Lithium locks in

The UAE has stepped into the global EV supply chain. Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer Titan Lithium Industries signed a multi-year supply framework agreement worth over USD 300 mn with Mercedes-Benz to deliver battery-grade lithium for the carmaker’s global EV portfolio, state news agency Wam reports. Commercial supply is set to begin in 2028.

Why it matters: The agreement positions the UAE securely in the downstream section of critical minerals production, as it looks to boost localization efforts and establish itself as a player in the various steps of the supply chain.

Eat App raises USD 10 mn

Eat App taps USD 10 mn to scale dine-in market in India: Dubai-based restaurant reservation and guest management platform Eat App secured USD 10 mn in a Series B extension round, aiming to boost its push into the Indian market, according to a press release. The round was led by US-based PSG Equity via its portfolio firm Zenchef, bringing the total value to USD 23 mn.

Background: Founded in 2015 by Nezar Kadham (LinkedIn) and David Feuillard (LinkedIn), Eat App serves more than 5k restaurants across 92 countries. The platform offers a single cloud-based dashboard to help firms optimize operations through real-time reservations and guest data management. It is now looking to tap into India’s food service industry — projected to hit USD 85 bn by 2028 — and expand further beyond its core markets of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the US.

Kezad launches AED 430 mn metals ecosystem

AD Ports’ subsidiary Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad) is rolling out Metal Park, a 450k sqm integrated ecosystem for the downstream metals industry, according to a press release. The facility has an AED 430 mn investment ticket, and follows a pay-as-you-grow model that allows firms to avoid large upfront investments. The facility spans across both the Kezad freezone and mainland jurisdictions. It includes a storage facility, production hub, and business center to bring operations for firms working in the metals sector under one operating setup.

Web3 news platform secures USD 2 mn pre-seed

A47 raises USD 2 mn to scale AI-driven news accuracy: UAE-based Web3 and AI-native news platform A47 raised USD 2 mn in a pre-seed funding round, with backing from both institutional and angel investors. The proceeds are set to develop A47’s AI-based platform, which lets users set preferences to access verified news on topics like business, tech, finance, sports, and geopolitics.

About A47: Co-founded by Ali Rizvi (LinkedIn) and Shehab Gargash (LinkedIn), A47 recently received a UAE Media Council license to operate as a digital news and media platform, adhering to UAE media standards, according to a post on LinkedIn.

Defense spending compounds

The Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement said AED 1.3 bn in contracts were signed on the final day of Umex and SimTex, lifting the three-day total to AED 3.6 bn across 11 agreements, up 20% from last year’s exhibition, Wam reports. The tally builds on some AED 2.4 bn in agreements across the first two days, underscoring sustained momentum behind unmanned and advanced defense systems.

Final-day awards skewed once again toward autonomous tech, with state defense firm Edge taking agreements for jet-powered drones (AED 385.7 mn) as well as tracked robotic combat vehicles and Themis systems (AED 525.2 mn), plus an AED 345.3 mn remote-weapons purchase via its subsidiary Caracal.

SAF One to collaborate with India’s Tata on SAF

SAF One taps India’s Tata for sustainable fuel facility: Dubai-based SAF One has named India’s Tata Projects — the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) arm of Tata Group — as EPC partner on its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project, which it says will be the first of its kind in the region, according to a statement. Tata Projects will assist in developing a plant to convert used cooking oil and other waste fats into SAF.

Why it matters: The two companies are focused on a “design one, build many” refinery model designed to be quickly replicated across the region. A facility in India is likely to follow as the country’s aviation industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonize.

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