Abu Dhabi gets a fast lane for US chips and defense tech

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Another rating affirmation + Al Taweelah back at 50% capacity within days

Good morning, friends, and happy Monday. We hope you had a good weekend — despite the scare yesterday morning. We know some of you got the dreaded phone alerts that defense systems were intercepting threats over Abu Dhabi and Dubai early in the morning — though not all of us did — before NCEMA confirmed the missiles never actually crossed into UAE territory and the situation was stable.

It was an unfortunate weekend for other countries in the region: The UAE condemned attacks on neighboring countries, including Oman — where a ship was hit off of its coast — Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan.

This morning’s Big Story is good news (both for the UAE’s AI ambitions and for its defense prospects): Washington handed the UAE one of the biggest trust upgrades in the relationship’s history — a Country Group A:5 slot that eases no-license access to advanced chips, satellites, and defense kits.

We also have big M&A news for you this morning, as e& calls it quits on Vodafone — four years, three stake bumps, one boardroom seat, and now a clean exit to a French telecoms b’naires family vehicle.

Also on our radar: Abu Dhabi's hedge-fund shopping spree isn’t slowing down (ADIC’s latest cheque is a cool USD 1 bn), and Burjeel’s betting its Saudi expansion on scalpels, not square footage.

Capital Intelligence affirms UAE’s AA- sovereign rating

The UAE’s financial buffers have earned another vote of confidence, this time from Capital Intelligence (CI), which affirmed the country’s long-term sovereign credit rating at AA- with a stable outlook. The ratings agency pointed to strong public finances, ample external liquidity, and an economy that has remained resilient despite regional geopolitical tensions, CI said in an update.

Looking ahead: CI expects that resilience to keep compounding. It expects the UAE’s maritime trade to recover gradually in the second half of 2026, Al Khaleej cites the full report as saying. It also sees the government’s budget surplus growing to 4.4% of GDP in 2027 and 2028, while the government debt is expected to decline from 34.3% of GDP in 2025 to around 30.5% by 2028. Meanwhile, current account surplus is likely to average 11.2% of GDP over the same period as trade, tourism and oil exports recover.

BACKGROUND: This follows a string of rating affirmations for the UAE despite heightened regional tensions. Moody’s reaffirmed the country’s Aa2 sovereign rating with a stable outlook in June, while Fitch affirmed Abu Dhabi’s AA rating with a stable outlook in May, both citing the UAE’s strong fiscal and external buffers even as growth forecasts softened and government spending was expected to rise.

Al Taweelah stirs up again

More progress at Al Taweelah: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restarted alumina production at its Al Taweelah refinery after output was suspended on 28 March in the wake of Iranian attacks on Kezad, according to a statement. Production is expected to ramp up to 50% of plant capacity within days, with EGA expecting technical capability to return to full alumina production by year-end.

Market reax: The restart nudged benchmark aluminium prices lower on the London Metal Exchange, sending benchmark three-month aluminium down 1.8% to USD 3.14k a ton as traders priced in a faster-than-expected return of Gulf supply. The refinery had already resumed producing hydrate — alumina’s precursor — on 24 June, before this latest production ramp-up.

ICYMI- EGA restarted 89 of Al Taweelah’s c.1.3k reduction cells in late May, while the casthouse and recycled-metal production had resumed earlier in the same month. The faster-than-expected restart has not changed the full recovery timeline, with hot-metal output still expected to take up to a year to fully recover. The refinery matters because it produced 2.4 mn tons of alumina in 2025, covering 46% of EGA’s alumina needs — though EGA says the smelter restart does not depend on the refinery returning to full output.

Dubai awards AED 2 bn road project to ease congestion

Dubai is putting another AED 2 bn into its road network: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority awarded a AED 2 bn contract to build the Latifa Bint Hamdan Corridor, according to a statement. The new 12km link runs from Sheikh Zayed Road through Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road to Emirates Road.

Once finished by the end of 2028, it’ll cut travel time between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road by 54% from 33 minutes to 15 and give Dubai’s east-west corridors breathing room as the population they serve keeps growing.

Data point

38.2k — that’s how many business licenses Sharjah issued and renewed in 1H 2026, up just 2% y-o-y, according to Sharjah Economic Development Department data carried by state news agency Wam. That’s the softest first-half growth in recent years: licensing activity rose 8% in 1H 2025, and new-license growth alone hit 34% for the full year. The declaration lands in the same half that regional conflict disrupted Gulf trade and industry.

New licenses still outpaced the headline, rising 5% to 4.6k (against 16% growth in 1H 2025), while renewals climbed just 2% to 33.6k (against 7%).

Where the growth is: Commercial activity still dominates, with 2.5k new commercial licenses and 21.6k renewals in 1H. The standout was e-commerce renewals, which rose 52% y-o-y to 207 — still small in absolute terms, but the fastest-growing pocket in the data.

PSAs

Flydubai is flying back into Aleppo after a 14-year gap. The carrier will launch daily nonstop flights between Dubai and Aleppo International Airport on 20 July, making the city its second Syrian destination after Damascus, state news agency Wam reports.

IN CONTEXT- Flydubai says demand on the Damascus route, which resumed in June 2025, has already grown enough that it’s now running three flights a day, and Aleppo is the next wager on that same demand curve. The launch also sits inside a broader network push: flydubai has recently added Benghazi and Bangkok, and is set to start Pokhara in September.

WEATHER- The mercury rises to 41°C in Abu Dhabi and 39° in Dubai, before cooling to 31° in the former and 32°C in the latter, according to our favorite weather app.

The big story abroad

It’s a quiet Monday morning on the global front pages save for the latest escalations in the regional war.

The US military launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Rejecting Tehran’s claims that it has closed the waterway, the US Central Command announced new strikes designed to weaken Iran’s ability to target commercial vessels. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported explosions in cities along the strait.

Iran launched at least three waves of missiles and drones at Gulf nations, targeting US military bases across Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The strikes were in retaliation for bombings in southern Iran, state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported.

Oil markets jolted: The escalations sent Brent crude prices up 3% to USD 78 a barrel at the open of Asian trading, while West Texas Intermediate surged 4% to USD 79 a barrel. Oil prices have been steadily falling, inching towards their pre-war level of USD 72.5, since the US and Iran announced their framework agreement — prices hit a war peak of USD 126 a barrel in April.

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US gives UAE a fast lane for AI chips and defense tech

The US Commerce Department is opening the door wider for the UAE to buy advanced American chips, satellites, and defense equipment. The US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is moving the UAE into Country Group A:5, giving the Emirati government and approved commercial entities broader access to license exceptions for sensitive US exports, according to a Federal Register filing (pdf).

The chip angle is the headline: The UAE government and approved companies can now access certain advanced computing items license-free — consistent with the May 2025 US-UAE AI cooperation framework. The new status also eases exports of military equipment, commercial satellites and spacecraft, and dual-use technology tied to oil and gas, desalination, and civil nuclear power.

Who gets the green light? G42 and Core42 are listed as approved UAE-based recipients for advanced computing items. US-headquartered AI companies operating in the UAE — including Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI — are also covered. MGX gets a softer landing too: the Commerce Department plans to “favorably review” chip and server license applications for the UAE-headquartered company.

SOUND SMART- Country Groups are how BIS sorts destinations by export-control risk. A:5 is reserved for close US allies — mostly Nato members — who qualify for the widest set of license exceptions. Moving out of D:3 and D:4, which cover chemical/biological and missile-technology restrictions, and into A:5 is as much a trust signal as a trade one.

Why now? The Commerce Department points to decades of US-UAE cooperation on Iran and its proxies, the UAE’s 2024 Major Defense Partner designation, and the May 2025 critical-tech agreement covering AI and semiconductors. The geopolitical backdrop is not subtle: the filing says the UAE “played a key role advancing US interests” during Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in February.

IN CONTEXT- The tech angle has been building for a while: The two countries last year announced plans for a 5 GW data center complex in Abu Dhabi as part of a wider USD 200 bn investment agreement, while the UAE joined the US-led Pax Silica supply-chain initiative earlier this year. G42 has also been building its US footprint. The Abu Dhabi AI group previously said it planned to invest tens of bns of USD in US AI applications, cloud computing, and data centers. Its Core42 unit is now expanding its Lake Mariner AI infrastructure site in New York to 60 MW, with AMD and Nvidia infrastructure being added after earlier US export approval for Nvidia chips.

An honorable mention goes to the defense angle too: The US and the UAE are major defense partners, and the easing of exports lands at a time when the UAE’s doubling down on bringing more defense capabilities home and diversifying its defense supply chains. The US-Iran conflict exposed the economics problem: Iranian drones costing as little as USD 20k-100k were being intercepted with systems costing USD 3-12 mn a shot, analysts previously told EnterpriseAM.

One caveat: This is not a blanket free-for-all. G42 and Core42’s approval for license-free advanced computing access automatically expires after 270 days absent further BIS notice, and the filing keeps end-use and end-user controls in place. BIS also says it maintains an export-control officer presence in the UAE and works with local authorities to monitor sensitive US goods and technology moving through the country’s logistics network.

The UAE is taking the W: UAE ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba said in an embassy statement the move “opens new doors” for joint R&D, deeper tech cooperation, expanded trade, and a stronger defense partnership.

Not everyone in Washington is cheering: Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the move, saying it gives G42 license-free access to advanced AI chips and promises favorable treatment for MGX “despite reported concerns” about diversion of sensitive tech to China and other national security risks, Reuters reports. That’s despite G42 earlier divesting from Huawei and severing ties with Chinese tech firms to secure the partnership with the US and clear the path for American chip exports.

Watch this space: This gives the UAE more room to build the hardware layer behind its AI, data-center, defense, space, and energy ambitions — but only for entities Washington is willing to trust. The next test is who gets added to the approved list and how quickly chip and server flows actually move.

e& exits Vodafone in USD 5.95 bn stake sale

e& is unwinding its Vodafone wager: Abu Dhabi telecom group e& signed a binding agreement to sell its full Vodafone stake to Vega, an acquisition vehicle wholly owned by the French telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel’s family group, according to a filing to the ADX (pdf). e& says the move follows a comprehensive review of its international portfolio, ending a four-year run as one of the company’s largest shareholders.

BACKGROUND- e& paid USD 4.4 bn for an initial 10% stake in May 2022, framing it as a way to gain “significant exposure to a world leader in connectivity and digital services at an attractive valuation.” It gradually increased its stake in the telco to 16%, becoming Vodafone’s single largest shareholder along the way. The pace drew scrutiny from UK regulators at the time, given Vodafone’s role in UK critical infrastructure. The two firms signed a relationship agreement in May 2023 — which has now been terminated — formalizing e& as a cornerstone shareholder with a board seat. e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar took that non-executive seat in February 2024 and has now stepped down.

The numbers: The transaction will generate around AED 21.8 bn (USD 5.95 bn) in proceeds, including Vodafone’s final FY 26 dividend. Of that, e& is disclosing a net return of around AED 4.7 bn (USD 1.3 bn) — the gain over what it originally spent building the position.

The goodbye math: Vega is paying GBP 1.125 per share — a 13% premium to Vodafone’s market price, per e& — split between GBP 1.105 from the buyer and Vodafone’s GBP 0.0202 final FY 26 dividend, due 30 July. The shares move first via off-market block trades to three financial institutions, which will hold them until Vega clears regulatory approvals. Vega expects full settlement by year-end.

The move is part of a broader reshuffle: e& recently agreed to sell a 12.5% stake in Careem Technologies back to Uber, creating a future exit ramp for its remaining holding. But it’s still doubling down elsewhere: its European subsidiary O2 Slovakia JV acquired broadband operator UPC Slovakia in May; it recently launched a wholesale connectivity hub in Miami and backed US payments security firm MagicCube; and it has been advancing data-center talks in Uzbekistan.

The question now is where e& deploys the proceeds. The Vodafone exit gives the group a cleaner investment map — and more room to fund the parts of the portfolio it appears to be leaning into: infrastructure, enterprise tech, fintech, and AI.

Abu Dhabi Investment Council backs Deem Global with USD 1 bn allocation

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) has committed around USD 1 bn to Deem Global, the London-based macro hedge fund run by Asfandyar Nadeem — the latest sign of Abu Dhabi's push to become one of the industry's biggest backers, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter who declined to be named because the details are private.

A diversification play: ADIC is an independently-run unit of Mubadala Investment Co. Deem and a representative for ADIC both declined to comment beyond a previous statement saying the fund continues to see value in hedge fund strategies that offer “diversification, downside protection, and attractive risk-adjusted returns across market cycles.”

Why it matters: Macro funds — which wager on broad economic trends — have thrived on the past two years of geopolitical shocks, and allocators are chasing the returns. A net 27% of investors surveyed by Bank of America said they planned to raise macro allocations this year, after discretionary macro pulled in some of 2025's strongest inflows.

Abu Dhabi is positioning itself to capture that flow. ADIC is weighing a USD 15 bn hedge fund portfolio, and also backed Michael Gelband's ExodusPoint Capital Management's USD 2 bn raise in June. The USD 1 tn Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has also been building out its own hedge fund exposure via managed accounts, and alternatives manager Lunate took a stake in Brevan Howard Asset Management last year alongside a USD 2 bn commitment to a new Abu Dhabi platform.

The capital came in before Deem closed to new money earlier this year. The firm, which manages USD 3.8 bn in assets, is expected to reopen to new investors early next year. It was founded by former Brevan Howard executive Asfandyar Nadeem, and has grown rapidly since launching in 2022, increasing assets under management from USD 300 mn to USD 3.8 bn. The firm expects to reopen to new investors early next year.

Burjeel Holdings is betting its Saudi expansion on specialized day surgery centers

Burjeel Holdings is focusing its Saudi expansion on specialized day surgery centers rather than large hospitals, with plans to open its first facility in the kingdom in early 2027 and to eventually build a network of up to 10 centers, Chairman and CEO Shamsheer Vayalil tells EnterpriseAM.

The strategy: Rather than deploying capital into 200- to 500-bed hospitals, Burjeel is focusing on smaller outpatient facilities that require less investment, while targeting faster-growing specialties. “We can actually go for up to eight to 10 day surgery centers once we evaluate the first facilities and invest accordingly,” Vayalil says.

Saudi rollout: The first center is expected to open in Khobar in early 2027, followed by Riyadh later in the year. Together, the two facilities come at an investment of around USD 100 mn, according to Vayalil. The group is also expanding through primary care, physiotherapy, home healthcare, and digital services, having already acquired a home care license and primary care assets in the kingdom.

Not chasing hospitals: Burjeel says it is deliberately avoiding direct competition with established Saudi hospital operators, opting instead to build specialized healthcare platforms where it believes it can differentiate itself.

Funding growth: Burjeel completed its inaugural USD 500 mn sukuk on 7 July, issued under its USD 1.5 bn program and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market, using the proceeds primarily to refinance existing bank debt. Future issuances, however, are expected to finance expansion projects rather than refinancing. “Whatever will come will definitely be for growth, for our specific projects,” Vayalil says.

Funding appetite: The sukuk attracted a USD 1.6 bn orderbook that was 3.2x oversubscribed, despite launching amid heightened geopolitical tensions across the Middle East. “We knew it would be covered, but to this extent, we never expected it,” he says.

The firm chose not to delay the issuance despite volatile markets, believing investors were looking for prospects beyond the region’s traditional issuers. “We did not want to wait for somebody else,” Vayalil says, adding that Burjeel was comfortable pricing the debut issuance in a way that allowed first-time investors to generate attractive returns.

What’s next: Beyond Saudi Arabia, Burjeel plans to invest around AED 1.4 bn over the next two to four years in a medical school, a research center, and digital healthcare initiatives in Abu Dhabi, while continuing to expand specialized care offerings across its existing markets. The company also aims to improve margins through higher-growth businesses such as day surgery centers while maintaining its long-term profitability guidance of around 20%.

From LNG tankers to waterfront projects, UAE capital keeps flowing despite regional risk

Adnoc L&S expands its fleet of LNG carriers

Adnoc L&S has ordered four 175k cbm LNG carriers worth USD 900 mn from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard, for delivery in 2029 — bringing its total newbuild program across three orders to 18 vessels and around USD 4.6 bn in investment, according to a press release. The company hasn't named a charterer yet, but its prior 14 ships are all locked into long-term contracts with Adnoc Gas (up to 20 years) — the model this batch is expected to follow.

Timed for Ruwais: The 2029 delivery date will come just as Ruwais LNG moves from start-up into ramp-up. The project’s first 4.8 mtpa train is expected to come online in 2H 2028, with the second following in early 2029. Around 90% of Ruwais’ planned output is already committed to long-term buyers across Asia and Europe.

Seara selects Ras Al Khaimah as regional manufacturing hub

Brazilian food processor Seara has selected Ras Al Khaimah as its regional production base, state news agency Wam reports. Investment size, facility plans, and timelines haven't been disclosed.

BACKGROUND- Seara is a poultry, pork, and processed-foods brand owned by JBS, the world's largest meat processor. The move fits Ras Al Khaimah's push to position itself as a manufacturing and export base within the UAE — Rakez, the emirate's economic zone, has landed a string of F&B manufacturers in recent months, from Ahmad Tea to Italfood.

Why this matters: The move is the latest sign that manufacturers are continuing to invest in the UAE even as the region's risk premium rises. India's Shyam Steel said it plans to pour AED 40 mn in a non-ferrous metals processing facility in Rakez, while a China-UAE industrial park is on the horizon. It's a similar dynamic to what's kept ADGM and DIFC adding hedge funds and asset managers through the same period of regional uncertainty: capital allocators are pricing manufacturing and financial infrastructure decisions on a longer horizon than the news cycle, betting that government support and solid fundamentals outlast the current conflict.

Aldar launches AED 6 bn Yas Point waterfront development as Abu Dhabi developers keep expanding

Abu Dhabi developer Aldar is expanding Yas Island by committing AED 6 bn to a new waterfront destination. This adds to a growing wave of large-scale UAE developments launched despite the ongoing regional challenges and market pressures, according to a press release.

IN CONTEXT- Yas Point lands on top of Aldar's other announced pipeline — 20 mn sqm of developments across Abu Dhabi and AED 3.8 bn of develop-to-hold projects on Yas Island and Al Shamkha announced last October — while Emaar is running its own AED 200 bn project slate in Dubai.

Dubai Future District Fund backs MetaProp Fund IV

Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) has committed capital to MetaProp Fund IV, making the New York-based investor — one of the most active specialist PropTech funds globally, investing from pre-seed through Series A — a cornerstone early-stage partner for DFDF's real estate technology portfolio, according to a press release.

What’s next: MetaProp and DFDF plan to launch a Dubai module of MetaProp's accelerator giving portfolio founders access to DFDF's regional network of developers and investors. It's DFDF's second proptech-accelerator tie-up this year: the fund struck a similar deal with SCV, the National Association of Realtors' venture arm, in March to bring its REACH accelerator to Dubai.

GCC 2Q earnings to show Iran war’s financial impact

GCC firms’ 2Q earnings will provide the strongest signal yet of the Iran war’s financial impact. The forecasted sectoral breakdown displays mixed results, with oil and gas and telecoms set to weather the geopolitical storm, while property markets and consumer-facing sectors such as retail and tourism are expected to bear the brunt, Reuters reports.

Oil and gas earnings are expected to remain resilient for now, as higher energy prices offset lower volumes caused by disruption. These elevated prices might change, however, during the second half of this year if the tensions ease and Gulf oil exports normalize.

REMEMBER- Gulf crude exports continued to recover in June, reaching at least 75% of pre-conflict levels as loadings resumed at Ras Tanura, Aramco's main Gulf export terminal. Saudi shipments from the Gulf climbed to 4.45 mn bbl / d, their highest since the war erupted in late February, but remained below pre-war levels.

MEANWHILE- Telecom operators are also set to deliver robust results, benefiting from long-term contracts and inelastic demand. Still, consumer-facing sectors, including retail and tourism, are likely to reflect the impact of the conflict, although higher at-home consumption benefited some companies.

Banks are predicted to post single-digit q-o-q income declines, according to EFG Hermes, reflecting weaker trade finance activity and lower international travel-related card spending. The comparison is also affected by a strong 1Q that included two largely pre-conflict months. Despite slower growth, lenders remain well-capitalized with ample liquidity, with some UAE banks attracting deposits by raising rates for new savers.

The prolonged tension is the greatest threat to the regional property markets: The UAE's property market is displaying signs of strain after years of rapid growth, with analysts warning that prolonged tensions could weigh on expatriate inflows and tourism-driven demand. Some developers have responded by reducing or delaying dividend payments to preserve liquidity.

Some execs believe the markets will absorb this shock: FIM Partners CIO Francesc Balcells struck a more optimistic tone, saying some developers had underperformed, but regional credit spreads had largely normalized. “It is just an issue of balance sheets,” he said. “These guys have very strong balance sheets, so they can withstand big shocks like this.”

The economic impact varied across the region, depending on the countries’ reliance on the strait. Saudi’s economy is expected to grow by 2.1% in 2026, due to its Red Sea export infrastructure, according to HSBC, with the IMF expecting its real GDP growth to reach 6.8% in 2027. The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, which rely more heavily on the strait, are expected to contract.

The strait is unlikely to return to normal anytime soon. Regional growth projections across most sectors hinge on the outcome of US-Iran negotiations, with a lasting de-escalation needed to restore shipping through the strait to pre-conflict levels. This seems unlikely at the moment, with Trump saying last week that the ceasefire collapsed, while Iran warned it would no longer consider itself bound by any agreement if the US continued to violate the truce.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asia-Pacific markets are down in early trading as escalating regional tensions put a drag on Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi. The Kospi is down 4.7% while the Nikkei is down a less dramatic 1.7%. “The strait closure will hang over the market with a risk-off tone,” Fed Watch Advisors’ Ben Emons wrote.

ADX	9,936	+0.6% (YTD: -0.6%)
DFM	6,043	+0.9% (YTD: -0.1%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,823	+1.1% (YTD: -1.3%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.5% o/n	4.2% 1 yr
TASI	10,819	+0.1% (YTD: +3.1%)
EGX30	52,256	-0.1% (YTD: +24.9%)
S&P 500	7,575	+0.4% (YTD: +10.7%)
FTSE 100	10,497	+0.2% (YTD: +5.7%)
Euro Stoxx 50	6,270	-0.2% (YTD: +8.2%)
Brent crude	USD 78.49	+3.3%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.92	-0.8%
Gold	USD 4,081	-0.8%
BTC	USD 63,989	-0.6% (YTD: -27.0%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.72	0.0% (YTD: -0.8%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	151.73	+0.1% (YTD: -0.1%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	15.03	-5.1% (YTD: +0.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX rose 0.6% on Friday on turnover of AED 1.5 bn. The index is down 0.6% YTD.

In the green: e& (+5.3%), Al Wathiba National Ins. (+5%), and Invest Bank (+3.4%).

In the red: GFH Bank (-2.9%), ADNH Catering (-1.3%), and Abu Dhabi National Hotels Co. (-1.2%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 0.9% on turnover of AED 570.2 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai rose 1.1%.

CALENDAR

JULY

28-29 July (Tuesday-Wednesday): Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

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.

14-17 September (Monday-Thursday): Arabian Travel Market, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

15-16 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

29-30 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): AFCM Annual Conference, Abu Dhabi.

OCTOBER

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

5-7 October (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

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

14-15 October (Wednesday-Thursday): Sharjah Investment Forum, Jawaher Reception and Convention Center, Sharjah.

13-15 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders, Dubai.

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

27-28 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Arab Competition Forum, Dubai.

27-28 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

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

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

NOVEMBER

2-6 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Future Finance Week, Dubai.

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

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

9-12 November (Monday-Thursday): EMEA Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education Conference, Dubai College of Tourism, Dubai.

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

16-18 November (Monday-Wednesday): World Police Summit, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

18-19 November (Wednesday-Thursday): Touchdown Middle East 2026, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.

25-26 November (Saturday-Sunday): Doers Summit, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai.

DECEMBER

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

4-6 December (Friday-Sunday): Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi.

8-9 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Capital Market Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

8-9 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

8-10 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Water & Power Week, Adnec Center, 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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