{"id":113860,"date":"2026-04-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=113860"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:18:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:18:48","slug":"ceasefire","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/ceasefire\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceasefire?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"113862\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113862\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">OPENING NOTE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/us-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks\/\">\r\n                            US, Iran signal they\u2019re putting down their weapons for two weeks                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/us-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n           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their weapons for two weeks&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/us-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/us-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks\/&title=US, Iran signal they\u2019re putting down their weapons for two weeks\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=US%2C+Iran+signal+they%E2%80%99re+putting+down+their+weapons+for+two+weeks+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Fus-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/us-iran-signal-theyre-putting-down-their-weapons-for-two-weeks\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113862\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113862 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-opening-note tag-enterpriseam tag-opening-note tag-war-watch wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Good morning, friends. <\/strong>We\u2019re a bit more optimistic this morning than we\u2019ve been at any time in the past five weeks. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The US and Iran each signaled they have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. <\/strong>After promising to erase Iran yesterday, Trump announced a two-week pause on bombing runs and Tehran agreed to re-open Hormuz. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Some gunners may have gotten the word a bit late? <\/strong>An hour after the ceasefire announcement, we had clocked reports of attacks and \/ or security alerts in the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, and Kuwait. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>First responders were still battling a fire <\/strong>at the key Habshan gas facility in the UAE as we prepared to hit \u201csend\u201d on today\u2019s issue. <strong>Watch this space, folks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/opening-note\/\">Opening Note<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/war-watch\/\">WAR WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113863\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113863\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ECONOMY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/\">\r\n                            Short-term pains, long-term gains                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div 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navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Morocco has its eye on the long game with a massive investment drive ahead of 2030 World Cup&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/&title=Morocco has its eye on the long game with a massive investment drive ahead of 2030 World Cup\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Morocco+has+its+eye+on+the+long+game+with+a+massive+investment+drive+ahead+of+2030+World+Cup+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Fmorocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/12\/1452.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113864\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/morocco-has-its-eye-on-the-long-game-with-a-massive-investment-drive-ahead-of-2030-world-cup\/1452-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/12\/1452.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1452.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/12\/1452.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/12\/1452.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113863\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113863 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-economy tag-economy tag-enterpriseam tag-investment-watch tag-investments tag-macroeconomics tag-morocco wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Morocco\u2019s USD multi-bn infrastructure investment push for the 2030 World Cup is a <\/strong><strong>calculated fiscal gamble.<\/strong> With planned investments estimated at 12% of Morocco\u2019s 2024 GDP, the country is betting that a state-led, capex-intensive push will do good things for its long-term growth despite taking a hit on public debt levels and the risk that private-sector investment gets crowded out, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/368.pdf\" style=\"\">recent IMF report (pdf)<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>By 2030, the IMF estimates the football-fuelled investment push will leave Morocco's real <\/strong><strong>economy 2% larger<\/strong> than it would have been without it \u2014 rising to c. 3% larger after 2031, as productivity gains from the new infrastructure kick in. Better connectivity will lower business costs and strengthen Morocco\u2019s position as a regional trade hub.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Where\u2019s the investment coming from? <\/strong>Rail (50% of the total investment), airport expansions (20%), construction and stadium upgrades (18.3%), roads (6.5%), and tourism (4.2%).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Who\u2019s in the driver\u2019s seat: <\/strong>The state is taking on most of the responsibility for financing and implementation, with 62% of the financing to be led by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Regional governments will pitch in 27%, and the central government will contribute with the remaining 11%. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>And this domestic-led strategy is also trickling down the line, <\/strong>with the government increasingly favoring the domestic private sector over foreign players for execution contracts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But this won\u2019t come without its own price. <\/strong>Public spending is on track to rise by 7-8% of GDP, peaking in 2030. The buildout is also set to heavily rely on imported inputs, widening the trade deficit, raising depreciation pressures on the MAD, and muting the immediate multiplier effect on the domestic economy in the short-term.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The downside risk for the private sector: Debt could be harder to obtain \u2014 and more <\/strong><strong>expensive. <\/strong>Higher public borrowing raises sovereign risk premiums, helping drive real corporate interest rates upward during the construction phase. And ask any Saudi business what a massive state-backed infrastructure buildout means to a private sector actor looking to access bank financing. <strong>The words you\u2019re looking for, friends, are \u201ccrowing out.\u201d <\/strong>Still, the report sees private-sector investment on the rebound starting in 2031. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Baseline <\/strong><strong>assumptions: <\/strong>The report\u2019s baseline scenario assumes that public spending efficiency (average productivity gains from a given unit of investment) will be similar to the country\u2019s current performance. The report also assumes the push will be financed by a mix of domestic and concessional debt, budget reallocations, cash-in-hand, and sovereign bonds.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/economy\/\">ECONOMY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/investment-watch\/\">investment watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/investments\/\">investments<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/macroeconomics\/\">macroeconomics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/morocco\/\">Morocco<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113865\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113865\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WAR WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/tehran-washington-agree-to-two-week-ceasefire-hours-before-trump-deadline\/\">\r\n                            Eleventh hour                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/tehran-washington-agree-to-two-week-ceasefire-hours-before-trump-deadline\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Tehran <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/araghchi\/status\/2041655156215799821?s=20\" style=\"\">responded by saying<\/a> it would halt its attacks across the Gulf if the US and Israel stop their attacks. The Islamic Republic also said it would open the Strait of Hormuz, allowing vessels to transit the waterway in coordination with Iranian armed forces. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The ceasefire \u201cdoes not include Lebanon,\u201d<\/strong> Israeli Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IsraeliPM\/status\/2041714156114456660\" style=\"\">Benjamin Netanyahu said<\/a> after the agreement was announced. That statement comes as Israel expands its evacuation orders in Lebanon, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/today.lorientlejour.com\/article\/1502421\/about-40-villages-in-south-lebanon-ordered-to-evacuate-as-israel-kills-more-paramedics.html\" style=\"\">issuing<\/a> directives for about 40 villages in the South to evacuate earlier on Catholic Easter Monday, including in Christian-majority areas that were largely spared from earlier displacement directives<strong>. <\/strong>At least 16 people were killed overnight Sunday and Monday in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, according to L\u2019Orient-Le Jour\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/today.lorientlejour.com\/article\/1502370\/israel-kills-at-least-16-people-in-the-south-and-the-bekaa-overnight-sunday-and-monday-morning.html\" style=\"\">tally<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What happens next?<\/strong> The two sides will meet on Friday to \u201cfurther negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes,\u201d Pakistan\u2019s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CMShehbaz\/status\/2041665043423752651?s=20\" style=\"\">said<\/a>. Trump said Iran presented a 10-point proposal, which he called a \u201cworkable basis on which to negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The question is whether the ceasefire will hold: <\/strong>An hour after the ceasefire announcement, the Emirati Defense Ministry <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/modgovae\/status\/2041660258096148633\/photo\/1\" style=\"\">warned<\/a> that sounds heard this morning are the result of interceptions of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Qatar and Kuwait also reported a fresh round of missile attacks, while Saudi Arabia <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/iran-war-live-tehran-rejects-ceasefire-deal-trumps-deadline-reopen-strait-hormuz-2026-04-07\/\" style=\"\">issued a security<\/a> alert to residents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Opening up a choked strait <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The reopening of Hormuz comes as no loaded LNG cargo has made it through the strait<\/strong><strong> since the war began<\/strong> \u2014 including two loaded Qatari LNG tankers that were <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-04-07\/iran-amplifies-lng-shortage-by-blocking-passages-through-hormuz\" style=\"\">forced<\/a> to turn back after an unsuccessful attempt to pass through the strait. The only recent transit was an Oman-linked tanker that appeared to be empty, highlighting that flows remain effectively stalled despite limited vessel movement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>And even for the lucky few who received select exemptions, confidence is shaky. <\/strong>Asian crude buyers are not jumping in line to secure shipments from Iraq, despite <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-04-06\/iraq-tells-buyers-to-collect-crude-as-its-oil-can-cross-hormuz?srnd=phx-industries-energy\" style=\"\">reports<\/a> that the country has opened crude lift orders for traders and refiners shortly after Iran said its vessels would be exempt from Hormuz restrictions. Iraq typically sells on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, meaning buyers are responsible for the logistics and risk once the crude is loaded at origin. With the high risk associated with FOBs, Asian buyers are now probing for clarity on conditions \u2014 including whether Iraq would step in with its own fleet to de-risk shipments. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/du\/\">Du<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iraq\/\">Iraq<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/lebanon\/\">Lebanon<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/qatar\/\">Qatar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/war-watch\/\">WAR WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113867\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113867\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">TECH + INNOVATION<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/\">\r\n                            A new frontier?                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=A new frontier in the war?&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/&title=A new frontier in the war?\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=A+new+frontier+in+the+war%3F+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Fa-new-frontier-in-the-war%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114116.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114116\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/a-new-frontier-in-the-war\/attachment\/2561\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114116.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"2561\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114116.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114116.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113867\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113867 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-tech-innovation tag-enterpriseam tag-infrastructure tag-iran tag-tech-innovation tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Watch this space if the ceasefire fails:<\/strong> A drone from Iran targeted a Du building in Fujairah on Monday, resulting in a \u201cminor incident\u201d with no injuries reported, state news agency <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/ar\/article\/175ot38-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81\">Wam<\/a> reports. \u201c<strong>They are now targeting other industries and other infrastructure<\/strong>, which qualifies as a slight escalation,\u201d MENA Economist Hamzeh Al Gaood told EnterpriseAM. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>This marks the first time Iran targeted state-owned telecom infrastructure in the UAE<\/strong>, though it did previously target Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain. Du is responsible for a massive chunk of the UAE\u2019s digital and telecom infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>This development adds to the risk premium that had already existed since the start of the<\/strong> <strong>war. <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s economic pain, and it\u2019s increasing the level of threat and risk on the GCC,\u201d Al Gaood added, explaining that there will be a risk premium attached to telecom infrastructure associated with the fact that investments might be needed to repair facilities. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Plus: Iran is still targeting industrial sites.<\/strong> An office building belonging to tech firm Raneen Systems in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) in Mussafah was also hit yesterday, resulting in one moderate injury, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/ar\/article\/175ot2x-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%B4%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85\">Wam<\/a> reported separately.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/infrastructure\/\">infrastructure<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tech-innovation\/\">Tech + Innovation<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113868\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113868\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">TOURISM<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/\">\r\n                            A tale of two tourism trajectories                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Morocco\u2019s tourism industry had a good 1Q as others in the region struggled&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/&title=Morocco\u2019s tourism industry had a good 1Q as others in the region struggled\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Morocco%E2%80%99s+tourism+industry+had+a+good+1Q+as+others+in+the+region+struggled+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Fmoroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/9\/981.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113869\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/moroccos-tourism-industry-had-a-good-1q-as-others-in-the-region-struggled\/981-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/9\/981.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"981.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/9\/981.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/9\/981.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113868\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113868 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-tourism tag-egypt tag-enterpriseam tag-jordan tag-morocco tag-tourism wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong> Tourist arrivals in Morocco <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/africa\/morocco-reports-7-rise-first-quarter-tourist-arrivals-2026-04-03\/\" style=\"\">rose 18%<\/a><\/strong><strong> in March, despite a region-wide tourism slowdown <\/strong>that grounded occupancy rates in the GCC and beyond. The March surge drove an overall 7% y-o-y rise in 1Q arrivals to 4.3 mn, with the country\u2019s tourism ministry attributing the rise to better flight connectivity and accommodation and entertainment offerings, as well as diversified source markets. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Improved returns: <\/strong>Tourism receipts reached USD 2.3 bn in by the end of February, marking a 22.2% y-o-y improvement and suggesting better monetization per visitor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Data point: <\/strong>Morocco was the most visited country in Africa last year, attracting 19.8 mn \u2060tourists. The North African kingdom is also targeting 26 mn tourists by 2030, supported by long-term infrastructure upgrades ahead of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Now put that in contrast with Egypt\u2019s performance:<\/strong> Bookings in Egypt are down 20% since the outbreak of the war, bringing the country\u2019s tourism rebound to a screeching halt after a record-breaking 2025. The drop reflects Egypt\u2019s tourism sector\u2019s exposure to the shock that\u2019s only made worse by its reliance on tourists from the GCC and East Asia. This was in part due to flight disruptions rather than just a falling appetite for the country, which becomes clear when you look at the steady figures of arrivals for tourists incoming from Europe and the US, Egyptian Tourism Federation member Hossam Hazaa told us. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Others aren\u2019t faring much better: <\/strong>March bookings in Jordan <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/almamlakaen\/posts\/jordans-tourism-sector-is-facing-one-of-its-most-challenging-periods-with-bookin\/122314912202232941\/\" style=\"\">fell<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/almamlakaen\/posts\/jordans-tourism-sector-is-facing-one-of-its-most-challenging-periods-with-bookin\/122314912202232941\/\" style=\"\">90% y-o-y<\/a> overall and as much as 100% in the country\u2019s major tourist attraction, the ancient city of Petra. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/jordan\/\">Jordan<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/morocco\/\">Morocco<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tourism\/\">Tourism<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113870\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113870\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">6<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/\">\r\n                            UAE IPOs are officially in \u2018wait-and-see\u2019 mode                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=UAE IPOs are officially in \u2018wait-and-see\u2019 mode&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/&title=UAE IPOs are officially in \u2018wait-and-see\u2019 mode\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=UAE+IPOs+are+officially+in+%E2%80%98wait-and-see%E2%80%99+mode+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Fuae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114105.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114105\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/uae-ipos-are-officially-in-wait-and-see-mode\/dubai-financial-market\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114105.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"Dubai Financial Market\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Screens display stock informations at the Dubai Financial Market, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 30, 2025. REUTERS\/Amr Alfiky&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114105.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114105.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113870\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113870 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-markets-deals tag-ades-holding tag-al-rajhi-capital tag-aramco tag-bindawood tag-enterpriseam tag-fintech tag-ipo-watch tag-lucky tag-maison-safqa tag-markets-deals tag-mubadala wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"> <strong>The UAE\u2019s IPO pipeline has officially slipped into wait-and-see mode<\/strong>, with execution windows for 1H 2026 effectively closed as the regional conflict rattles market sentiment, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/07\/uae-ipos-slip-into-wait-and-see-mode-as-war-hits-execution\/\">EnterpriseAM UAE reports<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Big-ticket listings are being pushed to late Q3 or Q4<\/strong>, including offerings by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\/news\/story\/ca682210-f8e1-43f9-8975-2fe56c765b52\/could-etihad-airways\">Etihad Airways<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\/news\/story\/6675b0ae-8e52-4e2f-9ea4-82ac5e5efd03\/%3Cmark%3Edubai-holding%3C\/mark%3E-mulls-ipos-for-commercial-and-residential-property-units\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\/news\/story\/6675b0ae-8e52-4e2f-9ea4-82ac5e5efd03\/%3Cmark%3Edubai-holding%3C\/mark%3E-mulls-ipos-for-commercial-and-residential-property-units\">Dubai Holding\u2019s property units<\/a>, while <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/03\/emirates-global-aluminium-taps-investors-ahead-of-ipo\/\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/03\/emirates-global-aluminium-taps-investors-ahead-of-ipo\/\">Emirates Global Aluminium<\/a> grapples with damaged infrastructure after an Iranian attack. Despite foreign investors <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/02\/dfm-and-adx-reel-from-steepest-monthly-declines-in-years-amid-regional-strain\/\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/02\/dfm-and-adx-reel-from-steepest-monthly-declines-in-years-amid-regional-strain\/\">pulling AED 1.06 bn<\/a> from both the ADX and DFM in March, issuers look more likely to kick to a different window than they are to go offshore, suggesting that domestic liquidity (including the omnipresent promise of sovereign capital\u2026) is the ultimate backstop.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Abu Dhabi\u2019s Mubadala Capital blew past its initial target to raise USD 900 mn for its third <\/strong><strong>Brazil fund<\/strong>, drawing backing from international pension funds and private investors alongside a USD 250 mn anchor from its parent, the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/d1ed7133-718a-4418-aff2-4b93ebb9daad?syn-25a6b1a6=1\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/d1ed7133-718a-4418-aff2-4b93ebb9daad?syn-25a6b1a6=1\">Financial Times<\/a> reports. A third of the capital has already been deployed into distressed Brazilian assets. The fund is showing no sign of backing away from its overseas strategy despite some pundits <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/06\/abu-dhabi-sovereign-wealth-funds-could-repurpose-their-strategies-toward-critical-sectors-in-case-of-a-war-escalation\/\">suggesting<\/a> that it might pivot inward to plug domestic infrastructure risks amid ongoing attacks from Iran.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"> <strong>Saudi retail giant BinDawood\u2019s acquisition spree continues: <\/strong>BinDawood Holding bought a 51% stake in food manufacturer Vaza for SAR 217.9 mn, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saudiexchange.sa\/wps\/portal\/saudiexchange\/newsandreports\/issuer-news\/issuer-announcements\/issuer-announcements-details\/?anId=94250&amp;anCat=1&amp;cs=4161&amp;locale=en\">Tadawul disclosure<\/a>. The retail giant is using the deal to push into premium confectionery and specialty foods. It\u2019s the latest in a string of acquisitions \u2014 including <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/ksa\/en\/news\/story\/62a90941-ec32-43db-9e7d-182155abcdaf\/%3cmark%3ebindawood%3c%2Fmark%3e-closes-zahrat-al-rawdah-pharmacies-acquisition\">Zahrat Al Rawdah<\/a> ; a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bindawoodholding.com\/media\/strategic-expansion-bindawood-holding-acquires-51-of-toy-triangle-company\/\">majority stake<\/a> in toy distributor Toy Triangle; and a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/12\/25\/dream-of-the-desert-gets-italian-backing-bindawood-expands-in-uae-and-fipco-diversifies-into-construction\/\">51% stake<\/a> in Dubai-based Wonder Bakery \u2014 as BinDawood builds out well beyond its grocery roots.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Aramco Ventures backed US-based industrial separations player Via Separations in a<\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wamda.com\/2026\/04\/aramco-ventures-backs-separations-36-million-round\"><\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wamda.com\/2026\/04\/aramco-ventures-backs-separations-36-million-round\">USD 36 mn funding round<\/a><\/strong> to scale its modular filtration platform \u2014 currently applied to pulp and paper \u2014 into the refining and chemicals sectors. It\u2019s a targeted play by the Saudi energy giant to acquire technologies it needs to drive efficiency and cut emissions across its own industrial assets. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Egyptian fintech<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luckyegypt.com\/en\"><\/a> <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luckyegypt.com\/en\">Lucky<\/a><\/strong> <strong> secured USD 23 mn in a series \u2018B\u2019 mix of equity and debt,<\/strong> drawing capital from Suez Canal Bank and OneStop alongside existing backers Disruptech Ventures and Nclude, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/350.pdf\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/350.pdf\">statement (pdf)<\/a>. Lucky will use the injection to grow its credit products, expand across North Africa, and build the regulatory and technical backend for a transition into neo-banking.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">ALSO WORTH KNOWING TODAY-<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Egypt is temporarily listing five state-owned firms on the EGX today<\/strong>, opening a six-month window for the entities to get their paperwork and finances in order before active trading begins. The Madbouly government is looking to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/04\/05\/egypt-looks-to-restart-privatization-push-with-five-new-egx-filings\/\">restart its privatization push<\/a> \u2014 who is interested in recycled state-owned enterprises in the absence of a significant marketing effort is very much an open question. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Al Rajhi Capital<\/strong> locked down SAR 2.5 bn in facility agreements from <strong>Al Rajhi Bank<\/strong> and <strong>Saudi <\/strong><strong>Awwal<\/strong> to refinance debt and fund future acquisitions, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saudiexchange.sa\/wps\/portal\/saudiexchange\/newsandreports\/issuer-news\/issuer-announcements\/issuer-announcements-details\/?anId=94266&amp;anCat=1&amp;cs=4340&amp;locale=en\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saudiexchange.sa\/wps\/portal\/saudiexchange\/newsandreports\/issuer-news\/issuer-announcements\/issuer-announcements-details\/?anId=94266&amp;anCat=1&amp;cs=4340&amp;locale=en\">Tadawul disclosure<\/a>. Al Rajhi Bank committed SAR 1.75 bn of the total.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Cairo-born <strong>Ades Holding<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SPC.SYR\/posts\/pfbid02g31uLKAcinam2XC8FZxh4Udoxdj8yfncm4XqzmaGFEvLWfnE3V1cNVqq3MASMbZcl\">inked<\/a> a contract with <strong>Syrian Petroleum<\/strong> to maintain and develop gas fields in Syria. The agreement targets a 25% production increase within six months, rising to 50% by year\u2019s end. The Syrian Petroleum Company recently restarted production at fields in north-eastern Syria relinquished after years of Kurdish control, but more than a decade of military and economic turmoil has left the fields and related infrastructure \u2014 including pipelines \u2014 severely degraded, with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/165bb585-0107-4fa5-893a-4d51e7dc4631?syn-25a6b1a6=1\">industry insiders<\/a> saying it would take years to bring them back to full capacity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>IBF &amp; Company<\/strong> finalized its acquisition of a stake in industrial storage manufacturer <strong>Techno <\/strong><strong>Metal<\/strong> in a deal valuing the target at roughly EGP 500 mn (USD 9.1 mn) \u2014 a push deeper into logistics on the heels of its December acquisition of a 50% stake in cross-border trade platform <strong>Diatom CBT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Saudi luxury flash-sale platform <strong>Maison Safqa<\/strong> closed a USD 620k pre-seed round anchored by <strong>500 Global<\/strong> and the founder of European flash-seller <strong>Ventes Exclusives<\/strong>. The capital will fund a doubling of its brand portfolio to 100 and the launch of offline sales events in Riyadh and Jeddah.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Saudi Arabia\u2019s push to privatize its <strong>aviation infrastructure<\/strong> drew 89 bidders \u2014 55 local and 34 international \u2014 for the Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport development phase, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MATARAT_KSA\/status\/2041170824678236251\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MATARAT_KSA\/status\/2041170824678236251\">statement<\/a>. <strong>Matarat Holding<\/strong> and the National Center for Privatization &amp; PPP are moving forward with a 30-year build-transfer-operate concession after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/02\/10\/this-morning-pif-carefully-kicks-the-new-strategys-tires-with-investors\/\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/02\/10\/this-morning-pif-carefully-kicks-the-new-strategys-tires-with-investors\/\">calling for expressions of interest<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\"> Market Snapshot<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Tadawul<\/strong> -1.6% \u2022 <strong>ADX<\/strong> -0.3% \u2022 <strong>DFM<\/strong> -0.8% \u2022 <strong>EGX30<\/strong> -0.8%<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Brent USD 94.33 \/ bbl \u2022 Gold USD 4,803.50 \/ oz \u2022 USD \/ SAR 3.75 \u2022 USD \/ EGP 54.69<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ades-holding\/\">Ades Holding<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/al-rajhi-capital\/\">Al Rajhi Capital<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/aramco\/\">Aramco<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/bindawood\/\">Bindawood<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/fintech\/\">fintech<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ipo-watch\/\">IPO WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/lucky\/\">Lucky<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/maison-safqa\/\">Maison Safqa<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/markets-deals\/\">Markets + Deals<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/mubadala\/\">Mubadala<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113871\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113871\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">7<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE SCORECARD<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/gcc-banks-could-see-a-25-surge-in-losses-in-2026\/\">\r\n                            Brace for impact                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n    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     \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/gcc-banks-could-see-a-25-surge-in-losses-in-2026\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/1462.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"113872\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/gcc-banks-could-see-a-25-surge-in-losses-in-2026\/1462-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/1462.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1462.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/1462.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/1462.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113871\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113871 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-scorecard tag-banking tag-enterpriseam tag-gcc tag-the-scorecard tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>GCC banks are bracing for a possible 25% y-o-y rise in loan loss provisions in the next <\/strong><strong>two years<\/strong> to hit USD 11.6 bn in 2027 as regional conflict widens their risk exposure to defaults, according to a report from S&P\u2019s Visible Alpha seen by EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The forecast is primarily driven by UAE banks\u2019 exposure to the real estate debt<\/strong>, with many real estate issuances falling into distress earlier in March before some corrected over widening yield spreads, as we previously reported. The report also pointed to risks of declining rents, which could affect loan repayments. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Who\u2019s most exposed?<\/strong> In the UAE it\u2019s Dubai Islamic Bank and the First Abu Dhabi Bank that have the biggest risk exposure to real estate, with almost a quarter of each of their portfolios going to developers, the report says. Midsized developers and contractors \u201care more vulnerable to payment delays and rising funding and construction costs,\u201d fueling a potential rise in nonperforming loans.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Background: <\/strong>GCC banks are expected to slash dividends by up to 50% this year to protect <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">their liquidity positions as they navigate the fallout of the regional conflict. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/banking\/\">Banking<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/gcc\/\">GCC<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/the-scorecard\/\">The Scorecard<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113873\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113873\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">8<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/\">\r\n                            Big UAE players roll out support packages                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Also on Our Radar&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/&title=Also on Our Radar\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Also+on+Our+Radar+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F08%2Falso-on-our-radar-3%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114243.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114243\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/also-on-our-radar-3\/rasalkhaimahrasalkhaimah-unitedarabemirates-10-11-2019\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114243.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"&quot;ras,Al,Khaimah,,Ras,Al,Khaimah\/united,Arab,Emirates,-,10\/11\/2019:\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&quot;Ras al Khaimah, Ras al Khaimah\/United Arab Emirates - 10\/11\/2019: &quot;Emirates NBD Bank PJSC  Bank (National Bank of Dubai) blue storefront on a blue sky sunny day. &quot;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114243.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/114243.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113873\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113873 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-dubai tag-dubai-south tag-egypt tag-emirates-nbd tag-enterpriseam tag-saudi-arabia tag-smes tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">More breathing room for UAE\u2019s SMEs<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Major Emirati players, from banks to industrial giants, are introducing new programs <\/strong><strong>designed to give SMEs some breathing room during the war. <\/strong>Emirates NBD <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/emirates-nbd-launches-business-support-package-to-help-smes-manage-costs-and-cash-flow-c3q6ryyb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched<\/a> a new business support package, waiving and reducing charges for a range of services, like deferred loans and international courier deliveries, letters of credit and guarantees, and banknote management. Dubai South also <a href=\"https:\/\/mediaoffice.ae\/en\/news\/2026\/april\/06-04\/dubai-south-announces-support-package-aligned-with-uae-economic-stability-efforts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rolled out<\/a> a rent relief package to help businesses steady at its Business Park, offering incentives for contract renewals, ranging from rent-free periods and deferred payments to waived penalties, in addition to a freeze on lease rates for eligible tenants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>These two relief programs are only the latest among several aimed at keeping smaller <\/strong><strong>businesses afloat. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/01\/ihc-takes-stake-in-sammaan-smes-get-another-liquidity-cushion-mubadala-ihc-back-whoop-and-hospitality-financing-startup-launches-in-uae\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Just last week<\/a>, Dubai-based spend platform Qashio rolled out a AED 10 mn support program with Dubai Chambers, while authorities moved in <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/31\/dubai-is-offering-financial-stimulus-for-tourism-art-and-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">late March<\/a> with an AED 1 bn package to cushion private-sector strain linked to the regional conflict.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Tourism is also in focus in the UAE<\/strong>, with a dedicated support package in the pipeline, Economy and Tourism Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dubaieye1038.com\/news\/local\/40-day-conflict-will-not-determine-uae-economys-future-says-minister\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dubai Eye<\/a> in a podcast. He added that the sector has remained supported through the recent disruption, including assistance for more than 10k tourists, ensuring accommodation, meals, and safe return. The AED 1 bn Dubai package also included measures specific to the sector.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Expanding footprint<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gksdholding.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GKSD<\/a><\/strong><strong>, part of top Italian hospitals group <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/international.grupposandonato.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gruppo San Donato<\/a><\/strong><strong>, is moving into Saudi <\/strong><strong>Arabia and <\/strong><strong>Egypt<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alarabiya.net\/aswaq\/exclusive\/2026\/04\/05\/%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D9%80-200-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Managing Director Masroor Haq<\/a> said. In the Kingdom, it has partnered with a private firm to build an integrated hospital and smart clinics, with investments topping USD 200 mn. The company is targeting advanced healthcare services, including diagnostics, AI, robotic surgery, and specialized treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/also-on-our-radar\/\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dubai\/\">Dubai<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/dubai-south\/\">Dubai South<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/emirates-nbd\/\">Emirates NBD<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/smes\/\">SMEs<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113874\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"113874\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">9<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/gcc-can-stand-up-to-the-pounding-georgieva-says\/\">\r\n                            GCC can stand up to the pounding, Georgieva says                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/gcc-can-stand-up-to-the-pounding-georgieva-says\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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That being said, the global lender will \u201csomewhat\u201d lower its growth forecast for GCC nations, she added. Global growth, too, will see a downward revision. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Watch this space: <\/strong>The regional war and its economic impact is expected to dominate discussions among policymakers during the IMF and World Bank\u2019s annual spring meetings, which will kick off next Monday, 13 April.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>#2- Committed\u2026ish? Asia\u2019s largest low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Asia is still <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/airasia-x-raise-fares-trim-capacity-amid-rising-oil-prices-2026-04-06\/\">planning<\/a><\/strong> <strong> to make the <\/strong><strong>June launch date for its Bahrain hub<\/strong>, the CEO of the Malaysia-based carrier Bo Bingham said in a presser on Monday. But that could change if the war drags on, with Bingham suggesting the airline is open to exploring other locations to back its Kuala Lumpur-London routes. \u201cAnything is possible,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>Air Asia\u2019s Bahrain hub plan is a win-win for both the country and the carrier. For Air Asia, it would help it tap into the booming budget flying market in the region, especially for Gulf-Asia and Europe-Asia itineraries. Meanwhile, Bahrain has <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/11\/04\/malaysias-airasia-chooses-bahrain-for-middle-east-hub\/\">lagged behind<\/a> its peers in the region in LCC growth \u2014 and Air Asia\u2019s hub could help it seize on unrealized growth potential.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>It would be good news for regional LCC champions including Flydubai and Air Arabia if <\/strong><strong>Air Asia were to scrap its Bahrain plans <\/strong>in the face of the war. Their business models are backed primarily by Asia connections, making them Air Asia\u2019s main competitors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>REMEMBER- The war is fundamentally changing the math for LCCs<\/strong>, whose business model is the most sensitive to price shocks like the war-driven surge in jet fuel rates, Sindy Foster, principal managing partner at Avaero Capital Partners, previously told us. Still, Air Asia recently added a 20% fuel surcharge and hiked its ticket prices by 31-40%. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>#3- Algeria will head to the polls to vote in a new parliament on 2 July<\/strong>, according to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aps.dz\/en\/presidency-news\/mnmwtb58-\">a<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aps.dz\/en\/presidency-news\/mnmwtb58-\">presidential decree<\/a>. Ahead of the elections, the government will kick off an \u201cexceptional revision\u201d of voting lists next week, the decree said. The country\u2019s parliament is currently dominated by the government-aligned National Democratic Rally (RND) and the National Liberation Front (FLN).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Sign of the times<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>More security pacts with Kyiv:<\/strong> Syria and Ukraine <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/zelenskiy-syria-meet-president-sharaa-sources-say-2026-04-05\/\">agreed to increase security cooperation<\/a> between the two countries, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his wartime tour of the Middle East. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> The agreement, which follows <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/ukraine-uae-agree-cooperate-defence-zelenskiy-says-2026-03-28\/\">defense cooperation frameworks<\/a> Ukraine signed with Saudi Arabia and Qatar last month, is a signal that Syria is opening its door to more allies than just Russia. The cooperation with Ukraine also gives Syria a path to food security and, possibly, the modernization of its military, considering Ukraine\u2019s position as a major grain exporter and its defense expertise. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/algeria\/\">Algeria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/aviation\/\">aviation<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/bahrain\/\">Bahrain<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/defence\/\">Defence<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/elections\/\">elections<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/gcc\/\">GCC<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/macroeconomics\/\">macroeconomics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/what-were-tracking\/\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"113875\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"calendar\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/08\/113875\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-113875\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-113875 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-calendar wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background is-style-wide\">\n\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mt-0 has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-normal-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\">\n\t\t\t<strong> CALENDAR<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">April 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Martyrs\u2019 Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Tunisia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Liberation Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Iraq<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">13 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 IMF \/ World Bank spring meetings begin (through 18 Apr). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Washington (virtual)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">14 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 QNB 1Q 2026 earnings guidance. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 2Q IPO listing window opens. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Sinai Liberation Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28-29 Apr<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28 Apr-1 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Syria HiTech International ICT Exhibition. <\/span><span style=\"\">Damascus<\/span><span style=\"\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Syria <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">12 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Qatar Economic Forum (through 14 May).<\/span><span style=\"\"> Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">21 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Independence Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">27-30 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Eid Al Adha (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Saudi Aramco ex-dividend date. <\/span><span style=\"\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">June 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">7 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 OPEC+ ministerial meeting. <\/span><span style=\"\">Vienna\/Virtual<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 King Abdullah II Accession Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">10\u201314 June <\/span><span style=\"\">\u2014 Syria Buildex International Construction Exhibition. <\/span><span style=\"\">Syria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16-17 June<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">July 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">2 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Parliament elections. <\/span><span style=\"\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">5 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Independence Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">14 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Republic Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Iraq<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">23 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Republic Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Tunisia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28-29 July<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">30 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Throne Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">August 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">13 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Women\u2019s National Day. <\/span><span style=\"\">Tunisia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution of the King and the People Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">21 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Youth Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Prophet\u2019s Birthday (public holiday, markets closed) \u2014 TBD. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">31 Aug-3 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 LEAP technology conference.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> Saudi Arabia <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">September 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">7-9 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 AIM Congress. <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15-16 Sep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 <\/span><span>IMF\u2019s eighth review of Egypt\u2019s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16-17 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Middle East Banking Innovation Summit. <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">23 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 National Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">24 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">30 Sep-3 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Cityscape Egypt 2026. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">October 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">3 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 National Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Iraq<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">6 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Armed Forces Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 GCC Made in the Gulf Forum + Exhibition. <\/span><span style=\"\">TBD<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Liberation Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\"> Libya<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25-27 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 World Investment Forum 2026. <\/span><span style=\"\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">26-29 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Future Investment Initiative.<\/span><span style=\"\"> Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">27-28 Oct<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">29 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">November 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">1 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution Anniversary (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">2 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition + Conference (ADIPEC) opens (through 5 Nov). <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">6 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Green March Anniversary (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Cityscape Global begins (through 19 Nov). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">December 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">17 Dec<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IPOs on hold | Bankers eye provisions | Reconstruction gold rush | Small businesses get a break | Morocco\u2019s big infrastructure push<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":113861,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113860","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"70025d2c-98f2-4c6e-b0fa-721f27e907ce","teaser":"IPOs on hold | Bankers eye provisions | Reconstruction gold rush | Small businesses get a break | Morocco\u2019s big infrastructure push","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2024\/1\/286.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site 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