{"id":115600,"date":"2026-06-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=115600"},"modified":"2026-06-08T05:43:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T05:43:57","slug":"reshuffled","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/issues\/reshuffled\/","title":{"rendered":"Reshuffled"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"115602\" 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=\"115602\">\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\/06\/08\/theres-a-lot-of-ai-angst-this-week\/\">\r\n                            There\u2019s a lot of AI angst this week                        <\/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\/06\/08\/theres-a-lot-of-ai-angst-this-week\/\" 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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Prime among them: AI, which is set to be one of the biggest stories of the week, in our region and beyond. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Global markets slumped on Friday on worries about the strength of demand for AI. <\/strong>The near-term catalyst was chipmaker Broadcom, whose 2Q revenues fell short of analyst expectations. That sent tech stocks plunging \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/06\/08\/softbank-samsung-tech-ai-stocks-asia-fall.html\" style=\"\">and the selloff continues this morning in Asia<\/a>. <strong>AI bulls and AI bears alike are licking their chops. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why there\u2019s so much angst: <\/strong>AI is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2026-06-04\/microsoft-says-anthropic-models-are-too-expensive\" style=\"\">too expensive<\/a> even as the model makers lose money hand-over-fist. It\u2019s not only <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bain.com\/insights\/your-ai-budget-is-growing-your-returns-arent-heres-why\/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top&__cf_chl_tk=8pERbRrKIPbPgy5vZ_9xOxXiCMVodWBA.ZiQO_qATKA-1780891625-1.0.1.1-O70LMEJfhWEsPKrfzLjc7GbDbwq._Ay95QxORAWyxeo\" style=\"\">not paying off as fast is many companies think it should<\/a> \u2014 others suggest the technology <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/05\/26\/uber-coo-ai-spending-tokens-claude-code\/\" style=\"\"><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/05\/26\/uber-coo-ai-spending-tokens-claude-code\/\" style=\"\">isn\u2019t getting new features or products to market any faster<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2026\/05\/26\/uber-coo-ai-spending-tokens-claude-code\/\" style=\"\"><\/a>. And building out the infrastructure the industry needs gets any more affordable if central banks keep rates higher for longer, as seems more and more likely to be the case. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt1\"><\/a> <strong>Gulf sovereigns will be <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/03\/spacexs-ipo-is-going-to-put-the-spotlight-on-ai-stocks-heres-what-that-means-for-the-big-three-gulf-players\/\" style=\"\">keeping a close eye on sentiment<\/a><\/strong> as SpaceX pushes ahead this week with the world\u2019s biggest-ever IPO \u2014 they all have positions. Ramping up the angst: The transaction includes the largest-ever offering to retail investors, a notoriously skittish bunch, as we suggested last week. What\u2019s more, Elon won\u2019t be getting any help from passive inflows after S&P stuck to its guns and said <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-05\/s-p-s-spacex-snub-shows-elon-musk-the-power-of-index-gatekeepers\" style=\"\">it wouldn\u2019t relax its rules for inclusion in the S&P 500<\/a>. The requirements: being listed for 12 or more months, being profitable, and having at least 10% of your shares in free float. SpaceX meets none of them. <strong>The share is set to start trading on Friday. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Gulf retail investors will want to tread carefully.<\/strong> While the IPO will offer exposure to big AI and tech themes, \u201cthe same factors driving enthusiasm also create risk. At these valuation levels\u201d \u2014 the loss-making SpaceX is on track trade at 80-95x trailing revenue \u2014 \u201cthe investment case remains highly sensitive to liquidity conditions, interest rates and broader market sentiment,\u201d Forex.com analyst Razan Hilal wrote this morning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>Apple rides into the breech this evening with its World Wide Developers Conference. <\/strong>It will be Tim Cook\u2019s last keynote as CEO (he becomes chairman on 1 September), and the tech giant is looking for a do-over on AI after bungling its Apple Intelligence rollout. Pundits seem optimistic that a Siri powered by Google Gemini (with the flexibility to allow savvy users to swap out to Claude and ChatGPT for some tasks) will prove successful. (We goofed last Friday and said WWDC starts on Wednesday \u2014 it gets underway tonight at 9pm UAE \/ 8pm Egypt and Saudi. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/wwdc26\/\" style=\"\">You can watch the keynote live here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s all food for thought while you contemplate the week\u2019s to-do list <\/strong>\u2014 and wonder what the hell is next after Israel and Iran exchanged blows overnight. \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\/market-watch\/\">Market Watch<\/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=\"115603\" 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=\"115603\">\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\/06\/08\/gcc-employers-pivot-to-local-talent-pools-amid-regional-uncertainty\/\">\r\n                            Looking within\u2026 mostly                        <\/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\/06\/08\/gcc-employers-pivot-to-local-talent-pools-amid-regional-uncertainty\/\" 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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While it\u2019s far from an across-the-board collapse, our sources indicate there\u2019s a sharpening hierarchy, with several fault lines emerging all at once. While real estate keeps booming, for example, tourism and hospitality have been gutted. And even within resilient industries, employers are increasingly leaning towards in-country hiring, rather than importing talent from abroad. Those shifting priorities have also seeped into broader policies, including visa scrutiny. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>That dynamic is already visible in how employers are sourcing talent.<\/strong> \u201cIf there was a redirection since the conflict began, it was to hire people from within the country. So, that could have been expats or nationals, but it certainly was, \u2018Let\u2019s not try and take people from a thousand or ten thousand miles away and try and bring them here.\u2019 It was, \u2018Let\u2019s look for what we need in-country,\u2019\u201d Cooper Fitch CEO Trefor Murphy tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE and Saudi Arabia still have no trouble attracting high-quality talent<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cthe top 20%,\u201d as Murphy puts it \u2014 because they continue to offer safety, lifestyle, the tax-free element and opportunity. \u201cThe bit that we need to figure out is how do we get back to attracting the top 1% and top 5%. That\u2019s the bit that\u2019s a [little] unclear. That\u2019s the bit that needs a strong, permanent ceasefire to maintain [the region\u2019s] position as a true global hub for talent,\u201d Murphy says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Major changes are also expected in business strategies for the post-conflict world<\/strong>, which will be shaped in turn by how economic activity, alliances, and industrial priorities change at the national level, Zilla Capital Managing Partner Omar Shenety tells us. Altogether, what\u2019s unfolding is what he calls a \u201cparadigm shift\u201d and is expected to be as significant as changes made after disruptions such as the 1991 Gulf War and covid-19.<\/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\">A sharp shock and a fast (albeit uneven) rebound<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This reshaping comes as the conflict causes real and concentrated economic <\/strong><strong>contraction.<\/strong> The IMF lowered its GCC growth forecast by 2.3 percentage points to 2.0% <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/17\/the-imf-sees-uneven-post-war-recoveries-as-it-revises-mena-growth-forecasts-downward\/\" style=\"\">in April<\/a>. The pain was distributed unevenly, largely according to each state\u2019s exposure to the Strait of Hormuz and its oil reserves: Qatar was the hardest hit at an expected 8.6% contraction, while Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are all projected to hold onto growth of more than 3% despite the revisions\/<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The labor market told a similar story of shock and snap-back.<\/strong> Cooper and Fitch\u2019s April <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vadim-kouznetsov-5b56751a4_your-uae-job-application-is-taking-longer-share-7462107713716551681-rFuo\/\" style=\"\">Gulf<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vadim-kouznetsov-5b56751a4_your-uae-job-application-is-taking-longer-share-7462107713716551681-rFuo\/\" style=\"\">Employment Index<\/a> contracted 12% in March, the month of peak military activity, before rebounding 13% in April as the ceasefire took hold and projects and hiring pipelines resumed. April\u2019s job growth came in level with the same month a year earlier \u2014 short of expected market momentum, but a sign that \u201cthe employment base held in a period that could have produced a significant contraction.\u201d The year had opened with 3.5% growth in January and 1.5% in February.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Beneath those aggregate numbers sits a stark divergence, as employment in anything <\/strong><strong>tied to discretionary spending flatlined across the GCC.<\/strong> \u201cAnything that\u2019s heavily laced into tourism, passenger movement, hospitality, and the niceties of life have been slowed down or stopped completely still. Those numbers are not even measuring anything; there\u2019s not a heartbeat in some of those sectors at the moment,\u201d Murphy says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Sales and marketing saw the sharpest decline in April \u2014 particularly in tourism, <\/strong><strong>hospitality and retail \u2014 after a relatively strong first quarter.<\/strong> Tourism and hospitality has been hit hardest of all, with redundancies and temporary unpaid leave orders imposed to ease the financial burden. Some hotels are weighing temporary shutdowns to refurbish while occupancy stays low.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Real estate, by contrast, posted the strongest y-o-y hiring growth<\/strong>, driven by continued project delivery and commercial activity in large-scale developments, with hiring focused on delivery, project management and commercial roles. \u201cReal estate in 1H 2025 was booming. It\u2019s booming now, it\u2019s just booming a little bit faster in April,\u201d Murphy tells us. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Finance, energy, the public sector, technology, supply chain, and legal and investments <\/strong><strong>also grew.<\/strong> \u201cBanking was tragic in 1Q 2026 because they stopped lending money and stopped doing business,\u201d Murphy notes. CEO and strategy roles held flat y-o-y, while manufacturing dipped slightly as employers prioritised execution over expansion.<\/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\">The human cost falls on the exposed<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>For workers in the wrong sector, there\u2019s already a financial toll.<\/strong> One professional at a domestic tour agency \u2014 a business that depends on group packages \u2014 disclosed that their salary had recently been slashed by half, while several colleagues were laid off entirely. Another professional working at a mid-tier consulting agency based in Dubai recounted a similar situation, with several employees laid off and many others placed on indefinite unpaid leave. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The squeeze is also reaching people who have not even started yet<\/strong>, as the friction in key sectors trickles down into corporate onboarding pipelines. A mid-career Egyptian consultant accepted a position at Visa Inc. in Dubai, but their work visa application was rejected three times \u2014 a hurdle increasingly common as administrative scrutiny tightens. A mobility agent advised them to pause for a few months before reapplying, citing a sudden spike in identical rejections in recent weeks. Despite the administrative snags, the company has maintained its employment offer, the would-be employee stresses.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Some withdrawals are harder to read.<\/strong> \u201cWe would have a percentage of people that would just pull out naturally anyway. And we\u2019ve had a percentage out there that just pulled out because of this particular instance,\u201d Murphy says, though whether the war has measurably accelerated that trend remains unclear.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The reordering may not treat all nationalities the same.<\/strong> Gulf countries may introduce more stringent entry and residency conditions, dynamically adjusting immigration policy based on real-time assessments of bilateral relations shaped by the war, Shenety suggests. Whether that reshuffle will produce a direct, sector-wide cooling effect on hiring from specific countries remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What the war is unlikely to do, our sources say, is hand the squeeze to nationalization<\/strong><strong> agendas.<\/strong> The UAE\u2019s young (and very highly educated) national workforce does not threaten foreign talent, because nationals remain a minority of the labor force. \u201cI see no correlation between a squeeze in certain sectors and [the advancement of] nationalization,\u201d Shenety adds.<\/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\">Caution everywhere \u2014 but not collapse<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>For now, uncertainty cuts across every front, but the caution shows up most predominantly in investment decisions.<\/strong> Preliminary indicators suggest expats\u2019 willingness to buy property is set to decline, Shenety says. \u201cIf I had just bought a brand new hotel in Dubai and gone from 100% capacity to 20% or 40% capacity, and I was planning to build a second one, I probably wouldn\u2019t build the second one just yet,\u201d Murphy says. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>How quickly any of these trends reverse will depend on who is making the call.<\/strong> \u201cMultinationals or international organizations are going to be a bit slower to trust. They\u2019ll have a whole series of things that they\u2019ll want to see happening before they really start re-engaging again, whereas the local players and local businesses could move very quickly into growing quickly again,\u201d Murphy says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>And the recovery, when it comes, could come fast.<\/strong> \u201cWhen there\u2019s a permanent ceasefire \u2014 and it\u2019s only a \u2018when\u2019 thing, it\u2019s never an \u2018if\u2019 thing \u2014 and tourists start coming back, there will be a massive flex back up, a spike back up in that market. It\u2019s a lot of short-term pain. Sometimes people will lose their jobs, but there will be opportunities here for people again,\u201d Murphy says.<\/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\/gcc\/\">GCC<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/talent\/\">talent<\/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                            <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=\"115605\" 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=\"115605\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WAR WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/israel-iran-exchange-missiles-after-tel-aviv-strikes-lebanon\/\">\r\n                            What ceasefire?                        <\/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\/06\/08\/israel-iran-exchange-missiles-after-tel-aviv-strikes-lebanon\/\" 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 Israeli military claims to have intercepted all the missiles and no casualties have been reported. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps called the barrage retaliation for Tel Aviv\u2019s strikes on Lebanon, claiming the Israeli attacks violated ceasefire terms. Israel fired back by targeting western and central Iran. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Iran plans to keep this up for a week<\/strong>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/live\/clyengg72pgt?post=asset%3A684ecf4b-3978-4cba-acf9-314ca6fa439f#post\" style=\"\">saying yesterday<\/a> was the \u201cbeginning of a full week of continuous strikes \u2026 until the enemy is deterred and ceases its crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The exchange of attacks came as Israel ignored US President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/06\/07\/trump-israel-iran-missile-attack\" style=\"\">instructions<\/a><\/strong><strong> to refrain from retaliating.<\/strong> Trump <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/06\/07\/trump-israel-iran-missile-attack\" style=\"\">pressed<\/a> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold back from any further attacks, saying later, \u201cIsrael had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don't need another one.\u201d Trump also moved to assert himself and Washington as the final decisionmaker on how the conflict plays out, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/a0ce59f9-fbde-49e8-9158-fba3d4079859?syn-25a6b1a6=1\" style=\"\">saying<\/a> that Netanyahu \u201cwon\u2019t have any choice\u201d but to accept any resolution Washington closes with Tehran.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The renewed violence comes as Washington has yet to reach a peace agreement with <\/strong><strong>Tehran, with the fate of frozen Iranian assets now under discussion.<\/strong> While Tehran has insisted that any agreement must see all US and international sanctions on Iran lifted and USD bns worth of Iranian assets unfrozen, Washington is reportedly considering using Iranian assets for reparations to Gulf countries \u201cto repair damage inflicted by Iran,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/us-eyes-iranian-assets-gulf-allies-reconstruction-source-says-2026-06-06\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports. <\/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\/geopolitics\/\">geopolitics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/war-watch\/\">WAR WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"115607\" 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=\"115607\">\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\">MARKETS + DEALS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/gulf-equity-rebounds-ipo-delays-record-bonds-and-botswana-deals\/\">\r\n                            Crystal ball                        <\/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\/06\/08\/gulf-equity-rebounds-ipo-delays-record-bonds-and-botswana-deals\/\" 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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With the workweek just starting in the UAE, much of what we have for you this morning is out of Saudi and Egypt. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>UP FIRST- What clears first when the fear premium lifts?<\/strong> The biggest question over Gulf equities isn\u2019t a deal \u2014 it\u2019s the day a US\u2013Iran pact lands and the risk premium starts to bleed out of valuations. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We put that to Franklin Templeton\u2019s head of MENA equities, Salah Shamma, who sees <\/strong><strong>large, liquid, PIF-adjacent names moving first<\/strong> \u2014 think: banks and big consumer plays foreign money can get in and out of easily. Small- and mid-caps will lag until local confidence catches up. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>His more interesting call is the \u201cresilience spending\u201d trade:<\/strong> A pact, he argues, pulls forward years of capital into the things the war exposed as fragile \u2014 pipelines and routes that bypass Hormuz, alternative ports and overland links, and a step-up in cybersecurity for critical systems. It\u2019s government-led, defensive, and spread across the GCC rather than a straight bet on the crude price, which is what makes it steadier than the oil trade sitting next to it. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Two footnotes:<\/strong> Shamma expects the UAE to rebound harder in the near term (it fell further, and money rotated into Saudi during the conflict) \u2014 and he warns that when the IPO market returns, there\u2019s going to be a lot of fresh paper to absorb at once. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/06\/08\/franklin-templetons-salah-shamma-on-what-a-us-iran-deal-would-mean-for-tadawul\/\" style=\"\">You can read the full interview here.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>MEANWHILE- The IPO pipeline coming out of Egypt\u2019s privatization program keeps <\/strong><strong>slipping<\/strong>, and you can thank the fallout from the war in the Gulf. The roadshow for the hotly anticipated <strong>Banque du Caire<\/strong> IPO will now run in September or October with a year-end float the target, past the original end-June deadline. Nobody wants to IPO in summertime. The regulatory and fair-value work is done and the prospectus sits with Banque Misr and the CBE, with EFG Hermes and CI Capital running the deal. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In context: It\u2019s at least the third time this listing has been knocked off course<\/strong>, after a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2022\/11\/17\/fra-approves-bdc-ipo-deadline-extension\/\" style=\"\">2022<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2022\/11\/17\/fra-approves-bdc-ipo-deadline-extension\/\" style=\"\">attempt<\/a> died on the Ukraine shock and an earlier bid was stopped in its tracks by fallout from the global pandemic.<\/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\u2019s baby bourse has a big one in the wings.<\/strong> Car-auction platform <strong>Qemah<\/strong> is weighing an IPO of 30% on Nomu within two years at a hoped-for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/companies\/135489\/%D9%82%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%85%D9%88\/\" style=\"\">c. SAR 2 bn valuation<\/a> \u2014 which would put it among the largest names on a market whose entire cap is around SAR 40 bn. The app cleared 1 mn downloads in its first year and has run more than SAR 3 bn of auctions through it. It joins a Nomu queue that includes <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/06\/01\/real-estate-developer-msga-is-heading-to-nomu\/\" style=\"\">MSGA<\/a><\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/06\/01\/real-estate-developer-msga-is-heading-to-nomu\/\" style=\"\">next week<\/a> and Mayar\u2019s <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/05\/05\/this-morning-ziorak-moves-towards-parallel-market-debut\/\" style=\"\">Ziorak<\/a><\/strong>, but the size is the reason to watch this one.<\/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>EFG Corp-Solutions has <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/6\/364.pdf\" style=\"\">closed<\/a><\/strong><strong> the biggest corporate bond in Egypt\u2019s history.<\/strong> The EGP 5.1 bn issuance doubles Corp-Solutions\u2019 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/05\/27\/efg-corp-solutions-closes-largest-corporate-bond-issuance-at-egp-2-65-bn\/\" style=\"\">EGP 2.65 bn deal from last year<\/a> and takes the leasing-and-factoring unit\u2019s cumulative debt-market issuance to EGP 16.7 bn, off a record EGP 5 bn quarter in net financed asset sales (up 125% y-o-y). <strong>EFG Hermes<\/strong> was sole arranger and bookrunner and <strong>Bank NXT<\/strong> was placement agent. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Morocco\u2019s OCP is going to the domestic market for a MAD 5 bn (c. USD 540 mn) <\/strong><strong>subordinated bond.<\/strong> The state phosphate and fertilizer giant is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moroccoworldnews.com\/2026\/06\/315745\/ocp-moves-to-raise-mad-5-billion-to-accelerate-green-industrial-transformation\/\" style=\"\">raising the debt<\/a> to fund its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ocpgroup.ma\/en\/our-sustainability-commitments\/investment-plan\" style=\"\">2027\u20132030 investment cycle<\/a> \u2014 nearly tripling renewables capacity to 14.3 GW and lifting phosphate rock and fertilizer output by about 40% each, with a new mine at Meskala, an industrial complex at Mzinda, and a green ammonia plant at Tarfaya in the pipeline.<\/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>We have two stories for you this morning out of Botswana<\/strong> \u2014 not a country that often makes headlines in MENA+. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#1- Botswana wants more of its own diamonds \u2014 and it\u2019s looking to the Gulf to pay for it.<\/strong> With <strong>Anglo American<\/strong> shortlisting buyers for its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-05\/diamond-rich-botswana-courts-uae-oman-to-acquire-de-beers-stake\" style=\"\">85% of De Beers<\/a>, Gaborone is in talks with the UAE and Oman to back its bid for a bigger \u201cstrategic stake\u201d in the world\u2019s top rough-diamond producer. A foothold upstream may make sense for Abu Dhabi, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/01\/26\/deep-pocketed-customers-and-buoyant-economy-make-uae-jewelry-hub\/\" style=\"\">now a fast-growing fine-jewelry hub<\/a> as luxury demand cools in the US and China.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- <\/strong>Dubai\u2019s <strong>Albaddad<\/strong> will fund a USD 1.9 bn urban development in Botswana \u2014 among the country\u2019s largest-ever \u2014 putting up all the capital while state-owned <strong>BDC<\/strong> supplies the land and takes <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Official_UDC_Bw\/status\/2062807666179580379?s=20\" style=\"\">5%, rising to 26% over time<\/a>. The 124k sqm New Botswana City runs to a trade-and-exhibition center, offices, retail, housing and five hotels, with the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/duma_boko\/status\/2062906477342286208?s=20\" style=\"\">World Trade Center already underway<\/a>. It\u2019s the same type of playbook Emirati developers have run from Ras El Hekma in Egypt to Eagle Hills in Damascus.<\/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>Speaking of real estate: PIF and Egypt\u2019s Talaat Moustafa Group have signed an MoU<\/strong> \u2014 non-binding, but worth noting \u2014 to explore mixed-use real estate across the fund\u2019s Saudi developments, the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pif.gov.sa\/en\/news-and-insights\/press-releases\/2026\/pif-and-talaat-moustafa-group-saudi-sign-mou-to-collaborate-in-saudi-urban-development-and-livability-ecosystem\/\" style=\"\">PIF said in a statement<\/a>. The idea is to pair PIF\u2019s capital and land with TMG\u2019s record on integrated communities, with room for co-investors in later phases. It deepens a relationship that already includes <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2024\/03\/06\/pif-wants-to-boost-its-investment-in-bahrain-plus-ma-manufacturing-and-real-estate\/\" style=\"\">Banan, TMG\u2019s first project outside Egypt<\/a> and a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2026\/05\/31\/tmg-and-pif-owned-sela-form-an-entertainment-jv-in-egypt\/\" style=\"\">Sela-TMG entertainment JV back home<\/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>Saudi Arabia and Russia are targeting <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asharqbusiness.com\/videos\/135247\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-5-%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA\/\" style=\"\">USD 1.46 bn of Russian investment over five years<\/a><\/strong> <strong> in industrial projects and JVs<\/strong>, with bilateral trade projected to climb to USD 12 bn from USD 3.9 bn, the Saudi-Russian Business Council\u2019s chair said at the St. Petersburg forum, where the sides <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okaz.com.sa\/economy\/na\/2251284\" style=\"\">signed 30 agreements<\/a> spanning energy, industry, tourism and education. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Who wants what:<\/strong> Russia wants Gulf channels that route around Western sanctions, and the Kingdom wants Russian industrial know-how for the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arabnews.com\/node\/2646068\/business-economy\" style=\"\">mining-and-manufacturing base it\u2019s building as a second pillar to oil<\/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\">ALSO WORTH KNOWING TODAY-<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Egypt is close to its third Samurai bond.<\/strong> The USD 500 mn-equivalent issuance is in \u201cthe final steps,\u201d Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty says, with the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/12\/17\/afdb-signs-on-as-finmin-readies-international-debt-blitz\/\" style=\"\">African Development Bank guaranteeing part of it<\/a> and proceeds earmarked for green projects. It slots into a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/05\/21\/govt-hikes-international-bond-program-to-usd-40-bn\/\" style=\"\">bond program just lifted to USD 40 bn<\/a>, with USD 3-4 bn of issuance targeted next FY.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Paramount<\/strong>\u2019s USD 110 bn, Gulf-backed <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-06\/paramount-open-to-divest-kids-tv-assets-in-eu-probe-of-110-billion-warner-deal?embedded-checkout=true\" style=\"\">takeover of<\/a> <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-06\/paramount-open-to-divest-kids-tv-assets-in-eu-probe-of-110-billion-warner-deal?embedded-checkout=true\" style=\"\">Warner Bros. Discovery<\/a><\/strong> is now under an EU competition probe over its USD 24 bn of PIF, Abu Dhabi (L\u2019Imad) and Qatar Investment Authority financing, with Brussels weighing a forced sale of children\u2019s-TV assets and a 7 July deadline to decide.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Lunate<\/strong>, the Abu Dhabi manager that pioneered the Gulf\u2019s ETF market, will list what it calls the first shariah-compliant GCC dividend ETF on ADX on 23 June \u2014 its 20th ETF on the exchange, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lunate.com\/en\/news-insights\/announcements\/lunate-launches-gcc-shariah-dividend-etf\/\" style=\"\">tracking dividend payers across the UAE, Saudi and Qatar<\/a>. It follows the firm\u2019s move to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/01\/16\/this-morning-adnoc-eyes-venezuelan-oil-national-bank-of-canada-sets-up-shop-in-dubai\/\" style=\"\">list UCITS ETFs on Deutsche B\u00f6rse Xetra<\/a> earlier this year.<\/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> -0.6% \u2022 <strong>ADX<\/strong> 0.3% \u2022 <strong>DFM<\/strong> 0.9% \u2022 <strong>EGX30<\/strong> -0.9%<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Brent USD 96.35 \/ bbl \u2022 Gold USD 4,365 \/ oz \u2022 USD \/ SAR 3.75 \u2022 USD \/ EGP 51.89<\/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\/ipo-watch\/\">IPO 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\/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=\"115609\" 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=\"115609\">\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\">Tech<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/egypt-based-thndr-to-enter-saudi-in-2027-as-it-pivots-to-a-full-wealth-management-stack\/\">\r\n                            Saudi Thndr                        <\/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\/06\/08\/egypt-based-thndr-to-enter-saudi-in-2027-as-it-pivots-to-a-full-wealth-management-stack\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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It arrives in the Kingdom not as the stock-trading app Egyptians know, but as a fuller wealth-management platform.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The product pivot is probably the bigger story over the long term.<\/strong> Thndr is layering digital gold, fractional real estate (now under review by Egypt\u2019s Financial Regulatory Authority), no-commission investment funds, and AI-powered planning onto its trading core \u2014 and it has scrapped fund commissions outright, a customer-acquisition play in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/06\/03\/egypts-investment-fund-industry-hit-egp-411-bn-in-1q-2026-up-30-in-a-quarter\/\" style=\"\">fund industry growing 30% a quarter<\/a>. \u201cThndr is no longer just a place for trading,\u201d Hammouda said. \u201cIt has become one place with all the investment products you need.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The app has gone from upstart to a market mainstay in Egypt: <\/strong>Thndr now handles roughly 40% all trades on the EGX by volume, processing more than 200k orders a day at peak \u2014 up from 20k three years ago \u2014 with over EGP 50 bn of savings and investments on the platform and 600k users in its managed products.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why Saudi? <\/strong>The demographic. The Kingdom\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/05\/28\/over-70-of-the-population-is-under-35-2024-family-survey-shows\/\" style=\"\">young population<\/a> is adopting investing fast \u2014 individual investors on Tadawul <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.argaam.com\/en\/article\/articledetail\/id\/1883301\" style=\"\">grew by 556k<\/a> to around 7.2 mn by the end of 2025. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What to watch:<\/strong> An early-2027 launch \u2014 and whether an Egypt-built platform can win Gulf retail on Tadawul\u2019s home turf.<\/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\/capital-markets\/\">Capital Markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/investment\/\">Investment<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/startups\/\">Startups<\/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\/thndr\/\">Thndr<\/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=\"115611\" 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=\"115611\">\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\">ECONOMY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/libyas-coffers-could-be-up-for-a-possible-boost-by-2h-2027-as-ras-lanuf-refinery-gears-for-resumed-operations\/\">\r\n                            Refined revival                        <\/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\/06\/08\/libyas-coffers-could-be-up-for-a-possible-boost-by-2h-2027-as-ras-lanuf-refinery-gears-for-resumed-operations\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" 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class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/libyas-coffers-could-be-up-for-a-possible-boost-by-2h-2027-as-ras-lanuf-refinery-gears-for-resumed-operations\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/294.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115612\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/libyas-coffers-could-be-up-for-a-possible-boost-by-2h-2027-as-ras-lanuf-refinery-gears-for-resumed-operations\/294-jpg-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/294.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"294.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/294.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/4\/294.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115611\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115611 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-economy tag-economy tag-energy tag-enterpriseam tag-libya 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>Libya\u2019s downstream oil sector could get a much-needed boost in 2H 2027 as Libya\u2019s <\/strong><strong>largest refinery in Ras Lanuf gears up to relaunch<\/strong>, commodity analytics platform <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kpler.com\/blog\/libya-plans-rehabilitation-of-220-kbd-ras-lanuf-refinery\" style=\"\">Kpler<\/a> predicts. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Europe will lose, but it would be a net positive for Libya: <\/strong>Ras Lanuf coming back online will by definition trim Libya\u2019s exports of Amna, Sarir, and Messla crude to Europe, all the while limiting Libya\u2019s fuel imports bill \u2014 a key source of pressure on the country\u2019s fiscal balance, one analyst tells EnterpriseAM. The effect, he estimates, will be a net positive given how more costly refined petroleum products are. Libya <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/cmt\/middle-east-north-africa\/libya\/weighing-cost-libyas-smuggling-racket\" style=\"\">imported<\/a> c. USD 9 bn worth of fuel products in 2024, a figure equivalent to about a third of the country\u2019s revenues from crude exports that year. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Background: <\/strong>Ras Lanuf Refinery has been mothballed for over a decade due to disputes with the Emirati partner Trasta Energy, a subsidiary of Al Ghurair Group. Last Month, Libya\u2019s National Oil Corporation (NOC) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/noc.ly\/en\/noc-statement-on-taking-back-full-control-of-the-ras-lanuf-refinery-and-the-final-exit-of-the-foreign-partner\/\" style=\"\">settled<\/a> the dispute and acquired Trasta Energy\u2019s 50% stake \u2014 and it is currently <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/libya-aims-restart-ras-lanuf-oil-refinery-within-year-noc-says-2026-05-13\/\" style=\"\">working<\/a> on rehabilitating the facility at the cost of USD 60 mn. Ras Lanuf has a processing capacity of 200-220k bb \/ d. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>SIGN OF THE TIMES- <\/strong>Libya\u2019s oil and gas sector has been <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/04\/24\/can-high-quality-oil-reserves-and-a-massive-reconstruction-opportunity-draw-global-investors-to-libya\/\" style=\"\">steadily attracting<\/a> investors\u2019 interest as the country ramps up production expansion, offers new exploration licenses, and sends signals of improved fiscal governance and anti-corruption efforts. The turn of fortunes <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/03\/war-threatens-indias-auto-exports-and-margins\/\" style=\"\">peaked<\/a> last month on the heels of improved daily output and high oil prices, which helped the NOC generate USD 4 bn in revenues \u2014 almost double the monthly average from 2025. <\/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\/economy\/\">ECONOMY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/energy\/\">ENERGY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/libya\/\">Libya<\/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=\"115613\" 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=\"115613\">\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\">Infrastructure<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/lebanon-inaugurates-new-airport-as-it-taps-ifc-to-support-private-push-in-aviation-sector\/\">\r\n                            Safe-ish landing                        <\/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\/06\/08\/lebanon-inaugurates-new-airport-as-it-taps-ifc-to-support-private-push-in-aviation-sector\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n          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photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/6\/445.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115614\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/lebanon-inaugurates-new-airport-as-it-taps-ifc-to-support-private-push-in-aviation-sector\/445-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/6\/445.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"445.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/6\/445.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/6\/445.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115613\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115613 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-infrastructure tag-aviation tag-enterpriseam tag-infrastructure tag-lebanon 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>Lebanon is turning to private capital to overhaul its aviation \u2014 and has opened a <\/strong><strong>northern airport that doubles as a hedge against war.<\/strong> The government signed the World Bank\u2019s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to structure a public-private partnership (PPP) to rehabilitate, expand, finance, operate and maintain Beirut\u2019s <strong>Rafic Hariri International Airport<\/strong>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nna-leb.gov.lb\/en\/news\/221964\/salam-rasamny-launch-partnership-process-for-lebanese-airports-with-ifc-support-2\" style=\"\">the IFC\u2019s Khawaja Aftab Ahmed said<\/a> at the signing. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Days earlier, Lebanon opened a second hub<\/strong> \u2014 the Rene Mouawad Airport at Qlayaat in the north \u2014 where the IFC is also advising and a PPP is similarly on the table.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Qlayaat is part economic lifeline, part geographic hedge.<\/strong> The north is among Lebanon\u2019s poorest regions \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/news\/press-release\/2024\/05\/23\/lebanon-poverty-more-than-triples-over-the-last-decade-reaching-44-under-a-protracted-crisis\" style=\"\">poverty runs as high as 70%<\/a> in areas like Akkar \u2014 and a working airport is meant to pull in activity and jobs. It also gives the country somewhere to fly if strikes shut Beirut, keeping the sector moving when the main hub can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT- The IFC is doing a lot of advisory on airports in MENA+.<\/strong> It\u2019s already <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/03\/26\/ifc-unveils-list-of-airports-to-be-developed-through-ppps\/\" style=\"\">working<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/03\/26\/ifc-unveils-list-of-airports-to-be-developed-through-ppps\/\" style=\"\">with Egypt<\/a> on a plan to offer 11 airports for PPP, and it backed the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/10\/30\/today-ad-ports-eyes-usd-2-bn-investments-in-india-iraq-secures-developers-of-airport-fsru\/\" style=\"\">Baghdad International Airport deal<\/a> awarded last year to a consortium led by Luxembourg\u2019s Corporation America Airports.<\/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\/aviation\/\">aviation<\/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\/lebanon\/\">Lebanon<\/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=\"115615\" 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=\"115615\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">8<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/\">\r\n                            Reconstruction rush                        <\/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\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/\" 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\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/')\">\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\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/\">\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=Foreign investors eye Syria\u2019s cement industry&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/\">\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\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/&title=Foreign investors eye Syria\u2019s cement industry\">\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=Foreign+investors+eye+Syria%E2%80%99s+cement+industry+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fmenaplus%2F2026%2F06%2F08%2Fforeign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry%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\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/2\/2091.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"115616\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/2026\/06\/08\/foreign-investors-eye-syrias-cement-industry\/2091-jpg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/2\/2091.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"2091.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/2\/2091.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/2\/2091.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115615\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115615 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-enterpriseam tag-manufacturing tag-syria wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Syria\u2019s cement is in hot demand<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>International investors flash interest in Syria\u2019s cement industry: <\/strong>More than 10 companies, including foreign players from Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Czech Republic submitted offers in a tender to invest in the modernization of two cement plants in Aleppo and rural Damascus, Mahmoud Fadila, the head of the state-owned General Company for Manufacturing & Marketing of Cement and Construction Materials (Omran), told <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sana.sy\/economy\/syrian-economy\/2494493\/\" style=\"\">Sana<\/a>. The tenders will be awarded within 30 days. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Cement will likely be a winning commodity in Syria in the next few years<\/strong>, as Syria embarks on post-conflict reconstruction efforts. The World Bank <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/news\/press-release\/2025\/10\/21\/syria-s-post-conflict-reconstruction-costs-estimated-at-216-billion\" style=\"\">puts<\/a> Syria\u2019s reconstruction spending needs at some USD 216 bn. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>ICYMI- <\/strong>Saudi\u2019s Al Jouf Cement has been a key supplier of cement to Syria via short-term contracts since Assad was ousted, whereas UAE\u2019s QBZ Group and Iraq\u2019s Vertex recently <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cemnet.com\/News\/story\/181418\/syria-s-cement-sector-emerges-from-the-shadows.html\" style=\"\">rehabilitated<\/a> cement facilities in Tartous and Hama. <\/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\">OPEC+ to bump (theoretical) production quota next month<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>The UAE-less OPEC+ approved a c. 188k barrel per day increase in quota for members<\/strong> starting in July. That\u2019s the fourth month in a row that cartel members will get a bump, but the number is \u2014 to a large degree \u2014 meaningless for Gulf-based members given that so little is actually making its way to market through Hormuz. OPEC+\u2019s real output has slumped, standing at c. 33 mn bpd in April against 43 mn bpd before the war started. <\/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\">Saudi eyes Pakistan logistics push<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Saudi <\/strong><strong>could soon become an investor in Pakistan\u2019s logistics sector<\/strong>, after the Najd Gateway Holding and Saudi Business Council inked an MoU with Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan\u2019s Arif Habib Dolmen REIT, and Pakistan Corporate Consortium to explore developing a 140-acre maritime business district on Karachi port land, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BaRK4jAaM\/\" style=\"\">statement<\/a> from the Pakistani Maritime Affairs Ministry. The commercial development is set to include an industrial park, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/2005638\/mou-signed-with-saudi-arabia-local-partners-for-140-acre-karachi-waterfront-development\" style=\"\">Dawn<\/a> reports, citing Pakistani Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The agreement builds on a wider push by Islamabad to deepen maritime ties with the<\/strong> <strong>Kingdom<\/strong>. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/09\/29\/banks-reportedly-lower-monthly-deduction-rate-for-new-subsidized-loans\/\" style=\"\">Last year<\/a>, Pakistan advanced proposals for dedicated Saudi gateway terminals in Karachi and Gwadar, alongside direct shipping links connecting Jeddah with Karachi and Dammam with Gwadar, as part of its strategy to position itself as a trade bridge between the Gulf and Central Asia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why this matters: <\/strong>Going abroad with logistics investments would mark a new stage for Saudi, which spent the last few years heavily focused on domestic ports and logistics infrastructure, Oxagon, King Abdullah Economic City, and Jeddah Central. The UAE, in the meantime, has been a very active investor in overseas logistics, including in Pakistan where UAE\u2019s logistics champions \u2014 AD Ports and DP World \u2014 are investing in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/095dd770-97c5-42d5-8604-70b5768d93d0\/ad-ports-group-inks-agreement-to-further-developments-and-operations-at%253cmark%253e-karachi-port%253c%2Fmark%253e\" style=\"\">port<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2026\/01\/15\/today-asyad-snags-order-for-three-dual-fuel-vlccs-to-fleet\/\" style=\"\">rail<\/a> concessions, as well as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2025\/12\/22\/ad-ports-expands-in-pakistan-omans-duqm-gets-a-cold-chain-push\/\" style=\"\">inland logistics<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\/news\/story\/8f96681a-3d1f-4350-b2ce-09f6ef540438\/ad-ports-inks-a-slew-of-agreements-to-bolster-pakistan-logistics,-maritime-sectors\" style=\"\">trade digital infrastructure<\/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\">Shot down <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kuwait is making a USD 2 bn purchase of US counter-drone systems and ammunition<\/strong>, after the US government <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/bureau-of-political-military-affairs\/2026\/06\/kuwait-counter-unmanned-aerial-systems-platforms\/\" style=\"\">approved<\/a> the sale. The deal comes as renewed Iranian strikes targeted Kuwait and other GCC countries amid faltering ceasefire talks, and while some countries have pushed to diversify beyond the US for their defense needs \u2014 including with a spate of partnerships with Ukraine on drone defense. <\/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\/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\/manufacturing\/\">manufacturing<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/menaplus\/tag\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"115617\" 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\/06\/08\/115617\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-115617\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-115617 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\">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\">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\">9 June <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">\u2014 Payout date for Aramco\u2019s 1Q 2026 base dividend.<\/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\">11 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Central Bank of Turkey monetary policy decision. <\/span><span style=\"\">Turkey<\/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\">21-24 June<\/span><span style=\"\"> \u2014 Afreximbank Annual Meetings. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">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\">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>Local talent moves to the top of hiring pipelines amid uncertainty. Iran, Israel exchange direct attacks. UAE + Oman piling into De Beers?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":115601,"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-115600","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"2c5a0bf9-84ed-4cfb-983c-5a71a9cfe929","teaser":"Local talent moves to the top of hiring pipelines amid uncertainty. Iran, Israel exchange direct attacks. 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