Good morning, friends. We’re closing the week with an issue packed with news from AI, mining, energy, and automotive, cutting across Ahmedabad to Jabal Sayid.

AI remains as big a story in India as it does in MENA and the USA. The quest for advanced chips, energy, data centres, and the money to build it all out was center stage in Washington, DC, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh this week even as markets started shaking amid concerns about the return on investment from bns and bns of USD in spending. The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 2.2% yesterday on those worries.

IN THIS MORNING’S ISSUE- Fractal gears up for India’s first AI listing — and Tata is getting plenty of ink from news that its premier software house is getting into the AI hardware business amid concerns about the future of software consulting. Meanwhile Tata Neu is signalling that growth-at-any-cost days are over as it looks to shed 50% of the superapp’s staff.

ALSO TODAY- Adani is nearing a deal to take over Jaiprakash Associates. Vedanta is deepening its Saudi play with a new copper-gold exploration license, and Ashok Leyland is sharpening its Middle East presence with a Qatar push.

^^ We have all of that and more, below.

THE WEEK THAT WAS-

IT’S BEEN A BUSY WEEK across MENA, with AI and advanced industries getting the lion’s share of attention.

Saudi Arabia was the center of gravity as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made his first White House visit in seven years. The headline? Reconciliation, lots of AI love, and a signal from MbS to Trump that Riyadh could be open to normalization with Israel provided there’s a credible route to a Palestinian state. The two leaders also inked deals on civil nuclear cooperation and F-35 fighter jets.

In the UAE, it was a week of heavy dealflow. The Dubai Airshow saw Flydubai split its ticket, ordering 150 jets from Boeing (737 MAX) and another 150 from Airbus (A321neo). On the tech front, the US authorized the export of 35k Nvidia Blackwell chips to UAE’s G42 and Saudi’s Humain, helping debottleneck the region’s AI ambitions. Meanwhile, Dubai announced a new USD 10 bn national fund to aggressively court foreign direct investment — a potential boon for Indian companies looking to set up shop or deepen operations in the world’s most attractive city.

In Egypt, the central bank held firm, leaving interest rates unchanged at 21.25% yesterday as inflation ticked up slightly. The focus now shifts to 1 December, when the IMF lands in Cairo to conduct critical reviews of the USD 8 bn loan program.

SIGN OF THE TIMES-

Tata Digital plans to cut 50% of Tata Neu’s staff in a big strategic reset. The superapp dream is getting a harsh reality check as Tata Digital prepares to slash headcount at Tata Neu by up to half, the Economic Times reports. CEO Sajith Sivanandan is steering away from a “growth at all costs” mentality toward profitability.

The pivot: The group is abandoning its obsession with gross merchandise value. The new mandate? Stop trying to do everything and focus on three high-margin pillars: financial services, digital marketing, and a unified loyalty engine for the wider Tata group.

IN CONTEXT- This is the third strategic reset since the app’s rocky launch in 2022. Despite narrowing losses in FY25, revenue fell 14%, forcing the group to admit that the ‘burn cash to build a habit’ model wasn’t working.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- French asset manager Amundi says the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should deliver an additional 50 basis-point rate cut over the next 12 months and shift away from its neutral policy guidance, ANI reports. The firm expects India’s growth to slow in 2026 as US tariffs weigh on competitiveness — even as domestic demand is likely to remain the primary driver. It projects inflation to average 4-5% next year, supported by a favorable monsoon and easing global food and energy prices.

SPEAKING OF RBI- The central bank is facing scrutiny after multiple large inflation-forecast misses this year, with its projection for the first quarter coming in 0.7 percentage points above actual inflation, the biggest gap in nearly six years, Bloomberg reports. Forecast misses occurred in two quarters, overshooting by 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage points. Economists now expect another miss this quarter after October’s unexpectedly low inflation reading.

Economists say: The RBI’s most recent forecast pegs inflation at 2.6% throughout this fiscal year, ending in March 2026. UBS Group economist Tanvee Gupta Jain now expects inflation to come in between 2-2.2% during this period, raising concerns that the regulator is reluctant to trim rates. For 3Q, Deutsche Bank economist Kaushik Das estimated inflation at 0.7%, whereas the central bank forcecasts it at 1.8%, the outlet reported.

Policy backdrop: Despite rolling out its upgraded Quarterly Projection Model 2.0 last year, the RBI continues to refine its framework as repeated overestimates raise concerns about policy signalling. The central bank delivered a larger than expected 50 basis point rate cut in June, shifting its stance to neutral, and has held rates steady since. Economists point out that the bank’s conservative estimates could hurt policy credibility and delay rate cuts.

#2- India’s current account deficit is forecast to widen to 1.7% of GDP in FY 2026, up from an earlier estimate of 1.2%, Economic Times reports, citing a Union Bank of India analysis. The bank’s call is based on persistent global tariff pressures that it says are keeping the merchandise trade gap elevated despite weaker demand and softer commodity prices.

The bank said India’s external balance remains highly sensitive to crude oil prices — every USD 10 per-barrel change shifts the annual current account deficit by nearly INR 1.25 tn (USD 15 bn).

#3- State-run Oil India is bringing in TotalEnergies to help speed exploration in deep and ultra-deepwater basins, as per a disclosure to the bourse. The agreement, finalized on 19 November, gives Oil India access to the French major’s offshore expertise across its upcoming portfolio. This could include feasibility studies for a recent gas exploration in the Andaman basin and drilling plans in the Mahanadi and Krishna Godavari basins.

Why does it matter? State-run companies Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India have expanded their exploration activities in the Andaman Sea as part of a bid to ease reliance on crude imports. India currently buys 88% of its crude and 50% of its natural gas on international markets.

#4- India’s solar manufacturing sector is heading into a consolidation phase as technology turnover and excess capacity pressure smaller firms, according to a report from Indian credit rating agency ICRA. Of the 110 GW of module manufacturing capacity under India’s approved list of models and manufacturers, only 70-75% can pivot to newer technologies. Manufacturing is expanding towards 165 GW against an expected demand of up to 50 GW, Reuters reports, citing unnamed ICRA analysts.

The government’s push for full value-chain integration, from ingots to modules, by 2028 further raises capital needs. Firms with outdated tech or standalone module lines are most vulnerable, while integrated players will be best positioned as prices fall and US export risks rise.

DATA POINT-

IT spending in India is set to reach USD 176.3 bn in 2026, rising 10.6% y-o-y, driven by cloud uptake, AI infrastructure development, and evolving sovereign-cloud requirements, as per a Gartner forecast. Spending on data center systems will grow the fastest at 20.5% to USD 9.3 bn, while software spending is projected at USD 24.7 bn and IT services are forecast to add USD 35 bn. Sector growth will be fueled by the rapid expansion of global capability centers and AI development.

YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM MENA <> India, your c-suite briefing on the movement of trade, investment, people, and ideas along one of the world’s most exciting corridors. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am UAE, we dive deep into the business, finance, economy, and policy headlines and trendlines that will move markets and set the tone for your day.

Indian businesses want a piece of MENA, the world’s most exciting economic bloc and an exporter of capital on a global scale. Major corporations and startups alike want to grow in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and beyond. Large groups are looking to the UAE for finance, the chance to monetize their businesses, or as a regional headquarters, while startups are attracted by regulatory clarity and new opportunities for expansion. And, of course, MENA is a magnet for outstanding Indian talent across just about every discipline you can name.

Arab businesses and governments alike look at India and see not just the world’s largest population, but one of the planet’s most compelling business stories. Whether it’s investment in energy, technology, manufacturing, or banking, MENA businesses and governments are deploying capital in India on a scale never-before seen. They’re eager to attract the subcontinent’s best and brightest to invest and do business in the Arab world — and who wouldn’t want to sell into India, whether you’re exporting energy, petrochemicals, or production inputs?

EnterpriseAM MENA <> India is for C-suite execs and entrepreneurs — and bankers, business development pros, founders, and builders. Whether you’re reading us in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Mumbai, New Delhi, or points in between, this is your daily dose of fact and inspiration if you care about what happens along this exciting corridor.

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PSAs-

#1- Jio, India’s largest telecom provider, is now offering Google’s Gemini Pro without charge to its 5G users for 18 months, as per its website. It can be activated instantly via the MyJio app.

#2- India has expanded its visa-on-arrival facility for UAE nationals to Cochin, Calicut and Ahmedabad airports, bringing the total access points to nine, News On Air reports. The visa is available only to UAE citizens who have previously held an e-visa or paper visa. It permits a stay of up to 60 days for tourism, business, conference, or medical visits, with double entry allowed.

HAPPENING TODAY-

Saudi Arabia’s tourism body is bringing its “Spectacular India” showcase to India across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, according to Travel + Leisure. The event will run at major malls, offering cultural exhibits, food counters, and trip-planning support under the “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia” brand.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Shaky markets are still dominating headlines after Nvidia’s bumper earnings yesterday failed to keep concerns of an AI bubble at bay, with the shares of several AI firms — including Nvidia, Broadcom, and Advanced Micro Devices — tanking yesterday, pulling the S&P 500 down 1.6% and the Nasdaq down 2.2%. (CNBC | Financial Times | Guardian | Wall Street Journal)

Meanwhile, Warner Bros received bids from Netflix, Paramount Skydance, and Comcast as the company mulls a sale of its business, after rejecting a nearly USD 60 bn bid from Paramount Skydance earlier. Netflix and Comcast are eyeing its film and TV library, while Paramount Skydance is looking to take over the entire business. (Reuters | Bloomberg | New York Times)

Geopolitics are also still getting attention, with Ukraine saying it will work with the US on its 28-point peace plan for the country and Russia, which would see Ukraine cede large chunks of territory to Russia, as well as cap the size of its military and lift sanctions on Moscow. (Bloomberg | Axios | Reuters)

CLOSER TO HOME- Iran ended its agreement allowing the International Energy Agency to inspect its nuclear stockpile after the UN’s atomic watchdog passed a resolution ordering it to provide details on its enriched uranium and nuclear sites with “without delay.” (Bloomberg | Washington Post | NYT)

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