USD 500 bn infrastructure project Stargate plans first overseas deployment in Abu Dhabi

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: More Ghitha acquisitions coming? + Flydubai resumes flights to Damascus

Good morning, lovely people, and happy FRIDAY. We wrap up this busy week with another packed issue, led by more tech news from G42, which is developing the first cluster in the 5GW data center cluster in Abu Dhabi alongside OpenAI, Cisco, Oracle, and Softbank.

We also have more financing, localization, and manufacturing agreements from day four of Make It in the Emirates, as well as new regulations from the Dubai Financial Services Authority and ADGM. Let’s dive in.

☀️WEATHER– Brace yourself for a scorching weekend, as temperatures in Dubai climb to 44°C today before dipping to 31°C overnight, while Abu Dhabi is set to see highs of 37°C with a nighttime low of 29°C.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Ghitha eyes further acquisitions in MENA, Southeast Asia + exports to the US: ADX-listed food-maker Ghitha is eyeing acquisitions at home and abroad as it looks to double its revenue to AED 10 bn over the next three years, CEO Falal Ameen told the National. The IHC-backed firm is targeting food, distribution and farming assets across the UAE, MENA and Southeast Asia — including potential farmland in Indonesia — and is also exploring export channels in the US market. Ghitha will tap bank loans and its own coffers to fund the purchases.

The group has been on an acquisition and consolidation spree: The group recently consolidated a number of local producers under its Al Ain Farms platform, which had acquired AE-based poultry producer Al Jazira Poultry Farm in March this year, while ADX-listed agro-food outfit Invictus Investment — a unit of Ghitha — acquired Mozambique’s largest milling company Merec Industries ’parent company Stratton Africa Holding earlier this year. Another subsidiary, Zee Stores International, acquired a 70% stake in Fujairah’s International Food Industries for AED 41 mn in October, along with several other acquisitions.

The rationale: “M&A is one of the quickest and fastest, and it is not only the fastest way [to grow], but once you merge, you can reduce a lot of cost, you can synchronize the logistics system … [and] can use expertise, our software, to improve their production,” Ameen said.

#2- Emirati hotel management firm Gewan plans to operate 20 hotels in Egypt by 2028, including five properties owned by Egypt’s National Service Projects Organization (NSPO) under 10-year contracts, CEO Ahmed Haseeb told Asharq Business reports. Gewan currently manages four NSPO hotels in Alamein and will take over a fifth in Cairo’s Nasr City. Egypt could contribute 30% of Gewan’s revenues by 2028, Haseeb said.

In the pipeline: The company signed agreements for a 240-room hotel in New Cairo — set for completion in August 2026 — and an 800-room hotel in Hurghada, with completion set for 4Q 2026. Gewan is also eyeing Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam, Haseeb said, adding that the hotels they are eyeing could require potential renovations of up to USD 150k per room.

#3- New infrastructure and renewables projects in Fujairah? Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), Al Dahra Agriculture, and Fujairah Municipality inked a cooperation agreement to accelerate sustainable development in Fujairah, according to a press release. The three entities will establish a framework to support and develop critical infrastructure, particularly in water efficiency, food security, and creating sustainability-linked jobs.

Future expansion: The collaboration is planned to expand over the next few months to explore joint initiatives in renewable energy, water conservation and food systems.

#4- DP World launched a tender for a new GBP 72 mn container storage yard at its London Gateway Terminal, according to a UK government statement. The yard — set to be located at the fifth berth at the port — is slated for construction in December this year and scheduled for completion in June 2027. Firms have until 16 June to submit their bids.

Big plans for the hub: DP World aims for London Gateway to be the biggest container port in the UK in terms of trade volumes within the next five years. The firm committed GBP 1 bn (c. USD 1.3 bn) in investments for the port. DP World opened its first all-electric berth at London Gateway — berth four — which increased port capacity by more than a third in November.

#5- UAE floated as neutral venue for India-Pakistan talks amid ceasefire: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar proposed the UAE and Saudi Arabia as potential neutral venues for future composite talks with India, contingent on New Delhi’s readiness for dialogue, Arab News reports. The potential talks would follow a ceasefire agreement signed on 10 May following a spike in cross-border violence in the wake of a deadly gun attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

PSAs-

#1- Emirates adds additional flights for Hajj: Emirates airlines has added 33 flights to Jeddah and Medina in a bid to meet the heightened demand for Hajj during Eid Al Adha, according to a statement. The flights are scheduled from Saturday, 31 May until between 10-16 June in time for Hajj. The airline is expecting 33k passengers to travel for the pilgrimage.

More regional flights as well: There will also be an extra 13 flights between the UAE and regional destinations including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait and Bahrain.

#2- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to launch seasonal flights to Egypt: Abu Dhabi’s low-cost carrier Air Arabia will launch seasonal flights between Abu Dhabi and Egypt’s Sphinx airport in Giza, according to a statement. The new service will run from 26 June until 11 September, with three flights running per week throughout the period.

#3- AND- Flydubai is the first UAE carrier who is set to resume flights to Damascus in Syria, as of 1 June, following a 12-year hiatus, according to a statement. Flights between the UAE and Syria were resumed earlier in April, as most airlines resume flights to the country following the ouster of former president Bashar Al Assad. A Syrian Airlines flight to Sharjah was the first to take off from Damascus International Airport in January

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

#1- The Dubai Chamber of Commerce is set to go on a trade mission to the Philippines and Thailand from 26 to 30 May, Wam reports. The delegate will include representatives of companies operating in sectors like food and beverages, automotive, and electronics, who will participate in meetings and sessions with their counterparts in Thailand and the Philippines to explore collaboration prospects.

#2- The SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit is happening next Monday in Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. Policymakers, investors, regulators, and industry execs will meet for discussions and roundtables on the digital economy, tech, and telecoms across South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa regions.

#3- The Arab Media Summit is running from Monday until Wednesday at the World Trade Center in Dubai. Sessions will discuss public media, strategies for collaboration with the private sector, public communication, and digital platforms.

#4- The INDEX, Workspace, and The Hotel Show exhibitions will be on from Tuesday until Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. Workspace will bring together over 33k visitors and more than 920 exhibitors, will showcase new technologies and interior designs for office spaces and commercial real estate. Index and The Hotel Show showcase innovations in interior design, architecture, and hospitality, and connect buyers with exhibitors.

#5- The Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition will be running from Wednesday until Saturday at the Adnec Center Al Ain in Abu Dhabi. International experts will meet to discuss sustainable agricultural production and global food challenges, while local agricultural exhibitors will showcase local crops from the UAE.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

A handful of big stories are making the rounds in the foreign press today:

#1- Two Israeli embassy staff in the US were killed in a fatal shooting in Washington on Wednesday night, and the suspect, Elias Rodriguez, was charged with their murder. He is accused of opening fire on a group of people as they left an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. Officials allege it was an antisemitic hate crime, and say he shouted “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody. (Reuters | Wall Street Journal | Bloomberg | Guardian | New York Times)

#2- No more international students at Harvard? Trump’s administration has reportedly halted Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, with thousands of currently enrolled students at risk of losing their legal status if they do not drop out, the New York Times reports, citing a Homeland Security department letter it has seen and sources in the know. The move comes as the Trump administration takes aim at the country’s higher education sector, and following an investigation into its admission policies from the Justice Department that requested records for international students. The university said it is “fully committed” to keeping its international students and scholars on board.

It is expected that the university will launch a second legal challenge against the administration, after launching one last month following the government’s attempt to impose changes to its curriculum, admissions policies and hiring practices.

The story got ink in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Reuters, and Bloomberg.

#3- The US House of Representatives narrowly passed US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cutting bill yesterday by a single vote, following days of wrangling over a bill that could impact the country’s already widening budget deficit. The planned spending cuts, which are set to affect healthcare and clean energy specifically, are not expected to offset tax cuts (which will include income tax, and taxes on tips and overtime pay), and could add USD 3 tn to overall US debt, analysts say. What Trump is calling his “big, beautiful bill” will now be heading to the senate. Shares in US renewables firms plummeted following the news. (FT | Semafor | WSJ | AP)

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G42 to develop Stargate UAE alongside US AI powerhouses

Stargate to arrive in the emirates: Abu Dhabi AI giant G42 is partnering with OpenAI to build Stargate UAE, the first international deployment of the US’ USD 500 bn Stargate AI infrastructure platform, according to a press release.The partnership also includes Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank, and is backed by US government coordination and support.

The agreement includes a 1 GW Stargate cluster in Abu Dhabi, with the first 200 MW set to go live in 2026. G42 will build the cluster, while OpenAI and Oracle will operate it. Stargate UAE is part of the 5 GW US-UAE data center cluster in Abu Dhabi — touted as the largest outside the US — that was announced last week during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the emirates.

The details: Stargate UAE will provide AI infrastructure within a 2k mile radius, potentially reaching half the world’s population, according to an OpenAI statement. The UAE will become the first country to enable nationwide ChatGPT access, integrating OpenAI tools into sectors like government, healthcare, and education.

Nvidia chips finally materialize: The new data center center will be supplied with Nvidia Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, the statement read. While a number wasn’t specified, it is estimated to be in the range of 100k chips, Reuters reports. This follows news that the US and UAE came to a parallel export agreement that could see the emirates receive 500k Nvidia chips annually.

REMEMBER- Washington has been in talks with Abu Dhabi and Riyadh over measures to prevent diversion of AI tech to China and prevent Chinese AI firms from accessing US-anchored data centers in the UAE, including potentially setting up data embassies, which are sovereign cloud zones exempt from local data laws.

Background: President Trump announced the US Stargate initiative earlier this year, with OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle committing USD 500 bn to build data centers nationwide. SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son will chair the venture, while OpenAI manages operations. Abu Dhabi AI investor MGX is contributing to the initial USD 100 bn phase of the Stargate AI infrastructure fund alongside Softbank and Oracle. MGX also participated in OpenAI’s USD 6.6 bn funding round last year.

The UAE will also commit funds to Stargate infrastructure in the US, the statements say, as part of the Stargate project. The UAE has committed USD 1.4 tn in investments in the US across AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing.

IN MORE US-UAE AI COOPERATION NEWS-

MBZUAI opens Silicon Valley post: The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUA) opened the Institute of Foundation Models, a research lab in Silicon Valley, expanding its footprint into the US and connecting it to one of the world’s most advanced ecosystems of tech and AI players, according to a statement.

The university also launched its AI world model, PAN, which can simulate scenarios that can help hone and test AI agents, along with an agent that can also provide reasoning tasks, such as mathematics and coding. It’s also planning an update to its K2 LLM, which is set to exhibit better capabilities in mathematical problem-solving, code generation, and logical analysis with what it claims are fewer computational resources than comparable models. This is besides its flagship Arabic LLM, Jais.

Make it in the Emirates: Final day delivers more financing for industrials + EV, healthcare, and oil and gas partnerships

Make it in the Emirates wrapped yesterday after a four-day run that saw AED 11 bn worth of industrial projects, AED bns worth of financing agreements, and plenty of smart manufacturing and tech-focused partnerships. Some AED 7.8 bn offtake agreements were also inked, state news agency Wam reports. The highlights from the final day:

FINANCING-

#1- FAB allocates additional AED 5 bn for industrial sector under renewed partnership: First Abu Dhabi Bank has renewed a 2023 agreement with the Industry and Advanced Technology Ministry, pledging an additional AED 5 bn in financing for industrial projects, Wam reports. The new funding targets startups, SMEs, and large manufacturers, prioritizing projects focused on advanced technology adoption, sustainability, and innovation.

The new commitment brings its total committed funds for the sector to AED 10 bn, and comes as part of some AED 40 bn in financing for the sector pledged by UAE banks over the next five years. Our friends at Mashreq have also committed a total of AED 2 bn to the sector as part of a partnership with the ministry.

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#2- Adib pledges industrial and tech sector financing: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Adib) also inked an agreement with the Industry and Advanced Technology Ministry to provide shariah-compliant financing for industrial and technology projects, according to a press release. The funds will go towards small and medium enterprises to help support business expansion.

#3- EBD and Rakbank earmark AED 1 bn for mSMEs: Emirates Development Bank (EBD) and the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (Rakbank) announced a strategic co-financing partnership to pour some AED 1 bn into micro, small, and medium enterprises (mSMEs) in the UAE, Al Khaleej reports. The collaboration will focus primarily on critical growth sectors including manufacturing, food security, renewables, healthcare, and advanced technology.

This is the latest funding support for SMEs, with Emirates Growth Fund (EFG) recently announcing an AED 1 bn equity fund for Emirati SMEs. The equity fund is also focusing on priority sectors like healthcare, tech and manufacturing.

EVs-

ROX Motors, W Motors to localize EV production in Abu Dhabi: Chinese electric vehicle brand ROX Motors has signed an MoU with Dubai-based W Motors, a strategic partner of EV manufacturer NWTN Motors, to produce its ROX 01 model in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement. The agreement marks Rox Motors’ first manufacturing base outside China, according to a separate press release.

ALSO- ROX has signed partnerships with renewables outfit Enercap to develop high-performance battery systems, it said on LinkedIn here, and with Abu Dhabi-based Borouge on R&D for polyolefin-based automotive materials.

HEALTHCARE-

Borouge, Mubadala Bio sign medical manufacturing MoU: Adnoc petrochemicals JV Borouge signed a strategic agreement with Mubadala’s new pharma arm, Mubadala Bio, to explore the supply of polyolefin materials for the local manufacturing of medical products, according to a press release. Borouge’s Bormed RG868MO — used in syringes, inhalers, and pharma packaging — is already in production at its Ruwais facility, marking the first time the product has been locally manufactured for healthcare use. A second medical-grade product is expected to launch by year-end.

ICYMI- Mubadala Investment Company launched Mubadala Bio earlier this week as a new pharma company to expand the UAE’s drug manufacturing base and improve access to essential medicines and devices. Its portfolio includes 10 production sites across Asia, Africa, and Europe — including six in the UAE — with a combined annual output capacity of 2.5 bn tablets and 120 mn injectable units.

#2- Dubai Investments subsidiary Globalpharma signed four MoUs with international firms for the local manufacturing of products and exports abroad, according to a press release (pdf). The MoUs include:

An agreement with Jordan’s PharmaPrimes Laboratories to establish facilities in the Emirates for batch release testing and analysis of biosimilar drugs, targeting GCC-wide distribution;
An agreement with Egypt’s Nerhadou on nutraceutical and over-the-counter products for the UAE;
An agreement with Spain’s Aora Health to co-develop and locally manufacture preventive health supplements to be distributed across the UAE and MENA;

It also inked a licensing agreement with Canada’s BioSyent Pharma to market FeraMAX, a patented iron supplement, in the UAE.

OIL AND GAS-

Adnoc awards AED 543 mn in local manufacturing contracts: Adnoc has awarded AED 543 mn in contracts to nine homegrown suppliers of locally manufactured industrial products, according to a press release. The contracts cover protective equipment, drilling chemicals, valves, biodiesel, and corrosion inhibitors, and aim to reduce reliance on imports.

ALSO- Adnoc’s supply chain partners will invest AED 3 bn in manufacturing facilities across six UAE industrial zones, including Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Economic Zones, and Jebel Ali FreeZone, according to a press release. The facilities will produce pressure vessels, pipe coatings, and fasteners, creating over 3.5k private-sector jobs.

IN CONTEXT- The agreements fall under Adnoc’s in country value (ICV) program, which aims to locally manufacture AED 90 bn worth of products by 2030. Adnoc is also planning to channel AED 200 bn into the UAE economy through its ICV program by 2030. Adnoc inked AED 6 bn in framework agreements with 12 UAE-based manufacturers to locally produce pressure vessels and cables earlier this week at the forum.

RENEWABLES EQUIPMENT-

Energy solutions firm Broaden Energy is developing a AED 455 mn manufacturing facility in Kezad Al Mamourah under a 50-year land ownership agreement, according to a statement. It’s not clear what the facility will produce, but the statement mentioned “sustainable solutions using hydrogen, solar, and wind energy.” The project will cover some 80k sqm and create some 1k jobs. The pair signed an agreement six months ago to explore sustainable energy solutions.

A step forward for a bigger project? The project would likely act as the first phase of Broaden Energy’s AED 1 bn hydrogen equipment manufacturing complex. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development inked an MoU with the company last year.

LOGISTICS-

Aldar breaks ground on ESF cold storage facility in Dubai South: Real estate developer Aldar has begun construction on a cold storage and distribution facility for Emirates Snack Foods (ESF) in Dubai South’s Logistics District, according to a press release (pdf). The 20k sqm facility will house ESF’s cold chain operations, corporate office, and inventory management systems under one roof.

DEFENSE-

Edge’s Trust, SME to co-develop land systems equipment in UAE: Trust, a subsidiary of Edge Group, has signed an MoU with South Africa-based Specialist Mechanical Engineers (SME) to jointly design, develop, and manufacture specialized land systems equipment within the UAE, according to a statement. The agreement covers auxiliary power units, air conditioning units, and other complex mechanical systems.

DFSA finalizes capital rule overhaul for DIFC asset managers

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has finalized amendments to its prudential regime for Category 3 firms — including asset managers, fund managers, and advisory firms operating in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). The changes, published in the final feedback statement (pdf) and Appendix 3 PIB amendments (pdf), aim to align Dubai’s regulatory regime more closely with UK and EU standards.

REFRESHER- The DFSA first proposed the reforms in October 2024, closing its consultation in January 2025. Further clarification came in March, with the proposals including:

Introducing an activity-based capital requirement (ABCR) to replace fixed thresholds;
Exempting firms without client assets from the expenditure-based capital minimum (EBCM);
Removing pre-approval requirements for senior hires such as compliance and finance officers, with vetting responsibilities shifting to firms.

The DFSA adopted the bulk of its proposals, with only minor revisions based on market feedback. The details:

Base capital thresholds will now reflect the highest-risk licensed activity a firm is authorized for. For instance, a firm licensed for both fund and investment management must meet the higher USD 140k threshold — a substantial reduction from the previous flat USD 230k requirement, and down from USD 500k prior to 2023.
Wind-down capital requirements remain for firms that do hold client assets, but the DFSA has broadened the definition of eligible liquid assets to include high-quality sovereign bonds denominated in GBP and EUR, as well as USD and AED, with a cap of two-thirds of the liquidity buffer.

What didn’t make it into the final rulebook: The DFSA had also floated lowering the wind-down capital buffer from 35% to 25% of fixed annual overheads, but this adjustment was not included in the final amendments. We also could not find mentions of the removal of pre-approval requirements for senior hires like compliance and finance officers.

The reforms take effect on 1 July 2025, with a phased transition period running until 1 July 2026. Clarifications will be issued around how capital and liquidity buffers should be managed during the transition period.

ADGM proposes new rules for legal, tax, and company service providers

ADGM proposes new rules for legal, tax, and company service providers: The ADGM Registration Authority is proposing a slate of new licensing conditions and activity restrictions for legal, tax, and company service providers, according to a new consultation paper (pdf). The proposed amendments affect the Commercial Licensing Regulations (Conditions of Licence and Branch Registrations) Rules 2024 and the Controlled Activities Rules 2024, and are open for public comment until 15 June.

The draft rules would tighten licensing requirements for firms seeking to offer legal services in ADGM. New applicants must be an established legal entity partnership operating for at least five years in another jurisdiction and must employ a minimum number of qualified lawyers — including a managing partner with at least 10 years of post-qualification experience and at least three having a minimum of 8 years of post-qualification experience..

All licensed legal service providers would also be required to maintain USD 2 mn in professional indemnity ins., comply with the Client Money Rules, maintain a physical office in ADGM with adequate and qualified full-time staff, and submit annual returns to the registration authority.

The rules would also prohibit licensed legal or audit firms from simultaneously providing company services — like business incorporation and acting as a trustee — under the same entity, and vice versa, the RA said, citing concerns around confidentiality and conflicts of interest. These firms could instead set up separate CSP subsidiaries, and would be allowed to share administrative staff and office space under certain conditions.

FOR TAX SERVICES- A majority of senior management at tax firms must also hold professional qualifications and have at least three years’ post-qualification experience. Like legal firms, tax service providers would also need to carry USD 2 mn in indemnity ins. and comply with the Client Money Rules and other professional conduct standards.

Timeline: The changes would take effect immediately for new applicants, while existing license holders would have 18 months to comply.

HNWIs favor Dubai real estate as investment, primary home in 2025

Knight Frank expects USD 10.3 bn in global capital to flow into Dubai’s property market by end-2025, up from USD 6.9 bn in 2024, Knight Frank’s Faisal Durrani noted in a LinkedIn post citing the firm’s Destination Dubai 2025 report. Average intended spend among investors is USD 32 mn, with 15% of respondents targeting purchases over USD 80 mn. The report surveyed 387 HNWIs with average personal wealth of USD 22 mn in Saudi Arabia, India, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK.

Some 68% of global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) ranked the UAE’s residential sector as their top asset class, with 33% planning to invest in the sector in 2025, according to the report

Over half of all surveyed HNWIs (52%) are considering Dubai as a primary residence, not just an investment destination — up from 43% last year.

Saudis showed the greatest interest, with 66% aiming to purchase this year and another 27% eyeing acquisitions over the next two to three years. Interest is also growing across Asia, particularly from Hong Kong-based investors, with 22% of respondents looking to invest — well above the East Asian average of 17%.

Wealthier individuals are more interested in buying UAE property, with 68% of HNWIs worth USD 30-50 mn planning to buy UAE property this year, compared to just 12% of those worth USD 2-5 mn — making them nearly six times more likely to invest in 2025.

Dubai remains the preferred emirate for 71% of global HNWIs investing in the UAE. Demand was strongest among Saudis (80%), followed by Britons (74%), Indians (69%), and East Asians (61%). These four groups accounted for over 50% of Knight Frank’s Dubai residential sales in 2024.

ICYMI- Dubai’s ultra-luxury property market recorded 111 sales above USD 10 mn in 1Q alone — the highest 1Q figure on record. That follows a record 435 transactions upwards of USD 10 mn in 2024, nearly matching the combined total of such sales in London and New York.

Where the money is going: Dubai Marina remains the most preferred location (28%), followed by Dubai Hills Estate (24%) and Emirates Hills (23%). New hotspots such as Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, and branded developments like Trump Tower, Binghatti Apartments, and Azizi’s luxury projects are also gaining traction.

Villas remain the top choice, with 55% of respondents preferring standalone homes. Size matters too, with 35% of buyers targeting villas over 10k sqft, while 25% are looking for homes between 6k-10k sqft.

The appeal: Knight Frank’s Shehzad Jamal cited a projected 2.4 mn population increase by 2040 as a long-term demand driver. He also noted Dubai’s record 169k real estate transactions in 2024, valued at AED 367 bn, adding that global HNWIs are increasingly choosing the city for its safety, infrastructure, and leadership in branded residences.

Plus, returns remain competitive: Industrial and logistics yields saw 33% rental growth over the past year, with yields averaging 7.5-8% on leasehold assets, according to Knight Frank analyst Stephen Flanagan. Residential yields remain stable, with apartments at 5-7% and villas/townhouses at 4.5-6%.

… on the back of increased prices: Residential values in Dubai are up 17.4% y-o-y, with villas outperforming at 19.6%, Durrani said.

REMEMBER- New supply could stabilize the market: Some 352k under-construction homes are slated for delivery by the end of 2029. Knight Frank previously forecast an 8% price increase in properties in 2025, down from double-digit growth in 2024, while Moody’s sees a dip or stabilization over the next 12-18 months. A Deloitte report also expects new market supply to slow residential price and rent growth.

CBUAE’s T-sukuk for May 2025 6.3x oversubscribed

The Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) AED 1.1 bn T-Sukuk auction in May was 6.3x oversubscribed, drawing in AED 6.9 bn in bids, with participation from eight primary investors, according to a Finance Ministry statement on X. The auction was part of the Islamic T-Sukuk issuance program for this year, Wam reports.

The auction included two tranches, made up of a re-opened May 2027 tranche and a new 5-year Sukuk set to mature in May 2030. The 2027 tranche settled at a 3.99% yield, with a spread of 2 basis points above comparable US Treasuries, while the 2030 tranche yielded 4.06%, with a flat basis point against US treasuries.

This follows on from successive oversubscribed auctions, with one in April seeing 5.6x in demand after receiving AED 6.12 bn in bids. Similarly, February’s auction was 6.5x oversubscribed and January’s AED 6.9 bn gave it a subscription rate of 6.3x.

Dar Ventures backs Pi Labs’ GBP 100 mn fund for AI-driven built environment tech

Dar’s venture capital arm Dar Ventures invested GBP 5 mn in London’s Pi Labs’ environment technology fund, Dar Ventures co-founder Nader Abushadi told EnterpriseAM UAE. Pi Labs’ fourth institutional fund is targeting a GBP 100 mn close, which it will use to back 50 pre-seed to Series A startups focused on AI-driven solutions for real estate, construction, infrastructure, and related sectors, according to a press release.

The fund’s focus: The fund targets AI-native startups developing technologies for sustainable construction, efficient urban development, optimized architecture, engineering, construction and property management, and reduced carbon footprints of commercial assets.

“Pi Labs is a leading investor in the architecture, engineering, and construction energy in the UK, which offers us visibility into the European market,” Abushadi said. The investment earns Dar Ventures a seat on their investment committee, giving them exposure to startups in that market and supporting their ability to help portfolio startups in the region expand to those markets, Abushadi said.

The VC arm also invested another USD 5 mn earlier in US investor Fifth Wall, expanding its visibility further in the US, Abushadi told us.

About Pi Labs: The London-based venture capital firm invests in early-stage startups developing sustainable city technologies. Since 2015, the firm deployed capital through three funds backing more than 90 startups across 15 countries. Pi Labs has reported 17 exits to date. Its LP network includes Abu Dhabi developer Aldar, Dutch pension fund APG; and UK and European institutions such as Patrizia, Assura, Revcap, Helical, and Sellar.

UAE’s top 50 brands now worth AED 325 bn

Top 50 Emirati brands worth AED 325 bn: The value of the top 50 most valuable brands in the UAE grew 22% y-o-y to AED 325 bn, Khaleej Times report, citing data from London-based valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance’s Middle East 150 2025 report. Adnoc consolidated its position as the country’s most valuable brand, growing 25% to reach USD 19 bn. e& took the fourth spot, having seen growth of 701% since 2024 to USD 15.3 bn. Saudi’s Aramco retained the top spot in the region for the sixth year in a row.

Behind the results: The report noted that the UAE and Saudi Arabia remain the dominant players in the region’s brand rankings thanks to economic diversification and innovative strategies. Investments in green energy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence in particular backed up the UAE’s results.

REMEMBER- Three Emirati companies — Adnoc, e&, and Emirates — were named in January by Brand Finance among the world’s 500 most valuable brands.

TII collaborates with Amazon Web Service to facilitate Falcon access

AI-

#1- A new TII, AI71, AWS partnership: Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the creator of generative large language model (LLM) Falcon, and Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council’s AI71, are collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to facilitate access to homegrown Falcon and AI71 AI solutions and machine learning services, according to a press release.

The details: The partnership will allow businesses to integrate Falcon into their operations through APIs. Newer Falcon models will also soon be offered on Amazon Bedrock Marketplace, and AI71 will work with AWS to accelerate development of products through rapid prototyping and early access. The collaboration will also bring increased access to privacy through TII’s PetalGuard solution designed to protect data.

One step closer to the global stage: Falcon is deemed to be the UAE’s most competitive AI model yet, recently launching an Arabic version. Still, it struggles to compete with other global open-source AI models backed by bns in funding in the US and China.

#2- Japan’s Avita joins NextGenFDI: Japanese tech firm Avita, specializing in generative AI and avatar solutions, has joined the UAE’s NextGenFDI, Al Khaleej reports.

ICYMI- Other recent partners on the Economy Ministry’s 2022 program to help tech-focused startups launch and scale up in the emirates include Schneider Electric, Qualcomm, DoxAI, Solar Space, Continuous Ventures, TG0, and Zelos. The program offers multiple incentives including facilitating licensing procedures, golden visa issuance, as well as commercial and residential lease incentives.

PAYMENTS-

MoneyHash, Lean team up to accelerate A2A payments across the UAE: Egyptian fintech startup MoneyHash is partnering with Saudi-based fintech infrastructure provider Lean Technologies to bring instant account-to-account (A2A) payments for UAE digital and e-commerce businesses, according to a press release. Merchants across the UAE will be able to seamlessly offer the option of making payments directly to banks at checkout, reducing card processing fees and improving cost efficiency.

REAL ESTATE-

Dubai-based real estate developer TownX acquired a 400k square feet in Arjan for AED 110 mn, Al-Bayan reports. The company, which has an AED 4 bn project portfolio, is planning to build a residential complex with housing units and community-centric facilities in the neighborhood close to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed road and Al Khail road.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Dubai Municipality and Dubai South signed a AED 150 mn agreement to develop a stormwater drainage system in Dubai South’s residential district as part of the Tasreef project, according to the Dubai Media Office. The partnership includes constructing a secondary stormwater tunnel linking Dubai South’s drainage network to Dubai Municipality’s deep tunnel system via Expo Road. The secondary tunnel will help with minimizing flood risk, safeguarding public infrastructure, and improving surface runoff management.

CRYPTO-

Bybit rolls out trading on USDT-based stocks: Dubai-headquartered crypto exchange Bybit introduced direct trading of 78 global stocks using USDT, including Apple, Tesla, Meta, Nvidia and Amazon, according to a press release. Users will be able to trade equities, gold, oil, indices, and forex without needing to convert to fiat currency, and the move makes Bybit the only crypto exchange to offer trading on crypto, traditional assets, and stocks on one platform.

SPACE-

MBRSC, Firefly partner on lunar mission deployment: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed an agreement with US-based Firefly Aerospace for the American firm to provide the lunar lander need for MBRSC’s Rashid 2 Rover to be deployed on the Emirates Lunar Mission to the moon, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. The rover will be deployed onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander in 2026.

Bitcoin surpasses USD 110k for first time amid stablecoin bill progress

BTC reached a new all-time high in trading yesterday, surpassing USD 111k, driven by investor optimism amid US President Donald Trump’s support of crypto. Open interest for Bitcoin call options came in at USD 110k, USD 120k and USD 300k on Deribit earlier this week.

What’s happening: BTC has been getting positive press recently, with the US Senate advancing a stablecoin bill that would create the first regulatory framework for stablecoins in the US in what would be a vote of confidence for the crypto sector, CNBC reports.

On the flip side, stocks and long-dated bonds saw a sell-off amid investor concerns about rising inflation set to hit the country, rising government debt, and warnings from the US Federal Reserve’s chair Jerome Powell of an economic slowdown or recession, CNBC reported (here and here). Investors are increasingly viewing BTC as a safe alternative asset to US bonds.

Institutional confidence is on the up as well, with JP Morgan set to allow customers to buy cryptocurrencies through the bank and Coinbase’s recent inclusion on the S&P 500.

This follows a sell-off last month, which saw the crypto asset drop to trade below USD 75k. Describing the drop as “a correction within a bull market,” IG analyst Tony Sycamore added that if BTC continues to trade about USD 100k then this could push its value eventually to USD 125k.

Momentum is set to continue in 2025, with Standard Chartered expecting its value to reach USD 200k by the end of the year. Traders will monitor BTC’s ability to stabilize above USD 110k as institutional activity and regulatory developments dictate near-term momentum.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mostly in the green, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei leading gains at 1%, despite inflation rising to a two-year high of 3.5% in April. Meanwhile, Wall Street futures hover near the flatline following a losing day for the indexes amid concerns over the US budget deficit and higher US Treasury yields.

ADX	9,667	+0.0% (YTD: +2.6%)
DFM	5,453	+0.3% (YTD: +5.7%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,499	-0.1% (YTD: +8.0%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.1% o/n	4.1% 1 yr
TASI	11,189	-1.0% (YTD: -7.2%)
EGX30	31,976	+0.4% (YTD: +7.5%)
S&P 500	5,842	-0.0% (YTD: -0.7%)
FTSE 100	8,739	-0.5% (YTD: +6.9%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,424	-0.6% (YTD: +10.9%)
Brent crude	USD 63.93	-0.8%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.28	+0.7%
Gold	USD 3,320.8	-0.1%
BTC	USD 111,024	+2.5% (YTD: +17.5%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	USD 3.60	+0.0% (YTD: +1%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	142.5	-0.5% (YTD: +1.8%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	20.28	-2.8% (YTD: +16.9%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX remained flat yesterday on turnover of AED 1.3 bn. The index is up 2.6% YTD.

In the green: Phoenix Group (+12.7%), Alef Education Holding (+5.0%) and Alpha Dhabi Holding (+4.9%).

In the red: Abu Dhabi National Takaful (-9.8%), Ins. House (-8.1%) and Adnoc Logistics and Services (-2.0%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 0.3% on turnover of AED 460.9 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was down 0.1%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

RKC board recommends 2% dividend: Ras Al Khaimah for White Cement’s board recommended a cash dividend to shareholders at a rate of 2% of the company’s capital for the period ending 31 March 2025, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf).

My Morning Routine: Magdalena Konig, general counsel and company secretary at AIQ

Magdalena Konig, general counsel and company secretary at AIQ: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Magdalena Konig (LinkedIn), general counsel and company secretary at AIQ, Adnoc’s JV with G42 company Presight. Edited excerpts from our conversation:

I’m Magdalena Konig. I’m the general counsel and company secretary for AIQ. I’m a UK-qualified and technology lawyer by trade, but have been based and working in the UAE, and was part of the team that brought the joint venture between Adnoc and Presight — AIQ — to fruition.

I’ve been working on the legal, compliance, and governance side of technology for the last 20 years. I joined Adnoc as their group-wide technology lawyer, and as part of Dr. Sultan Al Jaber’s vision for what they wanted to do in the AI space, the company started working with G42 to figure out how they could optimize and utilize AI in their operations for productivity and sustainability. This was five years ago, which is really a testament to the leadership of this country in terms of their forward-thinking.

I was the first ever employee at AIQ, so going from that to building it with the leadership team and growing it into an entity which now has over 15 products, revenue streams, 21 patent applications, and over 100 employees delivering economic value, and health and safety savings, has been a very cool journey.

The company brings together two clear UAE mandates — the AI vision and the net-zero sustainability vision. Our product EnergyAI is definitely one to watch — it’s the first of its kind — and there will be more announcements on that later this year. Other products we have are AR360, which gives a full spectrum view of reservoirs, and RoboWell, which automates well production.

AI is not new. The term was coined in 1950, but now we’re all aware of it — even though we’ve likely been using it for a while already — we need to be thinking about how we develop AI with a humanistic, ethical approach, and apply that to decision making, while maintaining transparency and accountability.

As part of my day job, I look at that for AIQ, but I also speak and write about it frequently. People are pegging AI as being like fire, or like the printing press, or the automobile. It’s a dramatic and influential technology that we need to make sure we’re implementing with plenty of thought around what it means for society, for our children, for manufacturing, etc.

Fundamentally, no technology is bad. It’s what people potentially might do with it that could be bad. So how do we mitigate that? At AIQ as a developer, we look at how we can help our customers do that while they implement our solutions. A big piece of it is education — people need to know and understand what AI is, what an agent is, how it works, to follow the rest of the thinking around AI.

There is no global approach to AI yet. Whether in the US, Europe, the UAE, or China, everyone is thinking about how to regulate AI very differently, and they’re also on different timelines. The UAE takes a geopolitically neutral stance, and I think it takes a very balanced approach in terms of innovation vs. regulation, and takes a helicopter view in terms of what we can do based on use cases from across the world. They’re proactive, but they’re also evaluating how things are going, and what is working and what isn’t, rather than bullishly going ahead and regulating the technology. I personally view this use case-specific approach as being far more useful for ensuring that we have continued innovation.

I am an early bird, and anyone who knows me knows I’m an exercise fiend. Besides my role at AIQ, and as my role in speaking internationally on AI ethics, I’m also a competitive bodybuilder. I believe exercise and keeping your mind and body healthy plays a huge role in your productivity and in being able to bring your best self forward.

I try not to look at my emails early in the morning, but that’s something I find very challenging, because things move so quickly [in this space]. I often try to set my day up by checking what’s happened either overnight or in the morning and reassessing my priority list. I love lists — maybe that comes from being a lawyer — but throughout my day, my priority list gets reshuffled, which is a product of being in such an exciting, dynamic environment.

My day can consist of board meetings, audit committee meetings, and spending a lot of time with our leadership team. I look at everything from patents or trademarks to expansion plans, product development, and agreements that need to be drafted.

I really dislike the idea of a lawyer or someone working in legal being what people call a “business prevention officer.” If you have that type of reputation, no one wants to talk to you. You are nobody’s friend. I want to be a facilitator, and to be able to talk to you about something you want to do from the perspective of: how can I help you achieve that with minimal risk?

The vision and mission for AIQ is being the leading AI business in the energy sector, and I want to facilitate that. I also love talking about AI regulation, governance, and ethics, so in my personal capacity, I want to continue to speak at international events and write articles about this, because we’re at a point in time when we’re all figuring it out as we go, and it’s such a fantastic conversation to be a part of.

I am an amateur bodybuilder at the moment, and I have a competition in three weeks’ time and another four weeks after that, so obviously I want a massive trophy [laughs]. But really, being a bodybuilder for me is less about the end-goal and more about the journey. I never thought I would be a bodybuilder or could ever do it. But if you make a decision and tell yourself that that’s a very self limiting belief, then you can really push yourself.

Going to the gym and lifting weights helps me wind down — it’s my time for myself when I can’t really think about anything else. I love reading as well, particularly books about self-development and psychology, and technology of course. I recently read a book about Clearview AI ; it’s called Your Face Belongs to Us. It’s about surveillance technology. It’s really interesting, a little terrifying, and focuses on the ethical conversation around AI. I also have a beautiful little dog who cuddles me death, who I wind down with as well.

The CEO of the law firm I trained at, who’s a fantastic and very bright individual — with a very dry sense of humor — once said to me “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.” This applies to so much in life, whether in bodybuilding or how to sell AI in Kazakhstan or facilitate a board meeting with ministers. That’s a statement that I really love and use a lot now myself.

CALENDAR

MAY

21-23 May (Wednesday-Friday): Dubai participates at GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything 2025, Messe Berlin, Germany.

23-25 May (Friday-Sunday): EuroLeague Final Four, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.

26 May (Monday): The SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

26-28 May (Monday-Wednesday): Arab Media Summit, World Trade Center, Dubai.

26-30 May (Monday-Friday): Dubai Chamber of Commerce is set to go on a trade mission to the Philippines and Thailand.

28 May (Wednesday): The Dubai Residential REIT will ring the bell.

27-29 May (Tuesday-Thursday): INDEX, Workspace, and The Hotel Show, Dubai World Trade Center.

28-31 May: The Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition, Adnec Center Al Ain, Abu Dhabi.

30 May (Friday): Arafat Day.

31 May-2 June (Saturday-Monday): Eid Al Adha.

JUNE

17-18 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

17-18 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.

24-25 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East Rail, Dubai World Trade Center.

27 June (Friday): Islamic New Year.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2H 2025:

Closing of XRG’s acquisition of Covestro

JULY

6-7 July (Sunday-Monday): BRICS Summit, Rio de Janeiro.

29-30 July (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

SEPTEMBER

1-6 September (Monday-Saturday): Dubai Fashion Week, Dubai Design District.

8-10 September (Monday-Wednesday): DigiHealth exhibition, World Trade Center, Dubai.

8-19 September (Monday-Wednesday): WHX-Tech Expo, Dubai World Trade Centre.

12-14 September (Friday-Sunday): The International Real Estate and Investment Show, Abu Dhabi.

16-17 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Forum, Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, Dubai.

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, Dubai.

OCTOBER

1-2 October (Thursday-Friday):World Green Economy Summit (WGES), Dubai World Trade Centre.

30 September – 2 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), Dubai World Trade Centre.

3-16 October (Friday-Thursday): Dubai Home Festival.

7-9 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

9-15 October (Thursday-Wednesday): IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi.

14-16 October (Wednesday-Friday): Global Future Councils, Dubai.

27-29 October (Monday-Wednesday): Future Hospitality Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

27-29 October (Monday-Wednesday): Asia Pacific Cities Summit, Dubai Exhibition Center.

28-29 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

NOVEMBER

12-17 November (Wednesday-Monday): RoboCup Asia-Pacific, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi.

15-17 November (Saturday-Monday): Myplant & Garden Middle East Green Expo, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City.

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow 2025, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.

18-19 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Dubai Future Forum, Museum of the Future, Dubai.

DECEMBER

1-3 December (Monday-Wednesday): Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day).

1-5 December (Monday-Friday): The World Congress of Neurosurgery, Dubai World Trade Center.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): BTC Mena Conference, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

8-10 December (Monday-Wednesday): BRIDGE media summit, Abu Dhabi.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

The Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.
e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network.
Executive Committee Meeting (EXCOM 2025) conference of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO)
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s Global Implementation Support Symposium, Abu Dhabi.
Universal Postal Congress 2025, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in the fall of 2025:

2025 Games of the Future, Dubai.
ICOM General Conference 2025, Dubai

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit’s fourth edition, UAE.
28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.
3-5 February (Tuesday-Thursday): The World Governments Summit.
12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference, Abu Dhabi.
11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center.
The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum
Dubai to host the Arab Actuarial Conference
United Nations Water Conference 2026, UAE
The first edition of Dubai Future Finance Week.

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

Abu Dhabi’s solar and battery energy facility, combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity and 19 GWh of battery storage, is set for commissioning.

Signposted to happen sometime between 2027 and 2029:

The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

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