Abu Dhabi’s next big sports wager: Cricket

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Petrofac sells UAE unit to US, UK players + Alec clinches construction contract for The Sphere

Good morning, friends. We have an M&A-heavy issue this morning, as we take a look at two major acquisitions: Uber’s acquisition of a portion of e&’s stake in Careem (which could, down the line, turn into a full acquisition) and Abu Dhabi’s Cricket & Sports Hub’s acquisition of majority control of the T10 competition.

We dive into why cricket is actually an interesting wager for Abu Dhabi — by virtue of both its massive South Asian expat community and the sport’s growing appeal — and why the Uber acquisition comes at an interesting time for the firm, in the news well below.

There’s also Abu Dhabi Investment Authority backing Israeli-founded and London-headquartered insurtech Sapiens, and news that Emaar’s Mohamed Alabbar and Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company are both in the running for a potential acquisition of the now-troubled food producer IFFCO Group.

BUT BEFORE WE DIVE IN- Here’s where ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran currently stand: After Tehran said it suspended negotiations with Washington due to Israel’s recent ramp up of its assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon, US President Donald Trump claimed that he brokered a truce after talks with Tel Aviv and the Iran-backed group, and that US-Iran negotiations are progressing at a “rapid pace.” Lebanon later announced a partial ceasefire, despite reports of ongoing strikes by Hezbollah.

Attacks continued to target the region yesterday: Iranian missiles targeted US forces in Kuwait yesterday. The missiles were intercepted with no injuries reported. This came after the US targeted Iranian radar and command and control sites on Saturday and Sunday.

WEATHER- It’s another hot summer day in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a high of 39°C and lows between 30-31°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Earning well is not the same as investing well — and for most mid-level executives and entrepreneurs, the gap between the two is wider than they’d like to admit. The financial landscape has shifted. Regional markets are opening up, AI is rewriting how portfolios get managed, and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are entering the conversation.

And the questions that used to feel straightforward — buy or rent, fund the startup or play it safe, finance the car now or wait it out — are harder to answer than ever.

In Issue 2 of EnterpriseAM Money Matters, we get into the decisions that don’t have easy answers, because at this stage, playing it safe is the riskiest move you can make.

Tap or click here to subscribe to the Egypt edition, delivered to your inbox Wednesday, June 3.

Watch this space

ENERGY — UK-based energy services company Petrofac has completed the sale of its UAE unit, Petrofac Emirates, to a consortium led by US investment firm Mason Capital Management and London-based hedge fund manager Pearlstone Alternative, according to a press release.

The plan: The UAE business, which houses Petrofac’s core engineering and construction operations in the Emirates, will now operate as a standalone company under new ownership with a clean balance sheet. Petrofac’s UAE operations include a USD 1.2 bn Adnoc gas expansion on Das Island, a compressor plant at Habshan, and a carbon-capture facility.

BACKGROUND- Last March, Petrofac agreed to sell Petrofac Emirates to the Mason-led consortium as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at stabilizing the group following mounting debt. Last November, its UAE operations were reported to be “continuing as normal” despite Petrofac itself carrying USD 4 bn of debt, recording years of losses, and suffering from the fallout of a bribery case years earlier. It filed for administration for its international operations to support its restructuring and M&A plans.

INFRASTRUCTURE — Final puzzle piece in place for the Sphere: Dubai-based construction firm Alec was awarded the construction of Sphere Abu Dhabi, which will open on Yas Island in 2029, in a contract valued at USD 1.7 bn, the firm said in a bourse disclosure (pdf).

BACKGROUND- The highly anticipated venue will be located between Seaworld Abu Dhabi and Yas Mall, according to recent statements from Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Culture and Tourism Department. It will match the 20k-seat capacity of the Las Vegas original, with DCT Abu Dhabi overseeing funding and construction. Sphere Entertainment will provide tech expertise, operational support, and creative content, earning annual fees once the arena opens.

IHC + Alabbar eye struggling IFFCO: Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company and Dubai b’naire Mohamed Alabbar are among those circling troubled UAE-based food producer IFFCO Group as the company struggles under roughly USD 2 bn in debt and mounting insolvency pressure, Bloomberg reports, citing people it says are familiar with the matter.

Where we’re at: Currently, it’s still in the early stages with no formal bids made. However, Alabbar said that he had sent letters to IFFCO’s board and creditor banks expressing interest in acquiring the entire business. The assets could be valued at several bn USD.

The possible target: IFFCO’s brands span food production, packaging, chemicals, and logistics, and it has a presence across roughly 50 countries. It’s an especially attractive target for Emirati investors, with several manufacturing facilities in the UAE making it a key element in the Emirates’ food supply chain, which could come under strain due to the war. A takeover by Alabbar would see IFFCO added to his portfolio, which also includes Americana Restaurants.

Any serious move would likely depend on how court proceedings tied to IFFCO’s future play out in the coming months. IFFCO’s creditors include HSBC and Emirates NBD, with a creditor group recently filing for insolvency in May after restructuring talks failed last autumn.

AI — More Emirati-French AI cooperation? Abu Dhabi AI investor MGX and French state-owned investment firm Bpifrance have plans to expand their AI data center campus — set to be Europe’s largest — with a EUR 7.5 bn investment ticket, Reuters reports. The expansion would boost capacity to 3 GW, up from the 1.4 GW initially planned, as France looks to position itself as an AI hub, according to Sifted.

ICYMI- Construction for the first phase is set to begin in 2H this year, with operations slated to begin in 2028 under a massive EUR 8.5 bn investment framework. The UAE had previously signaled plans to invest USD 30-50 bn in French AI and data infrastructure, and MGX itself has ambitions to deploy as much as USD 10 bn annually in AI investments.

SPORTS — Gulf United brings on Iniesta as head coach: Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has joined Gulf United FC as head coach, according to a press release. Iniesta — who last played with Emirates Club FC before retiring in 2024 — has secured his A Licence and is in the process of getting a Pro Coaching Licence.

PSA

Government employees in Ajman will have more flexible leave and working hours as of 1 September under a new human resources law issued by Ajman’s ruler Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. The law introduces reduced working hours for select groups — including employees with disabilities, pregnant employees experiencing fatigue, and family caretakers with five or more children under 18 — as well as additional annual leave for newlyweds, family caretakers, people with disabilities, and entrepreneurs.

The law also introduces new employment perks, including promotions of up to three job grades for exceptional talent and high-performing employees, alongside a new Good Service Award bonus for Emirati staff.

The big story abroad

AI news is leading the conversation in the business pages this morning: Anthropic has confidentially submitted paperwork for its IPO which could happen as early as this fall, potentially putting the startup ahead of OpenAI and its listing schedule. The Claude maker did not disclose the number or price of shares to be offered.

Another tech player is looking to raise funds for AI investment: Alphabet will sell USD 80 bn worth of stock to fund investments in computing infrastructure to meet customer demand for AI products. The company intends to source the funds via underwritten offerings, a USD 10 bn investment from Berkshire Hathaway, and selling Class A and Class C shares.

A new strategy for the golden arches? McDonald’s has launched its new growth strategy to attract diners, which will include higher-quality food, restaurant upgrades, consumer-led innovation, and improved customer service. The strategy comes at a time where consumers are demanding more value for their money and competitors upgrade their offerings, CEO Chris Kempczinski said.

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Abu Dhabi eyes cricket as its next major sports investment wager

Abu Dhabi has moved to put one of cricket’s fastest-growing formats firmly under state control — and the ambition stretches well beyond the UAE. Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, the emirate’s government-backed sports body, assumed majority ownership and full commercial control of the Abu Dhabi T10 league, transforming a competition that began as a private venture into a nationally managed sporting asset, according to a statement.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board are backing the new structure — a clean sweep of institutional firepower behind what was, until recently, a privately held tournament launched in 2017 by entrepreneur Shaji Ul Mulk.

The move is being framed publicly around governance and financial transparency, and the language is deliberate. The league has faced questions over financial reliability in previous seasons. Matt Boucher, the competition's CEO, has been explicit that restoring franchise confidence is central to the restructuring, citing “long-term stability for teams” as one of the competition’s key priorities in an interview with Reuters.

It’s also now planning to go global, with the government aiming to reposition T10 as a global franchise product. Eight team slots will go to market through a formal invitation to tender process, with international ownership groups actively being courted, Boucher told the newswire.

There’s already an economic case: The 2025 edition generated USD 512 mn in media value, according to independent measurement firm GSIQ. For a ten-over format that completes a match in roughly 90 minutes, that number represents a compelling pitch to sponsors and broadcasters chasing younger, attention-scarce audiences.

Why cricket?

Cricket is big in the UAE. Indians and Pakistanis together account for roughly 50% of the UAE's total population. That gives the UAE a built-in audience for the T10 and a captive fanbase that most emerging sports leagues would spend years trying to manufacture, making the Emirates one of the few markets outside South Asia where cricket commands mass-market commercial weight.

“South Asian diaspora communities across the world are driving demand for cricket in various formats,” Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports specializing in the MENA region, East/South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe, tells EnterpriseAM. The proof of concept arrived in 2024 when the T20 World Cup was held in the US — driven in large part by the influence of Indian expats in the tech industry.

Cricket's inclusion as an Olympic sport from the 2028 Los Angeles Games adds another layer to the investment case. Chadwick argues it could be transformative: “Countries like the United States and China are really committed to [securing] gold medals in every sport that is part of the Olympic Games.” A sport that today draws a relatively defined global audience could, within a few years, be chased by two of the world's largest economies.

“This is potentially a play by Abu Dhabi to invest in a sport that has a growing global presence, and that can be delivered in really accessible formats digitally and through social media,” he explains, referring to T10’s shorter format when compared to classic cricket structures like test matches.

Then there is the scale of the addressable market. India is now the world's most populous nation and, by most forecasts, on course to be among its two largest economies by 2050 alongside China. “There are 1.6 bn people just around the corner who are cricket obsessed,” Chadwick notes — a readily available market that no other sport format is better positioned to reach from the Gulf.

The UAE also benefits from a structural role it has quietly built over the past decade: serving as a neutral venue for India-Pakistan cricket, two nations whose political tensions have made bilateral series on home soil increasingly difficult to stage. “It is almost as though Dubai and the UAE have become a default home for Pakistani and Indian cricket to take place,” Chadwick said. That, combined with the International Cricket Council’s relocation of its headquarters from London to Dubai, gives the UAE institutional weight when it comes to the sport.

The takeover also fits neatly into an already well-established Abu Dhabi playbook

Abu Dhabi has methodically built out its sports infrastructure — from Formula 1 to UFC to golf — and leveraged sports for tourism revenue as part of its economic diversification strategy. Bringing the T10 in-house formally folds cricket into that ecosystem, with the institutional weight (and the benefit of having a strong local network and solid demand on-ground) to pursue international broadcast contracts, attract marquee franchise owners and potentially expand the format beyond UAE borders.

Chadwick points to a more specific competitive logic at work. Gulf states, he argues, are deliberately targeting sports that are “commercially immature assets with a global footprint” — where the barriers to entry are lower and the upside is greater than in mature markets like European football.

Abu Dhabi also has a structural advantage its rivals lack: an established franchise model it has already made work at a global scale. The City Football Group — majority owned by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour — operates a network of football clubs across multiple continents under a single commercial umbrella. “You could imagine replicating that model and having cricket franchises across the world,” Chadwick says.

Abu Dhabi’s playbook has also historically seen it arrange global coalitions for its sports investments. “What we're not seeing is Gulf states on their own making major investments in risky sports properties,” he explains. “What they're doing is creating global coalitions of investors from elsewhere in the world,” he adds, pointing to how Abu Dhabi's ownership of Manchester City sits alongside investment from Silver Lake, the Silicon Valley private equity firm, and China Media Capital. The same co-investment model is likely to shape how T10 franchise agreements are structured.

The credibility question

Despite T10’s appeal to digitally oriented audiences, T10 and T20 are still not prominent formats in the minds of many cricket fans. And state backing does not automatically resolve the T10's credibility gap, Chadwick says.

One issue is what Chadwick calls “format fatigue.” “There is so much cricket that people simply don't have the time to watch it,” he said. “Instead of having a huge market for cricket, what you’re actually getting is a series of niches that perhaps don’t deliver the commercial returns that many people anticipated.” For a format still working to be taken seriously alongside Test cricket and the IPL, that fragmentation of the global audience is a live risk.

There is also a basic accessibility challenge. Unlike football, where participation requires only a ball, cricket demands equipment and infrastructure — a barrier that limits grassroots growth in emerging markets. “For many people globally, this is a new sport,” Chadwick says, “and the rules are a little difficult to understand.”

What to watch

Attracting international franchisers is less about having state vs. private ownership and more about whether the new structure can demonstrate trustworthiness and legitimacy over time, Chadwick notes. “Both systems of governance — whether state or private funding — have advantages and disadvantages,” he says. What matters more is consistency, coherence, and stability: “It's those two things — trustworthiness and legitimacy — that are ultimately going to give people and organizations the confidence in the series you’re running.” That, he argues, is what will determine whether global sponsors and franchise investors commit — not who holds the majority stake.

What we’re tracking: Other than how negotiations for international franchise agreements will unfold and which Abu Dhabi state entities will take part — with Chadwick raising the question of City Football Group’s potential involvement — we’ll be keeping an eye on the 2026 edition of T10. Running from November 7 to 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, this will be the first full season under the new regime, and it is being treated internally as a launchpad rather than a continuation of the status quo for the T10 competition.

Uber could reclaim full ownership of Careem under a new agreement with e&

Uber could end up owning all of Careem again. Telco e& inked an agreement to sell a 12.5% stake in Careem Technologies — Careem’s super-app unit — for USD 100 mn to Uber, in a transaction that comes with future buy-sell options attached, opening the door for Uber to eventually become the sole owner of the entirety of Careem’s operations, according to a press release (pdf).

BACKGROUND- Careem’s ride-hailing business has remained fully owned by Uber since its USD 3.1 bn acquisition in 2019. In 2023, the company spun out its broader super-app operations into Careem Technologies and sold a 50.03% stake to e& for USD 400 mn.

How it would work: The transaction cuts e&’s stake in Careem Technologies to 37.53%, down from 50.03%. Under the agreement, e& holds a put option allowing it to require Uber to buy its remaining stake, while Uber has a matching call option that would let it force a sale. Both options become exercisable between December 2031 and January 2032.

This is a neat exit ramp for e& — and a strategic option to give Uber full control of its once-Middle East-rival. Reuniting the super app with the ride-hailing business it already owns would give it a fully integrated platform across one of its most important emerging-market corridors — and remove the operational complexity of running the two sides of Careem under split ownership.

The move also comes as Uber looks to take over another industry rival, Germany’s Delivery Hero, after tabling a USD 38.29-per share proposal last month. It’s also been raising its stake in the firm, acquiring an additional stake that gave it a 37% position ahead of the takeover bid.

Adia backs insurtech Sapiens, Positron AI comes to DIFC, DP World invests more in Dominican Republic freezone, Adnoc secures gas supply from Azerbaijan

Adia backs insurtech Sapiens

An Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) subsidiary has taken a significant minority stake in ins. software company Sapiens, according to a press release. Sapiens remains owned by private equity firm Advent, which backed the transaction alongside Adia. The firm, which was founded in Israel and develops computer software for ins. firms, will move its headquarters to central London.

Dubai is pulling in another AI infrastructure player

US-based Positron AI opened its first office outside its home market at the DIFC, according to a press release. The company, which has raised more than USD 300 mn including a USD 230 mn Series B round, builds hardware optimized for AI inference rather than model training. Pitching itself as an alternative to traditional GPU-heavy systems, Positron argues its infrastructure can deliver lower cost per token, with higher memory density and better energy efficiency.

DP World to expand Dominican Republic freezone

DP World puts more weight behind Caucedo: Dubai-based ports operator DP World and the Dominican Republic government will invest an additional USD 100 mn to expand warehousing and logistics infrastructure at the DP World Freetrade zone in Caucedo. The new funding will help tighten the link between port operations, freezone activity, and logistics services at Caucedo, which is in a prime position for companies looking for manufacturing and distribution bases closer to the US while still serving Latin America and the Caribbean.

The base is already there: DP World already committed some USD 760 mn to its Dominican Republic operations, where its capacity stands at 2.5 mn TEUs. The new expansion plan is expected to raise container handling capacity to around 3.1 mn TEUs, attract USD 3.9 bn in FDI, and drive USD 4 bn in manufacturing output.

Our take: The Dominican Republic push fits DP World’s wider move from port operator to integrated trade-platform builder. In Latin America, the group already operates across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile, while its Unifeeder arm has been adding regional feeder coverage across Latin America.

Adnoc secures gas supply from Azerbaijan

Adnoc inked a sales purchase agreement for gas from one of Azerbaijan’s largest gas condensate fields, Reuters reports. The agreement will see the oil and gas giant secure natural gas from the Absheron gas field, which is set to start production in 2029 and work up to over 4 bcm in annual production. Azerbaijan’s state oil firm Socar, TotalEnergies, and Turkey’s state-owned Botas also inked agreements.

ICYMI- Adnoc already holds a 30% stake in Absheron, for which a final investment decision is expected in July. The state-owned energy giant has been expanding its footprint in the region recently, inking an agreement for an equity stake in Azerbaijan’s Southern Gas Corridor, and taking a 38% stake in a Turkmenistan gas block.

Mega-IPOs may be rewriting the rulebook

A wave of mega AI IPOs is approaching the market, and it is already reshaping how public listings are structured, who gets access to them, and how the indices that track them compete for relevance. SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are all gearing up for listings that are poised to be historic in size and involvement — and major index providers are having to rewrite the rules to compete for listings of that size.

The most immediate structural shift comes from SpaceX itself. The company is allocating 30% of its listed shares to retail investors — a figure that dwarfs the typical retail allocation in a major IPO, Bloomberg reports. The move is a deliberate strategy by founder and CEO Elon Musk, who is banking on his personal following to drive demand. Some individual investors are reportedly planning to put in as much as USD 20k, describing SpaceX as a “visionary” company worth backing from day one.

That kind of retail-first allocation is unusual at this scale, and if SpaceX’s listing proves successful, it could set a template for how other mega-IPOs approach the retail-institutional split going forward.

Index providers are rewriting the rules to compete

The prospect of listings this large has also put major index providers under pressure. The S&P 500 is seeking feedback on a proposal to fast-track the inclusion of mega-IPOs into its flagship indices, while the Nasdaq 100 and FTSE Russell are similarly shortening their usual waiting periods. The concern driving this is straightforward: if a company the size of SpaceX sits outside a major benchmark, the benchmark begins to look incomplete — and potentially less useful to the investors who rely on it.

But the rule changes needed to attract these firms are drawing scrutiny. NYSE President Lynn Martin says that “some of the rules that have been changed to woo some of the large companies [...] are questionable.” A note from Seyffart and Du Boff picked up by Bloomberg says opponents to those changes are pointing to the waiving of minimum float requirements and voting rights protections as particular areas of concern for market integrity. Nasdaq President Nelson Griggs, however, has pushed back, insisting that no rules were broken in securing the SpaceX listing.

What this means for retail investors

The combination of SpaceX’s large retail allocation and the indices’ push for faster inclusion creates a situation where retail investors will gain exposure to these companies quickly — whether they choose to or not. Once included in major indices, firms like SpaceX will automatically feature in the mutual funds and ETFs held by mns of ordinary investors, Bloomberg explains.

The question is whether that exposure will pay off. IPO expert and economist Jay Ritter cautions that it is “difficult for an investor to come out ahead in a three-year period,” given the sky-high valuations these AI-era firms are commanding at listing. SpaceX’s own valuation rests heavily on projections of significant future revenue growth — context worth noting given the company posted a USD 4.9 bn loss last year.

The bigger picture

For institutional investors, the key question is whether a successful SpaceX IPO triggers a broader wave — normalizing large-scale, smooth transitions from private to public markets for firms that have spent years growing outside public view. For index providers, the stakes are existential in a different way: the rule changes they are making now will define what kind of companies they can attract and what kind of market integrity standards they are willing to bend to get them.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asia-Pacific markets are down in early trading this morning as continued geopolitical tension and the uncertainty surrounding an already shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran drag stocks down. South Korea’s is down 3% and Japan’s Nikkei is down 1.8%.

ADX	9,651	-0.5% (YTD: -3.4%)
DFM	5,775	+0.3% (YTD: -4.5%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,486	-1.5% (YTD: -8.2%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.5% o/n	4.0% 1 yr
TASI	11,010	-0.6% (YTD: +5.0%)
EGX30	52,854	+0.4% (YTD: +26.4%)
S&P 500	7,600	+0.3% (YTD: +11.0%)
FTSE 100	10,339	-0.7% (YTD: +4.1%)
Euro Stoxx 50	6,035	-0.3% (YTD: +4.1%)
Brent crude	USD 95.15	+0.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.19	+0.2%
Gold	USD 4,513	+0.1%
BTC	USD 71,190	-3.7% (YTD: -18.8%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.68	-0.5% (YTD: -1.9%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	151.63	-0.4% (YTD: -0.2%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	16.05	+4.8% (YTD: +7.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 0.3% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.4 bn. The index is down 4.5% YTD.

In the green: Talabat Holding (+10.9%), United Foods Company (+5.2%), and Taaleem Holdings (+4.4%).

In the red: Emaar Development (-5.0%), Unikai Foods (-5.0%), and Chimera S&P UAE UCITS ETF - Share Class A - Accumulating (-4.8%).

Over on the ADX, the index fell 0.5% on turnover of AED 1.8 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was down 1.5%.

CALENDAR

JUNE

1-12 June (Monday-Friday): Subscription period for Emirates NBD’s mandatory open offer for 26% of India’s RBL Bank.

3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Investor Conference, Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai.

3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Desalination Forum, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.

15 June - 15 September (Monday-Thursday): Dubai Mallathon, Dubai.

17 June (Wednesday): Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

22-24 June (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.

SEPTEMBER

1-3 September (Tuesday-Thursday: Middle East Energy, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Property Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

12-13 September (Saturday-Sunday): Emirates International Congress on AI & Visionary Leadership in Transforming Healthcare, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

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

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

OCTOBER

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

NOVEMBER

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

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

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

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

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

DECEMBER

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

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

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

1 January: Deadline for large businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of Hassyan seawater desalination project;
1-3 February (Monday-Wednesday): World Governments Summit;
31 March: Small businesses with annual revenues of less than AED 50 mn are obliged to contract with an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
31 March: Government entities are required to appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
21-22 April (Wednesday-Thursday): Token2049, Dubai;
1 July: Deadline for small businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1 October: Deadline for governments to implement e-invoicing;
Abu Dhabi’s solar and battery energy facility, combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity and 19 GWh of battery storage, is set for commissioning.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2028:

Artificial Intelligence Summit.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:

Sibos 2029 organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Dubai;
Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, Abu Dhabi;
The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

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