{"id":115133,"date":"2026-05-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=115133"},"modified":"2026-05-15T05:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T05:56:17","slug":"its-full-steam-ahead-for-the-gccs-ai-infrastructure-race","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/its-full-steam-ahead-for-the-gccs-ai-infrastructure-race\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s full steam ahead for the GCC\u2019s AI infrastructure race"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"115135\" 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=\"115135\">\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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/\">\r\n                            The robots aren\u2019t coming for all jobs                        <\/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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/\" 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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/')\">\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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/\">\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=The robots aren\u2019t coming for all jobs&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/\">\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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/&title=The robots aren\u2019t coming for all jobs\">\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=The+robots+aren%E2%80%99t+coming+for+all+jobs+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F05%2F15%2Fthe-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs%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\/05\/15\/the-robots-arent-coming-for-all-jobs\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115135\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115135 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-opening-note tag-ai tag-enterpriseam tag-opening-note 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>We have a tech- and infrastructure-heavy issue for you this morning <\/strong>as we close the books on another busy week. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What we\u2019re doing this weekend: <\/strong>Balancing time in the real world with family and friends against time spent with Claude & Friends. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What we\u2019re listening to this weekend:<\/strong> The smartest tech CEO you\u2019ve never heard of talking to Platformer\u2019s Casey Newton about <strong>why he doesn\u2019t think the robots are going to eliminate the need for human labor<\/strong> anytime soon <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fa2-d4YwYjM\" style=\"\">(watch, runtime: 1:07:15)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why you should listen to him:<\/strong> Box boss Aaron Levie is an industry insider and an optimist. He\u2019s an enthusiastic tinkerer with AI \u2014 but far from an AI hypebeast. He\u2019s also been at this for a long time: Levie launched Box, a file- and document-sharing platform trusted by big business and governments around the world, back in 2005 from his dorm room and still leads the company 21 years later. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/levie?lang=en\" style=\"\">He\u2019s also a hell of a good follow on X<\/a><\/strong>, where he both unearths stuff worth commenting on in \u201cthe ecosystem\u201d and posts longer-form takes. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A SIGN OF THE TIMES on our way out this morning:<\/strong> It could take up to five years for Qatari LNG exports to ramp up to prewar levels just based on the lead time to procure replacement parts for damaged infrastructure, the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/14\/business\/qatar-lng-iran.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\" style=\"\">New York Times<\/a> suggests. \u2013Patrick<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ai\/\">AI<\/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=\"115136\" 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=\"115136\">\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\/05\/15\/the-ai-race-continues-at-full-speed-in-the-gcc-even-as-faultlines-emerge-thanks-to-the-war\/\">\r\n                            Does it compute?                        <\/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\/05\/15\/the-ai-race-continues-at-full-speed-in-the-gcc-even-as-faultlines-emerge-thanks-to-the-war\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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(Some estimates have that figure as high as USD 97 bn.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The cat among the pigeons:<\/strong> Iran\u2019s drone strikes in February on Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in the UAE and Bahrain <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/03\/03\/dubais-data-center-outage-exposes-vulnerable-region-ecosystem\/\" style=\"\">knocked<\/a> out a spate of banking, transport, and food delivery apps and websites across the globe \u2014 including our own at EnterpriseAM. Beyond the immediate impact, these attacks also showed that the same geographic concentration that makes the Gulf cheap and fast to build in also makes it a single point of failure. Two and a half months later, the UAE data center is still down. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A less visible disruption made the same point from a different angle.<\/strong> A wartime shock at Saudi Arabia\u2019s Jubail petrochemical complex <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/iran-war-disrupts-the-circuit-board-supply-chain-raises-costs-tech-firms-2026-04-27\/\" style=\"\">tightened<\/a> global supply of the high-purity resin used to manufacture printed circuit boards (PCBs) \u2014 the layered substrates that connect components inside servers, telecom systems, and computing hardware. Copper foil prices climbed roughly 30% and total input costs in some PCB segments rose as much as 40%. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Investors aren\u2019t running for the hills:<\/strong> The UAE\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emiratesnbdresearch.com\/-\/media\/emirates_nbd_research_-_macro_economics_10142025.pdf\" style=\"\">USD 46.1 bn data center pipeline<\/a> and Saudi Arabia\u2019s USD 35.3 bn pipeline are still moving forward, with co-investments from Microsoft, AWS, OpenAI, and xAI. Nothing else on the global AI map currently offers what the Gulf does \u2014 cheap power, sovereign capital at scale, and a regulatory environment that lets foreign firms enter while keeping their data local. The question is whether that bundle is enough to absorb the new risk layers the war has surfaced.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The structural drivers haven\u2019t changed<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A basket of advantages is bringing data centers to our part of the world. <\/strong>The big one is capital \u2014 Gulf sovereigns are investing heavily not just the big Western AI labs, but in domestic ecosystems centered around players like Humain (KSA) and G42 (UAE) as well as advanced research and development outfits like TII (UAE), which recently sold advanced cryptographic tech to Opaque that has found its way into the tech stacks of global majors including Anthropic. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Money aside, Gulf governments just \u2026 make it easy. <\/strong>It\u2019s easier to get power, that power is cheaper, our grid infrastructure is reliable, buildout times are incredibly fast, and there\u2019s no not-in-my-back-yard movement of the type that\u2019s bedevilling facilities in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Contrast that with the Western world\u2019s aging grid and expensive power, where the AI boom is colliding with a stagnant utility sector that cannot keep up with the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/commodities\/us-ai-boom-faces-electric-shock-2026-02-25\/\" style=\"\">projected<\/a> 30 GWh of new load required by 2030.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Builders and regulators may be willing to move quickly here<\/strong>, but the latter are also starting to feel confident enough that they\u2019re \u201clayering in\u201d \u2014 to use a now-popular AI-ism \u2014 sovereign data protections that appeal to high-security outfits including big financial players. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cGood news for data centers is that they don\u2019t depend on global shipping,\u201d<\/strong> David Bellman (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/davidbellman1\/\" style=\"\">LinkedIn<\/a>), Vulcan Product Lead at SynMax, tells EnterpriseAM. \u201cIn fact, this issue makes power even cheaper inside the Gulf as [energy] products can\u2019t get out,\u201d effectively increasing domestic supply.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>There\u2019s been lots of foreign interest: <\/strong>\u201cThe US and Europe are looking to move into the region,\u201d as the market matures from an emerging space, Mehmet Gonullu, managing partner at Dubai-based B2B tech advisory <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/yassiventures.com\/\" style=\"\">Yassi Ventures<\/a> tells EnterpriseAM. \u201cI can tell you, we\u2019re seeing major startups and scale-ups in the US and European market, and they want to be here.\u201d <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>With massive sovereign investment in local AI infrastructure combined with data <\/strong><strong>sovereignty guarantees, foreign firms benefit from the buildout<\/strong> while maintaining full control of their data. That combination makes market entry \u201cmuch, much easier,\u201d Gonullu says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Still, new fault lines emerged<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#1- Physical concentration:<\/strong> The February drone strikes demonstrated that AI infrastructure clustered in a small number of locations is exposed in ways distributed cloud regions are not. The outages cascaded globally \u2014 a clear sign that the region\u2019s geographic compactness, long sold as an efficiency advantage, has a downside when the geography is contested.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- The chemical supply chain that underpins computing hardware:<\/strong> This second fault line is less visible but potentially more structural. The Jubail disruption reduced output of high-purity resin at exactly the layer that enables advanced electronics manufacturing. With Sabic dominating global production, substitution is limited.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The pre-war market was already tightening thanks to surging AI demand.<\/strong> High-performance copper-clad laminates (CCLs), used in 5G infrastructure and AI servers, depend on the same resin systems, copper foil, and glass fiber inputs now under pressure. PCBs sit at the intersection of all of these, meaning the resin shock is just one expression of a broader structural squeeze. PCB costs have <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/iran-war-disrupts-the-circuit-board-supply-chain-raises-costs-tech-firms-2026-04-27\/\" style=\"\">risen<\/a> sharply this year, copper foil is up roughly 30%, and total input costs in some segments are up as much as 40%.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Taken together, the two fault lines threaten to change the equation.<\/strong> The case for the Gulf used to be about power, capital, and regulation. It now has to absorb two additional questions: How exposed is a given data center to a regional conflict, and how exposed is the broader hardware supply chain to disruptions in a single petrochemical corridor?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Investors are recalibrating, not retreating<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The investment thesis that has brought OpenAi, Microsoft, and others to the region is <\/strong><strong>largely unchanged<\/strong>, but if the war lingers, hyperscalers will start exploring other geographies offering stable grids, cheap power, and predictable regulatory environments. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cUnseasoned investors could be in panic mode,\u201d<\/strong> Gonullu says. \u201cI think this is just a temporary moment, and I\u2019m sure the region will bounce back stronger after [the tension winds down], and investor confidence \u2014 even if it\u2019s a little bit shaken \u2014 is going to return very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A slowdown in data center buildouts would have ripple effects across the wider AI <\/strong><strong>ecosystem.<\/strong> The GCC\u2019s infrastructure pipeline has become a key driver of startup relocation from the US and Europe, where firms are drawn by capital, compute access, and sovereign data guarantees. Breaking that pipeline would mean losing momentum that took years to build.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Where each country stands<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The competition inside the region is increasingly defined by infrastructure rather than <\/strong><strong>models.<\/strong> As Gonullu puts it, the race is no longer about LLMs but about GPUs, data centers, and the power systems behind them. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are converging on the same objective \u2014 control of the AI infrastructure stack. Each has different levels of exposure to the risks now giving some pause. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE remains in the lead.<\/strong> Abu Dhabi\u2019s strategy is anchored in sovereign capital and hardware access: MGX is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.g42.ai\/resources\/news\/abu-dhabi-launches-comprehensive-global-investment-strategy-artificial-intelligence\" style=\"\">consolidating<\/a> the nation\u2019s AI investments, G42 has <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.g42.ai\/resources\/news\/abu-dhabi-launches-comprehensive-global-investment-strategy-artificial-intelligence\" style=\"\">secured<\/a> access to Nvidia Blackwell chips, Khazna is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/57d8befe-c6cb-4897-a212-956f906cb3e8\/dp-world-debuts-jebel-ali-berbera-shipping-route\" style=\"\">expanding<\/a>  large-scale capacity, and new liquid-cooled <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/426efbbf-9db9-48d4-b162-d8376126ec9e\/du,-nextgenai-to-develop-supercluster\" style=\"\">superclusters<\/a> are emerging in Dubai Silicon Oasis.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Saudi Arabia is the hyper-scale challenger \u2014 leveraging energy dominance and US <\/strong><strong>alignment. <\/strong>Humain is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/1f67427c-8207-4606-a1d8-2fa93548ecba\/humain,-australia%25e2%2580%2599s-airtrunk-partner-for-usd-3-bn%253cmark%253e-data%253c%2Fmark%253e-center-push\" style=\"\">building national computing capacity<\/a>, new <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/f70b2b82-3221-465a-8464-ceaf3bac5646\/today:-dp-world,-uzbekistan-form-jv-for-logistics-terminal-%2B-adnoc-l&s,-ta%25e2%2580%2599ziz-seal-long-term-port-pact\" style=\"\">semiconductor agreements<\/a> have expanded chip access, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.se.com\/sa\/en\/work\/solutions\/artificial-intelligence\/solutions\/\" style=\"\">industrial localization<\/a> is strengthening cooling and power systems manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Qatar is probably a sovereign niche player. <\/strong>The Qatar Investment Authority, it is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/12\/10\/qatar-forms-usd-20-bn-ai-infrastructure-jv-with-brookfield\/\" style=\"\">focusing<\/a> on targeted investments in semiconductors and AI infrastructure, including partnerships with Brookfield and large-scale data center expansion via Ooredoo.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The system is moving from competition toward consolidation <\/strong>\u2014 but at a slower pace than capital deployment would suggest. \u201cWe need to start becoming the innovator, rather than the first adopter,\u201d Gonullu says. \u201cRight now we are bringing something to the market, localizing it, and customising it to regional specs \u2014 but there is an evolution toward deeper innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ai-tech\/\">AI + Tech<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/data-centers\/\">Data Centers<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/infrastructure\/\">infrastructure<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/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=\"115138\" 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=\"115138\">\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\">Tech<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/uae-based-btc-miner-phoenix-pivots-to-ai-infrastructure-for-europe\/\">\r\n                            From the ashes                        <\/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\/05\/15\/uae-based-btc-miner-phoenix-pivots-to-ai-infrastructure-for-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n     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pivots to AI infrastructure for Europe&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/uae-based-btc-miner-phoenix-pivots-to-ai-infrastructure-for-europe\/\">\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\/05\/15\/uae-based-btc-miner-phoenix-pivots-to-ai-infrastructure-for-europe\/&title=UAE-based BTC miner Phoenix pivots to AI infrastructure for Europe\">\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 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size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115139\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/uae-based-btc-miner-phoenix-pivots-to-ai-infrastructure-for-europe\/781-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/781.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"781.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/781.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/781.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115138\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115138 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-tech tag-ai tag-crypto tag-data-centers tag-enterpriseam tag-tech 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 <\/strong><strong>great AI pivot: <\/strong>Abu Dhabi-based Phoenix Group has just landed its first AI-focused data center <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/774.pdf\" style=\"\">contract (pdf)<\/a> as part of its planned pivot from BTC mining to building large\u2011scale AI and high\u2011performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. The first buildout will be an 18 MW data center in Lyon, France, and Phoenix Group\u2019s France-based partner, DC Max, has already secured the necessary land and grid access for the project. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\u201c<strong>AI and HPC infrastructure is where the majority of our capital and focus is directed <\/strong><strong>going forward<\/strong>,\u201d Founder and CEO Munaf Ali tells EnterpriseAM, describing it as an \u201cevolution\u201d given the foundations already built with BTC mining. The plan would see the company develop a 1 GW platform across the GCC and Europe. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The right conditions are here: <\/strong>\u201cAI infrastructure demand is outpacing supply globally,\u201d he tells us. \u201cThe window to establish strong positions, with the right sites, power, and partnerships is open now, and we have the operational capability and balance sheet to move, so we are moving,\u201d Ali adds. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>SOUND SMART- <\/strong>BTC mining as a business is essentially built \u201caround power procurement, large-scale compute, cooling, and the ability to energize facilities at speed\u2026 and those are exactly the capabilities\u201d that the AI and HPC markets demand,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/14\/btc-miner-phoenix-shifts-toward-ai-infrastructure-in-europe\/\" style=\"\">Tap or click here to go deeper into what\u2019s next for Phoenix in EnterpriseAM UAE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/ai\/\">AI<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/crypto\/\">crypto<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/data-centers\/\">Data Centers<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tech\/\">TECH<\/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=\"115140\" 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=\"115140\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Tech<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/\">\r\n                            The Dept. of Redundancy Dept.                        <\/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\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/\" 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\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/')\">\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\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/\">\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=Israeli telecom major Bezeq is going after Egypt\u2019s data corridor dominance&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/\">\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\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/&title=Israeli telecom major Bezeq is going after Egypt\u2019s data corridor dominance\">\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=Israeli+telecom+major+Bezeq+is+going+after+Egypt%E2%80%99s+data+corridor+dominance+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F05%2F15%2Fisraeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance%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\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/6\/611.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115141\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/israeli-telecom-major-bezeq-is-going-after-egypts-data-corridor-dominance\/611-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/6\/611.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"611.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/6\/611.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/6\/611.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115140\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115140 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-tech tag-egypt tag-enterpriseam tag-infrastructure tag-israel tag-tech 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>Israel\u2019s <\/strong><strong>biggest telecom company, Bezeq, is making a play for a bigger piece of the <\/strong><strong>subsea cable market<\/strong>, with CEO Tomer Raved telling <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/bezeq-israel-telecom-quarterly-profit-rises-fibre-subscribers-hit-1-million-2026-05-13\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> it is deploying a 400-terabyte cable connecting Europe to Asia. Work on two other cables could start later this year, he claimed. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Bezeq is making a play to challenge Egypt\u2019s dominance in subsea cables<\/strong>, saying the new line will \u201cposition Israel as the digital backbone, not just of the region, but globally, given the need for more connectivity in the region and between the different continents.\u201d <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT- <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/strategic-future-subsea-cables-egypt-case-study\" style=\"\">Some 90%<\/a><\/strong><strong> of the Asia-Europe dataflows pass through Egypt<\/strong> and its Red Sea cables networks. Cables in the Red Sea suffered disruptions in March and September 2025. Demand for capacity will only grow as the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, and Egypt position the region as a new global hub for data centers. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Watch this space: <\/strong>After what we\u2019ve seen since the outbreak of the war in the Gulf, you can expect the words \u201credundancy\u201d and \u201chardening\u201d to be at the center of every regional infrastructure company\u2019s pitch for the next decade. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/infrastructure\/\">infrastructure<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/israel\/\">Israel<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tech\/\">TECH<\/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=\"115142\" 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=\"115142\">\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\">MARKET WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/\">\r\n                            Graduation day                        <\/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\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/\" 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\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/')\">\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\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/\">\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=Saudi sukuk are going from a local asset class to global benchmarks&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/\">\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\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/&title=Saudi sukuk are going from a local asset class to global benchmarks\">\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=Saudi+sukuk+are+going+from+a+local+asset+class+to+global+benchmarks+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F05%2F15%2Fsaudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks%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\/05\/15\/saudi-sukuk-are-going-from-a-local-asset-class-to-global-benchmarks\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115142\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115142 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-market-watch tag-debt-watch tag-enterpriseam tag-market-watch tag-saudi-arabia 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>Saudi<\/strong><strong> Arabia\u2019s SAR-denominated government sukuk are graduating to global benchmark <\/strong><strong>status, marking a structural shift in how global money relates to Saudi paper.<\/strong> The admission of the sukuk to JPMorgan\u2019s Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) and Bloomberg\u2019s EM Local Currency Government Index in the first half of next year is expected to draw in over USD 10 bn in foreign inflows, potentially lowering borrowing costs for the state in the process. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Saudi government debt joining the indexes means that it is \u201cno longer optional for global <\/strong><strong>investors.<\/strong> It\u2019s now part of the standard benchmark,\u201d senior investment banker Mustafa Fahim tells EnterpriseAM. \u201cIt brings in a much more diverse group of buyers, which helps lower the cost of borrowing for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>How realistic is that USD 10 bn figure?<\/strong> It\u2019s \u201cvery realistic,\u201d Fahim says, pointing to the sukuk being weighted at 2.52% in GBI-EM. Passive funds will be near-automatic buyers, but the bigger prize is active managers overweighting Saudi paper, which depends on yields outpacing US returns \u2014 a growing likelihood as global rates ease \u2014 and continued trading-infrastructure upgrades. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The headline number \u201ccan be attracted within the first couple of years<\/strong> subject to normal market conditions,\u201d Nizwa Bank\u2019s Treasury and Global Markets head Muhammad Ihsan tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The plumbing is ready:<\/strong> The inclusion follows a multi-year overhaul of trading and settlement infrastructure, including the expansion of a primary dealers program to include international banks, an over-the-counter settlement framework introduced in mid-2025, and stronger links with international central securities depositories.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Will regional noise weigh on sentiment?<\/strong> \u201cSaudi Arabia is viewed as a safe bet within emerging markets,\u201d Fahim tells us, with the index inclusion itself providing a structural buffer against global risk-off episodes. Ihsan is more measured, noting that any emerging market is exposed to inflows being \u201cnegatively affected\u201d in a global risk-off, but a strong domestic investor base limits the damage. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A stronger starting line:<\/strong> The Kingdom enters with a higher credit rating than most index peers and a USD peg that removes currency risk, Fahim notes. Ihsan, meanwhile, sees a path to becoming a heavyweight in the EM local currency universe, but it could take a few years. \u201cThe Saudi market could easily become comparable to EM giants like Mexico or Malaysia, with foreign investors reaching well above one-third of the local market size,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The remaining gap: corporate issuance. <\/strong>\u201cThe biggest challenge is that most of the market is still government bonds,\u201d Fahim says. Attracting long-term international players will need more debt issuances from private companies. \u201cWe need a wider variety of options beyond just government projects so that investors can spread their risk across different sectors of the economy,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The index inclusion itself as part of the fix<\/strong>, Ihsan argues, as it \u201cdrives foreign demand while local currency markets attract interest,\u201d helping market breadth and encouraging more issuers to tap the local currency market.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/debt-watch\/\">DEBT WATCH<\/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\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/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=\"115143\" 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=\"115143\">\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\">Real estate<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/alabbar-plans-usd-18-bn-fund-to-invest-in-syria\/\">\r\n                            Planting the flag                        <\/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\/05\/15\/alabbar-plans-usd-18-bn-fund-to-invest-in-syria\/\" 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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This would mark one of the largest Gulf private-sector pushes into Syria since <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/05\/14\/this-morning-uae-president-to-attend-gcc-us-summit-in-riyadh\/\" style=\"\">the lifting of sanctions<\/a> reopened the country to international investment flows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The proposed investment includes USD 10-11 bn for real estate in and around Damascus <\/strong><strong>and USD 5-7 bn for coastline tourism projects<\/strong>, Alabbar said. Work could begin within 6-12 months, he added, stressing that \u201cthe time for Syria is now \u2026 the smart move is to act fast before others jump [at the chance].\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>REMEMBER- <\/strong>Reports last week suggested Alabbar\u2019s international development arm Eagle Hills is weighing some <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/06\/the-uaes-eagle-hills-and-icd-eye-real-estate-tourism-investments-in-syria\/\" style=\"\">USD 50 bn in developments in Syria<\/a>, including major developments in Damascus\u2019 Dummar area and Latakia. Alabbar didn\u2019t outright deny the figure, but signalled he wasn\u2019t aiming that high just yet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Tourism is central to the pitch: <\/strong>Syria could attract as many as 8 mn tourists within 4-5 years \u2014 up from roughly 4 mn visitors last year \u2014 potentially generating USD 5-7 bn in annual foreign currency inflows, Alabbar said. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Alabbar joins a growing list of Emirati players betting on Syria.<\/strong> DP World is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/07\/14\/dp-world-to-develop-tartous-port-under-30-year-agreement\/\" style=\"\">developing<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/07\/14\/dp-world-to-develop-tartous-port-under-30-year-agreement\/\" style=\"\">Tartous Port<\/a> under a 30-year agreement, AD Ports is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/11\/07\/ad-ports-group-to-acquire-a-20-stake-in-syrias-latakia-container-terminal\/\" style=\"\">acquiring a 20% stake<\/a> in Latakia International Container Terminal, and the Investment Corporation of Dubai met with Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa during the Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum earlier this week to talk investments in real estate, tourism, and financial services. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The push mirrors UAE-backed reconstruction and megaproject plays elsewhere<\/strong> \u2014 from a planned <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/26\/uae-funds-gaza-housing-project-near-rafah\/\" style=\"\">residential complex in Gaza<\/a> to the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/07\/17\/sky-ad-breaks-ground-on-egp-80-bn-ras-el-hekma-project\/\" style=\"\">USD 35 bn Ras El Hekma project<\/a> in Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE isn\u2019t alone in eyeing Syria: <\/strong>Qatar\u2019s Estithmar Holding moved late last month to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/29\/qatars-estithmar-holding-to-acquire-49-of-syrias-shahba-bank\/\" style=\"\">acquire 49% of Shahba Bank<\/a>, becoming the first big-ticket foreign investment in Syria since the end of the war. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/emaar-properties\/\">Emaar Properties<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/investment-watch\/\">investment watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/real-estate\/\">real estate<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/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=\"115145\" 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=\"115145\">\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\">MOVES + KUDOS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/us-saudi-business-council-has-a-new-board-of-directors\/\">\r\n                            Who\u2019s who                        <\/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         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photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/886.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115146\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/us-saudi-business-council-has-a-new-board-of-directors\/886-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/886.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"886.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/886.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/886.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115145\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115145 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-moves-kudos tag-business tag-enterpriseam tag-moves-kudos tag-saudi-arabia 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 <\/strong><strong>US<\/strong><strong>-Saudi Business Council\u2019s <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/english.aawsat.com\/business\/5272672-us-saudi-business-council-unveils-powerhouse-board-directors\" style=\"\">newly-formed board of directors<\/a><\/strong><strong> reads like a who\u2019s <\/strong><strong>who <\/strong>of business from each country. The board will be co-chaired by Olayan Group\u2019s <strong>Lubna Olayan<\/strong> and Citi CEO <strong>Jane Fraser<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Saudi representatives<\/strong> on the board include the CEOs of <strong>Humain<\/strong>, <strong>Red Sea Global<\/strong>, <strong>Safanad<\/strong>, the <strong>SNB<\/strong>, and <strong>SENAAT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">The US side brings senior leadership from <strong>Alphabet<\/strong> and <strong>Google<\/strong>, the <strong>Coca-Cola Company<\/strong>, <strong>Colgate-Palmolive<\/strong>, <strong>Exxon Mobil<\/strong>, <strong>Lockheed Martin<\/strong>, <strong>Cisco<\/strong>, and <strong>BlackRock<\/strong>, and several others. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/business\/\">business<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/moves-kudos\/\">Moves + Kudos<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"115147\" 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=\"115147\">\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\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/\">\r\n                            Movin\u2019 on up                        <\/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\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/\" 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\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/')\">\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\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/\">\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=More wins for ADGM, L\u2019Imad and Adnoc make big infrastructure bets, and Aramco wants USD 10 bn from its real estate portfolio&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/\">\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\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/&title=More wins for ADGM, L\u2019Imad and Adnoc make big infrastructure bets, and Aramco wants USD 10 bn from its real estate portfolio\">\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=More+wins+for+ADGM%2C+L%E2%80%99Imad+and+Adnoc+make+big+infrastructure+bets%2C+and+Aramco+wants+USD+10+bn+from+its+real+estate+portfolio+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F05%2F15%2Fmore-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio%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\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/8\/1455.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115148\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/more-wins-for-adgm-limad-and-adnoc-make-big-infrastructure-bets-and-aramco-wants-usd-10-bn-from-its-real-estate-portfolio\/1455-jpg-7\/\" 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-115147\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115147 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-markets-deals tag-debt-watch tag-digital-bank tag-enterpriseam tag-ma-watch tag-markets-deals 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>Another week, another couple of wins for ADGM<\/strong>, which has been on a mission to show us all that global capital is still walking into the UAE, war or not. Also capping the week: A pile of M&A news, L\u2019Imad and Adnoc going in on a big USD 30 bn infrastructure fund, Aramco\u2019s USD 10 bn real estate play, and Cerebras\u2019 big Gulf-backed Nasdaq debut. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>UP FIRST: 10 solid international financial-services names have opened or expanded in <\/strong><strong>ADGM over the past ten weeks<\/strong>, and another two in the DIFC. This week\u2019s two additions in Abu Dhabi include Vista Equity Partners (which <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adgm.com\/media\/announcements\/vista-equity-partners-establishes-abu-dhabi-office\" style=\"\">received full ADGM authorization<\/a>) for its Al Maryah Island office. Partners Capital \u2014 running over USD 75 bn for institutions including Oxford and Cambridge, INSEAD, and the Guggenheim \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/partners-capital-selects-abu-dhabi-as-its-new-hub-for-global-expansion-odrup8ok\" style=\"\">also opened<\/a> an Abu Dhabi hub.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>They join big names including Bain Capital<\/strong>, Rokos, Barings, Hillhouse, Nubank, Capital Group, BNY, Man Group and others who have either hung out their shingles or announced expansions in the UAE in the past 10 weeks. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>MEANWHILE- The UAE\u2019s digital bank field is starting to gain momentum. <\/strong>The CBUAE has given in-principle approval to Omla Community Bank, a digital-first SME lender backed by Abu Dhabi Capital Group\u2019s Alternative Venture Capital and Mint Gateway and headquartered in Umm Al Quwain, according to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/c06xc89-cbuae-grants-in-principle-approval-establish-omla\" style=\"\">Wam<\/a>. It joins Wio, Al Maryah Community Bank, and IHC\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/05\/adnoc-drilling-locks-in-oman-stake-takeover-another-emirati-player-doubles-down-on-london-real-estate-judan-pushes-into-digital-banking\/\" style=\"\">Reem Bank<\/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>AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems debuted on Nasdaq yesterday at USD 350 \u2014 an 89% <\/strong><strong>opening pop on its USD 185 IPO price<\/strong> \u2014 and closed at USD 311.07, up 68%, for an implied market cap of around USD 95 bn, per <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/05\/14\/cerebras-cbrs-stock-trade-nasdaq-ipo.html\" style=\"\">CNBC<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-05-14\/cerebras-shares-indicated-to-surge-89-after-year-s-top-ipo\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a>. The book was oversubscribed roughly 20x. <\/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\u2019s the largest US tech IPO since Uber in 2019 and the biggest year-to-date anywhere in the world. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE was an important backer of Cerebras <\/strong>before <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/12\/22\/2025\/abu-dhabi-based-g42-taps-out-of-cerebras\" style=\"\">CFIUS-mandated restructuring<\/a> forced G42 out in October 2025. Still, MBZUAI accounted for 62% of Cerebras\u2019s 2025 revenues and G42 another 24%. <\/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>BlackRock\u2019s GIP, Temasek, L\u2019Imad, and Adnoc are teaming up on a USD 30 bn fund<\/strong> targeting energy, transport, logistics, and waste management across the GCC and Central Asia, raising a mix of debt and equity, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-05-14\/abu-dhabi-s-l-imad-eyes-30-billion-infra-push-with-temasek-gip\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/blackrocks-gip-teams-with-temasek-abu-dhabi-heavyweights-target-30-bln-2026-05-14\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> report. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Aramco is weighing a USD 10 bn-plus sale-and-leaseback of its real estate portfolio<\/strong> \u2014 among the largest single transactions in the company\u2019s history \u2014 potentially including its Dhahran campus, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-05-13\/aramco-seeks-to-raise-over-10-billion-from-property-portfolio\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a> reports. Look for the offering to be very attractive to both real estate and infrastructure funds.<\/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>Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) is acquiring rival operator National Taxi in an AED 1.45 bn <\/strong><strong>(USD 395 mn) debt-funded transaction<\/strong> that will boost its Dubai market share to 59% from 47% and gives it a 12% share in Abu Dhabi, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/784.pdf\" style=\"\">press release (pdf)<\/a> and separate <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/783.pdf\" style=\"\">disclosure (pdf)<\/a>. National Taxi generated a 13% net margin on revenues of AED 774 mn (USD 211 mn) in FY 2024-2025 and has a fleet of 2.7k vehicles across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT-<\/strong> DTC\u2019s first major transaction <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2023\/12\/11\/dubai-taxi-company-shares-jump-on-dfm-debut\/\" style=\"\">since listing<\/a> is part of a wider drive by state-owned entities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to consolidate their holdings into single, more efficient champions. Dubai Holding <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/13\/this-morning-ipo-plans-cool-for-dubai-holding-and-ega-more-uae-syria-collaboration-is-on-the-way\/\" style=\"\">became the largest shareholder<\/a> in Emaar Properties earlier this week, mirroring similar moves in Abu Dhabi by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/11\/13\/ihc-shareholders-approve-multiply-ghitha-2pointzero-merger-appoint-leadership-for-post-merger-aed-120-bn-firm\/\" style=\"\">IHC<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/02\/abu-dhabi-centralizes-sovereign-wealth-by-folding-adq-into-limad\/\" style=\"\">L\u2019Imad<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/02\/16\/ihc-establishes-an-aed-100-bn-investment-powerhouse-as-abu-dhabi-centralizes-capital\/\" style=\"\">Judan Financial<\/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>Emirates Global Aluminium is in advanced talks for a stake in Oman\u2019s Sohar Aluminium<\/strong>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/ega-advanced-talks-take-stake-sohar-aluminium-sources-say-2026-05-14\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/ega-advanced-talks-take-stake-sohar-aluminium-sources-say-2026-05-14\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports. Sohar produces around 400k tons a year and is currently held by Taqa (40%), Oman\u2019s OQ (40%), and Rio Tinto (20%). EGA could buy Taqa\u2019s stake, Rio\u2019s, or both, with OQ potentially upping its holding to preserve a domestic majority. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Abu Dhabi defense platform Edge Group signed to acquire a controlling stake in Italian <\/strong><strong>propulsion specialist CMD<\/strong>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/c07irtr-edge-group-signs-agreement-acquire-italys-cmd\" style=\"\">Wam<\/a> reports, without disclosing the value of the transaction or the size of the stake. CMD makes propulsion systems and precision engine components for automotive, marine, and aeronautical applications; Edge wants to use it as the core of a \u201cEuropean propulsion hub\u201d inside its localization push. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT-<\/strong>The acquisition sits in a wider UAE <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/06\/uae-defense-sector-investment-drive-gains-momentum-with-plans-for-new-funding-platform\/\" style=\"\">defense industrialization drive<\/a> shaped by repeated supply-chain shocks. As EY\u2019s Malcolm Lyne <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/05\/11\/how-miite-2026-became-an-inflection-point-for-the-uaes-industrial-strategy-amid-regional-disruption\/\" style=\"\">told us<\/a>, the UAE is \u201cmoving beyond just local assembly or procurement\u201d toward \u201cbuilding capability and managing the end-to-end supply chain.\u201d <\/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>Saudi-headquartered digital freight network platform <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/trukker.com\/\" style=\"\">Trukker<\/a><\/strong><strong> closed a USD 300 mn <\/strong><strong>cross-border securitization facility to finance expansion<\/strong>, including its digital freight network, it said in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/trukker-closes-landmark-300mln-cross-border-securitisation-facility-to-fuel-regional-expansion-r168qewt\" style=\"\">statement<\/a>. The non-recourse facility is backed by Trukker\u2019s trade receivables across multiple markets and is structured across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey \u2014 one of the region\u2019s first multi-jurisdictional, asset-backed securitizations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>FOR NORMIES-<\/strong> A securitization is when a company packages a stream of expected future payments \u2014 here, customer invoices Trukker is owed across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey \u2014 and uses them as collateral to borrow against today. The structure unlocks cheaper and larger funding than a regular corporate loan and doesn\u2019t require the company to give up equity. \u201cMulti-jurisdictional\u201d means the receivables come from customers in more than one country \u2014 that makes it harder to structure and we\u2019re taking it as a sign the asset class is maturing in the region. Expect more of these.<\/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>Sustainability-linked finance isn\u2019t dead \u2014 yet. Emirates Islamic<\/strong> extended AED 250 mn (USD 68 mn) to <strong>Brands for Less<\/strong> in a sustainability-linked Shariah-compliant facility, per its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/emirates-islamic-announces-aed-250mln-esg-linked-facility-structure-with-brands-for-less-group-ffynv0s6\" style=\"\">release<\/a>, while First Abu Dhabi Bank closed a USD 100 mn five-year sustainability-linked facility for Sharjah developer <strong>Arada<\/strong>, guaranteed by Italy\u2019s export credit agency Sace, per its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arada.com\/en\/latest-news\/arada-signs-100-million-shariah-compliant-sustainability-linked-financing-with-fab-backed-by-italian-export-credit-agency-sace\/\" style=\"\">release<\/a>. Arada\u2019s spreads more than doubled to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/26\/is-dubai-real-estate-credit-cracking\/\" style=\"\">707 bps<\/a> two months ago \u2014 it is borrowing again now.<\/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\"><strong>Aldar<\/strong> bought a residential-and-retail community in Dubai Studio City from private developer SRG for AED 1.1 bn (USD 300 mn) \u2014 six mid-rise buildings, rental apartments, completion 2028 \u2014 per its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/5\/840.pdf\" style=\"\">disclosure (pdf)<\/a>. The Dubai pipeline is now over 2.3 mn sqm, financed in part by an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/04\/17\/private-lending-is-going-strong-despite-regional-tensions-with-aldar-raising-aed-5-bn-from-banks\/\" style=\"\">AED 5 bn (USD 1.36 bn) sustainability-linked revolving credit facility<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Alameda Healthcare<\/strong> is mulling a 51% acquisition of Egypt\u2019s International Eye Hospital from Lebanon-based private equity fund <strong>Euro Mena II<\/strong>, per the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/economics\/131992\/\" style=\"\">Arabic press<\/a>. Euro Mena II <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euromenafunds.com\/projects-archive\/al-o-youn-al-dawli\" style=\"\">bought in 2012<\/a>. A long list of would-be buyers have had a look at International Eye Hospital since 2019, including <strong>TPG<\/strong>, Saudi\u2019s <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2019\/11\/14\/elaj-in-talks-to-acquire-euro-mena-iis-stake-in-egypts-international-eye-hospital\/\" style=\"\">Elaj Group<\/a><\/strong> (which already has a 15% stake), an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2019\/06\/17\/uk-based-fund-enters-talks-to-acquire-euro-mena-iis-majority-stake-in-international-eye-hospital\/\" style=\"\">unnamed UK fund<\/a>, and a strategic last year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>India\u2019s Manipal Hospitals<\/strong> begins formal investor marketing for its USD 1 bn-plus India IPO as early as next week at a USD 12 bn target valuation, per <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-05-14\/manipal-hospitals-said-to-start-marketing-1-billion-ipo-soon?srnd=phx-india-v2\" style=\"\">Bloomberg<\/a>. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/mena-india\/2026\/03\/25\/mubadala-backed-manipal-health-seeks-usd-1-17-bn-in-upcoming-ipo\/\" style=\"\">Mubadala\u2019s holds an 8% stake<\/a>, with other investors including Temasek, TPG, and Novo Holdings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Cairo-based Korra Energi<\/strong> will float 11% on the Egyptian Exchange as early as next month \u2014 the second Egyptian private-sector main-market IPO of the year after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/02\/11\/gourmet-shares-hit-40-regulatory-limit-in-egx-debut\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/02\/11\/gourmet-shares-hit-40-regulatory-limit-in-egx-debut\/\" style=\"\">Gourmet<\/a>, Prime Holding CEO Yasser Shahin tells EnterpriseAM. The Prime Capital-managed offer splits 60\/40 between institutional and retail, with the founding family keeping a controlling 89% rather than selling down to the originally signaled <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2024\/12\/18\/korra-energi-to-offer-up-to-20-of-company-in-upcoming-ipo\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2024\/12\/18\/korra-energi-to-offer-up-to-20-of-company-in-upcoming-ipo\/\" style=\"\">20%<\/a>.<\/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> -0.2% \u2022 <strong>ADX<\/strong> 0.0% \u2022 <strong>DFM<\/strong> -0.4% \u2022 <strong>EGX30<\/strong> -0.4%<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Brent USD 106.1 \/ bbl \u2022 Gold USD 4,674.60 \/ oz \u2022 USD \/ SAR 3.75 \u2022 USD \/ EGP 52.90<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/debt-watch\/\">DEBT WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/digital-bank\/\">digital bank<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"115149\" 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=\"115149\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">9<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/15\/another-indian-contractor-sets-up-shop-in-the-uae\/\">\r\n                            Crowding in                        <\/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\/05\/15\/another-indian-contractor-sets-up-shop-in-the-uae\/\" 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 UAE operation will serve as a wider GCC hub for construction, infrastructure, and real estate activities, with a phased expansion strategy focused on partnerships and cross-border projects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>NCCCL joins a growing list of Indian developers and contractors deepening their UAE <\/strong><strong>footprints.<\/strong> State-owned NBCC was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/26\/chinese-freight-operator-indian-real-estate-developer-expand-to-dubai\/\" style=\"\">among the latest entrants<\/a>, joining firms including <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/11\/26\/gcc-interconnection-authority-awards-contracts-for-uae-oman-electricity-link-expansion\/\" style=\"\">Sunteck Realty<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/07\/25\/ad-ports-opens-china-office\/\" style=\"\">Casagrand<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\/news\/story\/773aaa2c-fded-44b9-be6f-94ed130a9443\/india%25e2%2580%2599s-shapoorji-pallonji-completes-first-dubai-residential-project\" style=\"\">Shapoorji Pallonji<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/26\/chinese-freight-operator-indian-real-estate-developer-expand-to-dubai\/\" style=\"\">Mantra Properties<\/a> in expanding into the UAE market.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The pull factor:<\/strong> Construction and transport projects under execution across the GCC are approaching USD 951 bn, while the broader regional pipeline now exceeds USD 2 tn, driven largely by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. <\/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>Morocco\u2019s economy is on track to grow by more than 5.3% this year<\/strong>, well above the 4.6% the government had penciled into its 2026 budget and the 4.4% forecast the IMF issued in April, Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa tells the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/economics\/132529\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D9%86%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%88%D9%82-3-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%BA%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86\/\" style=\"\">Arabic press<\/a>. The upside is being driven largely by Morocco\u2019s agriculture industry, which accounts for 14% of GDP, as heavy rainfall ended a six-year drought and yielded a more productive than expected grain harvest. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But even as Rabat is looking at strong headline growth, its public finances are <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.agbi.com\/oil-and-gas\/2026\/05\/iran-war-costing-morocco-330m-a-month-in-energy-subsidies\/\" style=\"\">being bent<\/a><\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.agbi.com\/oil-and-gas\/2026\/05\/iran-war-costing-morocco-330m-a-month-in-energy-subsidies\/\" style=\"\">out of shape<\/a><\/strong><strong> by the Iran war.<\/strong> Oil prices have jumped 46% since the conflict began, while butane and gas prices have also risen 30-50%. Because Morocco imports all of its refined petroleum, costing state coffers around USD 11 bn per year, the government has been forced to spend MAD 3 bn (USD 330 mn) per month in subsidies in a bid to shield citizens from the brunt of the inflation. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/adgm\/\">ADGM<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\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\/nisus-finance\/\">Nisus Finance<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/partners-capital\/\">Partners Capital<\/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=\"115151\" 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=\"115151\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">10<\/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\/05\/15\/modi-to-visit-uae-skipping-the-rest-of-the-gulf-as-part-of-five-country-tour\/\">\r\n                            Modi to visit UAE, skipping the rest of the Gulf, as part of five-country tour                        <\/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\/05\/15\/modi-to-visit-uae-skipping-the-rest-of-the-gulf-as-part-of-five-country-tour\/\" 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 UAE is the only Gulf stop, and the visit comes as higher oil prices, shipping disruption, and pressure on India's FX buffers weigh on India\u2019s economy. <\/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>An<\/strong><strong> IMF mission to Cairo kicked off the combined seventh and eighth reviews of the <\/strong><strong>country\u2019s economic reform program on Wednesday<\/strong>, over <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/05\/13\/finmin-moved-egp-452-bn-to-egpc-weeks-before-imf-november-mission\/\" style=\"\">a month earlier<\/a> than previously anticipated, a senior Egyptian official told our Egypt desk. Egypt is looking at a USD 3.3 bn disbursement if it passes the combined review. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The backdrop: <\/strong>The Egyptian government has been working to demonstrate to the IMF that a specific set of policy shifts \u2014 including on state ownership and energy pricing \u2014 will outlast the loan program itself. <\/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>Also worth a moment of your time this morning:<\/strong> Our friend Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, wearing his hat as head of the UAE Federation of Banks, is the latest senior Emirati leader to signal that however things suck right now, (a) the economy isn\u2019t in horrible shape just yet and (b) most of us have been through much worse.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>His argument: <\/strong>Banks just turned in record earnings for 1Q despite taking a hit from the war \u2014 and only 65k clients across all UAE banks took advantage of a UAE central bank relief program, compared with some 1.5 mn during the pandemic. And at a little over AED 6 bn, the total value of the relief program this time around is about 3% of the covid-era package, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/business\/economy\/2026\/05\/13\/tiny-iran-war-relief-vs-huge-covid-aid-reflects-limited-economic-impact-says-al-ghurair\/\" style=\"\">he pointed out<\/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\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>The summer season salvation some had hoped would come for Lebanon\u2019s struggling<\/strong><strong> tourism industry is increasingly looking out of reach<\/strong>, as occupancy levels and arrivals continued to flatline ahead of the highly anticipated Eid Al Adha season. There are no signs of recovery for the Eid season, with hotel occupancies still hovering at 8% or less depending on the area, Pierre Achkar, head of the Lebanese Hotel Owners Association, said in remarks widely picked up by the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nna-leb.gov.lb\/ar\/news\/519803\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B4%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B2-8-2\" style=\"\">Lebanese press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why this matters: <\/strong>The lackluster recovery deals a blow to the industry\u2019s hopes that the normalization of regional flights would spur just enough demand to keep establishments afloat, as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/05\/04\/lebanons-tourism-industry-is-holding-the-line-with-a-narrow-window-to-rescue-the-season\/\" style=\"\">we previously reported<\/a>. It is another sign that the sector\u2019s recovery mostly hinges on the improvement of the security situation as Israel continued to strike Southern Lebanon and Beirut despite a purported ceasefire. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/diplomacy\/\">diplomacy<\/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\/imf\/\">IMF<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/lebanon\/\">Lebanon<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/tourism\/\">Tourism<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/uae-india-relations\/\">UAE-India relations<\/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=\"115153\" 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\/05\/15\/115153\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115153\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115153 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\">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\">21 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Independence Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">27-30 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Eid Al Adha (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28 May<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Saudi Aramco ex-dividend date. <\/span><span style=\"\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">June 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">7 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 OPEC+ ministerial meeting. <\/span><span style=\"\">Vienna\/Virtual<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 King Abdullah II Accession Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">10\u201314 June <\/span><span style=\"\">\u2014 Syria Buildex International Construction Exhibition. <\/span><span style=\"\">Syria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16-17 June<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">July 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">2 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Parliamentary elections. <\/span><span style=\"\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">5 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Independence Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">9 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">14 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Republic Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Iraq<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">23 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Republic Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Tunisia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">28-29 July<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">30 July<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Throne Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">August 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">13 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Women\u2019s National Day. <\/span><span style=\"\">Tunisia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution of the King and the People Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">20 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">21 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Youth Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 Aug<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Prophet\u2019s Birthday (public holiday, markets closed) \u2014 TBD. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Region-wide<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">31 Aug-3 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 LEAP technology conference.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> Saudi Arabia <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">September 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">7-9 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 AIM Congress. <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15-16 Sep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 <\/span><span>IMF\u2019s eighth review of Egypt\u2019s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16-17 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Middle East Banking Innovation Summit. <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">23 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 National Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">24 Sep<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">30 Sep-3 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Cityscape Egypt 2026. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">October 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">3 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 National Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Iraq<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">6 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Armed Forces Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">15 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 GCC Made in the Gulf Forum + Exhibition. <\/span><span style=\"\">TBD<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Liberation Day (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\"> Libya<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">25-27 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 World Investment Forum 2026. <\/span><span style=\"\">Qatar<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">26-29 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Future Investment Initiative.<\/span><span style=\"\"> Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">27-28 Oct<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> \u2014 US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">29 Oct<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">November 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">1 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Revolution Anniversary (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Algeria<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">2 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition + Conference (ADIPEC) opens (through 5 Nov). <\/span><span style=\"\">UAE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">6 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Green March Anniversary (public holiday, markets closed). <\/span><span style=\"\">Morocco <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">16 Nov<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Cityscape Global begins (through 19 Nov). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Saudi Arabia <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">December 2026<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">17 Dec<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Egypt monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Egypt<\/span> <\/p>\n\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>Full steam ahead for GCC AI race | Israel\u2019s Bezeq goes after Egypt data corridor dominance | Graduation day for Saudi sukuk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":115134,"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-115133","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"6ae9be82-43b3-4e80-849b-87102474833c","teaser":"Full steam ahead for GCC AI race | Israel\u2019s Bezeq goes after Egypt data corridor dominance | Graduation day for Saudi sukuk","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2024\/11\/688.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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