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Agriculture
THIS MORNING: War wipes third of DXB’s passenger traffic in 1H + Adnoc vessels on Iran’s blacklist
Plus: Mubadala in for a Shein haul as IPO brings lower valuation
Abu Dhabi’s Bildco buys into food trading in a bet on the UAE’s supply chain priorities
The firm is acquiring a stake in AG Group, which operates 22 warehouses, a 351-vehicle…
Another capital markets link-up, more multi-bn AED real estate projects in the pipeline, AD Ports starts Safaga trial run, Algebra AI raises USD 7 mn
Official recognition from Switzerland’s financial regulator could open the door to more Swiss participation on…
THIS MORNING: More names are expanding in ADGM + is Mubadala eyeing a play for a European fast-food giant?
Plus: Dubai’s giant circular farm is nearing its first harvest
Automotive
Abu Dhabi Investment Council taps new CIO for private equity + Al Masaood taps its auto CEO as interim group boss
Tansel will stay on as CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles, the authorized Nissan, Infiniti and…
Adia pledges USD 5.7 mn to anchor Dhoot’s IPO
Two of Adia’s investment vehicles allotted a combined 574k shares at INR 871 apiece
BlueFive Capital backs VC HOF Capital’s acquisition of a stake in Bugatti
Abu-Dhabi based investment firm BlueFive Capital is the largest investor in the HOF Capital-led consortium
THIS MORNING: More force majeure declared + G7, IEA eye emergency oil taps
PLUS: DIFC just delivered more space
Banking
CBUAE’s wartime deferral shield starts coming off UAE bank balance sheets this month
The sector’s NPL ratio sits at a historic low — but analysts say that’s partly…
UAE investors are pouring bns in Syria — but the bottlenecks aren’t far behind
Analysts warn that contractors, power, financing, and administrative capacity could become the next bottlenecks
Mashreq tightens pricing by 30bp on USD 500 mn bond
The bond was priced at 115 bp over US Treasuries
Dubai inflation rises to 5.5% as transport costs force Emirates NBD to lift year-end forecast
Transport costs drove August inflation higher, prompting Emirates NBD to lift its year-end forecast to…
Capital markets
Gulf banks that built out IPO teams for the boom are now chasing fees in Egypt, Turkey, and India as listings at home dry up
Analysts are still banking on a recovery later this year and in 2027
THIS MORNING: Adia, Lunate eye a hefty piece of Indian bourse’s USD 2.7 bn IPO + DP World plans truck fleet expansion amid Hormuz disruption
Plus: Did Emirates just clinch its long sought-after Berlin slot?
Brics’ bank lists USD 1.75 bn on Nasdaq Dubai, Dubai Healthcare City gets an AED 3 bn residential wager, flydubai launches its dedicated cargo operations
The listing was part of NBD’s USD 50 bn EMTN program
L’imad locks in October settlement date to buy out AD Ports Group's remaining shareholders after delisting Taqa — but it’s not the start of a take-private trend
Taqa and AD Ports point to a selective shift toward full sovereign ownership where funding…
Climate
Abu Dhabi’s Khazna solar project awards EPC contract to China’s SEPCO3
Plus: Dubai is getting a new car trading hub
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
Commodities
More wheat for Egypt, India’s SEPC to acquire Wintality, Channel Capital backs SME lending platform, and GMNSM raises USD 2 mn
Abu Dhabi-based Al Dahra has begun implementing a five-year wheat supply agreement with Egypt worth…
THIS MORNING: Dragon Oil in running for Egypt oil field concessions + MGX eyes USD 20 bn data center player
Plus: T+0 gold contracts are now available on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange
AD Ports plants flag in Brazil with USD 835 mn acquisition
The acquisition of CLI gives it ownership of strategic port infrastructure in Brazil for the…
THIS MORNING: UAE-backed Indian telecoms giant in talks with investors for IPO + Are oil refiners using AED to avoid using USD?
Plus: Abu Dhabi is clamping down on price gouging as supply chain disruption continues
Construction
Dubai Holding hands out record contract, DP World joins Cochin Shipyard in JV, BlueFive wraps up Porsche stake takeover, DDSC rolled out at PoS locations, Umm Al Quwain and Sri Lanka eye freezone cooperation
China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East secured an AED 5 bn contract for a…
Sidara locks in USD 1.35 bn in financing — and sets itself up for more down the line
The facility could be upsized to USD 1.55 bn later on
UAE project awards slide as Saudi Arabia retakes GCC lead
The Emirates slipped to the Gulf's second-largest projects market in 2Q 2026
The UAE is still MENA’s safest infrastructure wager, but the war exposed the catch
BMI ranks the UAE as the region’s most attractive infrastructure market, even as it forecasts…
Crypto
BTC’s rally shows signs of running out of steam
A recent USD 320 mn BTC hack risks further dampening sentiment
THIS MORNING: G42 reportedly eyeing bringing in US majority shareholder + S&P sees increased oil production as boosting growth
The government is cracking down on fake goods suppliers with a 24-hour withdrawal notice
MBZUAI goes all in on open, Carmignac plants its flag in Dubai, and Standard Chartered brings spot crypto trading to the UAE
Open AI model from MZBUAI, fresh capital into DIFC, and Standard Chartered warms up to…
THIS MORNING: UAE authorities are probing Binance on “third-party” fund flows, reports say + UAE-Russia trade services agreement enters into force
PLUS: DP World moved 500k TEUs across the GCC via road and rail since March
Development finance
IMF is less bearish on UAE than most forecasters, says buffers are holding
The UAE’s balance sheet is buying it room, but the non-oil slowdown and softer real…
ADFD lends AED 376 mn loan for Tajikistan hydroproject
ADFD’s Rogun loan adds to the UAE’s growing investment footprint in Tajikistan and Central Asia
THIS MORNING: IMF sees MENA growing 3.9% in 2026
Plus: AD Ports eyes Nigeria’s ports
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
E-commerce
Talabat, EGA, Dewa, and Adnic report earnings
An investment push weighed on Talabat’s 2Q earnings even as revenue grew
Uber’s USD 14.8 bn bid for Delivery Hero set to hand it indirect control of DFM-listed Talabat
The takeover is expected to close in 2H 2027, subject to the minimum acceptance threshold…
HSBC loses two DCM heads, but it’s not scaling back. Plus: Talabat taps chief international officer
Talabat’s CIO was formerly the firm’s Kuwait managing director
Borouge control locks in ahead of merger finish line, Talabat picks up rent, Rakbank and Network International finalize agreement
ALSO- Talabat is cutting one of F&B’s biggest costs by offering 100 no-rent cloud kitchens
Education
Gems Education is opening 5k new school seats this September despite conflict-driven construction delays
Dubai’s Gems Education is wagering on affordable schools, not premium ones, to weather regional instability
Schools have hit their enrollment targets heading into the school year, but it’s all about who actually shows up
Schools are grappling with multiple headwinds heading into the school year: ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, a…
India’s edtech unicorn swaps mass-market scale for smaller, hybrid classrooms in UAE — and eyes growth even in the wake of the conflict
The company saw 5x growth in student learners over the past year despite the conflict
From military officer to teacher to CEO of Taaleem: The story of Alan Williamson
From steering Taaleem through its IPO in 2022, Williamson is now taking it through its…
Energy
THIS MORNING: Masdar exits hydrogen project with OMV + Adia offloads more of Lenskart
Plus: IHC confirms Fount Trust as its ultimate parent
THIS MORNING: Mubadala eyes investment in Italian gas turbine maker + a settlement to the Paramount antitrust lawsuit could be on the way
Plus: SIB taps advisors for sukuk offering
Adnoc eyes USD 1 bn investment to boost retail play in Egypt
It’s also studying setting up aircraft refueling in some Egyptian airports
Metito lands contract for Dubai South sewage plant, Aldar + Mubadala buy further into Masdar City, Mubadala-backed Caturus LNG facility is getting bigger
Metito will be in charge of operation and maintenance for Dubai South’s sewage treatment plant
Finance
Abu Dhabi and Seoul get down to business on AI and finance
The agreements build directly on February's USD 65 bn defense-led pipeline and May's CEPA
Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi gain ground in Global Financial Centers Index despite regional conflict
Riyadh and Abu Dhabi logged two of GFCI’s largest gains anywhere, while Dubai’s underlying rating…
Mashreq Private Bank says UAE wealth-outflow fears are overblown — and it's betting on a generational handoff instead
Vipul Kapur says the UAE's safe-haven reputation isn't as fragile as headlines suggest — but…
The hedge fund industry's biggest players added USD 224 bn in 20 months
Growth is increasingly fueled by high net-worth individuals, not just institutional investors like pensions and…
Fintech
Tabby’s valuation reaches USD 6.5 bn following USD 233 mn funding round
But the fintech is biding its time for an IPO
An AI-focused industrial venture + CBUAE clears KamelPay
Robo.ai and Eleven International Holding are rolling out Alif Holding, targeting critical industries
DP World builds out Saudi network + Epic Markets raises USD 10 mn
DP World opened the 15.25k sqm facility in Riyadh’s Al Mashael Logistics Hub
New stablecoin-powered fintech Sovra raises USD 2 mn in pre-seed funding
The platform will be rolled out in 180 countries, with a focus on MENA
Food
Creative Investments Holding targets heritage food brand after USD 20 mn first close
The new vehicle, being set up through Mohamed Talaat’s Leo Equities, is eyeing a heritage…
AHS plans AED 25 bn mixed use project, Al Bayader is building a packaging and logistics hub in Dubai, and CBD’s new gold product
Plus: Ecohope Solar is buying 600 MW of Trina Solar’s solar PV modules
Inside the routine of the founder who watched Dubai become a global re-export powerhouse from the ground up
Far Way founder Suraj Gautam on Dubai’s rise as a re-export hub, disrupted trade routes,…
UAE restaurants are entering survival mode as regional disruption reshapes dining habits
Dining rooms are quieter, delivery orders are rising, and UAE restaurants are being squeezed between…
Healthcare
More moves abroad from XRG, Emaar, PureHealth, and Masdar
The stake buys XRG into the main route carrying Azerbaijani gas into Europe
Longevium raises USD 7 mn for lab, Spinneys ups stake in its KSA subsidiary, another step forward for autonomous logistics in Dubai
The investment for Longevium comes as the UAE looks to bring more of the healthcare…
Bildco completes AG Group takeover, Dubai Investments raises stake in healthcare player, Symmetry is coming to Dubai
The takeover marks Bildco’s push beyond building materials
David Kavanagh helped map Ireland’s genetic code — Now he’s doing the same for UAE
The Center of Excellence he leads is the engine behind the world's most ambitious genomics…
Infrastructure
GFH makes USD 130 mn US exit, MGX + BlackRock finalize USD 40 bn takeover, Empower expands Dubai network, another Jaywan development
GFH is looking to expand its assets under management to USD 7.5 bn by year-end
ePointZero acquires Traverse Midstream in USD 2.25 bn transaction
The allcash acquisition includes interests in the Rover Pipeline and Ohio River System, expanding ePointZero’s…
THIS MORNING: Another rating affirmation + Al Taweelah back at 50% capacity within days
Plus: A new AED 2 bn Dubai road project
SEPC to acquire UAE’s Avenir International
The EPC company is targeting Adnoc-linked expansion in the UAE
Hospitality + tourism
Eagle Hills inks USD 12 bn Maldives waterfront agreement, its largest Indian Ocean investment
This would be one of the largest foreign investment commitments the Maldives has landed
THIS MORNING: L’imad eyes stake in cargo giant + UAE, Oman eye Hafeet Rail trials in 4Q 2027
Plus: A new platform will give Dubai authorities more visibility over their cybersecurity posture
New organic-waste valorization pilot plant, Musafir acquires FLYCT, DFDF backs Nordstar’s AI-focused fund, and Nakheeel awards a Dubai Islands contract
The plant will process up to 40 kg of waste daily
THIS MORNING: Modon seeks EGP 35 bn loan for Ras El Hekma’s Wadi Yemm + dnata wants in on Damascus airport’s rebuild
Plus: The UAE is pushing to get off international travel advisory lists
Law
Al Tamimi & Co, Baker McKenzie among 20 law firms awarded Chambers Middle East Awards
Baker McKenzie took home Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, while Al Tamimi &…
Dechert recalls Phillip Sacks to head Dubai office again
Sacks returns to the firm after almost two and a half years in White &…
Culture, lifestyle, and capital: Philip Khinda on the pulls bringing wealth managers and their advisors to the capital
In the UAE, it’s like you had a clean sheet of paper, and you could…
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…
Manufacturing
Chinese automaker Rox rolls its first Abu Dhabi-built cars off the line, with exports — not just local sales — as the real target
The facility is expected to reach an initial capacity of 20k vehicles in 2027, with…
War-driven shipping disruptions are strangling UAE solar imports
Local manufacturing is scaling up, but the UAE still imports the vast majority of what…
ADFD gives Jordan another boost, Oro raises USD 3 mn, Fujairah to add 1.7 mn tons of cement capacity
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is backing a USD 70 mn expansion of Jordan’s…
Demand for industrial, logistics space in Dubai rises 7% y-o-y 1H amid regional headwinds
Manufacturing and logistics made up over half of the total demand for Dubai’s spaces
Media
Investors are circling the region’s undermonetized IP
A new wave of UAE capital is treating overlooked entertainment IP as the region’s next…
IPNation launches music and entertainment-focused investment platform
The platform will invest in intellectual property for Arabic music and entertainment
CineNow picks the UAE as HQ for a push to tokenize India's film industry
The firm has raised 60% of its targeted USD 150 mn fund so far
THIS MORNING: Another Adnoc vessel passes through Hormuz + Adnoc wants to hit the gas on unconventional gas project
PLUS: Adnoc Drilling targets a 50-50 revenue split from manufacturing and drilling
Mining
Central banks bought less gold in 1Q than initially estimated -WGC
WGC revision for 1Q data shows net purchases dropped to 56 tonnes from a previously…
ADGM greenlights Tether Gold
ADGM has recognised Tether Gold as an accepted spot commodity
THIS MORNING: FAB heads back to debt markets with a green bond + DMCC eyes T+0 gold contracts
DIFC firms are getting more AI supervision + a new ports authority is coming to…
THIS MORNING: ADIC backs ExodusPoint’s USD 2 bn capital raise + more dual listings could be coming to Abu Dhabi
Plus: UAE closed out 2025 with AED 17.4 bn budget surplus + DP World meets…
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 stakes in refineries in Africa and Thailand + Goldman Sachs sees room for oil to climb higher still
Plus: Iran is drawing a new line around Hormuz with a new restricted maritime zone…
THIS MORNING: Indian, Chinese buying spree drives up UAE crude costs + Abu Dhabi property market sales eclipse last year’s total
Plus: Air France is the latest airline to do an about-turn on Dubai
THIS MORNING: G42 explores raising bns of USD from outside investors + UAE and Qatar are adding LNG to ship-to-ship transfer play
Plus: Nigeria, UAE talk to adding 5 GW to Nigeria’s power push
THIS MORNING: Production back up and running at Ruwais + Adia backs USD 3.2 bn India fund
Plus: Alpha Dhabi puts more skin in the game in private credit JV with Mubadala
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
Private equity on track to underdeliver for investors
Experts see as much as 90% of funds falling short of targeted returns
Issam Mamlouk left PIF's megadeals for the GCC's mid-market — where he says sponsors are outnumbered by deals
For him, founder dependence matters for the business his firm underwrites
Metamorph's Manish Raniga spent a decade turning around distressed airlines — now he's rolling up the Gulf's wellness industry
The private equity firm just closed a USD 200 mn wellness and longevity platform with…
Al Nasser Holdings’ PE arm and Metamorph are launching a USD 200 mn investment JV focused on wellness
The move comes on the heels of another major investor in a UAE gym operator,…
Real estate
Nearly 4k new homes coming to Yas Island in AED 6 bn build
A JV between Flag Holding Group and Reportage Group is launching the development
ADGM proposes new rules to increase commercial land usage
The freezone is proposing an annual fee for owners leaving commercial plots vacant
UAE’s proptech surge faces its hardest test: ROI
Property technology is moving from listings and dashboards into the buildings themselves. The next frontier…
Dubai’s warehousing and retail property market turns more selective as rents rise and new leasing falls
Retail sales are still booming and warehouse rents are rising, but new leasing is falling…
SMEs
THIS MORNING: A deeper Emirati presence in Egypt’s north coast + Khor Mor partners clash with Kurdistan gov’t
Plus: More tax relief is coming for SMEs
THIS MORNING: Europe’s aerospace startup in talks with UAE investors + Fujairah looks to secure more logistics integration
Plus: Abu Dhabi opens another lane for dispute resolution
Embedded finance platform Comfi plans Saudi expansion after raising USD 65 mn in debt and equity
The company provides 90-day installment plans for SMEs
CBUAE expands payments rails into Asia, relief goes private, and Al Ghurair goes global on design
The Central Bank of the UAE is plugging the Philippines into its cross-border payments network
Sports
THIS MORNING: Fujairah has become the UAE’s primary export route + the NBA gives the UAE a pass (for now)
UAE jewelry demand was down 28% in 2Q
UAE’s first licensed iGaming platform Play971 launches World Cup wagering
Play971 has opened World Cup wagering less than a year after becoming the UAE’s first…
Abu Dhabi government takes control of T10 cricket competition, plans to take it global
The move folds cricket into Abu Dhabi’s wider sports investment strategy, which has seen it…
THIS MORNING: Petrofac sells UAE unit to US, UK players + Alec clinches construction contract for The Sphere
Plus: Both IHC and Alabbar are eyeing struggling IFFCO
Tech
Dubai's rent cheque model is losing its grip
Monthly rent may ease the upfront pain for tenants, but the real test is who…
Presight’s domestic order book hit a record in 2Q 2026, with more to come on government agentic AI mandate and SME push
The firm landed its first two non-kinetic defense contracts at the federal level and is…
G42 joins Nvidia’s alliance for open-source AI
G42 is backing Nvidia’s push to make AI security tools more open and less dependent…
UAE hiring shrinks for the first time in four years as firms recruit to the final stage, then pause on uncertainty
It’s too early to call a boom — the surge could just be a response…
Telecoms
e& exits Vodafone in USD 5.95 bn stake sale
E& is selling its full 16% Vodafone holding to a Niel family-owned vehicle as it…
Du secures AED 2 bn war chest
The facility remains undrawn and features improved terms (read: lower standby costs)
Nubank in ADGM, commercial upper 6GHz launches in the UAE, and Dragon Oil makes another discovery in Egypt
Despite escalating regional tensions, the expansion of the NYSE-listed neobank is the latest in a…
THIS MORNING: Washington and Tehran agree to a two-week ceasefire
Plus: UAE airlines see slight dip in activity
Trade + logistics
Etihad Rail Freight + AD Ports set up Abu Dhabi-Fujairah service
The move is part of the inland piece of the puzzle to hedge against future…
THIS MORNING: UAE, Iran signal turning a new leaf in bilateral relations + is Abu Dhabi rethinking its 5 GW data center campus?
Plus: Germany is backing a faster conclusion to UAE-EU trade talks
More big moves from Gulftainer, EGA, and Borouge + India’s PhonePe lands in the UAE
The port operator is making a strategic investment in Suksawat Terminal
DP World priced a dual-tranche issuance at 25bp tighter than initial price thoughts
DP World is the second firm to issue bonds this week — and tighten pricing…
Transport
UAE investors lead USD 3 bn round in The Boring Company as tunnel plans go national
The new round values TBC at USD 23 bn and comes as its UAE partnership…
EGA exports its tech, Keep Converting raises USD 2 mn, Hafeet Rail moves closer, IHC boosts UAE space ambitions, Edge + Safran team up again
UAE aluminium tech heads to India Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is exporting something far more…
DTC and Bolt add vehicles to platform, DP World taps Egypt’s Edecs for Tanzania’s busiest port, Parkin heads to Egypt, ADIB backs Glasgow logistics asset
Dubai Taxi adds 1.6k Arabia Taxi vehicles to Bolt platform Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) and…
Dubai plans train line from DXB to DWC
The 55km line will service five stations