Adia backs USD 12.3 bn Dayforce buyout

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: AED 4 bn water projects in the pipeline for Sharjah + Binghatti Capital eyes three funds

Good morning, friends, and happy FRIDAY. We have an investment-heavy issue for you this morning, led by news that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is backing Thoma Bravo’s USD 12.3 bn buyout of HR software firm Dayforce.

Plus: Indian venture debt firm Stride Ventures gives us the details on its USD 250 mn ADGM V Fund, and Sharjah’s CE Ventures is backing a US nuclear energy startup.

MORNING MUST-READ- In today’s My Morning Routine, we chat with Endava’s general manager for the UAE and KSA, David Boast, about everything from the importance of adopting AI with a well-thought-out strategy — and the dangers of AI for AI’s sake — to his love for coffee.

WEATHER- Expect one more cloudy, potentially rainy day before the weekend, with light winds possibly kicking up some blowing dust, according to the National Center of Meteorology (pdf). Conditions should ease heading into the weekend, with skies turning fair to partly cloudy.

Temperatures today will peak at 40°C in Dubai before dipping to 32°C overnight, while Abu Dhabi will see the mercury peak at 42°C with the same overnight low. Both cities will likely feel hotter, with humidity reaching 71% in Dubai and 78% in the capital.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Sewa earmarks AED 4 bn for water supply projects: The Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (Sewa) is pouring AED 4 bn into developing key water supply system projects in the emirate, state news agency Wam reports. The projects are slated for completion by 3Q 2027, with the treated water set to head to Sharjah and the central region.

The projects: Sewa’s plans include three pumping stations and nine water storage reservoirs with a combined capacity of 180 mn gallons of water. The authority has already tapped contractors for the projects, which will be located in Al Zubair, Al Badi, and Al Burair. The authority is also building a 245-km main water pipeline, with works already underway on a 77-km pipeline between the Al Hamriyah Independent Water Desalination Plant — which is set to produce up to 90 mn gallons of water daily —.and Al Falaj station.

#2- Binghatti Capital, the new USD 1 bn investment arm of Dubai developer Binghatti Group, is rolling out three funds that blend real estate and private credit, with an eye on supporting the subcontractors it has relied on for years, CEO Katralnada Binghatti told Zawya. The move comes as private credit gains ground across the region, with investors and family offices searching for alternatives to traditional financing. Binghatti claims to be the first regional developer to put this kind of platform together.

The lineup includes a single development fund tied to individual projects, a multi-development fund that pools several developments, and a private credit fund that sits at the center of the strategy. The private credit fund will provide working capital for Binghatti’s own projects and extend financing to subcontractors the company has worked with for more than 15 years, Katralnada said.

The move also comes as developers face increased competition in finding contractors for their projects, especially amid pressure to deliver on time. Some developers — including Emaar, Arada Developments, and Samana — have brought construction in-house to have more control over the construction process.

Background: Earlier this month, Binghatti also priced a USD 500 mn, five-year senior unsecured sukuk that was 5x oversubscribed. The developer also recently acquired land in Meydan for a planned AED 25 bn development, and pushed ahead with nearly 30 projects in 1H 2025.

#3- Electric vehicle (EV) owners are paying an average 9.5% less y-o-y on ins. renewal rates, coming in at approximately AED 5.2k, Gulf News reports, citing InsuranceMarket.ae data. The drop in EV ins. renewal costs comes amid a growing mix of EV brands in the market, with an influx of Chinese manufacturers increasing competition in the market and providing a better understanding of segment risks. Despite this, ins. for EVs is still higher than for traditional fuel cars, meaning regulators may step in to improve pricing across the EV market, eSanad’s Anas Mistareehi told the news outlet.

PSA-

#1- Boating licenses now available online for some tourists: The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) is rolling out a new visitor’s marine license in a bid to boost marine activity and attract international visitors to the emirate, according to Dubai Media Office.

How the system works: Visitors with an existing boating license issued by members of the International Maritime Organization — including the GCC, Europe, and the US — can submit a copy through a digital platform for online verification. The DMA also launched an updated manual on the conditions and requirements for securing a license — along with provisions about working on marine vessels including the qualifications, practical experience, and medical training of crew members.

#2- Emirati universities have a new training framework for graduates: The Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry has set new rules for practical training in UAE universities to better align graduates’ skills with labor market needs, Wam reports. The framework requires institutions to sign formal agreements with training providers, prepare structured training plans, and track student progress through assessments and field visits. Universities and training providers must make sure the appointed supervisors are qualified and maintain detailed records and reports.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s a mixed bag in the international business press this morning, with most leading with expectations out of the US Federal’s Reverse’s Jackson Hole meeting this weekend.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to hint at the resumption of its interest rate easing cycle in September, though sticky inflation as tariffs ramp up costs put him in a tricky position. The chair will also be releasing a new framework centering inflation — as opposed to the labor market — as a recalibration from pandemic-era rhetoric and priorities.

Expect some volatility in markets, analysts say, as already poor liquidity in August could give way to a bigger hit to stocks as investors look out for Powell’s speech tomorrow. (Reuters | Bloomberg | Wall Street Journal)

The meeting comes amid more drama surrounding the Fed, with the US government now targeting governor Lisa Cook, urging her removal due to allegations of mortgage fraud that have yet to be confirmed. (Guardian | Bloomberg | Financial Times)

IN AI NEWS- Meta and Google have struck a USD 10 bn cloud computing agreement that will see the Facebook owner use Google Cloud's servers, storage, networking and other services as it looks to bring online more AI services. (Bloomberg | Reuters | CNBC | The Information)

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Spring/Summer edition of Dubai Fashion Week will run from Monday, 1 September until Saturday, 6 September at Dubai Design District (d3), ahead of the New York, London, Milan, and Paris fashion weeks. The edition will showcase more than 30 brands from the UAE, Europe, India, and beyond, with runway shows, private events, and an expanded buyers’ program.

The International Government Communication Forumis happening on Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 September at Expo Center Sharjah. Hosted by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the two-day forum will include panel discussions, workshops, and keynote speeches focused on using strategic communication to develop five global priorities: food security, public health, education, environmental sustainability, and green economy.

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

Adia joins Thoma Bravo in USD 12.3 bn buyout of HR software provider Dayforce

An Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) subsidiary will take a “significant” minority stake in HR software provider Dayforce as part of a USD 12.3 bn buyout led by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, according to a statement. The transaction, expected to close early next year subject to stockholder and regulatory approval, will also see Dayforce go private. It’s not clear how much Adia invested in the transaction.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dayforce shareholders will receive USD 70 per share in banknotes, valuing the equity at about USD 11.2 bn, according to Reuters. The offer represents a 32.4% premium to the company’s closing price on 15 August, when reports of transaction talks first surfaced. Including debt, the agreement values Dayforce at USD 12.3 bn.

Relief for Dayforce? Dayforce — formerly Ceridian HCM Holding — has lost around 7% of its market value so far this year, underperforming peers, though its stock rose c.2% after the announcement. Analysts say the buyout will ease its debt burden and give it room to accelerate AI product development and expand internationally.

“Going private gives us more space, flexibility and resources to go much deeper on what matters the most, which is accelerating our focus on being that AI leader in [human capital management]," CEO Davis Ossip said.

REFRESHER- This isn’t Adia’s first interaction with Thoma Bravo. Earlier in May, the sovereign fund finalized its acquisition of a significant minority stake in US data analytics firm Qlik, where Thoma Bravo remains the majority shareholder. That agreement was valued at around USD 1 bn.

Adia likes big data firms: The fund also joined a consortium including asset managers BlackStone and Vista last year to acquire software provider Smartsheet for USD 8.4 bn.

ADVISORS- Goldman Sachs & Co and JP Morgan Securities are acting as financial advisors to Thoma Bravo, with Kirkland & Ellis providing counsel. Dayforce tapped Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for legal advice and Evercore as its financial advisor.

Taqa secures AED 8.5 bn term facility

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) lined up an AED 8.5 bn corporate term loan, giving it more firepower to fund growth and keep its balance sheet liquid, according to a press release (pdf). The two-year facility will be drawn down in phases, letting the utility company time its borrowings with its investment schedule, and has a one-year extension option.

Why it matters: The new loan adds another layer to Taqa's funding, which already includes a USD 20 bn global bond program and a USD 3.5 bn revolving credit facility. The ADX-listed company has no big maturities due in 2027, giving it breathing room as it presses ahead with investments in power, water, and low-carbon projects at home and abroad. The transaction also underlines market confidence in Taqa’s AA credit profile, which helps it secure funding on competitive terms.

REMEMBER- Taqa is pressing ahead with international expansion, with projects including a AED 52 bn integrated power and water infrastructure program in Morocco, its takeover of the Talimarjan power complex in Uzbekistan, and the acquisition of UK-based Transmission investment.

This facility is pegged to EIBOR, the local interbank lending rate that sets the cost of borrowing AED, which Taqa says is currently cheaper than raising debt against global benchmarks.

The utilities firm has a healthy capital structure: The state-owned company boasts a 34% debt-to-capital ratio with AED 61.7 bn in gross debt at the end of June 2025, down from AED 64.1 bn at the end of 2024, according to its financials (pdf). Its freecash flow was at AED 7.0 bn at the end of June, up from AED 4.3 bn during the same period last year, giving the utility giant room to pay dividends and increase capex by 28.6% to AED 5.2 bn. Taqa plans to deploy AED 75 bn in capex by 2030, AED 27 bn of which has been deployed by the end of 2024.

ADVISORS- Our friends at Mashreq are lead arranger, along with Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank. ENBD and FAB are also joint bookrunner and coordinator.

India’s Stride Ventures launches ADGM Fund V with USD 250 mn target, eyes USD 500 mn GCC AUM by 2026

India-based venture debt firm Stride Ventures recently reached first close on its first Abu Dhabi fund, ADGM Fund V, which has a target of USD 250 mn with an additional USD 100 mn green shoe option, the firm’s partner Fariha Ansari Javed told EnterpriseAM UAE. The fund is Stride’s first in Abu Dhabi and forms part of its plan to scale regional assets under management to USD 500 mn by 2026, according to Abu Dhabi SME Hub.The venture debt firm has secured a portion of the targeted funding, with more set to follow in the next few weeks.

Big focus on the Gulf: The fund comes as Stride Ventures looks to expand and consolidate its relationships with the Gulf from its ADGM base amid “favorable macroeconomic and structural tailwinds,” Javed said. Javed also cited the rapid growth of the GCC’s venture and growth debt market, with a 54% CAGR in 2018-2024, far outpacing the 14% global average.

Saudi Arabia is a priority market, Javed said, citing rapid growth in fintechs addressing SME credit gaps and a need for more late-stage capital that extends beyond equity.

Deployment is underway: Stride has already signed term sheets worth more than USD 50 mn, with a 2025 pipeline of over USD 100 mn, Javed said, adding that “founders are increasingly seeking equity-efficient capital solutions.” Ticket sizes will typically range between USD 10-15 mn, covering working capital, acquisitions, and asset-backed financing.

Sector priorities: While maintaining a sector-agnostic approach, Javed flagged strong demand in fintech — particularly SME lending and BNPL — as well as B2B platforms and construction tech. Stride is also offering sharia-compliant murabaha structures, which they said “resonate strongly with regional founders” by aligning with “both governance and cultural parameters.”

Next in the pipeline: Stride’s current GCC pipeline tops USD 150 mn, spanning fintech, healthtech, logistics, and climate tech. The firm is also developing new fund structures tailored to UAE and Saudi markets. .

Background: Stride provided USD 1 mn in venture debt to Abu Dhabi agri-trade fintech Maalexi last July and partnered with Hub71 in February 2024 to back Abu Dhabi-based startups with funding and mentorship. Globally, Stride has deployed more than USD 1.2 bn across over 180 high-growth companies.

CE-Ventures joins USD 100 mn funding round for US nuclear startup developing modular reactors

CE-Ventures backs US nuclear startup: CE-Ventures, the venture capital arm of Sharjah-based Crescent Enterprises (CE), joined a USD 100 mn Series B funding round for US-based nuclear firm Aalo Atomics, according to a press release. The round was led by US-based Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Fine Structure Ventures, Hitachi Ventures, Crosscut Ventures, and others.

Where the money is going: Aalo will use the funds to build its first modular nuclear power plant, aiming to reach zero-power criticality by July 2026. The demonstration unit, named Aalo-X, will be paired with an experimental data center to test nuclear reactors directly powering AI infrastructure — a first-of-its-kind trial.

Aalo? Founded in 2022, the firm develops modular reactors designed for mass production and faster deployment than conventional plants. A primary focus is proving its modular reactors to power data centers, the press release says. It was recently selected by the US Energy Department’s Reactor Pilot Program, which accelerates testing of next-generation nuclear technologies.

In context: Nuclear energy is currently back in favor in the US, with President Donald Trump recently signing orders to expedite the construction of nuclear power stations.

The investment adds to CE-Ventures’ portfolio spanning fintech, enterprise software, digital health, climate solutions, and frontier technologies such as AI, and comes as global electricity demand from AI-optimized data centers is projected to quadruple by 2030, according to the IEA. It co-led a USD 10 mn seed round in US-based biotech firm CrossBridge Bio last year. Its parent Crescent Enterprises manages 57 subsidiaries and affiliates across 19 countries.

New leads at Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, Abu Dhabi Airports, and RoyalJet

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry appointed Ali Mohammad Al Marzooqi as director general, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. Al Marzooqi brings a background in organizational transformation and performance improvement, having held leadership roles in government, industry, finance, and education. He will oversee the chamber’s 2025-2028 roadmap and growth plan.

RoyalJet taps new chairman: Abu Dhabi-based private jet operator RoyalJet appointed Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Alardhi (LinkedIn) as chairman of its board of directors, according to a press release. Alardhi is also executive chairman of Bahrain-based investment firm Investcorp, chairman of Oman’s Sohar International bank, and chairs both the Muscat Stock Exchange and the College of Banking and Financial Studies in Oman. He previously served as chief of the Oman Air Force.

This comes amid a wider shakeup that has reportedly seen CEO Shafiul Syed (LinkedIn) abruptly leave his position, with former CEO Mohammed Husain Ahmed (LinkedIn) taking his place as acting CEO, Aviation Week reports.

IN OTHER AVIATION NEWS- Abu Dhabi Airports tapped Carsten Nørland (LinkedIn) as chief commercial officer, it said in a post on LinkedIn. Nørland was most recently CEO of German-Danish ferry operator Scandlines and earlier held senior roles at Royal Unibrew and Copenhagen Airport. He will oversee commercial operations spanning route development, retail, dutyfree, F&B, property management, and partnerships, according to a press release.

DP World, Japan’s Itochu to expand logistics capabilities in Africa

LOGISTICS-

DP World, Itochu ink trade + logistics MoU for Sub-Saharan Africa: State-owned logistics giant DP World is partnering with one of Japan’s largest trading companies, Itochu, to expand logistics connectivity and trade access across Sub-Saharan Africa, according to Dubai Media Office. Under an MoU, the two will seek to boost Japanese companies’ presence in the region, with initial efforts targeting improving supply chains, commodities and food products distribution, as well as fleet and logistics operations.

REMEMBER- DP World currently operates in 48 African countries. Last year, the logistics company earmarked USD 3 bn for new port infrastructure in the continent, partnered with the UK government to develop DR Congo’s first deep-sea container port, and got the greenlight from Mozambique’s government to expand the Maputo port.

#2- SolitAir kicks off air cargo operations in mainland China: Dubai-based cargo carrier SolitAir launched direct flights from its logistics facility at Al Maktoum International Airport to China’s industrial city of Ürümqi, according to a press release. The move marks its first direct route into mainland China — providing faster transit for time-sensitive cargo such as electronics, pharma products, fashion goods, and perishables.

IN CONTEXT- China is the UAE’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 102 bn in 2024, the press release says. Ürümqi is positioned as a logistics gateway to Central Asia and is located near key points on China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

#3- Etihad Cargo increases belly-hold capacity with updated winter schedule:

Etihad Airways’ cargo arm Etihad Cargo has added new destinations to its winter flight schedule, according to a press release. The carrier is launching new routes to Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Taipei, and increasing the frequency of its services to Lisbon, Warsaw, Atlanta, Bangkok, and Manchester.

Also in the pipeline: Between November 2025 and March 2026, Etihad Airways plans to gradually launch passenger flights to 16 new destinations — including Addis Ababa, Algiers, and Bucharest — with the aim of increasing its belly-hold capacity on more than 1k weekly flights. Increasing passenger flight destinations will strengthen the airline’s presence in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the statement says.

M&A-

#1- Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) Catering has completed its acquisition of Compass Group’s 50% stake in its Saudi JV with the firm, Compass Arabia, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The transaction — which will see it gain control of the JV alongside Al Rushaid Group — is expected to reel in an additional AED 100 mn in annual net income, and will set the foundations for further expansion in the Kingdom. The firm is eyeing SAR 500 mn growth in the Kingdom over the next five years.

It’s not ADNH Catering’s first acquisition this year: It also finalized the acquisition of Food Nation Catering Services, a Dubai-based school catering company, for an undisclosed sum as part of its broader expansion strategy. The move was first announced in January.

#2- Amanat sells off NLCS land in AED 453 mn sale: Amanat Holdings completed the sale of the North London Collegiate School (NLCS) real estate assets for AED 453 mn to Souk NLCS Holdings, a Hillhouse Real Assets-controlled entity, according to DFM disclosures here (pdf) and here (pdf). The sale generated AED 294 mn in net returns and removes a finance lease tied to the property from Amanat’s balance sheet.

ICYMI- The company first flagged the disposal earlier this month, saying it would sell the land through subsidiary AHH Alpha in place of a put option agreement signed in May 2025. Amanat acquired the property in 2018 for AED 360 mn and invested AED 33 mn in expansion capex, bringing its total investments to AED 393 mn. The sale is part of its plan to exit non-core education real estate and refocus on healthcare and education operating assets.

India faces steepest earnings downgrade in Asia as US tariffs weigh on outlook

India sees steepest earnings downgrades in Asia: Forward 12-month earnings estimates for Indian large- and mid-cap firms dropped by 1.2% over the past two weeks — the sharpest fall in Asia, Reuters reports, citing LSEG IBES data. The cuts come as the US’ 50% tariff on India — set to take effect on 27 August — raises growth risks — even with proposed domestic tax cuts looking to soften the blow.

The downgrades follow another disappointing reporting season, extending a slowdown that began last year. Corporate earnings growth has been stuck in single digits for five straight quarters, down from 15-25% in 2020-2023. “After disappointing earnings growth of only 6% in 2024, the pace of recovery remains sluggish in 2025,” said Rajat Agarwal, Asia equity strategist at Société Générale.

Autos + consumer sectors hit the hardest: Automobiles, capital goods, F&Bs, and consumer durables all saw earnings forecasts cut by around 1% or more. This comes despite the fact that Nifty 50 firms derive just 9% of their revenues from the US.

Valuations could be next: Analysts warn stretched valuations could leave Indian equities vulnerable if tariffs persist. “We could potentially see the tariff triggering a broad valuation re-rating downwards and make some of the domestic oriented stocks attractive,” says Raisah Rasid, strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management.

Gov’t leans on tax reforms to boost growth: To counter external pressures, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled sweeping consumption tax cuts, proposing a two-rate structure of 5% and 18% instead of the previous 12% and 28% tax that was imposed on some items. Economists at Standard Chartered expect the reforms to lift GDP growth by 0.35-0.45 percentage points by FY 2027. MUFG, however, expects sustained 50% tariffs to reduce India’s GDP growth by one percentage point, with the textiles sector among the hardest hit.

Despite the policy support, foreign investors are pulling back. Bank of America’s latest fund manager survey shows that India has slid from the most-preferred to the least-preferred Asian equity market in just two months, as doubts grow over valuations and the pace of earnings growth.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed this morning, with South Korea’s Kospi leading gains with a 1.2% jump, and Japan’s Nikkei dipping 0.1% at the open. Meanwhile, China’s CSI 300 was trading flat, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.3%. Over on Wall Street, futures inched up slightly following a losing session yesterday, as investors await US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole.

ADX	10,200	-0.0% (YTD: +8.3%)
DFM	6,128	+0.1% (YTD: +18.8%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,986	-0.1% (YTD: +19.7%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.2% o/n	4.2% 1 yr
TASI	10,867	-0.1% (YTD: -9.8%)
EGX30	35,622	-0.3% (YTD: +19.8%)
S&P 500	6,370	-0.4% (YTD: +8.3%)
FTSE 100	9,309	+0.2% (YTD: +13.9%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,462	-0.2% (YTD: +11.6%)
Brent crude	USD 67.64	-0.0%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.81	-0.5%
Gold	USD 3,381.1	-0.0%
BTC	USD 112,135	-1.8% (YTD: +18.7%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.49	-0.3% (YTD: +0.2%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	148.39	+0.0% (YTD: +6%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	16.6	+5.8% (YTD: -4.3%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 0.1% yesterday on turnover of AED 427.5 mn. The index is up 18.8% YTD.

In the green: National Cement Company (+6.6%), Emirates Reem Investments Company (+6.3%) and Dubai National Ins. and Reins. (+5.7%).

In the red: Sukoon Takaful (-9.4%), Chimera S&P UAE Sharjah ETF - Share class B - Income (-6.2%) and Al Mal Capital REIT (-2.3%).

Over on the ADX, the index remained flat on turnover of AED 905.5 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was down 0.1%

My Morning Routine: David Boast, general manager for UAE and KSA at Endava

David Boast, general manager for UAE and KSA at Endava: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the business community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of business questions for fun. Speaking to us this week is David Boast, general manager for UAE and KSA at Endava (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation below:

I’m David Boast. I'm a father of four — I’ve got three boys and a little girl. My younger two live with me here in Dubai. We've lived here for nearly two years. I’m a big lover of motorsport, cricket, and Star Wars, and I’ve been getting back into online gaming a bit as well, because my son started to take an interest in Fortnite.

I'm also a big lover of coffee, which has been very much driven by the quality of roasteries in the UAE and Saudi. I really enjoy trying out the different types of roast and drawing the perfect espresso. It’s like a blend of art and science — from weighing the beans out to grinding them and tamping it properly and getting the right temperature and pressure.

Endava is a technology services company, so we're working across multiple different sectors with customers to identify problem domains and bring the right technology and people on to address those problems. AI is one of those key tools that we use to enable that, whether it's for building a new payment gateway for a payments company or for digital acceleration or modernization for a retail company. One important one we’re working on now is building a port community system for the Port of Fujairah.

A while back, there was this Y2K rush, and everyone was testing and wanted to make sure they had the Y2K-ready badge. I see AI now as one of those badges and I think while it's really important to have an AI strategy and we help lots of customers do that, understanding why you're doing it is actually the more important thing. There's a bit too much AI for AI's sake, but purpose is everything.

Hallucinations are also getting quite strong now — there was a news story the other day of a broadcaster that had been feeding transcripts into ChatGPT so it memorizes them and comments on improvements they could do on the show. One week, it generated an entire script for a podcast that had never happened.

It’s important to understand that at its roots, generative AI is a derivative probability model. It's not creating new content, so you have to understand its limitations. It’s also important to make sure the creative parts of what we do are taken into consideration so the human aspects are coming together with the technology.

My day always starts with putting coffee on. My wife expects a perfectly made latte with some decent latte art, so I have to do that first thing. I then have two or three espressos, depending on how much time I have before I get out the door. I help the kids get ready where I can, and I drive my wife to her job and come into the office.

Depending on what time I get up, I occasionally go for a walk. I’ve got in the habit of doing a 5 km walk, either before the sun comes up because it's quite hot at the moment or in the evening just for exercise.

When I get into the office, I get more coffee — it tends to be the V60 pour over when I get in rather than espresso — and I read Ground News, which is very interesting because it pulls news from different sources and judges and grades it depending on whether it’s left-biased, right-biased, or center-biased, or whether it’s factual. It gives me that balanced view of what's going on in geopolitics and on the macro level, because ultimately that filters down to all of us in terms of what we do every day and can have an impact one or two years down the line. I think of that as kind of like playing chess.

Then there's playing checkers with the issues of the day, from the customer issues that need to be prioritized through to the admin tasks. I've also got a global strategic delivery role, so that keeps me busy.

I enjoy watching things like Black Mirror on Netflix because they're quite dystopian, and I love looking at the possibilities of technology. I like to look at the positive spin on it and how we can avoid that happening. The other thing I watch is YouTube. I've got a love for cars and motorcycles, so, there's a guy called Mat Armstrong on YouTube who takes crash-damaged cars and rebuilds them, and there's something about the process of stripping a car back and then rebuilding it and making them look almost brand new at the end of it that I love.

On a personal level, my goal is to keep treating every day like a school day where I’m learning something new, challenging myself, and keeping myself in that awkward space where I’m always improving. I also want to continue my health journey — I’ve recently lost a lot of weight and I now want to build up some muscle. I used to lift a lot of weights in my twenties and train quite extensively, so the goal is to get back to that.

Our family motto — and that’s something I try to live by myself — is to try your best and be kind to others. I think if you can do those two things, that covers off 95% of what you need to do.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

15-24 August (Friday-Sunday): Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche.

20-24 August (Wednesday-Sunday): Dubai hosts government pavilion at Gamescom 2025, Cologne, Germany.

SEPTEMBER

1-6 September (Monday-Saturday): Dubai Fashion Week, Dubai Design District.

7 September (Sunday) Opec+ meet to discuss production policy for October.

9 September (Tuesday): Envision 2025, Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai.

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

8-10 September (Monday-Wednesday): WHX-Tech Expo, Dubai World Trade Center.

8-19 September (Monday-Friday): Universal Postal Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

8-18 September (Monday-Thursday): BHM Capital Financial Services’s AED 200 mn rights issue will be open for subscriptions.

10-11 September (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Public-Private Partnership Forum, Dubai.

10-11 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Annual International Government Communication Forum, Expo Centre Sharjah.

10-20 September (Wednesday-Saturday): IFMA Youth World Muay Thai Championship, Abu Dhabi.

12-14 September (Friday-Sunday): The International Real Estate and Investment Show, Abu Dhabi.

17-18 September (Wednesday-Thursday): SHRM MENA hosts its Annual Conference + Expo, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

16-17 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

23-24 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA EV Show, The Agenda, Dubai Media City.

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The KT UniExpo, The H Dubai.

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

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, Dubai.

25-27 September (Thursday-Saturday): International Congress of Medical Excellence in Dermatology and Aesthetic Med, Dubai World Trade Centre.

30 September (Tuesday): Africa Debate Conference, Dubai.

30 September (Tuesday): Dubai Podfest, Dubai.

OCTOBER

1-2 October (Thursday-Friday): World Green Economy Summit (WGES), Dubai World Trade Center.

30 September-2 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), Dubai World Trade Center.

3-16 October (Friday-Thursday): Dubai Home Festival.

7 October (Tuesday): Enterprise Egypt Forum 2025.

7-9 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

9 October (Thursday): Family Office Summit, Park Hyatt, Dubai.

9-15 October (Thursday-Wednesday): IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi.

12-15 October (Sunday-Wednesday): Expand North Star, Dubai Harbor.

14-16 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Global Future Councils, Dubai.

15-18 October (Wednesday-Saturday): Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.

20 October (Monday): Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

22-24 October (Wednesday-Friday): World Investment Conference, Expo Center Sharjah.

27 October (Monday): The UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit, Dubai.

27-29 October (Monday-Wednesday): Future Hospitality Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

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

28-29 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

NOVEMBER

1-2 November (Saturday-Sunday): Women's Empowerment Convention (WE Convention), Atlantis The Royal, Dubai.

4-9 November (Tuesday-Saturday):Dubai Design Week, Dubai.

11-17 November (Tuesday-Monday): International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference, Dubai

12 November (Wednesday): Dubai Business Forum, Cipriani South Street, New York City.

12-17 November (Wednesday-Monday): RoboCup Asia-Pacific, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi.

13-15 November (Thursday-Saturday): International Financial Markets (ICA) Conference and Exhibition, Conrad Dubai.

15-17 November (Saturday-Monday): Myplant & Garden Middle East Green Expo, Dubai Exhibition Center, Expo City.

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.

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

DECEMBER

1-3 December (Monday-Wednesday): Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day).

1-5 December (Monday-Friday): The World Congress of Neurosurgery, Dubai World Trade Center.

7-14 December (Sunday-Sunday): Asian Youth Para Games, APC headquarters, Dubai.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): BTC Mena Conference, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): Global AI Show 2025, Abu Dhabi.

8-10 December (Monday-Wednesday): Bridge media summit, Abu Dhabi.

8-11 December (Monday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Al Maryah Island.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

18-23 December (Thursday-Tuesday): Games of the Future, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

29-30 December (Monday-Tuesday): World Sports Summit, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network.
Executive Committee Meeting (EXCOM 2025) conference of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO)

Signposted to happen sometime in 2H 2025:

Closing of XRG's acquisition of Covestro

JANUARY 2026

1 January: Client asset regime changes in Dubai International Financial Center take effect.

9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit, UAE.

28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.

28-30 January (Wednesday-Friday): World Customs Organization Technology Conference, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

FEBRUARY 2026

3-5 February (Tuesday-Thursday): The World Governments Summit.

12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference, Abu Dhabi.

9-13 February (Monday-Friday): The World Health Expo (WHX), Dubai.

Signposted to happen in 2026:

31 March - 2 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Arab Media Summit, Dubai.
13-15 April ( Monday-Wednesday) : The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.
14-16 April: (Tuesday-Thursday): the International Property Show, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai.
11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center.
The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum
Dubai to host the Arab Actuarial Conference
United Nations Water Conference
Dubai Future Finance Week
Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of Hassyan seawater desalination project.
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 between 2027 and 2029:

Sibos 2029 organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Dubai.
The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

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