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Agriculture
THIS MORNING: UAE bond yields spike amid global bond rout + Abu Dhabi’s L’Imad is now the owner of McLaren stake
Plus: FAB expands to Turkey, and into wearable payments tech
Masdar to power farming with solar, Biobank links up with Astrazeneca, Jotun goes long-term, Abu Dhabi backs Bain, and GSU + China partner on energy
Masdar linked up with Elite Agro Holding for the region’s first agricultural PV project
Two more CEPAs in the bag
The Philippines CEPA alone is forecast to add USD 2.4 bn to UAE GDP by…
Legend earmarks AED 500 mn to expand Jafza facility + M42 opens hospital in Bahrain
Plus: Edge inks US partnership for metal production
Automotive
THIS MORNING: New seven stations announced for Etihad Rail + Apollo Go gets driverless trial permit in Dubai
Plus: Philippines and the UAE to sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement next week
THIS MORNING: Tesla’s full self-driving system to launch in the UAE next month? + ADGM approves another stablecoin
Plus: GCC's real GDP to expand by 4.4% in 2026 -Oxford Economics
Abu Dhabi’s Khazna solar project awards EPC contract to China’s SEPCO3
Plus: Dubai is getting a new car trading hub
Aldar buys AED 570 mn logistics assets from AD Ports
Plus: DataCamp expands into the Middle East with the acquisition of AI learning platform Optima
Banking
Credit demand grew in 4Q as SMEs’ demand hits decade high
Business loan demand strengthened over the quarter, posting a net balance of +24.8 percentage points
THIS MORNING: Int’l players assess UAE operations amid strikes + Opec to raise production in April
Plus: The competition is heating up for India’s IDBI
The earnings hour is upon us
CBD’s growth was supported by loans exceeding AED 100 bn
Emirates NBD clears hurdle for acquisition of Indian lender RBL
The transaction is expected to close in 1Q FY 2026-27
Capital markets
ADX, DFM are closed today and tomorrow as regulatory body assesses the situation
Expect “high-beta real estate and financial stocks” to feel the initial heat when markets reopen
Headwinds are coming for banking and energy stocks, but the DFM and ADX could still have a good year
With banks flat and energy down, the burden of growth falls squarely on real estate
THIS MORNING: EU, UAE trade pact to come within months? + Damac secures US land for data centers
Plus: Foreign investors ended 2025 as net buyers of UAE equities
THIS MORNING: World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos + President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is in India
Plus: DWC and Informa Events’ JV could hit the DFM this year
Climate
Dubai’s Bybit sets up EU HQ in Vienna
Egypt’s Madinet Masr expands to UAE, UAE signs three-way push for agriculture, upskilling, and investment…
THIS MORNING: Adnoc to sell stake in Adnoc Gas? + Four-day weekend confirmed
Plus: UAE ranks fifth in the world for AI
Climate change behind the intensity of last week’s storm
PLUS: How G42 fits into the US-China tech race
Dubai approves AED 40 bn PPPs
Good morning, friends, and happy FRIDAY. We have a pretty busy issue to close out a…
Commodities
BIS flags bubble-like conditions in gold, US equities
The bank noted this is the first time in at least five decades that equities…
Multiply, Modon continue their overseas push with fresh investments
Plus: Property Finder will onboard Stake’s fractional property investment onto its platform
Dar + Trump partner to develop and tokenize hotel in Maldives
Plus: Aster to build two new hospitals with AED 265 mn in financing from Emirates…
THIS MORNING: Adnoc could close Covestro acquisition before early December + DMCC to develop new financial center
Plus: UAE to hand over 60% of revenues from Islamabad Airport in takeover?
Construction
UAE projects slip but pockets of growth keep it ahead of other GCC markets
The UAE overtook Saudi Arabia as the GCC’s largest projects market, rising to a 41.3%…
Modon awards Orascom Construction a development contract for district in Ras El Hekma
Plus: Dubai’s design hub is getting a residential upgrade
Abu Dhabi developer acquires marina construction firm as more developers expand infrastructure capabilities amid property boom
Plus: Modon divests stake in Icon Hotel to ADQ
THIS MORNING: Yachts set to move more easily between Dubai and Abu Dhabi + Scrap metal now subject to VAT reverse charge mechanism
Plus: Construction contracts are up in 9M 2025, and the property boom is still to…
Crypto
DFSA hands crypto oversight to firms
Firms now bear full regulatory and supervisory exposure
THIS MORNING: Rakbank is the latest to join the stablecoin party + Contract awards fell in 2025
Plus: Health and Prevention Ministry is drafting rules to cap salt levels in food
A new regional lead at Binance
The move comes on the heels of approval for Binance to run its global platform…
THIS MORNING: AE Coin to be integrated into Network International’s PoS and e-commerce payment infrastructure + Non-oil private sector ended 2025 firmly in growth territory
Plus: The oil glut is hitting the Middle East’s crude market
Development finance
THIS MORNING: IMF sees MENA growing 3.9% in 2026
Plus: AD Ports eyes Nigeria’s ports
FAB, Afreximbank offer USD 1 bn for Nigeria coastal road
The project benefits from a credit ins. wrapper from the Islamic Corporation for the Ins.…
ADFD to boost Mauritania’s water security
The project is expected to serve around 500k people in Mauritania’s Kiffa city and surrounding…
The IMF is happy with the UAE’s reform and growth trajectory, based on its latest article IV consultation
The anticipated 2025 growth is driven by a projected 5.3% expansion in the hydrocarbon sector…
E-commerce
Amazon’s local rival noon gets USD 500 mn backing
The newly raised capital and a potential IPO could fuel noon’s expansion and automation
Brics’ NBD’s list USD 50 bn note program on Nasdaq Dubai + Several firms join new FIDA cluster in Abu Dhabi
ALSO- An agentic AI platform for lawyers raises pre-seed round
PE firm KKR expands to Abu Dhabi + Zand AED-backed stablecoin gets approval
Plus: Emirates NBD joins Finance Ministry’s retail T-sukuk initiative
THIS MORNING: New one-stop travel system for GCC citizens + New crypto and rent installments payment options coming to the property market
Plus: Abu Dhabi saw more than 4 mn visitors in 1H 2025
Education
Taaleem posts strong 21% revenue surge in 1Q
The group saw a 13.9% dip in its net income due to expansion costs
Job seekers are leaning on microcredentials and online courses amid rising competition and demand for new skills
Coursera CEO Greg Hart tells us the majority of employers are more likely to hire…
Almasar Education gained 18.41% on its Tadawul debut
Around 21.4 mn shares changed hands across 41k trades worth SAR 450.4 mn
Almasar Education wraps up Tadawul IPO, with retail portion 1.2x oversubscribed
The retail portion was 1.21x oversubscribed
Energy
THIS MORNING: European airlines suspend flights to the GCC amid US-Iran tensions + Ruwais project to kick off operations ahead of schedule?
Plus: UAE and Cyprus to deepen energy ties
GSU exits Yemen
GSU handed over two solar plants to the state-run Public Electricity Corporation after withdrawing its…
Masdar to build a round-the-clock renewables plant in Uzbekistan
The project targets up to 1 GW of baseload capacity
Gulf national oil companies are spending more than their international counterparts in the next two years
This spending cut comes as major capacity projects near completion
Finance
UAE, Congo ink energy, mining, infrastructure MoUs, GSU buys into 40Capital, and ADIB adopts open finance
UAE-DRC non-oil trade reached USD 2.1 bn in 9M 2025, up 19.2% y-o-y, as the…
Mubadala’s CI Financial snaps up CAD 26 bn in assets
The firm will manage 100 mutual funds and ETFs offered by Invesco Canada
HSBC launches onshore funds
The new onshore funds span multiple asset classes, from US income to shariah multi-asset, risk…
The digital AED, explained
What to expect from the CBUAE’s digital AED rollout before year’s end
Fintech
Botim founder’s new fintech venture raises the largest seed round the region has seen thus far
The capital will drive faster product development and streamline licensing and regulatory approvals
Oson rolls out DIFC headquarters
The company plans to enter the cross-border payment market between Central Asia and Middle East
IHC’s expansion drive continues
The company is targeting scalable SME-focused firms, having recently poured USD 715 mn into digital…
Bank of China lists another USD 500 mn on Nasdaq Dubai
Plus: Investcorp Capital acquires US fire and life safety services provider
Food
Titan and Mercedes-Benz link up, Kezad makes metal play, Emirati startups secure funds, more defense, and SAF One taps India’s Tata
UAE steps up its downstream EV contributions with a multi-year lithium supply agreement with Mercedes-Benz
Dubai expands as industrial, commercial space hits near-capacity
The 29 mn sq ft mega-food facility aims to strengthen global supply chains and trade…
UAE-India agreement blitz
Covering energy, defense, space, food trade, investment, and advanced technology, the agreements underpin a push…
Gems’ advisory arm to help set up school in Cyprus + Geely-backed Cacao, VFX firm open up Middle East HQ in Abu Dhabi
Plus: SmartCrowd launches first crowdfunded property in Abu Dhabi
Healthcare
The woman bringing preventive healthcare to other women in the region
It takes four times longer on average to diagnose women with the same chronic conditions…
THIS MORNING: Health Ministry transfers licensing, meds registration services to Emirates Drug Establishment + Emirates SkyCargo eyes boosting capacity in 2026
Plus: Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) is looking to triple its assets to USD 10 bn…
Burjeel taps new CEO
Founder and Chairman Shamsheer Vayalil replaces current co-CEOs John Sunil and Safeer Ahamed
US-listed ETFs land on ADX, and KKR makes a Gulf investment
The ADX is now the first exchange in the Arab region to cross-list US-domiciled ETFs
Infrastructure
Dutch court slams brakes on OCI-Orascom merger
Two temporary independent directors now oversee the board
NMDC marks its first foray into Europe
The new new entity will be rebranded as Lantania NMDC Water
THIS MORNING: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week kicks off, with several African leaders in attendance
Plus: Hessa Street should get a little less busy
UAE to join US-led tech supply chain initiative Pax Silica
The UAE should be onboarded on Thursday
Hospitality + tourism
War hits the region
The regional security and economic landscape lurched over the weekend as the US and Israel…
New defense JV and agreements, Dubai Holding makes moves in Mallorca, and CE Ventures backs US biotech
Edge signed an agreement with Barzan for a JV for advanced defense technologies, while Calidus…
Yas launches Eshara for space systems, AD Ports sells off more Kezad Town land, and AeroGulf acquires eVTOLs
Eshara will focus on the ground segment — the terminals, control systems, and terrestrial infrastructure…
Fuze appoints chief strategist and venture officer, and a new market lead at Wyndham
Fuze’s Sebastiani spent years at PwC as a virtual assets consulting lead
Law
A tokenized litigation fund is coming to Dubai
The vehicle will invest in UK law claims and issue digital tokens to investors instead…
Abu Dhabi’s secular divorce court in the spotlight
Since inception, the court has registered 43k marriages and received 10k new applications in 1H…
Carolina Rios, associate partner and head of virtual assets at Karm Legal Consultants
I try to help clients view regulation not as a barrier, but as a tool…
ADGM tightens rules for professional service providers
The update classifies tax services as a controlled activity, placing consultancies under ADGM oversight
Manufacturing
Is Arabian Gulf Steel Industries eyeing distressed British steelmaker Specialty Steels?
The company, which is the the collapsed division of Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel empire, has…
Masdar plans another Southeast Asia solar plant + Julphar to set up manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia
The renewables giant already operates Southeast Asia’s largest existing floating solar plant
Modon awards massive construction contract, EGA invests USD 170 mn in German facility, and Depa closes its rights issue
Modon awarded a AED 5 bn contract for Nawayef East and Nawayef West on Hudayriyat…
EGA looks abroad for bauxite and capital
The aluminum producer is holding early investor talks for a USD 5-6 bn Oklahoma smelter…
Media
Ethmar, GB Media develop multi-mn-USD media-focused fund in Abu Dhabi
The fund is co-led by two GB Media founders with extensive backgrounds in Hollywood and…
THIS MORNING: Has the UAE bought an Israeli defense package? + Emirates NBD gets in on gold
Plus: A new National Media Authority has been set up
Archeo Futurus + Daywalker Global to pour USD 200 mn into Abu Dhabi’s tech and media sectors
They also launched the world’s first compute-securitized bond to support this investment plan
THIS MORNING: CBUAE cuts rates by 25 bps, following the Fed + UAE “the world’s second crypto capital,” Coinbase CEO says
Plus: Abu Dhabi family backed-developer expands London portfolio with major West End office project
Mining
Mining stocks are winning as AI boosts demand for metals
Demand for metals is increasingly decoupling from traditional economic cycles
THIS MORNING: UAE joins the US’ Board of Peace + Autonomous vehicle regulation is coming to RAK
Plus: G42 is set to receive advanced chips within the next couple of months
Axis International files arbitration claim against Guinea over revoked mining permit
PLUS: Dubai to host Fifa Best Awards next year
Gold hits another fresh high, as analysts pencil in up to USD 5k an ounce next year
Wall Street forecasts point to gold climbing toward USD 5k by 2026, with no major…
NBFS
Homegrown flexible staffing solutions provider Orgam secures USD 3 mn investment from Tenami capital
ALSO- Georgia-based real estate developer Mardi Holding will expand into the UAE market
Al Ansari + Abhi to introduce early salary access, SNPL services
ALSO- Drake & Scull is joining forces with El Amar Group to collaborate on projects…
RTA awards AED 696 mn contract for Trade Center roundabout development
Adnec Group signed an agreement with the Ewec to secure 100% of Adnec Center Abu…
Emirates Reem Investments acquires stakes in two firms
Spinneys will build a food processing facility in Dubai
Oil + gas
THIS MORNING: Adnoc eyes Venezuelan oil + National Bank of Canada sets up shop in Dubai
Plus: Mubadala takes a stake in new carved-out Reliance consumer arm
Tadweer opens up down under, India’s state giants make oil find in Abu Dhabi, a petrochem plant for Jebel Ali, and Emaar and Alef team up in Sharjah
Tadweer plans to divert some 700k tonnes of waste from landfill a year in Australia
Adnoc greenlights Sarb deep gas development
The development marks Adnoc’s expansion into the ultra-deep, high-pressure reservoirs in Sarb
UAE set to be a “fiscal outlier” and the fastest growing country in the Gulf this year
The UAE is projected to achieve a fiscal surplus of up to 4.0% of GDP
Petrochemicals
Adipec day three: Movement on petrochems, oil and gas, and SAF projects in the UAE
Ta’ziz, Brooge, Mubadala Energy, and others advance key projects
Emaar plans another big-ticket investment in Egypt
Plus: Space42 makes Thuraya 4 satellite globally available
Adnoc L&S to build, own, and operate T’aziz’s chemicals export port at Al Ruwais
Plus: Bybit secures first full virtual assets license from the SCA
Mashreq expands footprint to Turkey with new office
Plus: Addleshaw Goddard opens office in ADGM
Private equity
BlueFive Capital is making inroads in China ahead of planned USD 1 bn Asia-focused fund
This marks BlueFive Capital’s third major Asia-linked move in six months
Adia invests in Chinese USD 770 mn CV
The vehicle aims to acquire a portfolio of mid-large-cap assets, primarily focused on China
FAB participates in Hong Kong’s RMB Business Facility + joins open finance framework
PLUS: Beltone folds Chimera regional assets into its balance sheet in USD 1 acquisition
FAB participates in Hong Kong’s RMB Business Facility + joins open finance framework
PLUS: Beltone folds Chimera regional assets into its balance sheet in USD 1 acquisition
Real estate
Mubadala invests in AI again + Emirati real estate players enters Indonesia
Mubadala led AppliedAI’s pre-series B round as it continues its AI spending spree
AD Ports sells off more land, more local defense agreements, another AI startup funding round, and a big-ticket Abu Dhabi real estate project
Defense agreements spanned local unmanned VTOLs and purchases of aircraft and drones by Edge
Dubai’s retail and warehouse markets hit a supply wall, and tenants are locking in
As occupancy nears capacity, retail leasing has fallen 32% while warehouse transactions have collapsed by…
Real estate sales rise to near AED 1 tn mark in Dubai amid strong demand for ultra-prime homes
The number of new resident investors was up 23% y-o-y, and foreign investors accounted for…
SMEs
Investcorp acquires US industrial property portfolio + NRTC takes over Ripe Organic
Plus: BPGIC taps PEG for Fujairah’s gasoline refinery
IHC injects USD 715 mn into its digital financing platform Zelo to expand SME financing
The funding will help Zelo fast-track additional anchor partnerships
THIS MORNING: December will be a busy month for travel + Non-Emiratis can now foster children under new amendments
Plus: Ripple stablecoin gets ADGM approval
Emirates’ first carbon capture plant kicks off operations
Plus: Aldar Estates launches AI-enabled automated parking with Parkonic
Sports
AED 18.3 bn for new parks + more plans to improve quality of life in Dubai
The policies include developing talent in the aviation and sports sectors
MultiBank, UFC champion roll out Dubai-based multi-bn-USD tokenized sports platform
The joint venture will develop tokenized assets tied to sports ventures, including 30 Khabib-branded gyms
Mubadala Capital could acquire US billboard operator + Manchester United in UAE consortium’s sight
PLUS: Golden visa for endowment support
Mira to build AED 55 bn community on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway
Plus: Taaleem to build school in MAF’s Ghaf Woods
Tech
Fasset taps consumer banking lead + Huawei appoints VP for UAE Enterprise Business
Ghazali will lead Fasset’s rollout of services as a stablecoin-focused Islamic digital bank, focusing on…
Abu Dhabi joins Pax Silica, the US’ tech supply chain coalition
The UAE is now the ninth member to join the bloc
Dubai, wired differently
JLL’s Priyanka Nagpal says Dubai’s geographic position and sustainability-led cooling strategy are key to its…
How off-balance-sheet financing is masking the true cost of the AI boom
Big Tech has pushed over USD 120 bn of AI data-center debt off its balance…
Telecoms
e&-backed Pakistani telco now owns 100% of Telenor Pakistan
The transaction valued Telenor Pakistan at PKR 108 bn
THIS MORNING: Airtel Money looks set for a UAE IPO in 2026 + New mall coming?
Plus: Petrofac UAE projects are on track despite layoffs
Adia wraps Ooreedoo stake sale
The transaction is set to have brought in roughly QAR 2 bn
ADIB is first bank tapped for MoF’s retail sukuk program
Plus: Al Ghurair Foods launches B2B food ingredients arm
Trade + logistics
Aramex takes over Irish logistics player
The acquisition bolsters Aramex’s European freight footprint and deepens its cross-border play
DP World adds to the UAE’s India push
The move comes after the UAE and India agreed to double trade and expand the…
THIS MORNING: UAE is evaluating impacts of a potential 25% tariff from the US + Canada trade talks are set to begin next month
Plus: DP World confirms Berbera Port operations remain stable
THIS MORNING: Somalia cancels ports, defense contracts with the UAE + Emirates NBD tees up debut AED-denominated DNN notes
Plus: What a potentially weaker USD means for the GCC this year, according to ENBD
Transport
Dubai's inflation decelerates in November on lower transport costs
Transport price inflation registered a minor 0.23% y-o-y uptick during the month Inflation in Dubai…
THIS MORNING: Abu Dhabi investor backs Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros + Abu Dhabi gets fintech, insurance, digital assets cluster
Plus: Plenary sets up infrastructure investment platform in ADGM
Abu Dhabi updates contractor classification rules
The amendments widen eligibility for higher categories, ease classification requirements, and extend financial-report validity
Dubai ruler approves record AED 302.7 bn budget for 2026-2028
Revenues are forecast to come in at AED 329.5 bn for the next three years