Mubadala Capital to take CI Financial private

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Investigations launched into the murder of Israeli rabbi + Adnoc hints at secondary share sale for Adnoc Gas

Good morning, lovely people. We have yet another packed issue for you this morning, led with news of a take-private transaction from Mubadala Capital and the Federal National Council’s approval of the UAE’s federal budget for next year. Plus: We have a couple of interesting reports on the banking sector in 3Q 2024.

WEATHER- It’s yet another warm and sunny day in Dubai, with temperatures hitting 33°C before cooling to an overnight low of 24°C. Over in Abu Dhabi, the mercury is set to hit 29°C before cooling to 23°C.

?️Starting tomorrow, expect potential dust storms and rainfall, especially in Northern, Western, and Eastern areas, the National Center of Meteorology forecasts (pdf), along with a drop in temperatures come Thursday.

FIRST- The UAE’s Interior Ministry launched investigations with three suspects arrested for the murder of Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan, Wam reports. The three perpetrators — Olimboy Tohirovich, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, and Azizbek Kamilovich — are all Uzbek nationals. Meanwhile, Iran dismissed allegations of its involvement in the incident, The Times of Israel reports. Israel previously recommended that residents avoid non-essential travel to the UAE for the time being.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Adnoc hinted that it is considering floating additional shares for Adnoc Gas on the ADX to boost liquidity and bring more investors on board, according to a disclosure to the ADX (pdf). No final decision has been made on the size and timing of the potential sale, Adnoc added.

IN CONTEXT- This came in the wake of rumors that Adnoc is mulling the sale of a 3-5% stake in its gas unit, which could be worth some USD 3.5 bn based on its share price at Friday’s close. The sale would follow a similar sale of a 5.5% stake in Adnoc Drilling for USD 935 mn to institutional investors in May, which paved the way for the drilling unit to join the MSCI Emerging Market Index.

#2- The UAE is on track to claim the second-largest share of investment banking fees in the Middle East this year, with fees up 10% y-o-y through 13 November at USD 478 mn, marking its second-best year so far, according to LSEG data cited by the IFR. The country is second only to Saudi Arabia, which saw its investment banking fees grow 44% y-o-y during the period to reach USD 493 mn.

Other metrics: Debt capital market fees in the UAE rose 35% y-o-y through mid-November to USD 131 mn, while those in Saudi Arabia added 46% to USD 156 mn. Meanwhile, equity capital market fees in the UAE dropped to USD 98 mn, while those in Saudi Arabia doubled to USD 168 mn.

#3- UBS Global Wealth Management expects the UAE’s non-oil GDP to grow 4.7% in 2024 and the oil GDP to grow 4.2% in 2025, CIO Michael Bolliger told Wam. The positive outlook for the non-oil sector is attributed to the booming tourism and real estate sectors, increased government spending on capital projects, and higher inflows of foreign direct investments. Bolliger previously forecast that the UAE’s GDP will top 5% in 2025, matching the IMF’s latest projections.

REMEMBER- Fitch expects the non-oil sector to grow at a 5 % clip this year, down from 6.2% growth last year, citing increasing borrowing costs as contributing to the slowdown, in addition to rising living costs driven by increasing rents in Dubai. Meanwhile, Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri expects non-oil GDP to grow at a 4.9% clip.

#4- Real estate demand in Dubai is expected to continue to exceed supply levels before supply increases to bridge the gap in 2027, Head of Research at JLL Taimur Khan told Asharq Business (watch, runtime: 9:18). Khan expects the number of transactions this year to reach 180k, with the boom in real estate investments expected to drive sizable transactions into real estate investment trusts in the near future.

#5- Masdar is in the race to develop renewables projects in KSA: The Saudi Power Procurement Company prequalified renewables giant Masdar, along with 15 other developers, for the sixth round of solar and wind projects under its National Renewable Energy Program, according to a statement.

This has been in the works: The company issued requests for qualification (RFQs) for five wind and solar projects in September. This round will add a combined capacity of 4.5 GW to Saudi Arabia's renewable energy portfolio. Key projects in this round include the 1.5 GW Dawadmi Wind IPP in Riyadh and four solar PV projects: a 1.4 GW plant in Najran, 600 MW each in Samtah and Ad Darb in Jizan, and a 400 MW plant in Hail.

PSA-

Family businesses in Sharjah will now be required to hold an incorporation contract after the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) began to implement its executive decision, which it passed last month, to regulate family businesses within the emirate, Wam reports. The decision aims to set up a legal framework for family businesses’ organization and governance, including mechanisms for resolving disputes. It also covers regulations on ownership, share disposal by partners, share classifications, family endowment businesses, family charters, and processes for liquidation.

The decision applies to family businesses formed within the emirate, existing companies owned by single-family members, and family enterprises in freezones.

HAPPENING TODAY-

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan kicks off a visit to Bahrain today, at the invitation of Bahrain’s PM and Crown Prince Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The visit aims to ramp up bilateral relations between the UAE and Bahrain, focusing on economic collaboration, potential investments, and developmental initiatives. We have more news from other UAE officials’ visit to Bahrain in Diplomacy, below.

ALSO- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos arrived in the UAE this morning for a working visit, with plans to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, the Manila Times reports. The visit should result in several agreements that would deepen ties between the countries, the news outlet said.

#1- Open Source AI Summit will take place today and tomorrow at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi. The event will feature discussions on prospects for open-source artificial intelligence, as well as challenges, ethical considerations, governance, and international cooperation.

#2- The Gulf Capital Market Summit will take place today at the Address Sky View in Dubai. The event will focus on debt and equity markets. Participants will include investors, issuers, market practitioners, and officials who will address key issues that will influence the future of the markets.

#3- The Global Food Security Summit will take place today and tomorrow as part of Global Food Week at the Adnec center in Abu Dhabi. The event will focus on biosecurity and agriculture in arid environments, as well as innovative and sustainable agricultural practices, including the application of artificial intelligence. The Global Food Week will also include the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition and coffee and palm festivals.

#4- The Global Women's Forum will take place today and tomorrowat Madinat Jumeriah in Dubai. The forum will feature over 60 sessions with participation from 100 leaders and influencers globally.

#5- Livable Cities X will kick off today and wrap on Thursday, 28 November at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will feature discussions with key players driving efforts to enhance sustainability, resilience, and livability in urban environments. Participants will engage with experts to discuss innovative solutions for urban challenges.

#6- Future FM Exhibition will kick off today and wrap on Thursday, 28 November at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will gather facility management experts and will discuss digital solutions within the industry to boost efficiency and sustainability.

#7- GeoWorld Summit will kick off today and wrap on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. The forum will focus on exploring the latest trends in geospatial technologies and providing solutions based on data analysis and visualization to business leaders and governments.

#8- The Global Media Congress 2024 will also kick off today and wrap on Thursday, 28 November at Abu Dhabi’s Adnec Center. The event will bring together leaders and notable figures in the media industry to discuss the latest trends and technologies in the sector.

#9- The Big 5 Global Exhibition kicks off today and wraps on Friday, 29 November at the Dubai World Trade Center. The exhibition will feature key players and experts in the construction industry to discuss recent innovations and showcase available investment prospects.

HAPPENING TOMORROW-

The RAK Energy Summit 2024 will take place on 27-28 November at the Al Hamra International Exhibition and Convention Center. The summit will bring together renewable energy experts and decision-makers to discuss energy transition and decarbonization efforts in the GCC region. It will also explore topics such as AI, future energy transport, and energy storage.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Abu Dhabi hotels welcomed 4.3 mn guests in 9M 2024, up from 4 mn during the same period in 2019, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani told Al Etihad. Hotel occupancy rates reached 77% in 9M 2024, up from 70% in the same period in 2023, with international visitors comprising 50% of the total guests, Al Hosani added.

Key markets contributing to this growth included India, China, Russia, the UK, and Saudi Arabia. The emirate is targeting 2.7 mn international visitors by the end of 2024, he said.

#2- The UAE came among ten countries worldwide that halved its road fatality rates, in line with the global goal set for 2021-2030, Khaleej Times reports. Still, the country ranked the second highest globally for road traffic death rate among younger populations below 45 years.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Truce in Lebanon coming soon? Israel and Hezbollah are expected to clinch a ceasefire agreement “within days” following US and French-mediated negotiations, with the Israeli cabinet set to vote on an agreement later today. The agreement is likely to pass, officials say, particularly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “under pressure” from Washington to push through a ceasefire by the end of this week. The two sides made “significant progress” towards a pact despite some sticking points — including Israel looking to secure the right to strike southern Lebanon regardless of the ceasefire — and while Israel continued to hammer Beirut with more deadly attacks. (Reuters | New York Times | Bloomberg | Wall Street Journal)

ACROSS THE POND- The international press is also giving top billing to US president-elect Donald Trump’s vow to slap China, Mexico, and Canada with fresh tariffs once he’s in office. In two separate posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said he plans to impose an additional 25% tariff on goods coming in from Canada and Mexico and 10% for all imported Chinese goods as a punitive measure for illegal drug trading and immigration issues. (CNBC | Politico | Financial Times | WSJ | Reuters | Bloomberg | NYT)

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OIL WATCH-

Goldman Sachs sees Brent crude prices staying at USD 70-85 per barrel this year, despite a supply deficit and geopolitical turmoil, Reuters reports, citing a note from the bank. Goldman maintained its 2025 Brent forecast at an average of USD 76 / bbl, potentially rising to the mid-USD 80s in 1H 2025 if Iranian oil supply drops amid stricter sanctions. For 2026, Goldman trimmed its forecast to USD 71 / bbl, anticipating a surplus of 0.9 mn barrels per day (bbl / d).

Sustained demand momentum: “While there is ample spare capacity in oil production, we expect refining to remain quite tight and gasoline and diesel margins to recover further,” the investment bank said, adding that long-term demand for oil remains strong due to rising energy demand, GDP growth, and ongoing challenges in decarbonization efforts across aviation and petrochemical sectors.

PLUS- Is Opec+ set for a third consecutive online meeting? Opec+ may opt for an online meeting for its upcoming gathering on 1 December in Vienna as most delegates have not received in-person invitations yet, Bloomberg reports citing sources it says are in the know. Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase are doubtful that Opec+ will follow through with output increases this year, estimating that it could lead to prices dropping below USD 60 / bbl, a scenario that would strain Saudi Arabia's finances.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The International Desalination and Water Reuse World Congress will take place between 8-12 December at the Adnec Center in Abu Dhabi. The event will feature discussions on innovations in water desalination and reuse technologies, decarbonization efforts, integrated water resources management, and best practices for rationalizing water consumption.

The WORLDEF Dubai 2024 forum will take place on 4-5 December at Dubai CommerCity. The event will gather over 5k representatives from leading organizations in digital commerce.

The European Arab Medical Congress will take place on 11-12 December at the headquarters of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination in Abu Dhabi. Hosted by the Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies, the event will host 50 speakers and feature 40 scientific sessions covering the latest innovations in medicine and medical technology.

The Arab Health Exhibition 2025 will take place between 27-30 January at the Dubai World Trade Center. The exhibit aims to showcase the latest tech solutions to challenges in the healthcare sector. Over 3.8k companies will participate, including healthcare giant PureHealth and state-owned health-tech firm M42.

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

Mubadala Capital to take Canada’s CI Financial private in USD 3.4 bn transaction

Mubadala Capital to take CI Financial private: Canadian mutual fund manager CI Financial is set to go private in a CAD 4.7 bn (USD 3.4 bn) transaction, backed by Mubadala’s asset management unit, Mubadala Capital, it said in a statement. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in 2Q 2025. It marks one of the largest privatization transactions by an Abu Dhabi entity in the financial sector, Bloomberg reports. The total agreement, including debt, values CI at CAD 12.1 bn.

The transaction will require approval from CI shareholders, with a special meeting expected in January 2025 to secure at least 66⅔% of votes cast by shareholders. Shareholders owning 16.88% of CI’s outstanding shares have already entered into a voting and support agreement with Mubadala Capital agreeing to vote in favor of the transaction. An independent committee of CI board members also unanimously approved the transaction.

The payout for shareholders: CI shareholders will receive CAD 32 per share in cash, a 33% premium over the previous closing price. After the transaction, CI will delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange, and dividends will be suspended. Mubadala Capital will inject an additional CAD 750 mn in cash at closing to reduce preferred equity.

Not completely out: Despite going private, CI will remain a reporting issuer in Canada due to its outstanding debentures and notes, according to the statement.

What’s next? CI Financial will remain headquartered in Canada, with CEO Kurt MacAlpine continuing to lead the firm under Mubadala’s long-term investment philosophy. Other senior management members will also roll some of their shares into the private entity.

If the agreement falls through: CI will owe Mubadala CAD 150 mn if the transaction fails under certain conditions. Conversely, Mubadala will pay CAD 225 mn if regulatory approval or other conditions delay or block the transaction.

CI Financial has been suffering from accumulating debt: S&P downgraded the company’s debt to junk status in 2023, following a costly restructuring strategy by MacAlpine in 2019. The strategy, focusing on US acquisitions to diversify income, had mixed results. The company, which managed CAD 518 bn in client assets as of September, had previously sold a 20% stake in its US wealth management division Corient to Bain Capital and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to reduce debt — a transaction that got some criticism for including convertible preferred stock, which Mubadala will now reduce with the CAD 750 mn payout.

ADVISORS- INFOR Financial is the financial advisor to CI’s special committee of independent members of the board, while Wildeboer Dellelce is serving as legal advisor. Stikeman Elliott and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom are serving as legal advisors to CI, while RBC Capital Markets is also an advisor to CI. Jefferies Securities is Mubadala Capital’s lead financial advisor, with Blake, Cassels & Graydon and Latham & Watkins serving as legal advisors, FGS Longview acting as strategic communications and public affairs advisor, and BMO Capital Markets also acting as advisor.

FNC approves bumper federal budget for 2025

FNC greenlights highest-ever AED 71.5 bn budget: The Federal National Council (FNC) approved a draft federal law linking the Union General budget and independent federal entities' budgets for 2025, bringing the total to AED 71.5 bn in both revenues and expenditures, state news agency Wam reports. The budget marks the largest in UAE history.

REMEMBER- The cabinet had approved the federal budget earlier in October, which carves out part of a bigger federal budget of AED 192 bn previously approved for 2024-2026 in October 2023. The spending plan sets out a 12% y-o-y increase in expenditure compared to 2024’s budget of AED 64.06 bn.

Here’s the breakdown:

Social development comprises the lion’s share of the total budget AED 27.9 bn (39%) allocated;
AED 10.0 bn (15.3%) will go towards education;
AED 5.5 bn will go to healthcare and community prevention, and AED 8.9 bn to social care;
AED 8.1 bn to defense affairs, AED 8.2 bn to public affairs and safety, an AED 2.5 bn to economic affairs;
AED 23.4 bn is going to public services;
AED 1.3 bn will go towards culture and arts, and AED 660 mn is going to housing;

The UAE’s largest 10 banks raked in AED 20.3 bn worth of net income during 3Q

The combined net income of the UAE's 10 largest listed banks fell 5.5% q-o-q to AED 20.3 bn in 3Q 2024, on the back of higher impairment charges, according to Dubai-based management consultancy Alvarez & Marsal’s UAE Banking Pulse report (pdf). Net interest income rose 1.5% q-o-q, but growth was sluggish, driven by a 50 bps reduction in the CBUAE benchmark interest rate, and a drop in the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR).

REMEMBER- The CBUAE — like other GCC central banks whose currencies are pegged to the USD — followed in the US Federal Reserve’s footsteps and cut the overnight deposit rate by 50 basis points in September, from 5.40% to 4.90%.

Loans and advances (L&A) increased 3.5% q-o-q. Retail lending led the way with a 4.9% q-o-q increase, outpacing corporate/wholesale lending, which grew by 3.2% q-o-q. Corporate lending made up 55.5% of the loan book. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Emirates NBD led the pack with the highest growth rates in loans among the 10 banks, with a 7.9% and 4.9% q-o-q increase in L&A.

Deposits outpaced L&A in growth, improving 3.9% q-o-q, with almost all banks recording increases in deposits. RAK Bank logged the highest increase in deposits during the period, with a 10.6% q-o-q increase.

Six of the 10 banks saw cost efficiencies take a hit, with the aggregate cost-to-income ratio rising by 99 bps to 29%. This increase was driven by a 7.1% q-o-q rise in operating expenses, outpacing the 3.5% q-o-q growth in operating income.

The overall cost of risk worsened to 0.6% during 3Q, as banks managed a 124.9% q-o-q increase in aggregate impairment charges amounting to AED 2.9 bn. Emirates NBD alone reported 900 mn in impairment charges.

Profitability was weighed by a heavy reliance on time deposits, which constituted 44.1% of their total deposits, up 5.6% q-o-q.

A&M expects banks' profitability to be impacted by further rate cuts from the CBUAE, despite reduced borrowing costs and strengthening loan growth. It also expects more loan refinancing and restructuring throughout the year.

The consultancy remains optimistic: “UAE banks’ management guidance indicates optimism on loan growth while taking a cautious stance on the asset quality front with impairment cost outlook mostly indicating a conservative stance,” A&M said.

The 10 largest banks in terms of assets: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) with AED 1.2 tn, Emirates NBD (ENBD) at AED 956 bn, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) at AED 638.8 bn, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) at AED 329.2 bn, Mashreq (MASQ) at AED 254.4 bn, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) at AED 222.6 bn, Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) at AED 140.2 bn, RAK Bank at AED 83.9 bn, Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) at AED 74.8 bn, and National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) at AED 58.5 bn.

UAE banks’ performance in 3Q 2024 indicate ample liquidity and continued growth -Kamco

UAE banks had a solid 3Q 2024 compared to their GCC counterparts, taking the lead in customer deposits, net interest margins, and return on equity, while achieving the lowest cost-to-income ratio across the region, according to a Kamco Invest report (pdf).

Customer deposits grew by 3.1% q-o-q to USD 828 bn in 3Q 2024, while lending jumped 3.4% q-o-q during the quarter. The UAE’s loan-to-deposit ratio was the second lowest in the GCC, reaching 69.3% after Bahrain’s 66.1%, marking a 30 bps increase compared to 2Q 2024. This figure indicates that UAE banks “remain in a comfortable position to finance future growth” in terms of liquidity, according to the report.

The UAE had the second highest gross credit figures in the region, after Saudi Arabia, with AED 2.1 tn in gross credit — a marginal increase driven by a 0.3% increase in domestic credit that offset the 1.5% decrease in foreign credit.

Total bank revenues rose 3.9% q-o-q, with net interest income increasing 1.8% q-o-q and net interest margins coming in at 3.42% — the highest in the region, though still marginally decreasing from 3.47% in 2Q 2024. The solid margins indicate “ample liquidity that allows UAE banks to capitalize on the tightening interest rate cycle with more modest asset growth,” Kamco said. Non-interest income grew 7.5% q-o-q.

Increase in expenses was offset by a cost-to-income ratio improvement: UAE-listed banks recorded the highest q-o-q growth in operating expenses across the region with a 7.7% q-o-q jump to USD 4.6 bn in 3Q 2024. However, this figure was offset by reporting the biggest q-o-q decline in cost-to-income ratios, amounting to 37.6% compared to 38.2% in 2Q 2024.

Loan impairments more than doubled to reach USD 800 mn in this quarter — the highest increase across the GCC. Still, the cost of risk ratio — which is the ratio of yearly provisions to average loans — came in at 0.5%, which is the same value as the average ratio for the GCC banking sector.

Emirati banks achieved a 16.8% return on equity ratio, dropping slightly by 10 bps compared to 2Q 2024, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar at 12.8%.

REGIONAL PICTURE-

GCC banks reported a record high of USD 2.1 tn in gross loans in 3Q 2024, increasing 10.1% y-o-y and 3.1% q-o-q, backed by growth across all regional markets. Operating expenses rose for the second consecutive quarter by 4.1% q-o-q to USD 13.1 bn, which was driven by higher expenses in four out of six GCC country aggregates and which weighed on the aggregate net income of GCC banks. Net income saw a three-quarter low growth of 0.4% q-o-q.

The aggregate net interest income also rose to a record level of USD 22.1 bn in this quarter, while the return on equity remained high in comparison to the last few years at 13.6%.

Businesses report improved business performance citing AI adoption

AI investments fuel business growth in Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Some 88% of organizations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that invested in AI have seen improved business performance over the past two years, according to a recent International Data Corporation survey (pdf). Currently, 28% are already investing in AI, 50% plan to, and 21% have no plans to adopt the technology.

Data literacy, skills, and modernization lead AI priorities: Some 62% of UAE-based businesses are focusing on data literacy and AI skills enablement, and on AI solution/model security. AI-enabled tools/apps are a priority for 54%, followed by data architecture, engineering and management and advanced analytics at the edge (42%). Around 33% are prioritizing AI-ready digital infrastructure and data centers.

GenAI for corporate strategy is top of mind, while customer service lags behind: Corporate strategy is leading the way in generative AI investment in Saudi and the UAE, with 23% of organizations already investing and 41% planning to. Software development follows, with 11% currently investing and 59% planning. Facilities and customer service are seeing the lowest current investments (4% and 3%), but they have the highest planning rates (84% and 83%).

Spending allocations for generative AI: In the UAE, 28% of generative AI budgets go toward public cloud infrastructure, with 14% earmarked for dedicated infrastructure. Another 19% is allocated to external AI platforms for managing model lifecycles, while 19% supports external service providers for development, deployment, and management. Internal teams, including data scientists and IT specialists, receive 12% of the budget.

Challenges to AI adoption: AI adoption faces several hurdles, including vague privacy and security regulations, a shortage of skilled talent, unpredictable costs, and challenges like limited GPU/server access and inefficient data architectures. Businesses also struggle with confusion around generative AI, a saturation of AI solutions, and difficulty in establishing a solid business case.

Cloud providers top generative AI partner list: As generative AI adoption ramps up, companies in the UAE are looking to cloud providers (69%) and IT consulting firms (36%) as their top partners. Enterprise application providers (29%) and GenAI model vendors (12%) follow, while business consulting partners (9%), digital infrastructure providers (8%), Gen-AI startups (3%), and semiconductor vendors (3%) round out the list.

Surge in property buyers + UHNWIs continues to dominate the conversation around the UAE in the foreign press

The persistent real estate boom in the UAE and the attraction of foreign buyers and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices is still the dominant topic around the UAE in the foreign press.

#1- Aldar Properties is seeing a surge in demand for homes in Abu Dhabi, largely driven by foreign buyers, which now make up 30% of its sales, up from 11% in 2021, Chairman Mohamed Al Mubarak told Bloomberg. The emirate will need to boost its hotel rooms by 60% to accommodate rising demand, especially in the summer months, adding some 20k hotel rooms within the next five years, up from around 33k rooms currently, he estimates.

#2- Deutsche Bank’s Head of Emerging Markets Wealth Management Marco Pagliara attributed Duba’s appeal to ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and family offices to geopolitical shifts and a diverse influx of residents, he told Bloomberg in an interview.

Family offices are increasingly interested in direct investments, particularly in AI, but finding sustainable opportunities is a struggle, according to Pagliara. Despite this, the broader regional focus is shifting away from oil dependency.

ALSO GETTING INK- A pack of Argentine Patagonian maras has been spotted at Al Qudra Lakes near Dubai, where they have thrived for several years, with estimates suggesting up to 200 in the area. (AP)

Mashreq deploys SAP Fieldglass tech to boost contingent workforce management

BANKING-

#1- Our friends at Mashreq are deploying SAP Fieldglass technology into the bank’s cloud infrastructure to optimize its management of its contingent workforce and services management, streamlining processes and improving supplier collaboration, according to a press release. Mashreq is the first financial institution in the UAE to use a SAP Fieldglass-powered managed service provider model.

#2- Emirates Development Bank and Ajman Bank will create a joint credit guarantee scheme to support SMEs under their renewed partnership, according to a press release. Under the scheme, EDB will guarantee up to 50% of the loans handed out by Ajman Bank to SMEs.

The initiative focuses on the manufacturing, food security, advanced technology, healthcare, and renewables sectors. The two entities began their original agreement in 2021, through which Ajman Bank agreed to offer up to AED 10 mn in SME financing.

AGRICULTURE-

Adnoc carbon capture project receives DNV certification: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has received a ‘Site Feasibility Certificate’ from Norway-based environmental assessor DNV for the West Aquifer carbon capture and storage (CCS) site in the UAE, according to a press release. Adnoc hopes to decarbonize its Ruwais industrial site through the project. The project is the first carbon storage location in the Middle East to receive the certification, which approves the initial feasibility for long-term CO2 storage.

AGRICULTURE-

The UAE’s Crysp Farms is partnering with agritech veteran Alesca Technologies to deploy 500 AI-powered vertical farms across Mena over the next five years, according to a press release. The farms will provide over 130 varieties of fresh, pesticide-free produce year-round within an hour of harvest, while using 90% less water and 99% less land compared to traditional agriculture.

The agreement targets major hospitality providers, including Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and Jumeirah Group, with plans to expand to other sectors in the region.

TECH-

e& Enterprise, Cloudera to boost deployment of AI solutions: e&’s tech solutions arm e& Enterprise partnered with US data management company Cloudera to create industry-specific AI-powered solutions, aimed at ramping up operational efficiency and productivity across telecommunications, healthcare, finance, and government sectors in the Middle East, according to a press release.

CRYPTO-

KelpMe, Mavryk Network, and Hive secure wins at DMCC + Bybit’s Web3 hackathon: Three UAE-backed companies were the finalists at The Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) and global crypto exchange Bybit ’s second joint hackathon, alongside South Korea-Singapore Telegram-based app Trepa and Turkey’s browser extension Poppin, according to a press release. The UAE-linked projects included:

KelpMe, a blockchain-based asset recovery system addressing private key loss and misdirected transactions (UAE, USA, and Greece);
Mavryk Network, a Layer 1 blockchain for asset tokenization and DeFi applications (Dubai, Gibraltar, Singapore, Paris, and Kiev);
Hive, GPU-sharing solution for democratizing tech access (Abu Dhabi and Belgium).

REFRESHER- DMCC and Bybit’s second joint hackathon took place on 20 November at DMCC’s Uptown Tower and focused on AI, gaming, and information security. A total prize pool of USD 160k was awarded to the most innovative Web3 businesses.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Empower to develop district cooling services in northern emirates: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) signed an MoU with the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry to identify potential areas of collaboration for deploying district cooling solutions across the northern emirates, according to a press release (pdf).

FINTECH-

Fintech business clients at the Commercial Bank International (CBI) will be able to access areeba’s payment solutions under a fresh agreement between the two parties. The move makes CBI the first local bank to offer areeba’s products, according to a press release.

AVIATION-

#1- Flydubai will add new seasonal summer flights to Egypt’s Al Alamein International Airport. The daily flights will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport between 21 June and 7 September, 2025, Wam reports.

#2- Emirates received its first Airbus A350, A6-EXA, marking the start of a 65-aircraft order, according to a statement. The A350, the airline’s first new aircraft type since 2008, will enter commercial service in January, with Edinburgh as its debut destination, followed by eight other destinations across the Middle East, West Asia, and Europe.

#3- Etihad Airways is adding 10 new routes starting July 2025, according to a company statement. New destinations include Algiers, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Krabi, Phnom Penh, Taipei and Tunis.

ENERGY-

Transco launches new transformer and power systems to support green energy integration: Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (Transco) brought two of the largest phase-shifting transformers in Abu Dhabi online and launched the UAE’s largest dynamic reactive power system and a utility-scale reactive power system in Al Ain, Wam reports. The phase shifters aim to support the integration of renewable energy sources, optimize flow control and grid management, and decrease power loss.

LOGISTICS-

Adnoc Logistics & Services (L&S) received its first newbuild LNG carrier from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard, part of an order of six, according to a statement. The tanker, dubbed Al Shelila, was delivered two months ahead of schedule and has a capacity of 175k metric tons. It will be hired by an unnamed global energy trader and is designed to reduce emissions by up to 50% compared to older models. The remaining five carriers are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026.

This delivery is part of Adnoc L&S's broader expansion strategy, which includes a USD 250 mn ammonia carrier order placed last month. The company plans to invest USD 5 bn in the medium term to meet the rising demand for natural gas. AW Shipping, a joint venture of Adnoc L&S, also placed a USD 1.9 bn order for 11 dual-fuel low-carbon carriers, with deliveries starting next year.

How will the incoming Trump administration affect the markets?

A Trump presidency is likely to bring with it big changes in geopolitics and the global economy, so investors need to take a close look at how the incoming Trump administration will affect the markets — and what to do protect and strengthen their portfolios, Swiss investment bank UBS writes in its Year Ahead 2025 report (pdf).

One winner under the Trump administration will be US stock markets, thinks UBS, which it has backed up with its forecast that the S&P 500 should reach 6.6k points by the end of 2025 — a roughly 10% jump from where the index stands now. In addition to expectations of decent growth, the Fed continuing to cut rates, and the rise of AI — which had all been priced in before the election — the approaching Trump presidency brings with it pledged tax cuts and deregulation that UBS thinks will help support US stocks.

But stock markets elsewhere may not be so fortunate, with Trump’s proposed tariffs — particularly on China — potentially making a big dent in investor confidence. With the president elect already floating a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% tariff on imports from elsewhere, the bank forecasts the likelihood of market volatility over the pond in Europe and in the world’s second largest economy.

US Bonds are also likely to soon lose their shine, after having seen their yield rise on the announcement of Trump winning the White House earlier this month. The bank is telling investors to lock in return now before more interest rate cuts from the Fed and Trump’s desire to relax fiscal policy facing likely hurdles in Congress sends yields down.

An increasingly strong greenback is also set for a reckoning, according to the bank, with the USD’s post-election honeymoon forecast to be a short-term thing as it becomes apparent that is both overvalued and overstretched.

Gold prices should be back on the up in 2025, allowing the safe-haven asset once again to take its place as an important hedge for investors against inflation, geopolitics, and other concerns. The bank — which advises that investors keep 5% of their investments in gold — sees the previous metal rising to USD 2.9k per oz, a nearly 10% increase from current prices.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mostly starting the day off in the red despite US stocks hitting new records the day before, with Japan’s Nikkei leading the pack in the red at -1.3% and Korea’s Kospi at -0.7%. China’s Shanghai index is in the green by 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is up 0.4%.

ADX	9,232	0.0% (YTD: -3.6%)
DFM	4,768	+1.0% (YTD: +17.5%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,870	+0.6% (YTD: +0.7%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.6% o/n	4.4% 1 yr
TASI	11,788	-0.7% (YTD: -1.5%)
EGX30	30,271	-0.4% (YTD: +21.6%)
S&P 500	5,987	+0.3% (YTD: +25.5%)
FTSE 100	8292	+0.4% (YTD: +7.2%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4800	+0.2% (YTD: +6.2%)
Brent crude	USD 73.15	-2.7%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.37	+7.7%
Gold	USD 2,642.60	-3.5%
BTC	USD 93,749.90	-4.3% (YTD: +122.3%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX remained flat yesterday on turnover of AED 2.2 bn. The index is down 3.6% YTD.

In the green: Adnoc Drilling (+6.9%), Agility (+6.1%) and Al Khaleej Investment (+5.5%).

In the red: Abu Dhabi Aviation (-9.9%), Aram Group (-9.6%) and Gulf Medical Projects (-8.4%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 1.0% on turnover of AED 814.2 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai closed up 0.6%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

#1- Takaful Emarat secured approval from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to extend the subscription period for its capital icnrease to 6 December, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). The firm is raising its share capital to AED 185 mn, at an issue price of AED 1 a piece.

REMEMBER- Takaful Emarat kicked off the rights issue to existing shareholders as part of its capital restructuring on 1 November, setting it up to raise its share capital to AED 185 mn, up from AED 25.6 mn, by issuing 159 mn new shares. The firm reduced its capital to AED 25.7 mn by canceling 124.4 mn shares earlier in October as part of a capital restructuring plan the firm revealed in February, aimed at offsetting the AED 132 mn accumulated loss the company had incurred as of 31 December 2023.

#2- Union Coop's board approved the appointment of Al Tamimi & Co. to conduct a study for the transformation of the company into a public joint-stock company, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). Last week, we reported that Union Coop had tapped a legal advisor to explore changing its legal status.

UAE and Bahrain sign tourism cooperation agreement for 2024-2028

UAE and Bahrain sign tourism cooperation program for 2024-2028: The UAE and Bahrain have signed an executive program for tourism cooperation, set to run from 2024 to 2028, the Bahrain News Agency reports. The agreement, part of the Bahraini-Emirati Joint Ministerial Committee, aims to boost tourism ties, drive sustainable growth, and solidify both nations as leading tourism destinations. Key initiatives include joint promotion of tourism offerings, specialized training in tourism and hospitality, and exchanging expertise to strengthen the sector.

FM meets with Bahrain’s King + PM: Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to discuss boosting cooperation and partnerships between the countries across key sectors, Wam reports. The minister also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Wam reports separately.

UAE mulls investments in Turkmenistan: Industry Minister and Adnoc CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, alongside Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, led a UAE delegation to Turkmenistan to explore increased cooperation and investment in oil and gas, clean energy, and infrastructure, Wam reports.

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

19-27 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Subscription period for the retail portion of Talabat’s IPO.

19-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Subscription period for the institutional portion of Talabat’s IPO.

26 November (Tuesday): The Gulf Capital Market Summit, Address Sky View, Dubai.

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

26-27 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global Women’s Forum Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

26-27 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Open Source AI Summit, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Liveable Cities X, Dubai World Trade Center.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Future FM, Dubai World Trade Center.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Geo World, Dubai World Trade Center.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday) Global Media Congress 2024, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

26-29 November (Tuesday-Friday): Big 5 Global, Dubai World Trade Centre.

27 November: Acceptance period for Adnoc’s Covestro takeover bid ends.

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

28 November-1 December (Thursday-Sunday): Spartan World Championship, Al Wathba Desert, Abu Dhabi.

30 November (Saturday): Football Legends Cup, Al Maktoum Stadium Al Nasr Sports Club, Dubai.

DECEMBER

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

4-5 December (Wednesday-Thursday): Sport Impact Summit, The Palm, Dubai.

4-5 December (Wednesday-Thursday): WORLDEF Dubai, Dubai CommerCity.

4-6 December (Wednesday-Friday): Abu Dhabi Business Week, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

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

5 December (Thursday): Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition, Adnec center, Abu Dhabi.

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

13 December - 4 January (Friday-Saturday): Liwa International Festival, Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi.

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

1- December (Tuesday): Talabat’s shares will start trading on the DFM.

9-12 December (Monday-ThursdayTuesday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Abu Dhabi.

9-12 December (Monday-Thursday): IEEE International Conference on Data Mining 2024, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi.

10-11 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global Trade and Infrastructure at Logimotion, Dubai World Trade Center.

10-11 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): SCALEX at Logimotion, Dubai World Trade Center.

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

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): The Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association Show, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.

11-13 December (Wednesday-Friday): European-Arab Medical Congress, Abu Dhabi.

14-21 December (Saturday-Saturday): World Schools Festival, Abu Dhabi

16-20 December (Monday-Friday): AIMS Conference 2024, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi.

6 December-12 January: Dubai Shopping Festival.

Signposted to happen sometime in December:

UAE-China Summit, Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, Abu Dhabi.

JANUARY 2025

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

7-9 January (Tuesday-Thursday): 17th edition of the Arab Plast International Trade Fair for Plastics, Recycling, Petrochemicals, Packaging and Rubber Industry, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, Dubai.

9-13 January (Thursday-Monday): International Renewable Energy Agency Youth Forum, Abu Dhabi.

11-13 January (Saturday-Monday): International Renewable Energy Agency Assembly, Abu Dhabi.

11-13 January (Saturday-Monday): The 1 Bn Followers Summit, Dubai.

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

14-16 January (Tuesday- Thursday): The Light + Intelligent Building Middle East exhibition, Dubai.

14-16 January (Tuesday- Thursday): Intersec, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

19-24 January (Sunday-Friday): Coling 2025, Abu Dhabi.

20-22 January (Saturday-Monday): FESPA Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

27-30 January (Monday-Thursday): Arab Health Exhibition 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

FEBRUARY 2025

1-8 February (Saturday-Saturday): The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Centre.

1-28 February (Saturday-Friday): 3rd Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agriculture Excellence Award, Abu Dhabi.

2-3 February (Sunday-Monday): L’Etape Dubai cycling race, Dubai.

3-6 February (Monday-Thursday): Medlab Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

16 February-1 March: Dubai Dutyfree Tennis Championships, Dubai Dutyfree Tennis Stadium in Al Garhoud.

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

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 1Q 2025:

The first eight fronds of the Palm Jebel Ali will be site-ready, allowing for the commencement of villa infrastructure and civil works.

APRIL 2025

6-11 April (Sunday-Friday): Geo-Spatial Week 2025, Dubai.

7-10 April 2025 (Monday-Thursday) : EFG Hermes One on One conference, Dubai.

7-9 April (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Investment Summit, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center

14-16 April (Monday-Wednesday): Dubai Woodshow’s 21st Edition, Dubai World Trade Center

14-16 April (Monday-Wednesday): IPS congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

16-18 April (Wednesday-Friday): World Future Energy Summit,Abu Dhabi National Exhibition, Abu Dhabi.

28 April-1 May (Monday-Thursday): The Arabian Travel Market 2025, Dubai World Trade Center

Signposted to happen sometime in April:

Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi

MAY 2025

6-7 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global Ports Forum, Dubai.

19-22 May (Monday-Thursday): Make it in the Emirates Forum 2025, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

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

SEPTEMBER 2025

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

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

OCTOBER 2025

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

NOVEMBER 2025

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

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

Signposted to happen sometime in the fall of 2025:

2025 Games of the Future, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum
Dubai to host the Arab Actuarial Conference
United Nations Water Conference 2026, UAE

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