Good morning, wonderful people. It’s another not-too-busy morning, as we enter the last couple of workdays before our long weekend for Eid Al Adha. Leading our news well this morning is an AED 400 mn air components agreement Mubadala’s Sanad signed with Dublin-based AerCap’s AerCap Materials. Let’s dive in.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

Presight to work on Malaysia’s digital transformation: G42 data analytics subsidiary Presight AI and Malaysia’s state-owned Madani AI are set to work together to develop AI solutions, develop sovereign cloud infrastructure, and roll out “applications for digital transformation” for government efficiency in Malaysia, according to a statement. The partnership is also geared towards improving national safety and public security, the statement says. This partnership marks Presight AI Holding’s first major venture into the southeast Asian region.

ICYMI- The UAE and Malaysia inked an MoU in January to bolster joint investment in artificial intelligence, including on employing AI in national security and operational efficiencies. This comes as Presight’s international footprint is expanding, having also inked a similar MoU to support Gambia’s digital transformation last year, with the agreement including establishing national data and national safety operations centers, as well as ones with Uganda, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Jordan.

Madagascar is looking to attract investments from the UAE, particularly in tourism and energy, as the island nation wrestles with the impact of hefty tariffs from the US, Trade Minister David Ralambofiringa tells Bloomberg. Madagascar and the UAE are already in talks for potential investments in sugar and vanilla processing plants, as well as luxury hotels and energy projects, Ralambofiringa said. Daily direct flights between the countries operated by Emirates Airlines could also be in the cards.

ICYMI- Dubai Chambers received a delegation of 60 companies from Madagascar in May to explore potential business opportunities and partnerships. Chairman of Dubai Chambers said Dubai’s non-oil trade with Madagascar reached AED 1.3 bn in 2024, up from AED 692 mn in 2023, Wam reported.

Emirates will resume flights to Damascus from Wednesday, 16 July, ending a suspension in place since 2012, according to an Emirates travel update. The decision followed a safety review with UAE aviation authorities. The initial service will run three times weekly — on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday — from Dubai to Damascus International Airport using a 302-seat Boeing 777-200LR. Flights will be upped to four times a week from 2 August, with daily flights set to come from 26 October.

…but its flights to Russia are up in the air: Emirates will closely monitor and review its flight services to Russia, the airline’s president Tim Clark tells Bloomberg. Emirates continued its services to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and while there are no current plans to stop flights, Clark said, “[if] there’s any sign of trouble we’re out.” This comes as operations become more precarious following Ukraine’s longest-range drone assault of the war on Sunday on airfields deep inside Russia.

UAE climate law requiring reporting takes effect: A year after it was issued, the UAE’s Reduction of the Effects of Climate Change federal decree officially came into force last Friday, requiring companies to report emissions, implement decarbonization plans, and adopt climate adaptation measures or face fines of up to AED 2 mn, The National reports. Applicable even in freezones, the law introduces mandatory climate compliance for the first time and also establishes a national carbon credit registry to enable offsetting and carbon trading.

PSAs-

#1- UAEcitizens won’t need a visa for trips to Japan for up to 90 days, according to a statement from Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. The new policy, an extension from the previous limit which allowed for a 30-day stay without a visa, will come into effect from Tuesday, 1 July. The measure mirrors the UAE’s move to relax visa requirements for Japanese nationals last August.

#2- Emirates Health Services takes over birth and death registration services from Health Ministry: The UAE Health and Prevention Ministry transferred all birth and death registration services to local health authorities, Gulf News reports. Emirates Health Services now manages these services for Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, while the Abu Dhabi’s Health Department and the Dubai Health Authority will cover the services in their emirates.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Elon Musk is still managing to still make headlines after his step back from his chaotic foray into politics, with his xAI company looking to raise USD 5 bn in debt with a double digit interest rate to build out the company’s AI infrastructure. The company behind social media platform X and AI chatbot Grok is also selling USD 300 mn worth of stock in a tender offer that values the company at USD 113 bn. (Reuters | Financial Times | Bloomberg)

Also ranking high on the world’s digital front pages are peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that give little hope that the war could soon come to an end. A second round of direct talks between the two nations in Istanbul ended with both sides trading ultimatums and agreeing only on limited humanitarian measures that included a prisoner swap. Russia demanded Ukrainian withdrawal from four regions and neutrality guarantees, while Ukraine called for a full ceasefire, US oversight, and the return of abducted children — of which Russia agreed to release just 10 from a list that Ukraine claims reaches 400. (Reuters | Financial Times | Bloomberg)

Meanwhile, leading the Guardian is a report claiming that Israel’s deadly strikes on schools used as shelters are part of a deliberate strategy. The depressingly familiar reports of strikes on schools have become a hallmark of Israel’s assault on Gaza, with the UN detailing in a report last month that 406 schools have been struck with a direct hit during the 19-month-long war — accounting for 72% of all the enclave’s schools. (Guardian)

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