Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s commercial real estate sectors face supply constraints in 1H

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Fuel prices hiked in August + Is ADIA closer to acquiring a stake in Haldiram?

Good morning, friends, and welcome to August. Is it just us or is summer flying by?

The news cycle has slowed significantly from a busy start to the week, with the biggest stories today being fresh real estate data on rentals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, signaling an imminent supply crunch across commercial sectors; the Central Bank of the UAE holding rates steady in line with the Fed; and a lot more earnings.

UPDATE ON OUR OLYMPICS RUN- Emirati judoka Aram Grigorian narrowly missed his chance to advance to the semi-finals after losing to Japan’s Murau Sanchiro. Dzhafar Kostoev faces off against Brazil’s Leonardo Goncalves today at 12:24pm.

Also happening today: The equestrian team — made up of Abdullah Al Marri (with the horse BBS McGregor), Omar Al Marzooqi (Enjoy de la Mure) and Ali Al Kirbi (Jarlin de Torres) — will compete in today’s qualifier round for jumping at 1pm.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS-

#1- You’ll be paying more at the pump this month: The Fuel Price Follow-up Committee increased fuel prices for August by around 2% after a 4.7% price cut last month, according to an X post by the Emirates General Petroleum Company.

The breakdown: Super 98 is now AED 3.05 per liter, Special 95 is now AED 2.93, and E-Plus 91 now costs AED 2.86. Diesel is now AED 2.95 per liter, up from AED 2.89 last month.

#2- Emirates won’t accept transit passengers from Dubai to Beirut until tomorrow, halting all transit flights in the wake of Israel’s escalations in Lebanon, Reuters reports, citing a travel update. However, the airline will still operate its flights from Dubai and Beirut. Meanwhile, budget airline FlyDubai has also cut its daily flights to Beirut to two until tomorrow.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Egyptian fintech giant MNT-Halan wants to expand to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, among other markets, EnterpriseAM Egypt quotes founder and CEO Mounir Nakhla as saying. The company’s expansion will see it acquiring businesses in new markets, Nakhla said. MNT-Halan raised a blockbuster USD 157.7 mn funding round and has acquired 100% of Turkish consumer finance outfit Tam Finans.

#2- Sudan’s gov’t agrees to ceasefire talks with RSF — on certain conditions: Sudan’s government agreed to participate in US-mediated ceasefire talks with the Rapid Support Forces, on the condition that the latter withdraws from Sudanese cities and halts attacks against civilians, Reuters reports, citing a statement from the Sudanese foreign ministry. The government also requested meetings with US officials to discuss the agenda for the talks.

Both sides have been receptive to meeting with US officials ahead of the talks, which are set to take place on 14 August in Switzerland, and which will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and attended by the UAE, Egypt, the African Union, and the UN as observers, US Special Envoy Tom Perriello said. A planned meeting in the army’s de facto capital Port Sudan was canceled but is set to be rescheduled, he added.

#3- Turkey wants to finalize trade talks with the GCC trade by the end of the year, the Turkish Trade Ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters. Talks taking place earlier this week saw the two sides discuss goods trade, rules of origin, contracting, tourism and health, as well as services trade and steps to boost investments.

What’s next: “The sides have agreed to continue the talks through online meetings and to meet in Riyadh in the second half of the year for a second round of negotiations,” the ministry said.

ICYMI- The GCC embarked on talks with Turkey for a trade agreement earlier this week, headed by Saudi Arabia, after agreeing in March to initiate trade liberalization talks. The UAE already has a separate trade and economic partnership agreement with Turkey, which they inked last year.

#4- Sidara now has until 9 August to submit its final offer to acquire UK engineering firm Wood Group after the board approved the extension of the initial deadline set for yesterday, Wood said in a London Stock Exchange filing. After Wood rejected three previous bids, Sidara was granted due diligence and allowed to engage with Wood in June. The engineering and consulting firm’s latest bid saw it offer to acquire Wood Group at GBP 2.3 per share, valuing the company at GBP 1.59 bn, which it said would be its final offer.

MORE M&A?

We also have news from local Indian press of both Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority closing in on two separate acquisitions:

#1- Is Emirates NBD among the bidders vying for the Industrial Development Bank of India? Emirates NBD has secured a spot among the final bidders for the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) Indian broadcaster NDTV reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Along with Canadian Fairfax Financial Holdings and Indian Kotak Bank, Emirates NBD is vying for a majority stake in the Indian state-owned bank, with the government reportedly planning to sell a 60% stake in the lender. Having received approval from the Reserve Bank of India, the shortlisted firms are set to commence due diligence on IDBI before submitting their final offers.

Background: The sale process, initiated by former Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in late 2015, is now in its final stages. After selling a majority stake to Life Ins. Corporation of India in 2019 as an interim measure, the government began divesting from IDBI in 2022.

#2- Has an Adia-backed consortium made another bid for Haldiram? Local Indian press has it that a consortium of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, and US alternative investment manager Blackstone is offering to pay USD 4.8 bn to buy a 51% stake in Indian food brand Haldiram, Moneycontrol reports, citing people in the know. The consortium is said to be planning to submit its final offer after concluding due diligence, conducted by EY on behalf of the consortium, according to sources.

Blackstone denied that talks have progressed since May due to a “valuation mismatch,” the investment manager said in a statement.

ICYMI- Reuters reported in May that the consortium had submitted a non-binding bid for a 75% majority stake in the Indian snacks business, with the potential agreement valuing the company at up to USD 8.5 bn.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed nearly 14 mn passengers in 1H 2024, up 33.5% y-o-y, with Zayed International Airport alone witnessing a 33.8% y-o-y rise in passenger traffic to over 13.7 mn passengers, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The airports operator logged a 24.3% y-o-y increase in flight movements to over 84k flights in the first half of the year, on the back of new airline and destination additions to its network.

The operator’s airports handled some 254.3k tonnes of cargo during the period, driven by strategic partnerships and infrastructure enhancements, including a new DHL airside facility and the completion of the design phase of the new East Midfield cargo terminal.

#2- Deployment of AI-powered data centers is set to add over AED 14.3 bn to Dubai’s economy by 2028, Wam reports, citing a study by Digital Dubai. To achieve this, the authority has introduced measures to implement the Strategic Vision for the Data Centre Economy, an initiative aimed at preparing the emirate for the integration of next-gen tech to boost renewable energy access and energy conservation, streamline government procedures, and and developing high-performance computing.

#3- Demand for gold in the UAE hit 23.4 tons in 1H 2024, representing 27.7% of the total demand in the Arab market, Al Bayan reports, citing the World Gold Council. Demand for gold jewelry dropped 13% y-o-y in 2Q 2024 for the sixth consecutive quarter on the back of high gold prices and market disruptions due to April’s floods, the World Gold Council said in its report (pdf).

#4- Abu Dhabi’s ports recorded an 8% y-o-y increase in non-oil trade during May to AED 31.54 bn, according to data (pdf) from the emirate’s statistics center. Exports through the emirate’s ports grew 12% y-o-y to AED 18.4 bn, with machinery equipment accounting (pdf) for the largest portion of exports.

MEANWHILE- Are you planning to be in Egypt on 24 September? You may be interested in attending our 2024 Enterprise Finance Forum. Seating is strictly limited at our flagship, invitation-only forum for C-suite executives and other senior leaders.

Why attend? We’re in the early days of a generational realignment of power in our industry — in our region and beyond — and on the cusp of the biggest intergenerational transfer of wealth the world has ever seen. With that as the backdrop, we’re going to take stock of where we stand six months after the float of the EGP and ask what’s next for finance in Egypt and the wider region. Among the questions we’ll be asking:

What roles will Egypt, Saudi and the UAE play in the regional industry going forward?
What are foreign investors looking for right now?
Is real estate the only asset class in Egypt?
What does the next generation of leaders think as they take over established family businesses?

Do you want to request an invitation? Tap or click the image below.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

CBUAE to auction AED 23 bn m-bills: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) will offer up to AED 23 bn in four m-bills at an auction on Monday, 5 August, according to a statement (pdf) from the bank. Three of the m-bills are tap issuances, with the four having tenors ranging from 28 to 322 days.

Decoding central bank speak: M-bills are short-term securities issued in AED by the CBUAE at no interest. The bonds typically have maturity dates of one to 12 months and are not retrievable through any other listing. A tap issuance allows the CBUAE to more finely control money supply by allowing it the flexibility to continue selling bills past the initial auction date.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

The US Federal Reserve’s signal that it plans to cut interest rates in September is leading most front pages of the business press, as more earnings and escalations in regional tensions dominate others.

#1- The Fed held rates steady following its two-day meeting, in line with expectations, but Chair Jerome Powell set the stage for a September rate cut, saying it is on the table if inflation continues its downward trajectory and growth remains strong. (Reuters)

ALSO- Japan’s central bank hiked rates for the second time this year, in a bid to boost its currency and ease prices of imports. (CNBC)

The Bank of England will meet later today, capping a big week for rate-watchers. The expectation is that it will go for a quarter-point cut to 5%.

#2- Facebook parent Meta beat revenue expectations on the back of robust digital ad sales, which it said will help cover the rising costs of AI — flipping the script after Microsoft and Alphabet’s earnings and capital expenditure projections raised concerns around the commercial viability of AI.

IN OTHER BUSINESS NEWS- Boeing named aerospace veteran Kelly Ortberg as its new CEO as it looks to rebound from a series of losses and high-profile scandals amid an ongoing quality crisis. (Reuters)

MEANWHILE- The region is holding its breath following the killing of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran early yesterday morning, with fears that it will jeopardize ongoing ceasefire negotiations and spark retaliation from Hamas. (Reuters)

OLYMPICS-

We’re nearing the halfway mark of Olympics 2024, with day six of the competition seeing Simone Biles look to clinch her gold medal for the women’s all-around final; the athletics program kicks off; and four more swimming finals.

Highlights from yesterday: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have each made it through to the quarter-finals in the men’s singles, potentially setting themselves up for a golden showdown, while Rafael Nadal is out of the competition after losing alongside Alcaraz in the men’s doubles yesterday. In swimming: The US’ Katie Ledecky brought home another gold for the 1.5k meters freestyle; while French Leon Marchand brought home two golds, putting France second to the top on the medals table.

The medal standings now at the Paris Olympics:

China (9 gold, 19 overall)
France (8 gold, 26 overall)
Japan (8 gold, 15 overall)
Australia (7 gold, 16 overall)
Great Britain (6 gold, 17 overall)

Want to see when your favorite sport is on? Check out the official schedule here.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The annual jiu-jitsu tournament, the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, is returning to Abu Dhabi at the Mubadala Arena on 2 August, Wam reports.

Abu Dhabi will play host to a big night for mixed martial arts fans on 3 August at Etihad arena. The UFC Fight Night will see the return of MMA champion Nick Diaz, who has been out of the limelight since 2021, as he goes head to head with Tony Ferguson.

Also set to clash: Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will face bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera, while world number 2 bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will headline against Umar Nurmagomedov.

The World ESG Summit is scheduled to take place on 20-21 August at Dusit Thani in Dubai. The two-day business conference will gather public and private sector players from key sectors like energy, utilities finance, and manufacturing to explore ESG integration across all industries.

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) is accepting applications for the AccessSharjah Challenge until 5 September, offering two grants worth AED 250k to two startups in the sectors of agritech and livestock health. Shortlisted startups will receive mentorship to help them expand.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi rents inflate in 2Q 2024 due to limited supply and rising demand

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s real estate markets saw demand for stock outweigh supply in 2Q 2024 across the office, retail, and industrial markets, while residential rents continue to see increases amid robust demand, according to commercial real estate services firm CBRE Middle East’s UAE Real Estate Market Review Q2 2024 (pdf).

THE OFFICE MARKET-

Rental growth came despite average occupancy rates for institutional-grade assets inching down 0.1% y-o-y to reach 91.4%, driven by new stock entering the market. Rentals increased the most for grade A and grade B offices, with grade A seeing rentals grow 19.9% y-o-y and grade B office rentals shooting up 20.9% y-o-y. Grade C office rentals are also up 15% y-o-y, while prime offices were up a slower 4.7% y-o-y.

Still, demand > supply: Office rental registrations in the emirate increased by 38.4% in 2Q 2024, specifically for freezone locations. “The limited availability of quality assets and growing demand levels continue to support a very much landlord-favored market,” according to the report, which noted that the scarcity of stock is leading some occupiers to look towards reducing occupied space.

Abu Dhabi’s rentals weren’t as high, with average occupancy rates for institutional-grade assets jumping to 94.7% y-o-y. Average rents for prime offices in Abu Dhabi were up 9.1% y-o-y, while grade A offices saw prices increase 7.4% y-o-y, and grade B offices saw 14.5% y-o-y increases in Abu Dhabi in 2Q 2024. The emirate’s office market also tipped in favor of landlords during the quarter, driven by a 15.9% y-o-y increase in rental registrations against limited new developments.

We could see more supply soon: Consolidation of office space by government and semi-government-related entities — which comprise the lion’s share of occupier demand in Abu Dhabi — is expected to make way for additional availability in the market in the short run, according to the report. Until that happens, the occupier market is expected to remain robust through 2H 2024, the report said.

THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET-

Average residential prices in Dubai jumped 21.3% y-o-y in 1H 2024, with apartment prices increasing by 20.7% y-o-y, and villa prices increasing by 24.3% y-o-y. Growth came alongside an inflow of over 12.2k new units delivered in the emirate in 2Q 2024. Some 40.6k units are slated for handover in 2H 2024.

On the rental front: Average residential rents increased by 21.1% y-o-y in the first six months of the year. Average apartment rents rose by 22.2%, while villa rents increased by 12.7%.

Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi: Apartment prices rose by 6.2% y-o-y in Abu Dhabi in 2Q 2024, while villa prices increased by 3.9% y-o-y. Rentals also inflated during the same period, growing 6.6% y-o-y for apartments and 2.5% y-o-y for villas. The emirate delivered over 1.4k new residential units in 1H 2024, with another 6.8k units in its pipeline by the end of the year.

THE HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL MARKETS-

The UAE’s hospitality sector saw robust growth, with the average occupancy rate across the country increasing by 1.7% y-o-y in 1H 2024.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Abu Dhabi increased 24% y-o-y in 1H 2024, on the back of a 5.8% increase in the average daily rate (ADR). Meanwhile, RevPAR in Dubai rose 4.7% y-o-y, driven by ADR increasing by a similar 4.6% y-o-y.

Retail rentals were on the up: Average retail rents increased 6% y-o-y in Dubai in 2Q 2024, and 3.6% y-o-y in neighboring Abu Dhabi, on the back of a lower supply of high-quality stock, according to the report. The Dubai Mall Expansion is expected to add some 240 luxury stores and F&B outlets to the market, in a bid to cater to rising demand.

ICYMI- CBRE said that Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s retail markets are experiencing a supply-demand imbalance in 1Q 2024, as more global brands set up shop in the emirates, making way for a more landlord-favored market.

THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET-

Dubai’s industrial and logistics market saw average rents grow 10.6% y-o-y to AED 45 per sqft in 2Q 2024, as demand outpaced supply, with the emirate logging a 2.5% y-o-y increase in total rental registrations. Depleted stock levels also edged incumbents to renew leases and commit to longer terms, according to the report, with renewed contracts increasing by 2.3% y-o-y during the period.

In Abu Dhabi, average rents climbed 5.8% y-o-y to AED 409 per sqm, despite a 4.1% y-o-y decline in total rental registrations, with supply expected to continue to lag behind soaring demand despite new stock underway in both onshore and offshore locations.

Ewec receives four bids for Saadiyat Island SWRO desalination project

Ewec advances with Saadiyat RO desalination project: The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) received four bids for the for the development and operation of its Saadiyat Island seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination project, according to a statement. The project — the seventh of its kind in Ewec’s portfolio — aims to produce 273k cubic meters of desalinated water per day.

What we know: Competing bids include Spanish infrastructure company Acciona Agua, GS Inima Environmental, French utility Engie, and a consortium of Spain’s FCC Aqualia and Egypt’s Orascom Construction, according to the statement. Some 41 companies and consortiums submitted expressions of interest, with only 19 companies and consortiums qualifying for the request for proposal (RFP) phase.

What’s next: Ewec said it expects to award the contract and kick off the execution of the water purchase agreement in 4Q 2024. Commercial operations are slated for 3Q 2027, according to the statement.

We’ve been expecting this: Ewec called on developers in 2022 to submit offers for two new low-carbon reverse osmosis water plants on the islands of Saadiyat and Hudayriat. Both projects will provide some 455k cubic meters of water a day — enough to supply up to 180k households. EWEC already operates six reverse osmosis desalination plants.

Part of a bigger plan: This project is part of EWEC’s strategy to produce 90% of water through reverse osmosis (RO) by 2030 and to achieve nearly carbon-free water production by 2031, according to the statement.

CBUAE holds rates steady

The Central Bank of the UAE kept interest rates unchanged yesterday, following the US Federal Reserve’s decision, maintaining its overnight deposit rate at 5.40% and the overnight lending rate at 5.90%, it said in a statement (pdf).

REMEMBER- The UAE’s overnight deposit rate, or the base rate on overnight deposit facilities, is anchored to the US Federal Reserve’s interest rates as the AED is pegged to the USD.

Next cut in September? Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled for the first time towards the likelihood of a September rate cut if inflation continues its downward path. We have more in What We’re Tracking Today, above.

Modon, Borouge, and DAE report 2Q 2024

MODON HOLDING-

ADX-listed IHC subsidiary Modon — formerly Q Holding — saw its net income fall 37% y-o-y to AED 328.9 mn during 2Q 2024, according to the real estate company’s financial statements (pdf). The company witnessed a more than fourfold y-o-y surge in its top line to AED 1.65 bn, driven by “strong real estate sales and a solid portfolio of operating assets,” especially following its merger with Adnec and Modon Properties, which saw it rebrand to Modon Holding, according to a separate earnings release (pdf).

On a six-month basis, the company reported AED 8.74 bn in net income in 1H 2024, up 3,973% y-o-y on the back of a provisional bargain purchase gain from its merger, which “significantly [bolstered] Modon Holding’s financial position.” Revenues increased 333% y-o-y to AED 2.12 bn, with AED 7.6 bn sales booked during the first half of the year, driven by solid demand for new and existing projects.

Looking ahead: “Modon will build on [the] strength created by the merger of Q Holding, Modon Properties, and Adnec to generate new opportunities across the business, and to expand our market presence both within the UAE and internationally,” Modon CEO Bill O’Regan said. The company’s aggregated revenue backlog currently stands at AED 22.3 bn.

PURE HEALTH-

A drop in Pure Health’s bottom line: Healthcare giant Pure Health saw a 55% y-o-y drop in net income in 2Q 2024 to AED 513.7 mn, according to the company’s financial statements (pdf). The healthcare provider reported a 55% y-o-y revenue increase, reaching AED 6.39 bn during the same period.

On a 1H basis: Pure Health’s net income contracted 26% y-o-y to AED 1 bn in 1H 2024 due to new accounting standards, the new corporate tax, and costs associated with its acquisition of Circle Health, the company said in a separate earnings release (pdf). The company’s revenues rose 53% y-o-y to AED 12.5 bn during the first six months of the year, propelled by growth in the hospitals segment, which saw 84% y-o-y growth in revenues amid higher patient volumes and acquisitions.

Looking ahead: Pure Health intends to continue its M&A strategy and ongoing asset transformation, Pure Health CEO Shaista Asif said.

BOROUGE-

Adnoc petrochemicals JV Borouge saw its net income climb 33% y-o-y to USD 308 mn in 2Q 2024, according to its earnings release (pdf). Revenues rose 6% y-o-y to USD 1.5 bn during the period, as overall sales volumes increased 9% y-o-y to 1.3k kilotonnes. Average selling prices for polyethylene are down 5% y-o-y-, and 2% y-o-y for polypropylene.

On a six-month basis, the company’s net income increased 35% y-o-y in 1H 2024 to USD 581 mn on the back of an increase in sales volumes and cost optimization. Meanwhile, revenues remained relatively flat y-o-y at USD 2.81 bn.

Looking ahead: The company expects a stable macro environment in Borouge’s core markets in 2H 2024 and has a stable outlook for polyolefins prices for the remainder of the year. Demand could potentially increase in the Chinese market, following “targeted stimulus efforts,” the release said.

DUBAI AEROSPACE ENTERPRISE-

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) saw its net income grow 12.8% y-o-y to AED USD 81 mn in 2Q 2024, according to its financials (pdf). The company’s revenues dropped 2.7% y-o-y to USD 331.1 mn.

On a six-month basis, DAE’s income rose 5.5% y-o-y to USD 148.8 mn in 1H 2024. The company saw its revenues edge up 1.9% y-o-y to USD 662.4 mn during the first six months of 2024.

Mashreq provides instant payments for MultiBank’s corporate clients

BANKING-

MultiBank’s business clients will now have access to Mashreq’s instant payment solutions: Financial derivatives broker MultiBank Group has partnered with our friends at Mashreq to bring instant payment API solutions to its corporate clients, according to a press release (pdf). Mashreq’s instant payment offering — which is integrated with central bank-backed instant payment platform Aani — will enable MultiBank’s clients to carry out real-time transactions, including domestic fund transfers and bulk payments.

ICYMI- Mashreq first launched its instant payment service for its corporate clients in July, becoming one of the first financial institutions in the UAE to do so.

CRYPTO-

M2 launches direct bank integration for easier crypto trading: Homegrown crypto trading platform M2 has introduced a new feature allowing UAE residents to buy and sell BTC and Ethereum using their bank accounts, according to a press release. Users can now convert cryptocurrencies to AEDs — and vice versa — using trading pairs listed on M2’s spot market.

INVESTMENT-

Adia buys into Indian facility management and cash logistics firm: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, along with Mumbai-based 360 One Mutual Fund, has purchased a 3.6% stake in Indian facility management and cash logistics services company SIS with Mumbai-based 360 One Mutual Fund for INR 215 mn (c. USD 25.7 mn), according to a filing on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

Arqaam Capital launches securities lending solutions: Emerging markets investment bank Arqaam Capital will start offering securities lending and borrowing services for Abu Dhabi-listed securities, after it received approval from ADX, setting it up to attract more institutional investors, the brokerage said in a Linkedin post.

TRADE-

Iraq’s International Development Bank (IDB) has joined Etihad Credit Ins.’ Xport Xponential initiative, to facilitate UAE companies’ access to the Iraqi market by providing them with funding, Wam reports.

Remember- ECI launched the Xport Xponential initiative in May to boost UAE exports, particularly targeting SMEs and non-oil products. The platform seeks to offer UAE-based companies extensive credit facilities and financial solutions through collaborations with the financial and banking sectors. It also aims to streamline exporters’ access to countries with economic partnership agreements with the UAE.

FINANCE-

Hong Kong Fiduciary Association opens Dubai office: The Hong Kong Fiduciary Association opened an office in Dubai’s Business Bay, marking its seventh global office, Al Bayan reports.

Saudi and the UAE lead EY’s regional M&A league table

Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the top inbound M&A destinations in the GCC in 1H 2024, accounting for 152 inbound transactions at a disclosed value of USD 9.8 bn, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report. The GCC giants were also leading bidders, as sovereign wealth funds including the Public Investment Fund and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala doubled down on economic diversification plans.

Overall: The M&A count inched up 1% y-o-y at 321 transactions in the first half, while aggregate transaction value rose 12% to USD 49.2 bn, the report showed.

Saudi was home to the highest number of inbound M&As and was also the most-frequent bidder during the period.

The UAE was responsible for the largest transaction, with Mubadala’s USD 12.4 bn acquisition of Truist Ins. topping the list. Mubadala and ADIA were together responsible for the second-largest M&A transaction as the pair put down USD 8.3 bn for the Chinese mall unit of Dalian Wanda in April.

Saudi and Emirati countries have appetite — for each other: The first half of 2024 saw 94 transactions involving UAE companies on one side and the Kingdom on the other, accounting for 61% of intra-regional dealflow. Intra-regional transactions were worth c. USD 6.4 bn during the period, up 13% compared to the first half of 2023.

Inter-regional M&A activity accounted for 166 (52%) of 321 total transactions. Inter-regional activity also accounted for the lion’s share (87%) of transaction value at USD 42.8 bn, a 15% y-o-y increase.

GCC-based investors preferred the US as a destination for outbound M&A, closing 19 transactions Stateside worth some USD 16.6 bn. Europe accounted for 80% of inbound activity by volume, but companies in the United States were responsible for 98% by total value in USD terms.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

The Nikkei tumbled more than 3% at the opening bell and is holding steady there after the Bank of Japan yesterday raised its interest rate target to 0.25%, the highest level since 2007, on the eve of the global financial crisis.

Markets are otherwise mixed. The ASX 200 and the Kospi are in the green this morning, as is the Shanghai Composite, while the Hang Seng is down 0.3%.

European equities futures are mixed this morning, but punts on major Wall Street benchmarks were all up slightly in overnight trading as investors welcomed the Fed’s signal yesterday that it is essentially on track to start cutting interest rates in September.

ADX	9,339	-0.6% (YTD: -2.5%)
DFM	4,268	-0.4% (YTD: +5.1%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,718	-1.5% (YTD: -3.2%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.0% o/n	5.0% 1 yr
TASI	12,110	+0.4% (YTD: +1.2%)
EGX30	29,379	+1.2% (YTD: +18.0%)
S&P 500	5,522	+1.6% (YTD: +15.8%)
FTSE 100	8,368	+1.1% (YTD: +8.2%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,873	+0.7% (YTD: +7.8%)
Brent crude	USD 80.72	+2.7%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.04	+0.3
Gold	USD 2,492	+0.8%
BTC	USD 64,740	-2.4% (YTD: +52.9%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX fell 0.6% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.2 bn. The index is down 2.5% YTD.

In the green: Abu Dhabi National Takaful (+14.9%), Emirates Ins. (+13.6%) and National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain (+6.8%).

In the red: International Holding Company (-7.9%), Aldar Properties (-6.6%) and Q Holding (-6.5%).

Over on the DFM, the index closed down 0.4% on turnover of AED 624 mn. Meanwhile Nasdaq Dubai also fell 1.5%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

#1- Americana Restaurants International secured ADX approval to repurchase 25 mn of its own shares from the open market, an ADX filing (pdf) reads. These shares will be allocated to eligible employees under the company’s long-term incentive program.

#2- Dubai developer Drake & Scull agreed to settle outstanding payments with Italian developer Itinera related to the Reem Mall project, according to a board decision (pdf).

Background: In 2018, the Emirati developer was awarded a AED 600 mn contract for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work for the USD 1.2 bn Reem Mall in collaboration with its main developer, a JV between Itinera and UAE-based contractor Ghantoot. Drake & Scull formed a JV with the Itinera-Ghantoot firm, in which it held a 90% stake. The firm has since been struggling with losses, and underwent a restructuring plan — which wrote off 90% of its debt — back in November 2023.

FM visits Iran + Dubai ruler meets Boric

UAE Foreign Minister visits Iran: Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran yesterday, where they discussed potential cooperation across various areas of interest, according to a statement. On the same day, Bin Zayed met with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Wam separately reported. The discussions focused on strengthening UAE-Iran relations, enhancing cooperation, and addressing regional and international issues

ALSO- Bin Zayed held a phone call with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss ways to boost cooperation across different sectors and recent developments in the Middle East, Wam reports.

Dubai ruler meets Chile’s president: Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font to discuss ramping up bilateral relations, focusing on trade, investment, and economic cooperation for sustainable development, Wam reports. The sit-down comes after the UAE and Chile signed an economic partnership earlier this week to boost bilateral trade and investment.

OTHER DIPLO NEWS-

Eighty-five sick and severely injured Palestinians — including 35 children — were evacuated from Gaza to Abu Dhabi for specialized medical care, marking the largest medical evacuation outside Gaza since October 2023. The evacuation was carried out jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UAE government. (WHO)

CALENDAR

AUGUST

2 August (Friday): Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi.

3 August (Saturday): UFC Fight Night, Etihad arena, Abu Dhabi.

14 August (Wednesday): UAE to participate in ceasefire talks co-mediated by the US and KSA between the warring factions in Sudan.

20-21 August (Tuesday-Wednesday): The World ESG Summit, Dubai.

21-22 August (Wednesday-Thursday): Rex Fuels Global Expo & Conference 2024- Bitumen, Petrochemicals & Products, Dubai.

21-22 August (Wednesday-Thursday): Dubai Business Forum in Beijing, China.

25 August (Sunday): Deadline to register for the AI Challenge.

Signposted to happen sometime in mid-August:

New regulations on telemarketing calls will go into effect

SEPTEMBER

4-5 September (Wednesday-Thursday): 2024 International Government Communication Forum, Expo Centre Sharjah, Sharjah.

5 September (Thursday): Deadline to apply for the sixth edition of Access Sharjah Challenge.

9-11 September (Monday-Wednesday): World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA PPP forum, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA District Cooling Projects & MENA Cool Forum, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai.

11-12 September (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA oil and gas digitization conference, Abu Dhabi.

16-18 September (Monday-Wednesday): World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi.

23-25 September (Monday-Wednesday): WorldFreezonesOrganization’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Dubai.

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Green Steel Summit, Dubai, UAE.

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Global Aerospace Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

28-30 September (Saturday-Monday): World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Biennial General Meeting, Abu Dhabi.

30 September (Monday): Dubai Podfest, World Trade Center, Dubai.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Water, Energy and Environment Technology Exhibition, Dubai.

2-3 October (Wednesday-Thursday): The World Green Economy Summit, World Trade Center Dubai.

7-8 October (Monday-Tuesday): Forex expo, World Trade Center, Dubai.

8-9 October (Tuesday-Wednesday)): Global Trade and Supply Chain Summit, Dubai.

8-10 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition and Conference(Global Rail), Abu Dhabi.

14-18 October (Monday-Friday): IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi.

15 October (Tuesday): Deadline for the European Commission to make a decision on its probe into e&’s acquisition of PPF’s Eastern European assets.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Port Development MEA Forum, Dubai.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Roads, Bridges, Tunnels MENA Conference, Dubai.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): The Alternative Investment Summit, Dubai.

24-27 October (Thursday-Sunday): International Sports Medicine Conference, Dubai.

26-27 October (Saturday-Sunday): International Conference on Tourism, Transport, and Logistics, Dubai.

28-29 October (Monday-Tuesday): MENA Climate Proof Forum, Dubai.

29 October-2 November (Tuesday-Saturday): Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, Abu Dhabi.

30 October-1 November (Wednesday-Friday): World Cities Cultural Summit, Dubai.

NOVEMBER

3-10 November (Sunday-Sunday): Dubai Premier Padel P1, Dubai Dutyfree Tennis Stadium, Dubai.

4-7 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi.

4-7 November (Wednesday-Saturday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi.

4-7 November (Wednesday-Saturday): ADIPEC Decarbonisation Accelerator, Abu Dhabi.

6 November (Friday): World Finance Forum, Dubai.

11 November (Monday): Dubai Diamond Conference, Jafza One Convention Centre, Dubai.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): META Cinema Forum, Dubai.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): Fastmarkets Middle East Iron & Steel 2024, Dubai.

20-22 November (Wednesday-Friday): Xpanse Abu Dhabi, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi

22-23 November (Friday-Saturday): Global Meet on Electronics & Electrical Engineering (GMEEE), Dubai.

23 November (Saturday): Wireless Festival Middle East, Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi.

26-27 November (Tuesday-Wednesday) Global Food Security Summit, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

27-28 November (Wednesday-Thursday): RAK Energy Summit, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre, Ras Al Khaimah.

Signposted to happen ahead of ADIPEC:

Changemakers Majlis, Abu Dhabi.

DECEMBER

2-3 December (Monday-Tuesday): National Day, public holiday.

5-8 December (Thursday-Sunday): Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit.

8-12 December (Sunday-Thursday): International Desalination and Reuse Association World Congress, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

9-10 December (Saturday-Sunday): The Bitcoin Mena Conference, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

9-12 December (Saturday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Abu Dhabi.

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Business Aviation, Dubai World Central.

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

JANUARY 2025

1 January (Wednesday): ADGM to slash licensing fees for retail and non-financial firms, and hike fees for finance firms.

14-16 January (Tuesday-Thursday): World Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi.

FEBRUARY 2025

24-25 February (Monday-Tuesday): 3rd World Passenger Experience Forum, Dubai.

24-26 February (Monday-Wednesday): Connecting Hydrogen MENA, Dubai.

APRIL 2025

16-17 April: Global Ports Forum, Dubai.

MAY 2025

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

OCTOBER 2025

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

Signposted to happen sometime before the end of the year:

Spinneys inaugurates three more stores in KSA

Signposted to happen in 2025:

6-11 April (Sunday-Friday): Geo-Spatial Week 2025, Dubai.
3-4 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Make-A-Wish International’s Global Wish summit, Abu Dhabi.
TBD: The Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.
TBD: e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network.

Signposted to happen sometime in the fall of 2025:

2025 Games of the Future, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2028:

Abu Dhabi to host the 47th Chess Olympiad.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:

Dubai to host the International Conference on Computer Vision.

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