TELECOMS-

e& expands to the Americas: e& Wholesale has launched its Americas unit in Miami, expanding its global footprint after strong growth in London and Singapore, according to a press release. The new office will serve as a regional gateway for telcos, enterprises, hyperscalers, and AI players, offering managed voice, data and connectivity, roaming, and mobility services.

Miami makes sense: The expansion aims to meet rising demand across the US and Latin America, with a focus on AI-driven digital infrastructure and automation. Pablo Mlikota will lead the rollout as senior vice president international. A second new hub is also planned in Johannesburg.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Etihad Rail inked two MoUs with South Sudan and Chad’s individual Transport Ministries to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure projects, the railway sector, and knowledge exchange, according to a statement. The agreements also include a feasibility study for shared development of railway, logistics, and infrastructure projects in the three countries.

REAL ESTATE-

Cledor to build AED 400 mn Arthouse project in RAK: New York’s Arthouse Hotel has signed a partnership agreement with Dubai luxury developer Cledor to develop the Al Marjan Arthouse residential project on Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Marjan island, according to a press release. Valued at AED 400 mn, the project is Arthouse’s first venture outside of the US. It is part of Cledor’s AED 2.1 bn project development pipeline, aiming to offer high-yield, design-forward homes with average unit prices above AED 14 mn. In addition to the Al Marjan development, Arthouse plans to introduce residences in Dubai’s Meydan, the press release read.

REMEMBER- Last week, Tadawul-listed Amwaj International acquired an 18% stake in Cledor, valuing it at USD 100 mn. The move bolsters Cledor with institutional backing, and will see it take the lead on managing Amwaj’s upcoming UAE projects.

FINANCE-

ADIO partners with Alpheya to boost wealthtech, local talent: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has partnered with AI-powered wealth management platform Alpheya to expand Abu Dhabi’s fintech landscape, attract global investors, and create new jobs, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.

The next moves: Backed by BNY, ADQ, and Lunate, Alpheya will open a new office in Al Ain and make capital and operational investments over the next three years, bolstered by business support from ADIO. The company will also launch internship programs, IP registration support, and financial literacy initiatives to support local talent.

ICYMI- In 2023, Abu Dhabi’s Lunate and BNY Mellon launched Alpheya, a USD 300 mn wealthtech firm based in ADGM, to provide tailored digital wealth management solutions for MENA-based asset and wealth managers.

BUSINESS-

#1- Dubai International Chamber opened a new office in Cape Town, aiming to strengthen business community ties between Dubai and South Africa, according to the Dubai Media Office. The new office will work to facilitate growth in trade, tourism, and investment.

The launch comes as non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries reached AED 29 bn last year, an uptick of 20% y-o-y. There was a 23.8% rise in South African companies joining the Dubai Chamber of Commerce from South Africa, bringing the total to 775 members by the end of 2024. 51 new members joined in 1Q 2025 alone.

#2- Commercial Bank of Ceylon to open DIFC office: Sri Lanka’s largest private sector bank received regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to open a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), economynext reports, citing a statement. The new office will support clients from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives operating in the UAE, while promoting the bank’s brand and trade services. Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank to establish a presence in the DIFC.

TECH-

Edge, Wazuko partner to source next-gen ‘Drone in a Box’ tech: Edge Group has partnered with UK-based scale-up Wazoku, and the two are calling on startups, universities, and tech firms to develop next-generation ‘Drone in a Box’ systems, the company said in a statement. The partnership seeks fully integrated solutions with drones, docking stations, control software, and AI-driven autonomy, tailored for defence and industrial applications.

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