OIL AND GAS-

Shelf Drilling partners with Arabian Drilling: Dubai-headquartered offshore drilling contractor ShelfDrilling signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Drilling to form a strategic alliance aimed at expanding their international offshore operations, according to a press release (pdf). The partnership will allow Shelf Drilling to use Arabian Drilling’s high-specification jack-up rigs to fulfill contract demands across key markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, West Africa, and the Mediterranean.

RENEWABLES-

Ohmium launches new Abu Dhabi operations hub: US-based Ohmium International — which designs and manufactures Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers — has opened a Rapid Response Service Center in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release from last week. The center will provide maintenance and refurbishment services to the UAE market, allowing targeted repairs that can have individual parts of its PEM system fixed and returned to the center within three days rather than four to five weeks. On top of reducing repair time, Ohmium’s local office will speed up project expansion and scalability and reduce operational bottlenecks.

Ohmium is not new to the UAE: The hydrogen solutions firm partnered with Emirates Steel Arkan and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University in December 2023 to develop a green hydrogen-focused research and development program for decarbonizing the UAE’s steel industry. Emirates Steel Arkan planned to build on the research to produce Direct Reduced Iron and expand in the green steel sector.

BANKING-

Invest Bank partners with Veefin Solutions for supply chain finance: Sharjah’s Invest Bank partnered with Veefin Solutions to integrate advanced supply chain finance solutions aimed at optimizing cashflow, improving capital efficiency, and streamlining receivables and payables for businesses across the UAE, according to a press release. The system replaces manual processes with an automated platform, offering businesses more flexibility in managing payments and real-time insights into financial risks. The partnership is part of Invest Bank’s broader effort to expand its digital services.

REAL ESTATE-

UAQ Properties and Deyaar to develop beachfront projects in Umm Al Quwain: Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) Properties inked an agreement with Dubai’s property developer Deyaar Development to develop new projects along the emirate’s coast, according to a press release (pdf).

TELECOMS-

du has become the UAE’s first telecom operator to commercially roll out 5G Voice over New Radio (VoNR) and to receive full certification for its 5G Standalone Access (5G SA) network from “leading handset manufacturers,” according to a press release. VoNR keeps calls entirely on 5G, enabling faster connections, superior audio quality, and lower power consumption. 5G SA operates independently of 4G, offering ultra-low latency, improved efficiency, and enhanced speeds for voice and data.

AI-

UAE and Scotland to establish the region’s first Robotarium: Expo City Dubai signed an MoU with Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University Dubai to launch the Middle East’s first Robotarium, a research center for robotics and AI, according to a press release. The initiative will foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government, supporting startups and commercializing emerging technologies.

MANUFACTURING-

India’s Bikanervala to establish manufacturing facility at NIP: Indian sweets, snacks, and vegetarian cuisine giant Bikanervala will invest AED 33.7 mn to develop a 161k sqft manufacturing facility at National Industries Park (NIP), expanding exports to the GCC, Africa, East Asia, and Europe, according to a press release. Set to begin operations in late 2026, the facility will supply Bikanervala’s restaurants, cloud kitchens, and retail partners. It will initially produce 1.3k metric tonnes annually, with capacity expected to double to 2.7k metric tonnes by 2030. The first phase will create 200 jobs, with the workforce projected to double by the end of the decade as production scales.

FINTECH-

#1- Mamo partnership targets SMEs: Local fintech Mamo partnered with global issuer processor Paymentology to provide virtual Visa prepaid cards to Emirati SMEs, according to a press release. The partnership will enhance Mamo’s existing services by introducing credit and debit cards, multi-currency functionality, up to 2% cashback, and streamlined expense management workflows.

#2- Mastercard, Tamara partner to launch Sharia-compliant split payment card: Mastercard and GCC fintech platform Tamara teamed up to introduce a virtual card in the UAE, enabling customers to split purchases into four interest-free, Sharia-compliant payments or pay in full, according to a pressrelease.

DIGITIZATION-

Sharjah is getting a Cyber Security Centre, which will operate under the Sharjah Digital Department, Wam reports. The center is responsible for strengthening cybersecurity in the emirate by developing policies and guidelines, raising awareness, training personnel, and ensuring compliance among government agencies. It will be led by Abdul Nasser Obaid Ibrahim Bu Khater.

INS.-

Orient Ins. can now operate in Kuwait: Dubai-based Orient Ins. secured approval from the Central Bank of the UAE to establish a branch in Kuwait, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). The ins. provider will now seek final licensing from Kuwaiti regulators to operationalize the expansion, marking a strategic step to grow its regional footprint in the Gulf.

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