{"id":114457,"date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=114457"},"modified":"2026-04-22T07:06:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:06:33","slug":"no-more-ipo-euphoria","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/no-more-ipo-euphoria\/","title":{"rendered":"No more IPO euphoria?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"114459\" 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=\"114459\">\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\/22\/washington-extends-ceasefire-with-iran-until-a-deal-is-reached\/\">\r\n                            Washington extends ceasefire with Iran until a deal is reached                        <\/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\/22\/washington-extends-ceasefire-with-iran-until-a-deal-is-reached\/\" 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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US President Donald Trump says he extended the ceasefire <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116444507618729432\" style=\"\">until \u201cdiscussions are concluded,\u201d<\/a> \u2014 and Tehran <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/us-positive-iran-deal-talks-still-uncertain-ceasefire-end-nears-2026-04-21\/\" style=\"\">says it never asked<\/a> for the extension and is once again threatening to break the US blockade by force. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s entirely unclear whether Iran (or Israel, for that matter) will also abide by the <\/strong><strong>ceasefire<\/strong>, which an adviser to Iran\u2019s lead negotiator dismissed as insignificant. And the next round of Washington-Tehran talks? It\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s a faint ray of hope for the region\u2019s IPO markets. <\/strong>We think they\u2019re largely shut until September, but these things can turn on a dime. The big one to watch is out of long-sleepy Egypt, where the sale of 30% or more of Banque du Caire continues to hold the interest of anchor investors in New York, London, and beyond.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We\u2019re also keeping an eye this morning on the continuing sovereign restructuring<\/strong> in Abu Dhabi \u2014 and big Emirati outfits continue to do cross-border M&A despite the war. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Feel free to reply to this email <\/strong>if you have questions, comments, or ideas \u2014 we read every email \u2014 and we\u2019ll see you back here on Friday to wrap the week together. \u2013Patrick + Salma<\/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\/geopolitics\/\">geopolitics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/opening-note\/\">Opening Note<\/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=\"114461\" 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=\"114461\">\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\">THE LEDE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/the-ipo-hangover-heres-why-you-shouldnt-expect-mena-stocks-to-post-big-day-one-pops-even-if-the-window-to-raise-capital-reopens-this-fall\/\">\r\n                            The (IPO) hangover                        <\/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\/22\/the-ipo-hangover-heres-why-you-shouldnt-expect-mena-stocks-to-post-big-day-one-pops-even-if-the-window-to-raise-capital-reopens-this-fall\/\" 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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The easy market was already recalibrating before the war, now issuers face a market that\u2019s not quite open yet, where realistic pricing is the only way in.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>DATA POINT- <\/strong>Only <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/20\/a-quieter-than-usual-1q-for-regional-capital-markets\/\" style=\"\">four IPOs have made it to market YTD<\/a> across the region, down from 12 in the same period last year. These listings \u2014 one each in Saudi Arabia (Saleh Abdulaziz Al Rashed & Sons), Bahrain (Silah Gulf), Kuwait (Trolley), and Egypt (Gourmet) \u2014 raised a combined USD 296.6 mn, marking the region\u2019s weakest first quarter since 2018 as the Iran war effectively slammed shut the spring IPO window. (The lone sign of optimism right now: A small-ish offering from a Saudi IT firm, as we note in this morning\u2019s Markets + Deals column, below.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Markets have clawed back losses, but investors aren\u2019t looking at IPOs just yet. <\/strong>At the height of the freeze, the regional landscape was simply \u201cunsuitable for an IPO,\u201d Junaid Ansari, director of investment strategy and research at Kamco Invest in Kuwait, told EnterpriseAM. Markets were oversold, meaning any issuer hitting the tape would have had to accept a massive haircut on valuation. While a broad-based rally across the GCC post-ceasefire made the market \u201cattractive for new IPOs\u201d again, Ansari warns this isn't a full reset. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Riding out the geopolitical overhang:<\/strong> \u201cWe expect this year to underperform last year\u2019s IPO volume as well as proceeds,\u201d he says. Even with missiles and drones no longer flying, sentiment is still subject to \u201cchange overnight.\u201d Bankers are counseling would-be issuers to sit tight \u2014 at least until the end of the war looks a bit more solid. \u201cWe believe that 2H 2026 would see a revival in IPOs if there is a permanent ceasefire,\u201d Ansari says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Structural headwinds are still at play <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe ceasefire is clearly a positive near-term catalyst for sentiment<\/strong>, but it does not, in isolation, signal a full reopening of the IPO market,\u201d Tahir Abbas, head of research at Ubhar Capital in Oman, tells EnterpriseAM. He expects a series of \u201cselective, opportunistic issuance windows\u201d as investors continue to hedge against lingering geopolitical risks. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But are there deeper issues to face?<\/strong> Abbas argues that geopolitical jitters are just compounding the structural setbacks that markets had absorbed before the outbreak of the war \u201cdriven by tighter liquidity and valuation recalibration.\u201d While the ceasefire \u201chelps stabilize sentiment,\u201d it does not fully \u201creverse these structural headwinds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In simple terms: <\/strong><strong>The regional IPO slowdown had started well before the first shot was <\/strong><strong>fired <\/strong>in the Gulf. The market was already losing momentum with a number of 2025 listings struggling to hold onto their post-listing gains, Abbas previously told us, though the conflict did accelerate the freeze. The \u201cstrong euphoria\u201d that defined the earlier cycle faded, with several names to deliver meaningful secondary-market returns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Is it enough to bring foreign flows back?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Regional investors are likely the only ones with the stomach for the current volatility.<\/strong> Domestic institutions and high-net-worth individuals remain the \u201cdominant driver\u201d of the market, Abbas notes. While foreign participation might tick up at the margin, a broad-based return of international investors depends on \u201cclearer visibility into the end of the war\u201d and a better understanding of global rates and growth, \u201cmaking 2026 still largely a regionally supported IPO market,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The shape of the reopening looks different depending on where you sit:<\/strong> Saudi Arabia and Oman are better positioned thanks to strong domestic institutional demand and government-linked flows, Abbas told us ahead of the ceasefire. The UAE, by contrast, sits in the middle due \u2014 it has higher exposure to international sentiment, which makes execution harder to read. At the other end, Egypt (more macro stress) and Kuwait (shallow liquidity) are unlikely to see big listings soon. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Yes, but\u2026 <\/strong>Market watchers took note of the successful disposal of a chunk of Egyptian fintech darling Valu in an accelerated book build last week \u2014 and Banque du Caire has yet to pull the plug on its hotly anticipated spring offering, we\u2019re told. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Execution risk remains<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Despite the rally, the market is \u201chighly selective,\u201d <\/strong>Abbas warns. Not many IPOs will come to market soon, and those that do could face real challenges marshalling demand if they price too aggressively. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Watch out for a clustering effect:<\/strong> With a backlog of issuers waiting for the right moment, there\u2019s a real (if small) risk of too much supply hitting at once. Abbas expects advisors to attempt \u201cdisciplined deal sequencing\u201d to avoid taking more paper to market than investors have appetite for.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But there\u2019s money out there for the right name \u2014 at the right price. <\/strong>\u201cDemand for good quality names at reasonable valuation is always strong in the region,\u201d Ansari says, though he notes that allocation dynamics between institutional and retail investors will determine how much supply the market can ultimately absorb.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">What might investors like? <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Financials, healthcare, and utilities remain the most viable candidates<\/strong> in this \u201ccashflow visible\u201d environment, both Ansari and Abbas told us before the ceasefire. We think Saudi\u2019s Sudair Pharma and Nupco, the UAE\u2019s Tabreed, and Egypt\u2019s Banque du Caire as the primary bellwethers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>On the flipside, cyclicals including consumer discretionary, logistics, and industrials face <\/strong><strong>a steeper climb<\/strong> due to margin pressure. This pulls growth-driven stories like Dubizzle, Tabby, and Ninja, along with industrial heavyweights like Saudi Global Ports, into higher-risk territory where valuation discipline will be the deciding factor. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Looking ahead:<\/strong> \u201cIf the situation in the region improves, we can expect to see higher allocation to cyclicals and growth stocks,\u201d Ansari told us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">What would-be issuers should be watching<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What does a win look like in a post-euphoria market?<\/strong> It\u2019s no longer about the 15-20% secondary market pop. Abbas argues that \u201csustainable performance and institutional participation are now more important indicators of market health than short-term euphoria.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>(Order) size matters:<\/strong> So what signals should potential issuers be looking at to decide if the market is coming back? It has less to do with facile signals like headline-grabbing pops in share price on the first day of trading (always a sign bankers left a bit too much on the table) and a lot more to do with whose buying and what appetite looks like. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>That\u2019s going to make a more disciplined marketing process event more important<\/strong>, Abbas suggests. Strong visibility on early demand through anchor or cornerstone investors will be key. Anemic orders that portend a weaker book early on will make companies more likely to delay going to market rather than risking a weak transaction or \u2014 worse \u2014 having to pull one after announcing. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The investors to watch: <\/strong>Foreign institutional appetite and whether government-related entities are buying or sitting on the sidelines. <\/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\/capital-markets\/\">Capital Markets<\/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\/the-lede\/\">The Lede<\/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=\"114463\" 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=\"114463\">\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\">ECONOMY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/syria-taps-world-bank-oliver-wyman-for-financial-sector-reform\/\">\r\n                            Reform loading\u2026                        <\/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\/22\/syria-taps-world-bank-oliver-wyman-for-financial-sector-reform\/\" 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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The assessment is also getting backing from the US and World Bank.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- The World Bank is separately providing technical <\/strong><strong>assistance <\/strong><strong>to the Central Bank of<\/strong><strong> Syria (CBS)<\/strong> <strong>on its management <\/strong><strong>of foreign currency and gold reserves<\/strong>, Governor Abdulkader Husrieh told Sana earlier this week. This follows an ongoing <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/news\/press-release\/2026\/03\/11\/new-20-million-grant-to-enhance-public-financial-management-for-syria-s-recovery-and-development\" style=\"\">USD 20 mn grant<\/a> focused on helping Syria tighten public finance management and improve its revenue collection capacity. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In context:<\/strong> The updates come as Oliver Wyman is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/news\/mena\/2026\/02\/28\/syrias-central-bank-launches-reform-review-with-top-us-consultant-to-rebuild-global-trust\/\" style=\"\">separately working on<\/a> an institutional review of the CBS focused on compliance and transparency \u2014 two issues that are widely seen as the primary hurdles keeping Syria on the FATF grey list and preventing the return of global banks and capital flows. FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets global anti-money-laundering rules, and its gray list designation indicates weak compliance and higher risk for foreign banks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Background: <\/strong>Qatari, Jordanian, and Turkish banks have all <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/10\/turkish-banks-are-eyeing-syria-and-stellantis-is-doubling-down-on-algeria\/\" style=\"\">expressed<\/a> interest in the Syrian banking sector, but we have yet to hear a word on any official entry. The latest chatter pointed to Turkish state-owned Ziraat Bank and private lender Aktifbank, with reports saying they were in advanced talks with Syrian regulators. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>ALSO-<\/strong> Syria is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sana.sy\/en\/economic\/2311803\/\" style=\"\">saying<\/a> it secured USD 200 mn financing from the World Bank for rail rehabilitation. The funding will go to the modernization of infrastructure and equipment, procure new locomotives, and train personnel, with financing priority given to links serving industrial areas, the director of the Land Transport Authority Ali Isber told <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sana.sy\/economy\/2455423\/\" style=\"\">Sana<\/a>. The international lender is yet to make a formal announcement on the financing. <\/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\/economy\/\">ECONOMY<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114465\" 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=\"114465\">\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\">THE SCORECARD<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/\">\r\n                            Kingdom of the sun                        <\/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\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/\" 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\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/')\">\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\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/\">\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=MENA+ is investing in renewables nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/\">\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\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/&title=MENA+ is investing in renewables nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world\">\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=MENA%2B+is+investing+in+renewables+nearly+twice+as+fast+as+the+rest+of+the+world+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F22%2Fmena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world%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\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/2\/182.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114466\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/mena-is-investing-in-renewables-nearly-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world\/182-jpg-9\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/2\/182.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"182.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/2\/182.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/2\/182.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114465\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114465 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-scorecard tag-egypt tag-energy tag-enterpriseam tag-morocco tag-oman tag-qatar tag-saudi-arabia 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>The United States may be backing away from renewable energy, but it\u2019s an increasingly <\/strong><strong>key component of MENA+\u2019s energy mix<\/strong>, according to our analysis of a report from the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/642.pdf\" style=\"\">International Renewable Energy Agency (pdf)<\/a>. Across the region, new capacity is coming online at a rate that sharply outpaces the global average.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>2025 was a killer year for renewables in our region: <\/strong>Renewable energy capacity in the MENA region (including Iran) surged 25% y-o-y to 64.6 GW in installed capacity in 2025. Most of the new capacity was in solar, which accounted for 92% of the added capacity at about 11.8 GW.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Saudi Arabia was the star of the year with a 87% y-o-y rise<\/strong> to 12.3 GW, almost all of it in solar), followed by <strong>Egypt<\/strong> (+20% to 9.3 GW, driven by both wind and solar) and the <strong>UAE<\/strong> (7.9 GW, a 15% increase). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Oman and Qatar grew faster, but from a very low base:<\/strong> Each has les than 2 GW of installed capacity. <strong>Morocco<\/strong>, traditionally a steady renewables player, saw growth slow to just 4% last year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In context: <\/strong>Global growth in renewable energy generation capacity clocked in at 15.5% last year, with some 693 GW added \u2014 about three-quarters of it was solar. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This year\u2019s growth figure could be dented by fallout from the war in the Gulf: <\/strong>Solar and wind buildouts are heavily dependent on predictable supply chains. Solar remains reliant on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2211467X24003146\" style=\"\">imported hardware<\/a> \u2014 mainly from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/energy-technology-perspectives-2026\/supply-chain-risks-and-industrial-competitiveness\" style=\"\">China<\/a> \u2014 while wind components are a logistics headache even in stable times given the complexity of getting turbine blades from point A to point B. Renewable energy components face the same transport snags and insurance premiums that other industries do, and delays create sequencing problems for installation schedules. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We don\u2019t see any change in the long-term trend: <\/strong>The disruption to the global energy market thanks to the war and the closure of Hormuz exposed the vulnerability of an energy system still structurally anchored to fossil fuels. Every supply disruption, shipping scare, and oil-price spike reinforces the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/ar\/business\/HD3EKRWWEFINBJMTOHTQ4JM5ZI-2026-03-26\/\" style=\"\">economic case<\/a> for accelerating the buildout of clean energy.<\/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\/energy\/\">ENERGY<\/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\/oman\/\">Oman<\/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\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/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=\"114467\" 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=\"114467\">\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\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/emirates-global-aluminum-went-shopping-in-italy\/\">\r\n                            Let\u2019s go shopping                        <\/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\/22\/emirates-global-aluminum-went-shopping-in-italy\/\" 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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It\u2019s looking to raise up to USD 75 mn through the sale of 21 mn shares, per <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-04-21\/saudi-it-firm-to-press-ahead-with-ipo-despite-war-uncertainty\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-04-21\/saudi-it-firm-to-press-ahead-with-ipo-despite-war-uncertainty\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a>. Revenue jumped 30% last year to SAR 315 mn, giving bankers a growth story to pitch into a market starved of fresh paper, but the CMA approval expires in June, so the window is not particularly wide. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What to watch for: <\/strong>How much of this gets snapped up by domestic investors and how much goes to foreigners will be an important data point to keep in mind when we look at how the fall IPO window might shape up. We\u2019re not expecting much activity in the coming 5-6 weeks, after which the IPO window basically slams shut until September when folks return from summer break. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">(You may see some small-fry stuff on Nomu, Saudi\u2019s baby bourse, but don\u2019t expect big offerings on Tadawul, DFM, or ADX before fall if nobody pulls the trigger before yacht season begins\u2026)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EGA goes shopping in Italy \u2014 again:<\/strong> <strong>Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)<\/strong> is buying 80% of Italian recycler <strong>Eco Green<\/strong>, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/media.ega.ae\/ega-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-italian-aluminium-recycling-firm-eco-green-advancing-global-expansion-strategy\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/media.ega.ae\/ega-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-italian-aluminium-recycling-firm-eco-green-advancing-global-expansion-strategy\/\" style=\"\">statement<\/a>. It\u2019s the group\u2019s third outbound deal in two years \u2014 and with Al Taweelah still under force majeure and Hormuz still a mess (to put it politely), locking in 70k tonnes a year of European scrap supply is less an ESG badge than it is a new supply chain insurance policy. The founding Scappini family will keep 20% of the combined entity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The EGX is showing signs of life:<\/strong> <strong>Valu<\/strong> \u2014 Egypt\u2019s homegrown BNPL platform \u2014 placed a 2.55% stake (53.8 mn shares) through an accelerated bookbuild targeting institutions, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/efgholding.com\/en\/media\/news\/ValuABB\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/efgholding.com\/en\/media\/news\/ValuABB\" style=\"\">statement<\/a>. The secondary sale, managed by <strong>EFG Hermes<\/strong>, likely cleared around EGP 603 mn on closing prices, implying a total valuation of EGP 24.1 bn. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> It vindicates <strong>EFG Holding<\/strong>\u2019s unusual call last year to spin Valu out rather than keep it on the balance sheet \u2014 and tells the market the EGX is still willing to pay up for local tech names that can deliver real numbers. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Aldar + Mubadala deepen their Abu Dhabi JV:<\/strong> Aldar Properties and Mubadala added to their AED 30 bn tie-up with the purchase of <strong>The Link<\/strong> \u2014 a five-building, 32k-sqm complex in Masdar City that houses <strong>Masdar<\/strong>\u2019s HQ and the <strong>Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence<\/strong> \u2014 per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1028.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1028.pdf\" style=\"\">press release (pdf)<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Pakistan is on course to conclude its breakup with the UAE: <\/strong>Pakistan <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/tribune.com.pk\/story\/2603481\/pakistan-returns-2-billion-more-to-uae\" style=\"\">returned USD 2 bn<\/a> to the UAE and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/business\/international-business\/pakistan-says-it-will-repay-remaining-1-5-billion-loan-to-uae-by-april-23-amid-imf-funding-hopes\/articleshow\/130373074.cms\" style=\"\">says it will repay<\/a> the remaining USD 1.5 bn of a USD 3.5 bn UAE-linked deposit by tomorrow, after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/04\/16\/this-morning-pifs-five-year-strategy-inches-closer-to-the-light\/\" style=\"\">Saudi Arabia extended<\/a> a new USD 3 bn loan and rolled over its existing USD 5 bn deposit for a longer term. The repayments come as Islamabad awaits a fresh USD 1.2 bn IMF disbursement under its bailout program, which would help cushion reserves.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Refresher: <\/strong>Pakistan <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/06\/this-morning-ega-could-need-a-year-to-restore-full-production-at-al-taweelah-the-uae-is-now-the-9th-top-goods-exporter\/\" style=\"\">said earlier this month<\/a> it would return USD 3.5 bn in matured UAE loan deposits. The UAE had previously <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/04\/this-morning-emirates-nbds-60-rbl-takeover-needs-fresh-approval-the-dubai-loop-will-be-bigger-than-we-thought\/\" style=\"\">rolled over a USD 2 bn deposit<\/a> until 17 April after multiple extensions. Separate support has also included a USD 450 mn loan dating back to 1996, and a further USD 1 bn deposit in 2023 to help Pakistan meet IMF-related funding needs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD<\/strong>) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ebrd.com\/home\/news-and-events\/news\/2026\/ebrd-backs-landmark-bond-issuance-in-morocco.html\" style=\"\">took a MAD 400 mn<\/a> (USD 43 mn) position in a local municipal bond issued by the Casablanca-Settat region. The issuance is a landmark for Morocco as the first bond issued by one of its regional authorities. The total issuance is worth MAD 1 bn (USD 107.5 mn) and will be used \u201cto implement strategic investments under [the region\u2019s] 2022-2027 Regional Development Plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Abu Dhabi\u2019s <strong>Investcorp Capital<\/strong> is putting USD 200 mn into senior living, multifamily, and select rental assets across California, New York, and New Jersey, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1029.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1029.pdf\" style=\"\">press release (pdf)<\/a>. Target properties average 94% occupancy with solid in-place income \u2014 part of the firm\u2019s push toward a USD 6 bn deployment target for FY 2025-26.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Cairo-based <strong>A15<\/strong> sold its UAE-based music distribution portfolio company <strong>Viral Wave<\/strong> to <strong>PopArabia<\/strong>, the regional partner of Nasdaq-listed <strong>Reservoir<\/strong>, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1040.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1040.pdf\" style=\"\">statement (pdf)<\/a>. It\u2019s A15\u2019s ninth fully realized exit \u2014 and another data point on the MENA tech truism: strategic M&A, not the public markets, is where regional winners cash in.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>B Investments<\/strong> is committing EGP 560 mn (USD 10.8 mn) to <strong>European Universities in Egypt <\/strong><strong>(EUE)<\/strong> through a mix of capital increase and a secondary sale, per a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/971.pdf\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/971.pdf\" style=\"\">bourse filing (pdf)<\/a>. The bet: Egyptian university enrollments are projected to hit 5 mn by 2030, requiring some 1.3 mn new seats \u2014 and EGX-listed education stocks are already pricing in the scarcity at 20-22x earnings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Market Snapshot<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Tadawul<\/strong> 0.27% \u2022 <strong>ADX<\/strong> +0.20% \u2022 <strong>DFM<\/strong> +0.28% \u2022 <strong>EGX30<\/strong> +0.32%<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Brent USD 98.12 \/ bbl \u2022 Gold USD 4761 \/ oz \u2022 USD \/ SAR 3.75 \u2022 USD \/ EGP 51.70<\/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\/aldar\/\">Aldar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/emirates-global-aluminum\/\">Emirates Global Aluminum<\/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\/ma-watch\/\">M&amp;A Watch<\/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                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/valu\/\">ValU<\/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=\"114469\" 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=\"114469\">\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\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/abu-dhabi-deepens-china-ties-with-financial-hub-pact\/\">\r\n                            Silicon Silk Road                        <\/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\/22\/abu-dhabi-deepens-china-ties-with-financial-hub-pact\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n       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data-attachment-id=\"114470\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/abu-dhabi-deepens-china-ties-with-financial-hub-pact\/1455-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/8\/1455.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1455.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/8\/1455.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/8\/1455.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114469\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114469 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-china tag-enterpriseam tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"tag-border-left\">UAE-China agreement flow keeps building<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Abu Dhabi financial center ADGM <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adgm.com\/media\/announcements\/adgm-and-shenzhens-futian-district-in-china-establish-strategic-partnership\" style=\"\">signed an MoU<\/a><\/strong><strong> with a key financial hub <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.europeanfinancialreview.com\/chinas-emerging-silicon-valley-how-and-why-has-shenzhen-become-a-global-innovation-centre\/\" style=\"\">in China\u2019s<\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.europeanfinancialreview.com\/chinas-emerging-silicon-valley-how-and-why-has-shenzhen-become-a-global-innovation-centre\/\" style=\"\">\u201csilicon valley\u201d<\/a><\/strong><strong> to build deeper<\/strong><strong> cross-border financial ties.<\/strong> The agreement with the Shenzhen region\u2019s Futian District covers cooperation on financial services, talent development, AI in finance, and investment structures including qualified foreign LP frameworks, alongside joint forums and business engagement between the two sides.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT- <\/strong>The pact comes as Abu Dhabi looks to deepen its footprint in China, signing <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/16\/uae-china-reaffirm-diplomatic-ties-ramp-up-investments-amid-geopolitical-tensions\/\" style=\"\">24<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/16\/uae-china-reaffirm-diplomatic-ties-ramp-up-investments-amid-geopolitical-tensions\/\" style=\"\">agreements<\/a> last week covering trade and investment after the crown prince led a delegation to Beijing that included a politically important photo op with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The UAE is also <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/20\/abu-dhabi-weighs-folding-china-assets-held-by-mubadala-limad-into-a-single-investment-vehicle\/\" style=\"\">reportedly considering<\/a> combining China-focused assets held across Mubadala and L\u2019Imad Holding into a joint vehicle, a sign it wants more China exposure but less overlap when chasing agreements.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">UDC moves to construction on Numaj hotel<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>PIF-backed AlUla Development Company (UDC) <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/alula-development-company-commences-construction-on-numaj-kk8200ty\" style=\"\">kicked off construction<\/a><\/strong><strong> on its luxury <\/strong><strong>hotel Numaj.<\/strong> The 250-key hotel, set to open in 2027, is being developed by UDC and will be operated by Marriott International under the Autograph Collection brand. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Laying the groundwork\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>DFM-listed brokerage and investment firm Al Ramz Corporation <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/al-ramz-announces-ipo-for-two-new-gcc-focused-investment-funds-euax9g5q\" style=\"\">is opening<\/a><\/strong><strong> two new <\/strong><strong>GCC-focused funds<\/strong>, according to their prospectuses <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/115765.pdf\" style=\"\">here (pdf)<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/115766.pdf\" style=\"\">here (pdf)<\/a>. they include a sukuk vehicle capped at USD 2 bn and the equity fund at AED 2 bn (USD 540 mn). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The play is access to GCC primary markets.<\/strong> Fortitude, the equity fund, targets institutional equity allocations for investors typically crowded out of oversubscribed regional IPOs \u2014 at least before the Iran war threw a wrench in IPO momentum. Its fixed-income sibling, Horizons, offers similar entry into primary-market sukuk that often sell out before reaching the secondary market.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Al Ramz is making a move: <\/strong>The firm appears to be shifting from a brokerage-led model toward a more vertically integrated asset manager, building out distribution and market access alongside its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/02\/20\/dragon-oil-taps-schlumberger-for-egypt-production-optimization-partnership\/\" style=\"\">recent expansion<\/a> into market-making in Bahrain and Oman.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>ADVISORS- <\/strong>Emirates NBD Capital will provide custody services for the funds, while Deloitte & Touche was tapped as auditor and our friends at Al Tamimi & Co are counsel. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Levant\u2019s logistics race is on <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#1- <\/strong><strong>Another <\/strong><strong>rail project in Jordan? <\/strong>Saudi and Jordanian transport ministries are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/petra.gov.jo\/en\/news\/transport-minister-saudi-counterpart-discuss-regional-railway-project\" style=\"\">discussing<\/a> a rail link that would connect the two countries and Syria. The project appears to be in the pre-study stage, with Saudi Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser calling for a three-way committee to review optimal routes around Jordan\u2019s Jaber border crossing with Syria and Omari crossing with Saudi. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>There\u2019s new interest in literally any cross-border inland logistics project that could provide an alternative to Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has already <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/english.alarabiya.net\/News\/saudi-arabia\/2026\/03\/26\/saudi-arabia-launches-new-freight-railway-corridors-connecting-to-jordan-\" style=\"\">leveraged<\/a> inland routes with Jordan during the war, using both trucks and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/03\/30\/can-the-gulf-rail-their-way-out-of-hormuz\/\" style=\"\">trains<\/a> to move goods through al-Haditha crossing. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- Iraq has reopened the Rabia border corridor with Syria for the first time in more than <\/strong><strong>a decade<\/strong> \u2014 giving Baghdad another overland route to export fuel oil. Iraq\u2019s state-owned oil marketer Somo needs to move some 650k metric tons of fuel oil per month between April and June overland through Syria to meet recent contractual obligations, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/iraq-reopens-rabia-border-crossing-boost-fuel-oil-exports-via-syria-2026-04-20\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports. Baghdad had already <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/04\/02\/today-where-to-rest-and-bunker\/\" style=\"\">redirected flows through its Al Waleed crossing<\/a> earlier this month \u2014 with more than 100 tankers crossing on the first day. <\/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\/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\/china\/\">China<\/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=\"114471\" 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=\"114471\">\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\">MARKET WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/\">\r\n                            Against the clock                        <\/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\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/\" 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\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/')\">\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\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/\">\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=European VC firm Speedinvest launches MENA + Africa fund&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/\">\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\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/&title=European VC firm Speedinvest launches MENA + Africa fund\">\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=European+VC+firm+Speedinvest+launches+MENA+%2B+Africa+fund+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F22%2Feuropean-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund%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\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/6\/1651.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114472\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/european-vc-firm-speedinvest-launches-mena-africa-fund\/1651-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/6\/1651.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1651.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/6\/1651.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/6\/1651.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114471\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114471 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-market-watch tag-capital-markets tag-egypt tag-enterpriseam tag-investments tag-market-watch tag-mubadala tag-pakistan tag-qia tag-swfs 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>European venture capital firm Speedinvest <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/speedinvest-launches-flagship-middle-east-and-africa-fund-backed-by-mubadala-qia-and-eib-global-hjd6vudv\" style=\"\">launched its first flagship fund<\/a><\/strong><strong> targeting early <\/strong><strong>growth-stage startups across the Middle East and Africa<\/strong>, backed by Mubadala, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and EIB Global. The move formalizes a regional push the firm says it has been building for years through existing wagers like UAE-based Flow48, Egypt\u2019s Khazna, Nigeria\u2019s FairMoney and Moove, and Pakistan\u2019s Abhi.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Gulf sovereigns will bring \u201cstrong regional networks\u201d to the table<\/strong>, Abdel Latif suggests, alongside \u201cdeep local insight [and a] long-term perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Speedinvest is still raising the fund<\/strong> and is not disclosing the total size yet, but is targeting initial checks of around USD 5 mn per deal, primarily at series A and B, with reserve capital for follow-ons. \u201cWe\u2019re already actively deploying capital, with our first investments progressing and announcements to follow,\u201d Rana Abdel Latif, partner at Speedinvest, tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Where they\u2019re committing capital:<\/strong> Abdel Latif declined to say how much would be earmarked for Gulf markets vs African hubs, saying the firm focuses on companies with \u201cstrong early traction and a clear path to scale beyond their home market from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The pitch to potential portfolio companies: <\/strong>Speedinvest\u2019s Europe-MEA strategy is \u201cvery much a two-way bridge,\u201d helping regional startups expand into Europe while channeling European capital, sector expertise, and operating networks into local ecosystem, Abdel Latif says. <\/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\/capital-markets\/\">Capital Markets<\/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\/investments\/\">investments<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/market-watch\/\">Market Watch<\/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                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/pakistan\/\">Pakistan<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/qia\/\">QIA<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/swfs\/\">SWFs<\/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=\"114473\" 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=\"114473\">\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\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/force-majeure-from-kuwait-petroleum\/\">\r\n                            Force majeure from Kuwait Petroleum                        <\/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 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          <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Force+majeure+from+Kuwait+Petroleum%2C+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F04%2F22%2Fforce-majeure-from-kuwait-petroleum%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\/22\/force-majeure-from-kuwait-petroleum\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1079.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114474\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/22\/force-majeure-from-kuwait-petroleum\/1079-jpg-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1079.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1079.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1079.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/1079.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114473\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114473 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-what-were-tracking tag-banking tag-dp-world tag-energy tag-enterpriseam tag-logistics tag-oman tag-what-were-tracking 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\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Watch this space<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kuwait Petroleum declared force majeure on crude oil and refined product shipments<\/strong>, invoking the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/03\/12\/a-force-majeure-wave-has-hit-the-gcc-causing-ripple-effects-across-global-markets\/\" style=\"\">contractual clause<\/a> after the Hormuz blockade made it impossible to fulfill delivery obligations, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-04-20\/kuwait-declares-force-majeure-on-oil-shipments-on-hormuz-halt?srnd=phx-economics-trade\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a> reports. The move signals mounting supply disruptions from the closure of Hormuz, though a person with knowledge of the matter told the business information service that shipments won\u2019t come to a complete halt. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <a id=\"wwtt1\"><\/a> <strong>DP World and representatives tied to the so-called \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d are reportedly <\/strong><strong>looking at taking over logistics infrastructure in Gaza<\/strong>, the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/873b866b-fd17-426d-8cb1-a34566e2e1d4\" style=\"\">Financial Times<\/a> reports, citing sources familiar with the talks. The proposal includes a partnership to run logistics for humanitarian aid and other goods, including warehousing, tracking systems, and security. Ideas also include building a new port in Gaza or on Egypt\u2019s coast and pairing it with a free-trade zone. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Where this lands is still unclear:<\/strong> It\u2019s still not known which side drafted the proposal or how far talks have progressed yet, though discussions reportedly started late last year. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;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;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>Oman <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/omannews.gov.om\/topics\/en\/80\/show\/127954\/ona\" style=\"\">set up a new bank<\/a><\/strong><strong> in Angola<\/strong> as Muscat looks to go deeper in trade finance with Africa. The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/abo.ao\/en\/\" style=\"\">African Bank of Angola (ABO)<\/a> is billing itself as a corporate investment bank focusing \u201con supporting large corporates engaged in trade between Angola, the GCC, and surrounding regions.\u201d In its first phase, ABO is looking to serve 50 MNCs and public sector players across oil and gas, mining, and logistics \u2014 all of which are sectors where Angola and Oman\u2019s long-term economic growth and diversification strategies overlap. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The launch of ABO specifically addresses Oman\u2019s goal of acting as a \u201cfinancial bridge\u201d <\/strong><strong>between the Middle East and Africa<\/strong> and lays the groundwork for a reliable financial channel for Omani firms looking to enter high-growth, high-risk African markets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">ALSO WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>Qatar\u2019s Civil Aviation Authority has <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/qna.org.qa\/ar-QA\/news\/news-details?id=%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1&date=20\/04\/2026\" style=\"\">started<\/a><\/strong><strong>to gradually allow foreign carriers<\/strong> to operate in Hamad International Airport after more than a 7-week hiatus.<\/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\/dp-world\/\">DP World<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/energy\/\">ENERGY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/logistics\/\">LOGISTICS<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/oman\/\">Oman<\/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=\"114475\" 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\/22\/114475\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114475\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114475 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\">25 Apr<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Sinai Liberation Day (public-sector holiday \u2014 government offices 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\">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>Oliver Wyman, World Bank tapped for Syria financial sector reform | Reforms were on a tear in 2025 | EGA goes for more outbound M&#038;A<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":114458,"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-114457","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"20ad976e-769f-4287-9c66-a1104e38eae8","teaser":"Oliver Wyman, World Bank tapped for Syria financial sector reform | Reforms were on a tear in 2025 | EGA goes for more outbound M&A","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2024\/10\/129.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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