTHER SAUDI NEWS- PIF-backed Logistics company Zamil Offshore Services lined up plans to upgrade its fleet and launch its services in new markets following the PIF’s 40% stake acquisition in February, COO Nasser Al Hazzani told Seatrade Maritime News in an interview (watch, runtime: 6:17). “Our plans continue to focus on Saudi Arabia; however, we will also expand our service offerings in terms of the size of the vessels, the capabilities, and the markets that they serve,” Al Hazzani said. “We are also looking at regional growth into other markets,” he added.

#2- Damac Properties is ramping up its investments in digital infrastructure, with over 10 data centers currently under construction, the company’s Founder and Chairman Hussain Sajwani told CNBC Arabia (watch, runtime: 06:15). Damac is spending USD 10 mn per MW of data center capacity, Sajwani said. The Dubai-based developer owns land in Greece, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia for these developments, focusing on Asia and Europe as key regions for expansion.

REMEMBER- The conglomerate said in June that it plans to invest USD 1 bn in data centers through its digital unit Edgnex over the next couple of years in response to the global demand for digital infrastructure. Its data center unit, Edgnex, is building USD 600 mn data centers in Saudi Arabia in Dammam and Riyadh, slated to go online next year, and USD 1 bn in data centers in Thailand. The company also earmarked USD 100 mn alongside telecoms operator Vodafone Turkey to establish a new 6 MW data center in Izmir, Turkey, also set to go online next year.

#3- Bahrain to issue tender for airport city: Bahrain will issue tenders to private developers in 1Q 2025 to develop a new airport city around Bahrain International Airport, CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah told AGBI. The feasibility study for the project has been completed, with government approval for the plans expected by the end of this year. The project will include commercial and residential development.

ICYMI- Bahrain has also allotted space for a new airport, which is set to be located on reclaimed land in northwestern Bahrain. Netherlands Airport Consultants has carried out a USD 1.4 mn study to identify the site of the new airport.

#2- Turkey is planning IPOs for its state-owned energy companies, a move that aims to reinforce its institutional structures, Energy Ministry Alparslan Bayraktar said at a parliamentary commission cited by Reuters. State-owned firms include electric transmissions company TEIAS, gas grid operator BOTAS, oil and gas developer TPAO, and electricity producer EUAS. The government is not planning to privatize state energy firms, meaning it will not sell shares of these companies to any individual private entity or consortium, Bayraktar added. No timeline for the launch of the IPOs, which still require legal amendments, has been announced.

#3- Spain is looking to build a railway from Iraq’s Basra to Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, Spain’s International Trade and Investment Director General Elisa Varela told INA. A Spanish company is already working on a railway connecting Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, Varela said. The nation also has a company operating in China that is slated to carry out railway projects in other areas in Iraq, Varela added.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices remained almost steady in early morning trading as markets continue to weigh concern on disrupted Russian oil supply, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures shed USD 0.05 trading at USD 73.26 a barrel by GMT 05.41, while US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures remained flat at USD 69.39 a barrel.

#2- Baltic index continues its decline: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — dipping about 7.3% to 1,627 points yesterday — its lowest reading since November 11. The capesize index dropped 354 points to 2,808 points, while the panamax index shed 31 points to 1,171 points. The smaller supramax index lost an additional 10 points settling at 999 points.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Iran’s non-oil exports increased 14.72% y-o-y to USD 32.52 bn in the first seven months of the Iranian calendar year (21 March to 22 October), Mehr News reports, citing the head of Iran Exports Confederation Mohammad Lahouti. The value of imported goods grew 8.8% y-o-y to USD 39.5 bn during the same period.

#2- The value of Jordan’s imported consumer goods increased by 14% y-o-y to JOD 3.94 bn in the first seven months of 2024 (January-July), Ammon News reports, citing Central Bank of Jordan data. Consumer goods accounted for 36.7% of Jordan's total imports during that period. Imports of raw material and intermediate goods decreased by 12% y-o-y to JOD 5.1 bn in the first seven months of 2024, while imports of capital goods rose by 15.1% y-o-y to JOD 1.38 bn. The country’s exports of consumer goods also increased by 51.8% y-o-y to JOD 2.51 bn during the same time period.

***YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM Logistics, the essential MENA publication for senior execs who care about the industry that connects producers and retailers to global markets. We’re out Monday through Thursday by 9:15am in Cairo and Riyadh and 11:15am in the UAE.

EnterpriseAM Logistics is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Hassan Allam Utilities, Transmar, and AK-Ships.

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of Enterprise Logistics.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on logistics@enterprisemea.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the MENAclimate industry ?
***

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Saudi Arabia will host the Wings ofChangeMiddle East from Monday, 2 December to Tuesday, 3 December in Riyadh. The event will bring together aviation leaders, regulators, and experts in air transport.

Morocco will host the Rail Industry Summit from Tuesday, 10 December to Wednesday, 11 December in Casablanca. The two-day summit includes pre-scheduled business meetings with potential partners, conferences, and themed workshops on new market trends and future strategies presented by OEMs on infrastructure, rolling stock, embedded equipment and railway vehicle interiors.

The UAE will host the Middle East Business Aviation Show from Tuesday, 10 December to Thursday, 11 December in Dubai. The event will showcase innovations from over 135 exhibitors and will have over 25 jets on display, with over 55 speakers offering insight on market trends

Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.