UAE strengthens diplomatic ties in Asia amid geopolitical turbulence

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Emirates to develop USD 2.3 bn railway project for Jordan + DFM saw a rally yesterday

Good morning, lovely people. Parents can rejoice now that schools and nurseries will resume operations next Monday across the country, according to an Education Ministry X post. Private schools can still opt for a hybrid model “when needed,” the ministry said, while some nurseries will be using the home-based model still.

Universities are also back: All public and private higher education institutions will see students and staff return to in-person learning next Monday, state news agency Wam reports. Some universities will be able to implement hybrid and distance learning models based on situational needs.

Today’s issue is heavy on the diplomacy front, as we look at what Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Beijing — and the investment agreements signed as an outcome — mean for UAE-China ties — and what the timing of the visit signals for both countries. Also on the diplo front: The UAE and Azerbaijan just signed off on a trade and economic partnership agreement.

AND- A UAE and Iranian official spoke for the first time since the outbreak of the war. UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan phoned Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, where they discussed de-escalating tensions in the region, Wam reports. Qalibaf is a key negotiator in ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US in Pakistan.

Plus: Dubai’s office market might finally see a reprieve this year.

In more good news…

Dubai stocks rallied 2.56% yesterday — their strongest showing since the Iran war broke out — notching a second straight close in the green and outperforming regional peers. The DFM benchmark saw AED 1.5 bn in turnover, as investors shook off war caution following reports that the US and Iran could meet again for negotiations in Pakistan this week. The ADX also closed in the green, climbing a more modest 0.53%.

Are we seeing a flight back to previously risk-on names? DFM-listed maritime shipping firm Gulf Nav (+15%) — which can be seen as a proxy for Strait of Hormuz risk — was yesterday’s standout performer, followed by ins. company Aman (+14.9%) and National Cement Company (+9.5%). Meanwhile, blue-chip bellwether developer Emaar (+3.2%) led the market in value terms, signaling that investors may already be pricing in a de-escalation, with Emirates NBD also posting a 2.5% gain.

REMEMBER- High-beta real estate and financial stocks are typically the first to take a hit during times of geopolitical unrest, with banks and property names serving as the initial exit point in risk-off moves, Arqaam Capital’s Rawad Kassouf told EnterpriseAM earlier last month.

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WEATHER- The pleasant weather is still here for a little while. Look for a high of 30°C in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with a low of 21°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Watch this space

TRADE — We’re still on a Cepa roll: The UAE and Azerbaijan’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, also known as Cepa, has gone into force, after initially being signed in July, state news agency Wam reports. The two countries already have strong ties across sectors like energy, critical minerals, and AI, which the Cepa is expected to help streamline. It will also eliminate or reduce tariffs on a “majority of goods and services,” according to Wam.

The UAE’s Cepa program has helped solidify the country as one of the major trade hubs in the region and helped it secure a spot as one of the top 10 goods exporters for the first time last year. The Emirates signed off on one with Ecuador in March, with a USD 3 bn project pipeline, while another is currently in the works with Japan. Agreements with Gabon and Congo have also been inked recently.

INVESTMENT — UAE on track to develop USD 2.3 bn railway project for Jordan: The UAE and Jordan inked agreements to push ahead with the USD 2.3 bn Aqaba railway project connecting Jordan’s port of Aqaba with the Al Shidiya and Ghor es-Safi mining regions, state news agency Wam reports. The partnership will see the establishment of the UAE-Jordan Railway Company to develop and operate the 360-km railway project.

About the project: The project is intended to shift bulk mineral transport from road to rail, cutting transportation costs and streamlining logistics. The network — designed for a capacity of around 16 mn tons a year — is expected to transport about 13 mn tons of phosphate and 2.6 mn tons of potash annually. Financial close is expected in early 2027, and construction is estimated to take five years.

The agreement is part of a bigger UAE-Jordan capital push: Jordan’s Investment Ministry said the railway is part of a broader USD 5.5 bn package agreed with the UAE in late 2023.

Data point

63% — that’s how much ESG sukuk issuance dropped in 1Q 2026, amounting to just USD 1.6 bn in total, marking the weakest quarter for the debt instrument in nearly five years as geopolitical risk premiums pushed spreads to five-year highs, according to a Fitch Ratings report seen by EnterpriseAM. Fitch noted that issuance activity shifted further east to Malaysia after the war started.

The pullback marks a sharp reversal from last year, when ESG sukuk volumes rose 50% here at home, with the Emirates’ outstanding ESG debt up 18.6% to USD 29 bn.

ICYMI- The slowdown tracks a wider pause in GCC debt markets, with rising spreads and volatile conditions making it difficult to build order books without offering meaningful concessions, Zeina Rizk, partner and portfolio manager at Amwal Capital, previously told EnterpriseAM. “There’s still liquidity, but it doesn’t make sense to tap the market right now,” she said.

Early movers locked in better pricing: ESG bond issuance in core Islamic markets — namely the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia — rose 76% y-o-y to nearly USD 3 bn in 1Q, with January seeing the lion’s share of issuances.

The iconic Burj Al Arab will shut its doors to the public for 18 months while it undergoes a phased renovation of its interiors, led by French interior architect Tristan Auer, its operator Jumeirah said in a post.

The big story abroad

The US-Iran ceasefire lives another day with no news of a breakthrough. White House officials signaled confidence that a diplomatic resolution is within reach. Talks brokered via Pakistan are “productive and ongoing,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, but denied reports that Washington formally asked to extend the truce.

Stocks went on a tear yesterday, suggesting traders think that the end of the war is nigh. The S&P 500 closed nearly 1% higher yesterday, hitting a new all-time high as it extended a two-week rally that began just before the current ceasefire came into effect. CNBC has some color here.

And oil steadied in response to unconfirmed reports a ceasefire extension, with Brent crude settling near USD 95.

In less-welcome news: US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to sack Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell. Trump wants Powell out on 15 May, when his term as Fed chair comes to an end, even if Kevin Warsh — who Trump has named as Powell’s successor — hasn’t been confirmed by Congress by that date. Tradition would have Powell stay on until a success is in place.

Trump also said he’s not going to call off a Justice Department probe of Powell’s renovation of the Fed’s DC headquarters. Folks are also holding their breath to see if Powell steps down from the board when he exits as chair — while his term at the head of the table runs out on 15 May, he isn’t required to leave the board until January 2028.

Also in the US of A: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup are all doing largeshare buybacks, as are Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. The biggest US banks have spent a combined USD 33 bn on the buybacks, the FT reports, amid strong 1Q earnings.

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China’s all in on the UAE despite regional tensions and diplomatic complexities

UAE-China ties got a big boost during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Beijing. The two countries agreed to ramp up investments and deepen cooperation across hydrogen, energy storage, and EVs. They signed 24 agreements to boost trade and investment ties, according to The National.

They also agreed to establish an investment framework for creating joint funds, investment platforms, and vehicles to support investments not only in each other’s markets, but as partners investing in third countries, according to a statement. UAE investment entities will also establish a China-focused investment platform, subject to approvals and “prevailing market conditions,” the statement said without disclosing further details regarding the participants, timeline, or sector of focus.

The timing of the visit — and the acceleration of cooperation — is particularly interesting given the delicate balance China must play as a strategic partner of both Iran and the Gulf at the same time. Al Nahyan stands as the highest-ranking leader from the Arab world received by China in 2026 so far, Chinese ambassador to the UAE Zeng Jixin stated in an opinion piece for The National. He also referred to the visit as a “major event” in UAE-China ties, which “propelled bilateral co-operation from ‘complementary factors’ to ‘synergistic development.’”

The message both countries are sending is one of commitment and neutrality in the face of an unstable, turbulent geopolitical environment. While some speculated that Gulf governments could become more critical of China’s ties to Tehran after Iran’s attacks on the Gulf, China’s refusal to engage meaningfully in the war or provide military support to Iran seems to have helped preserve its friendly relations with the Gulf — or at least with the UAE.

FAST FACT- The UAE and China are close trade and investment partners, with bilateral non-oil trade volume increasing 24.5% y-o-y to USD 111.5 bn in 2025.

That is strategic on the UAE’s part. Even if China’s role in the war so far has been marginal, future influence on Iran is still a possibility. “It can safely be assumed that China holds a level of influence over Iran through its economic alliance with it, which may work out in the UAE’s favour as future negotiations occur,” Amandeep Ahuja, head of research at Confluence Consultants, tells EnterpriseAM.

While China might not be an official mediator right now, its role in brokering the 2023 Saudi-Iran normalization suggests it could influence future negotiations once the current hostilities subside — particularly as ties between the Gulf and Tehran have reached a new low, Ahuja explained.

It’s not all about the war: Closer UAE-China ties would also come at a time when the US and the EU are nearing an agreement on critical supply chains that aims to reduce reliance on China and find “like-minded” partners to bolster supply chains, Ahuja points out. “For China and the UAE to grow closer is strategic not just in the context of the war but also for the future,” she added.

“I think the timing of the trip was more about longer-term economics than near-term diplomacy,” Robert Mogielnicki, non-resident fellow for the Arab Gulf States Institute, tells EnterpriseAM UAE. “Especially amid significant conflict-related economic pressure on the UAE, the country's leadership is not going to turn down an [opening] to strengthen economic ties with a major global economy like China,” he added.

What does strengthening UAE-China ties mean for the UAE’s alliance with the US?

The tension between Washington and Beijing has forced the UAE to navigate its cooperation with China cautiously. Until now, the UAE has maintained its alliance with China in industrial and strategic sectors while intentionally insulating its tech space — where relations with the US are much deeper and predicated on a lack of Chinese exposure.

CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation Hadi Badri even reiterated that position at an event by Semafor this week, saying that the UAE’s relationship with China represents a long-held foreign policy philosophy to not choose sides.

While some have speculated on the future of US-Gulf relations post-war, given the impact of the war on the Gulf, there’s no definitive indication that the UAE would consider pulling away from the US, despite the war potentially prompting a “strategic realignment among regional leaders when it comes to relationships with the US and Israel,” as Ahuja previously told us.

It depends on the outcome of the war, of course: A definitive US military success in Iran “would be a soothing balm for US-Gulf relations,” serving to reassure GCC states of Washington’s reliability, Nicholas Heras, senior analyst and program head for the State Resilience and Fragility Program at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, previously told us.

Strategic sectors is the keyword here: The 24 agreements signed this week have focused on the “enhancement of [existing] ties,” Ahuja added, noting that “no new technology announcements occurred between China and the UAE, [indicating] that the direction of trade policy has not changed.”

The war could also be an opening for China on multiple fronts

Chinese firms might have an opening in the UAE if Western and multinational firms view the Gulf through a risk lens. “If leading multinationals, especially those in the tech sector, become wary of the region in the aftermath of the Iran conflict, then Chinese companies may be able to capture a greater share of the region’s (potentially smaller) market,” Mogielnicki wrote recently.

With Iran threatening US tech firms and financial institutions in recent weeks, and at times targeting them directly, the risk factor has skyrocketed when it comes to firms eyeing the region. Still, many FIs have pushed ahead with their expansion plans. Consulting firm Bain Capital just opened an Abu Dhabi office yesterday.

Yes, but: Chinese firms don’t have as high a risk tolerance as is often believed, Mogielnicki said. “Chinese government and business actors are pragmatic about regional engagement and keen to explore commercial arrangements that are not possible for American and European counterparts. But Chinese actors are not plunging into conflict zones or keen on massive geopolitical risks,” he explained.

“Beijing and China's business community prize stability in the region, and any serious plans for longer-term engagement are likely predicated on the calculation that some manageable form of stability will return to the Gulf,” he added.

Dubai office market pauses rent growth

2026 is shaping up to be a year of repositioning rather than a scramble for space in Dubai’s office market. A slowdown in rental growth and new stock set to come online this year will likely open up pockets of relief in an otherwise tight market, according to reports from Savills (pdf) and Knight Frank (pdf).

Prices are already easing: Average rents held steady q-o-q at around AED 238 per sq ft, marking the first real pause since mid-2021, but were still up 14% y-o-y. Savills attributes this to a mix of the usual Ramadan slowdown putting the brakes on an otherwise active start to the year and the regional war weighing on decision-making.

New supply set to change tenant tactics: Around 2 mn sq ft is due to come online this year, followed by 1.6 mn sq ft next year, Savills said. Jump ahead and Knight Frank sees 23.4 mn sq ft becoming available by 2030, if the conflict doesn’t put a spanner in the works, that is.

BUT- We’ll have to wait and see what actually gets delivered, with new unit completions often historically lagging behind in the office sector. The sector logged a 39% delivery rate last year.

As stock is delivered, tenant tactics are likely to pivot away from snapping up whatever’s available and renewing contracts to being more selective as pockets of space open up here and there. Last year was marked by a supply crunch and skyrocketing demand, leading to a 25.9% uptick in sales prices.

It’s really a question of where: Both Savills and Knight Frank flag incoming stock as being concentrated in core districts such as Business Bay and Dubai International Financial Center. That sets up a more fragmented landscape, with some submarkets set to absorb new stock smoothly, while others keep seeing pressure on pricing and occupancy.

ICYMI- As we’ve previously reported, DIFC is set for a AED 100 bn expansion, with 17.7 mn sq ft of space set to open between 2030 and 2040.

The trend: The leasing market is being dominated by smaller footprint requirements, with 97% of leasing transactions coming in at below 3k sq ft in 1Q, according to Savills. Tenants were looking more toward ready-to-move units, with strata spaces proving more popular than Grade A buildings.

Our take? 2026 is emerging as a year where the market is no longer driven by scarcity alone. Tenants are gaining more leverage through choice, while landlords may compete more on readiness and location practicality.

Unpacking the UAE’s new crypto rulebook

The UAE’s capital markets watchdog is moving to bring order and oversight to a fast-evolving sector. If you missed our earlier coverage, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) has rolled out a new virtual assets framework that pulls trading, custody, advisory, and platform activity under a single, consolidated rulebook.

Refresher: The reset expands the regulatory perimeter from three to eight activities, now covering dealing, custody, investment advice, portfolio management, arranging transactions, and operating trading platforms. It also introduces more granular modules spanning conduct, AML, prudential rules, and trading systems.

Let’s unpack what this means in practice

Who’s now in scope: The framework “will bring more firms within licensing requirements,” particularly those whose models were previously only indirectly captured, such as advisory or portfolio management, the CMA told EnterpriseAM in an emailed statement.

Firms will need to assess their activities holistically, as “multiple regulated activities may apply simultaneously,” meaning a single business model could now trigger several licenses.

Regulation is also tightening in how risk is treated: The CMA is shifting toward a “same activity, same risk, same regulatory outcome” approach — so firms performing functions comparable to traditional finance will face equivalent scrutiny.

In other words, there’s no special treatment for crypto: “If a firm performs a function that is exposed to the same type and level of risk [...] it should be subject to an equivalent level of regulatory scrutiny,” the CMA said.

One key shift is how tokenized assets are treated

“Not everything that uses DLT will automatically fall under the VA regime,” the CMA noted, stressing that firms must assess the legal nature of the instrument and not just the technology. That should drive “more disciplined classification” and closer coordination with regulators before products are launched.

As for timelines…

There’s a one-year grace period running to 27 February 2027, but it’s not a pass. The CMA said firms “should pay close attention to the transition arrangements,” which will determine how existing business models are treated, with circulars already issued outlining the impact on applicants and license holders.

Who needs to do what: Firms with in-principle approval can continue under the old framework, subject to conditions, while those without it must realign and resubmit under the new regime. Existing license holders are undergoing a CMA-led gap analysis and will be required to “regularize their status” in line with updated requirements.

No waiting it out: Crucially, firms must comply with conduct rules from day one. The CMA cautioned that the grace period should not be treated “as a delay in meeting core regulatory expectations,” underscoring that supervision is already live as the transition unfolds.

A CFO for scale

Borouge Group International is bringing in a heavyweight CFO, tapping Patrick Jany for the job, effective 1 May, according to a statement. Interim CFO Daniel Turnheim will remain in place until the handover.

Meet the CFO: Jany joins from AP Moller-Maersk, where he served as CFO and a member of the executive board, bringing more than three decades of experience across industrial, logistics, and chemical sectors. He previously spent 25 years at Swiss specialty chemical firm Clariant, including as group CFO, and held earlier roles at Swiss pharma manufacturer Sandoz.

ICYMI- Borouge Group International was only just formed earlier this month through the combination of Borouge, Borealis, and Nova Chemicals into a USD 60 bn platform backed by Adnoc’s XRG and Austria’s OMV. The launch momentum was quickly tested, with operations briefly disrupted after debris-triggered fires forced a temporary suspension at its Al Ruwais plant, as we’ve previously covered.

More ADGM activity, IHC seals Pakistan acquisition, another Dubai International Chamber office in Asia, and CBUAE rolls out e-KYC

Dubai plants another flag in Southeast Asia

Dubai International Chamber further expanded its global presence with another representative office, this time in Manila, the Philippines, according to Dubai Media Office. The move comes as non-oil trade between the two countries grew 17% y-o-y last year, and as more Philippine firms set up shop under the purview of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce (with a 23.3% increase in 2025).

REMEMBER- The two countries signed a trade and economic partnership agreement in January, covering electrical equipment, financial services, agriculture, and precious metals.

IHC’s Pakistan wager goes through

Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) has sealed its acquisition of a majority stake in Pakistan’s First Women Bank, securing regulatory clearance for the takeover, according to a bourse disclosure (pdf). The move builds on initial moves it made last October via a government-led privatization process. No transaction value has been disclosed.

REFRESHER- IHC plans to recapitalize and rebrand the lender, broadening its mandate beyond women-focused banking toward wider financial inclusion. The strategy includes upgrading core systems, rolling out digital and AI-led capabilities, and investing in talent to support expansion.

Bain Capital is putting down roots in Abu Dhabi

Even with the war reshaping risk across the region, Bain Capital is expanding its presence in the UAE with an office in ADGM, according to a press release (pdf). The US-based private investment firm said its new office will position it closer to regional investors and help support portfolio companies in the Middle East, with a focus on sectors like fintech, healthcare, aviation, and digital infrastructure.

IN CONTEXT- Bain, which cited a “long-term commitment” to the region in the release, is the latest to move in a broader wave of Wall Street and International firms expanding their footprint or reinforcing their presence during the regional conflict. Global private equity Hillhouse Investment Management recently opened an office in ADGM, while Swiss asset manager Finreon set up a representative office in DIFC earlier this week.

CBUAE is going after one of banking’s biggest bottlenecks

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is rolling out a nationwide Know Your Customer (e-KYC) platform to cut through repetitive compliance checks and speed up onboarding across the system, according to a press release (pdf). CBUAE has tapped Sweden-based Norbloc AB to build the infrastructure. The bank aims to replace resource-heavy due diligence processes with a single system that financial institutions and fintechs can plug into to automate Know Your Customer and Know Your Business processes.

Local MetiPro snatched up by Hassan Allam Holding in wastewater push

Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding has acquired MetiPro, the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) arm of UAE’s Metito for an undisclosed amount, according to a press release (pdf). The acquisition will set up a “scaled, integrated platform” that boosts the firm’s presence in water and wastewater operations across the region, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the press release said.

On MetiPro: Established in 1958, MetiPro — otherwise known as Metito Water Projects — specializes in desalination, wastewater treatment, surface water treatment, water reuse, and industrial solutions, according to its website.

Conflict spillovers hit China

Spillovers from the regional war, coupled with seasonal distortions, slowed China’s export activity in March, with exports inching up just 2.5% y-o-y — down from a near-40% rise in February, according to General Administration of Customs data. The drop was led by exports to the US, which were down more than 26% y-o-y during the month.

Meanwhile, the trade balance was thrown further out of whack as imports rose at the fastest pace since 2021, increasing 27.8% y-o-y. The rise came on the back of higher purchases of refined oil products, textile yarn, fabric, and copper — all up at double-digit rates — alongside integrated circuits, which surged on AI-related demand.

Higher energy costs from the regional conflict squeezed manufacturer margins and weighed on outbound shipments. Seasonality also weighed, with the later-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday also reducing working days. Also not helping the picture is an unfavorable base effect from the previous year, when manufacturers pushed out eleventh-hour exports ahead of US tariffs coming into effect.

“This unexpectedly weak growth in exports is probably not driven by slowing external demand,” Mizuho Securities’ senior economist Serena Zhou told Bloomberg. The robust performance in high-tech exports and processing imports during the same period indicates that the broader export trend remains solid.

One bright spot in China’s exports story is circuits. Global AI-driven investment fueled a rally in memory chip prices and boosted export growth across Asia, helping to raise China’s circuit exports by 78% y-o-y in 1Q 2026, while high-tech exports jumped by 30%.

A US Supreme Court ruling striking down US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports also eased pressure on Chinese exports. Trump’s decision had pushed duties as high as 145%.

What’s next?

China’s green exports could be in for a boom as oil prices rise: The Iran conflict could support demand for Chinese green exports, including solar panels, with overseas sales of Chinese electric and hybrid vehicles having already doubled in March. These green alternatives are gaining greater appeal since oil prices went up and global supply chains went into chaos during the conflict.

The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to lead to an increase in energy and production input costs, decreasing margins for Chinese manufacturers even further. Disrupted shipping routes also risk delaying exports and raising logistics costs, while elevated oil prices could trigger tighter monetary policies and weaken global demand.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets advanced earlier this morning amid optimism over an agreement between the US and Iran to end the war as well as a raft of record earnings reports from Wall Street. Japan’s Nikkei rose around 2.2% and South Korea’s Kospi gained around 2.1%. US futures are seeing some moderate gains across the board.

ADX	9,892	+0.5% (YTD: -1.0%)
DFM	5,866	+2.6% (YTD: -3.0%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,772	+1.4% (YTD: +2.4%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.4% o/n	4.0% 1 yr
TASI	11,589	+0.9% (YTD: +10.5%)
EGX30	50,733	+1.5% (YTD: +21.3%)
S&P 500	6,967	+1.2% (YTD: +1.8%)
FTSE 100	10,560	-0.5% (YTD: +6.3%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,940	-0.7% (YTD: +2.5%)
Brent crude	USD 94.93	+0.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.61	0.0%
Gold	USD 4,815	-0.2%
BTC	USD 74,956	+1.2% (YTD: -14.5%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.60	-1.6% (YTD: -1.8%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	151	+0.4% (YTD: +6.7%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	18.17	-1.0% (YTD: +21.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX rose 0.5% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.5 bn. The index is down 1% YTD.

In the green: Apex Investment (+6.1%), NMDC Group (+5.4%), and Abu Dhabi National Co. for Building Materials (+4.7%).

In the red: Ins. House (-4.8%), Gulf Medical Projects Company (-4.7%), and Fujariah Building Industries (-3.3%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 2.6% on turnover of AED 1.5 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 1.4%.

Corporate actions

Alpha Dhabi’s AED 2 bn dividend is officially a go: ADX-listed Alpha Dhabi Holding will proceed with distributing AED 2 bn in cash-dividends for FY 2025, equivalent to 20 fils per share, after securing shareholder approval at its AGM, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf).

IN CONTEXT- Alpha Dhabi first outlined the three-year dividend policy in February. The framework sets a AED 2 bn annual baseline, with planned 5% yearly increases.

The group has also said it had completed a AED 1 bn share buyback program. The move comes even as Alpha Dhabi was dropped from the FTSE Global Standard Index in March after failing liquidity thresholds.

CALENDAR

APRIL

20-22 April (Monday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival, Abu Dhabi Energy Center, Abu Dhabi

21 April (Tuesday): FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC38), Al Ain.

28-29 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa, Abu Dhabi.

MAY

4-8 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Make It in the Emirates, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

8-24 May (Saturday-Sunday): Dubai Esports and Games Festival, Dubai.

11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

11-15 May (Monday-Friday): Dubai Future Finance Week, Dubai.

12-14 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, ICC Hall, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

19-20 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Capital Market Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

19-22 May (Tuesday-Friday): Abu Dhabi Water and Energy Week, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

20-21 May (Wednesday-Thursday): Arab Competition Forum, Dubai.

JUNE

3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Investor Conference, Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai.

3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Desalination Forum, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.

15 June - 15 September (Monday-Thursday): Dubai Mallathon, Dubai.

22-24 June (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.

JULY

31 July (Friday): Large businesses achieving annual revenues equal to or above AED 50 mn must appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation.

AUGUST

17-20 August (Monday-Thursday): Arabian Travel Market, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

SEPTEMBER

1-3 September (Tuesday-Thursday: Middle East Energy, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Property Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

12-13 September (Saturday-Sunday): Emirates International Congress on AI & Visionary Leadership in Transforming Healthcare, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

OCTOBER

4-10 October (Sunday-Saturday): World Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

12-14 October (Monday-Wednesday: Airport Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

20-22 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Health Summit, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

NOVEMBER

4 November (Wednesday): Digital Transformation Summit, Sofitel, Abu Dhabi.

9-10 November (Monday-Tuesday): Annual government meetings, Abu Dhabi.

10-12 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition & Conference, Dubai World Trade Center.

DECEMBER

2-4 December (Wednesday-Friday): UN Water Conference, UAE.

Signposted to happen in 2026:

Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent;
Investopia, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

1 January: Deadline for large businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of Hassyan seawater desalination project;

1-3 February (Monday-Wednesday): World Governments Summit;
31 March: Small businesses with annual revenues of less than AED 50 mn are obliged to contract with an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
31 March: Government entities are required to appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
21-22 April (Wednesday-Thursday): Token2049, Dubai;
1 July: Deadline for small businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1 October: Deadline for governments to implement e-invoicing;
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 in 2028:

Artificial Intelligence Summit.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:

Sibos 2029 organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Dubai;
Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, Abu Dhabi;
The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

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