Good morning, lovely people, and happy FRIDAY. We’re wrapping up a busy week here at home with another packed issue — with yet another growth forecast from the IMF. While the agency cut its growth forecast for the Middle East and GCC on the back of trade uncertainty and oil market volatility, it's optimistic about the UAE's growth, and sees Abu Dhabi growth specifically surpassing that of Dubai and the GCC.

It’s also been busy on the M&A front, with G42’s CPX acquires security solutions firm TSI Tech, and Emirates NBD-backed Zodia Custody eyeing a takeover of Abu Dhabi’s Tungsten.

PLUS- The tokenization theme continues, with MAG tokenizing USD 3 bn worth of assets on MultiBank’s platform and World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff revealing the stablecoin MGX has used for its USD 2 bn investment in Binance is, in fact, Trump’s World Liberty’s.

☀️ WEATHER- We’re in for a sunny — and still hot — weekend: Expect clear skies and steady temperatures across the country through Monday, according to our favorite weather app. Dubai is set to hit 40°C during the day with overnight lows of 28°C, while Abu Dhabi will see highs around 34°C, also cooling to 28°C at night.

And yes, summer has come too early: The UAE has had its hottest April in two decades with an average daily maximum temperature of a scorching 42.6°C, Bloomberg reports. The National Center of Meteorology attributes the record hot temperatures to climate change, as well as hot, dry winds blowing off the Saudi desert.

May will also be hotter than we’re used to: Ahmed Habib, a specialist meteorologist at NCM, expected temperatures this month to remain “slighter higher” than previous averages.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- A potential easing of access to Nvidia chips for the UAE and a broader bilateral chip agreement could be on the table during talks between US President Donald Trump and UAE officials when Trump visits the UAE in mid-May, Bloomberg reports, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. The White House has been discussing amending AI curbs for the UAE, the sources said, as talks for increased UAE investments in the US increase, including more tech investments expected in the coming months. This could include a potential investment in chipmaker Intel, which has been struggling in the face of other chip rivals.

REMEMBER- UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the US and pledged USD 1.4 tn in investments in US tech and energy sectors over the next decade, last month — an agreement that could help nudge things in the UAE’s favor. The US’ export restrictions on AI chips and GPUs — which affect 120 countries, including the UAE — is set to take effect on 15 May, while Trump’s in the region for his visit.

SPEAKING OF TRUMP-UAE TIES- Abu Dhabi’s MGX used Trump-linked stablecoin for USD 2 bn Binance investment: Abu Dhabi's AI fund MGX’s bumper USD 2 bn investment in crypto exchange Binance was made using the USD1 stablecoin, which belongs to the Trump family-linked decentralized finance project, Bloomberg reports, citing World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff. This transaction marks the first major use of the USD1 fiat-backed digital asset, which, despite having a market value of USD 2.1 bn, is not currently trading on centralized crypto exchanges.

ALSO- The US has sanctioned four UAE-based companies for trading in Iranian petroleum products, according to a statement by the US State Department. The firms — Shivnani Organics, Solvent Organics, Al Seerah Trading, and Harold Trading — are accused of facilitating the export of Iranian petrochemical products to other unnamed countries, allowing Iran to avoid sanctions and make revenue.

The sanctions will block the firms’ assets in the US or under the US control, in addition to anyone holding a 50% stake in the companies. People in the US are also blocked from engaging with them.

#2- Sidara’s target for a takeover faces temporary delisting after missing financial report deadline: UK-listed oilfield services firm Wood Group ’s shares were suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange, after the firm said it would miss the 30 April deadline for submitting its 2024 financial audit, according to a disclosure. The company said it had just completed an independent review into its accounting for certain exceptional charges in its interim results.

Another looming deadline: Sidara has until Tuesday, 15 May to make a formal takeover offer for 100% of Wood Group, after the original 17 April deadline was extended. Sidara’s latest in a series of on and off bids over the past year includes a GBP 0.35 per share cash-offer (amounting to USD 318.4 mn) and a multi-tranche USD 450 mn debt facility, an offer which Wood’s board said is a “better option” for shareholders.

#3- IPO on the table for Rotana: Abu Dhabi-based hotel management firm Rotana Group is almost ready for an IPO should its shareholders opt for one, co-founder and vice chairman Selim El Zyr told The National. The company is “almost there” but shareholders are waiting for an additional 10-15% growth before pulling the trigger, El Zyr said. In the meantime it is currently eyeing expansion into new markets, including Asia, India and Africa, as well as acquisition targets to add to its current USD 5 bn-strong portfolio, which is set to double by 2030, he added.

ICYMI- Rotana announced plans earlier this year for nine hotels in Saudi Arabia, and also launched the Nova M Hotel Olaya Riyadh last September. The group’s partnership with the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), solidified last March, is also set to boost long-term revenue.

#4- Dubai landfills are closing ahead of schedule: The emirate now plans to shut all landfill sites by 2027, three years earlier than previously targeted, Gulf News reports, citing remarks made by Adel Al Marzouqi, CEO of the Waste and Sewerage Agency at Dubai Municipality, during a Dubai Government Media Office briefing. The move is part of the city’s broader Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy of becoming zero-waste through stopping landfill usage and relying fully on recycling by 2030.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Abu Dhabi’s consumer price index rose by 0.1% y-o-y in March 2025, down from a 0.8% rise in February, according to data (pdf) from the Abu Dhabi Statistics Center. On a monthly basis, inflation fell 0.5%, reversing a 0.6% rise recorded a month before.

The annual picture: Prices rose in the majority of categories in March compared to a year before, led by a 13.3% price jump in the ins. and financial services basket, and a 5.4% rise in recreation and culture. However, steep declines in transport, down 6.3%, and household furnishings, dipping 4.6%, tempered overall inflation.

#2- Sharjah attracts 1.6 mn hotel guests in 2024: The emirate welcomed 1.6 mn hotel guests in 2024, a y-o-y increase of 11%, according to a press release from Sharjah’s Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) conference is on its final day at the Adnec Center in Abu Dhabi. The conference brings together air traffic control professionals to discuss the air traffic management sector, focusing on capacity building, emerging technologies, and solutions to challenges faced by the industry.

#2- It’s the final day of the Fujairah International Conference of Adventures Tourism at the Fujairah Adventures Centre. The event will spotlight investment, sustainability, and innovation in adventure tourism. The agenda includes panel discussions, MoU signings, site tours, and the launch of the region’s first standardized framework for adventure tourism.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

#1- The Capital Market Summit will take place on Tuesday, 6 May and Wednesday, 7 May at Madinat Jumeriah in Dubai. The summit will address IPO growth, government privatization, global economic forecasts, and digital assets’ role in financial markets. Speakers include UAE ministers and DFM Chairman Helal Saeed Al Marri, and sessions will analyze stock exchange dynamics, virtual assets, and growth capital strategies.

#2- The Airport Show will run from Tuesday, 6 May to Thursday, 8 May at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will host over 160 exhibitors from 20 countries and focus on airport technology, sustainability, and efficiency. The Global Airport Leaders’ Forum and Women in Aviation conference will be running within the event.

#3- The Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (GISEC) will take place Tuesday, 6 May to Thursday, 8 May at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will bring together over 8k industry players in the security and technology sector to discuss the latest trends including combatting hacking, ensuring data privacy, and cybersecurity solutions in the financial and government sectors.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s once again all about the US in the global press.

#1- US President Donald Trump ousted his national security advisor Mike Waltz, making Secretary of State Marco Rubio his interim replacement — and making Rubio the head of four government bodies, the New York Times reports. The move follows months of controversy around Waltz, who inadvertently added a reporter to a Signal chat set up to discuss attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen. (Reuters | Bloomberg | Financial Times | AP)

#2- US tariffs are hitting tech giants like Apple, which said it could see an additional USD 900 mn in costs as it looks to shift its supply chain from China, and trimmed its share buyback program by USD 10 bn. (FT | Bloomberg | NYT)

Amazon’s e-commerce business will also likely be hit, with the company forecasting lower-than-expected operating income, though CEO Andy Jassy sought to ease investor jitters by saying retail prices will stay low. The company’s cloud revenues missed estimates, suggesting a potential shift in power to Microsoft, whose cloud business Azure posted a strong 1Q 2025 earlier this week. Apple’s shares were down 4.3% in after-hours trading, while Amazon’s were down more than 5%, before paring losses to 1%. (Bloomberg | Reuters | FT | NYT | WSJ)

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OIL WATCH-

Brent crude slid below USD 62 yesterday, pushing it closer to a loss of 7% for the week ahead of Opec+’s meeting next Monday to discuss supply plans for June. May already saw some oil producers speed up oil supply hikes, and June is expected to also see the oil cartel sign off on another boost in production. The decline also came following US President Donald Trump’s threats of sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Global Ports Forum will take place on Tuesday, 13 May and Wednesday, 14 May in Dubai. The forum will discuss port strategy, automation trends, financing models, and efficiency measures. Sessions will cover trade outlooks, terminal design, safety protocols, and AI-driven port operations.

The Workspace Exhibition will take place at the Dubai World Trade Center from Tuesday, 27 May to Thursday, 29 May. The event, bringing together over 33k visitors and more than 920 exhibitors, will showcase new technologies and interior designs for office spaces and commercial real estate.

Arqaam Capital’s MENA Investor Conference will take place on Monday, 19 May and Tuesday, 20 May at the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The conference is set to bring together over 500 senior executives, investors, economists, and policymakers to explore potential investments in the region’s capital markets through networking discussions, expert panels, and presentations.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

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