ENERGY-

Taqa Transmission taps Turner & Townsend for Abu Dhabi plant phase-out: Taqa Transmission hired UK-based consultancy Turner & Townsend to manage the retirement of a 1.64 GW power plant in eastern Abu Dhabi by 2029, according to a statement. The firm will set up a program management office and oversee upgrades across the grid, including new substations, switching stations, cable corridors, capacitor banks, and high-voltage lines.

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Next up: The replacement facility will integrate solar and nuclear power into Abu Dhabi’s network. Taqa Transmission is actively building grid infrastructure for new generation capacity, including a 1 GW gas turbine in Al Dhafra under a 24-year agreement with Ewec, slated to be operational in 2027.

REMEMBER- Turner & Townsend is active in the UAE: It was recently selected by du to provide project and cost management services for its first AED 2 bn hyperscale data center in Dubai, expected to host Microsoft as its anchor tenant.

TRANSPORT-

Railbus to open engineering + innovation hub in May 2026: US-based sustainable urban transport firm Railbus has kicked off construction on its Railbus Development Hub (RDH) — an engineering and production facility — in Dubai Silicon Oasis, according to a press release. The facility — spanning over 50k sq ft — is set for completion by May of next year. The facility will include specialized zones to support every stage of product development, from concept design and prototyping to executive showrooms for investor engagement. It will also be the operational hub for its solar-powered transit system.

Background: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been undertaking technical and feasibility studies to develop a solar-powered Railbus public transport system within two years. The Railbus system — which will be made up of capsule-like vehicles and will complement the metro and tram, with links to metro stations — is set to be constructed from recycled materials, aiming to cut operational costs by 20-30%.

FINANCIAL SERVICES-

CBUAE revokes Malik Exchange’s licence, imposing AED 2 mn sanction: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) revoked the licence of Malik Exchange, citing the firm’s failure to comply with anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and illegal organizations frameworks, according to a press release (pdf). The CBUAE also struck the exchange’s name off the register and imposed a sanction of AED 2 mn.

Malik isn’t the first exchange firm to fall short of similar regulations, with the central bank revoking Gomti Exchange’s license earlier this month and Al Nahdi Exchange’s operating license in July following similar failures in anti-money laundering regulation compliance.

AI-

X0PA AI establishes regional HQ in Dubai: Singapore-based AI recruitment firm X0PA AI set up its MENA regional headquarters in Dubai, according to a press release (pdf). The office will aim to help firms track and monitor their Emiratization progress and find strong talent. The firm’s founder and CEO Nina Alag Suri (LinkedIn) will head up operations from the emirate.

About the firm: X0PA AI’s platform uses predictive analytics, no-bias screening, and automated candidate selection to assess over 250 mn candidates based on skills, performance potential, and cultural fit. It reduces the time-to-hire window by up to 50% and saves up to 30% in recruitment costs.

MANUFACTURING-

India’s VVDN sets up electronics manufacturing facility in the UAE: India’s global software and electronics manufacturing firm VVDN Technologies established a production facility in the UAE, according to a press release. The expansion builds on its current presence in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with the facility’s production set to cater to the US, MENA, and European markets.

The details: The production facility is set to be operational in four weeks and will include printed circuit board and automated product assembly, mechanical manufacturing, as well as testing and validation for making electronic products used in the telecom, medtech, and other tech-focused sectors.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE-

#1- UAE-based private conglomerate Deal Holdings launched a new F&B arm — the FAB Group — focused on dining, café, nightlife, and wellness concepts, according to a press release. The group plans to open at least 25 outlets across the UAE in the next five years, with further expansion into Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, and Red Sea locations. The move is slated to create some 800 local jobs, with plans to also bring in Michelin-star talent from the UK and Europe.

#2- Pakistan’s National Foods’ Dubai unit will restructure and divest its stake in Canadian wholesale distributor A-1 Bags and Supplies, held through its Canadian arm National Epicure, according to a disclosure (pdf) to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The board authorized all necessary agreements for the exit.

ICYMI- The move follows the February closure of its Sharjah-based unit, National Foods, a year after launching its first overseas manufacturing facility there, as part of a broader restructuring strategy.

EDUCATION-

Alexandria University will open its Abu Dhabi campus at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, state news agency Wam reports. The new campus will offer programs in health, engineering, computer science, business, and the humanities, alongside professional courses and joint degrees with international universities. Preparations for the launch are currently underway.

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