ADX launches high-dividend index

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Paramount’s Warner Bros. offer gets Adia backing? + Adnoc in talks to acquire Sefe’s trading unit

Good morning, friends. It’s clear that plenty of people are bridging the long weekend, judging by the uncharacteristically slow pace of news and the volume of out-of-office replies in our inbox.

Think of it as the calm before the storm, before thousands of financiers, investors, and hedge fund managers descend on Abu Dhabi next week for Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and some of the same crowd — along with high-profile celebrities and tourists — alike land in the capital for the F1 Grand Prix.

The big theme of the day today is capital markets, with the ADX launching a new high-dividend focused index, and Mashreq Capital rolling out a multi-asset BTC, gold, and equity fund for retail investors.

🌁WEATHER- Expect another foggy morning, as the mercury peaks at 29°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, before cooling to a low of 22°C in the former and 20°C in the capital.

UPDATE-

Output at Dana Gas’ Khor Mor facility in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been fully restored after a recent attack disrupted operations, according to a press release (pdf). The company’s liquid storage tank was struck by a rocket last week, causing a fire and the suspension of operations to assess the damage. The authorities didn’t disclose who was responsible for the attack.

This isn’t the first attack this year, after a drone strike “targeted the [field’s] vicinity” in February, though the company’s operations were unaffected. Later on in July, a series of drone attacks in the wider Kurdistan region slashed crude output by 140k barrels to 150k bbl / d and led some producers to temporarily halt production, Reuters reported.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Paramount’s Warner Bros. offer gets Adia backing? The latest offer from Paramount Skydance to fully acquire Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly backed by the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, unnamed sources told Variety. The offer is mostly backed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, while GCC backing is below the threshold that requires foreign investment approval in the US, the sources added.

Background: Ellison, who acquired Paramount this year for USD 8 bn, reportedly held preliminary and “active” talks with the PIF and other Gulf investors to secure financing for a potential bid, the Financial Times reported last month. Earlier reports by Variety on Gulf backing were denied by Paramount at the time.

Fierce competition: The offer will reportedly be going up against offers from industry titans Netflix and Comcast. There’s no word yet on details of the rival offers, but sources say Netflix is trying to sweeten the bid by pledging to honor Warner’s agreements to distribute films in theaters in case its offer goes through.

#2- Adnoc is among several potential investors reportedly in talks with the German government to buy the trading unit of Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (Sefe), the former trading and supply arm of Russian gas firm Gazprom, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. The government is eyeing several options, which could include carving out the trading unit and separating it from strategic gas assets, or pursuing privatization through a public share offering as they look at reprivatization from “all angles,” the sources said.

Sefe? The company was nationalized in 2022 in a EUR 6.3 bn transaction at a time when the energy crisis was at its peak, but the European Commission now demands that the government reduce its stake in the firm, which is still importing Russian LNG to Europe through France on the back of a legacy contract. The company is currently expanding its LNG assets and recently acquired German gas grid operator Wiga in an effort to boost its valuation ahead of the exit. The government had tapped JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank to work on the privatization process.

#3- Adnoc Gas plans to leave some 20% of output from its Ruwais LNG plant uncontracted, positioning the company to capture upside price swings from market volatility instead of locking all volumes into long-term contracts, CEO Fatema Al Nuaimi told The National.

Adnoc has been converting heads of agreements into sales agreements over the past year, inking offtake agreements for the plant in which it will hold a 60% stake with the likes of Shell, Indian Oil Corporation, Germany’s Sefe, German energy infrastructure firm EnBW, Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas firm Petronas, as well as a Japan’s Jera and Osaka Gas.

Adnoc’s commitments cover more than 8 mn tons of the facility’s planned 9.6 mtpa capacity, covering some 83% of planned capacity roughly 16 months after the project’s final investment decision in June last year. The USD 7 bn project is scheduled to come online by the end of 2028, with Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, and Japan’s Mitsui each holding 10% stakes.

#4- GCC aims to finalize joint air defense shield: GCC states are focused on completing a unified air defense network “in the near future,” GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al Budaiwi told Al Arabiya on Tuesday (watch: runtime: 21:45), ahead of the 46th GCC summit. He described the meeting as “extremely important” in light of recent attacks on Qatar, including an Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid US base and an Israeli strike on a meeting of senior Hamas members in Doha, which highlighted the need for a coordinated defensive posture. The bloc will also focus on increasing defense training programs and making them more comprehensive.

Regional energy integration is also a focus, including linking southern Iraq to the Gulf electricity grid, The National reports, citing Al Budaiwi. The first 500 MW are expected in early 2026, before scaling that to 2 GW. The project could also extend Gulf electricity exports to other Arab states facing shortages, he added.

The GCC Summit’s final communique emphasized the importance of cooperation in renewable energy, AI and tech, as well as trade and tourism, and encouraging investment in strategic projects, particularly in infrastructure, transport, energy, communications, water, and food. On the trade front, the bloc is finalizing agreements with New Zealand and South Korea, Al Budaiwi is quoted as saying by the National.

#5- CBUAE to offer AED 18.5 bn in next M-bills auction: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) will offer up to AED 18.5 bn in monetary bills at its upcoming auction next Monday, 8 December, according to a statement (pdf). The offering includes a 28-day tap issuance worth up to AED 2 bn, an 84-day new issuance worth up to AED 2 bn, a 168-day tap issuance worth up to AED 1.5 bn, and a 336-day new issuance worth up to AED 13 bn. All bills will settle on 10 December.

Decoding central bank speak: M-bills are short-term, zero-coupon securities issued in AED with typical maturities of 1-12 months. They are sold via competitive tenders to licensed dealers and are not listed for public trading. A tap issuance allows the CBUAE to reopen an existing line to manage liquidity without launching a new series.

#6- Art collectors and aficionados, rejoice: Design Miami is bringing its collectible fair to Dubai under a joint program, according to a press release. Slated for early 2027, the partnership will launch a flagship fair alongside year-round initiatives to convene leading galleries, collectors, and designers. The event is currently underway in Miami and also has an edition in Paris.

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HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week kicked off yesterday and runs until Friday, 5 November at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi. In partnership with ADIO, the flagship event features auctions, exhibitions, masterclasses, and panel discussions across luxury sectors including high jewelry, rare watches, collector cars, fine art, and real estate.

#2- The Binance Blockchain Week is taking place today and continues until tomorrow at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The event brings together global stakeholders from blockchain builders and crypto firms to regulators, investors, and Web3 innovators for panel discussions, workshops, and networking aimed at shaping the future of Web3 and digital assets.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s a pretty slow news day in the business press, with no one story dominating headlines. Among those getting ink:

#1- HSBC has appointed Brendan Nelson as chairman, making his interim role permanent seven months after launching a search to replace former chair Mark Tucker. The decision came just a day after CEO Georges Elhedery said Nelson was not seeking the position permanently. Nelson joined the bank’s board in September 2023 and has been serving as interim chair since October. He will continue to chair the Group Audit Committee until HSBC releases its 2025 results in February, after which a successor will be announced. (Reuters | Wall Street Journal | Financial Times)

#2- Meta has poached Apple’s head of user interface design Alan Dye to accelerate its push into AI-powered devices. Dye, who led Apple’s user interface design team since 2015 and played a key role in products like the Apple Watch, iPhone X, and Vision Pro headset, will join Meta as chief design officer. His departure adds to recent senior exits at Apple, including COO Jeff Williams and AI chief John Giannandrea. (Financial Times | Bloomberg | Reuters)

#3- Bond investors are sounding the alarm over the US Treasury appointing Kevin Hassett as the next Federal Reserve chair, fearing he could bow to political pressure from President Donald Trump to cut interest rates aggressively, Financial Times reports. The Treasury has sought market feedback on potential candidates, including Hassett, during November meetings. Hassett, a former Trump adviser and economist, has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Jay Powell when his term ends in May 2026.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

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

ADX launches region’s first high-dividend index

ADX, FTSE roll out high-dividend index: The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) launched an index focused on high-dividend stocks, named the FTSE ADX Dividend Stars Index, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The index provides exposure to 17 ADX-listed companies with high and consistent dividend payouts.

The companies in focus: The initial 17 constituents operate in the communication services, industrials, energy, financials, consumer staples, and basic materials industries sectors, and are included in the index thanks to strong financial performance and diversified, international operations. They accounted for over 70% of all dividends listed on the ADX so far this year, and saw a collective 20% growth in 9M net income y-o-y.

DATA POINT- ADX-listed firms have paid out more than AED 320 bn in dividends since 2020 – marking a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 33%.

The index will likely include the likes of Adnoc Drilling, who recently raised its dividend distribution floor to AED 25 bn by 2030, Adnoc Gas, Adnoc Distribution, Fertiglobe, and e&.

REMEMBER- The six Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc)-listed subsidiaries — Adnoc Gas, Adnoc Drilling, Adnoc Distribution, Adnoc Logistics & Services (L&S), Fertiglobe, and Borouge — have pledged to pay out AED 158 bn (USD 43 bn) in dividends through 2030, nearly doubling the distributions made since the first Adnoc unit IPOed in 2017

The new index uses the FTSE’s Target Diversification method to allow easy adjusting of stock concentrations to help reduce volatility while maintaining exposure to high-dividend paying stocks.

ICYMI- This is the fifth index launched by the ADX and FTSE Russell, with the two launching indices like the Shariah-compliant FTSE ADX 15 Islamic Index last year and the FTSE ADX ESG Screened index in 2023.

Mashreq Capital launches BTC, gold, and equity multi-asset investment fund

Mashreq rolls out retail multi-asset investment fund: Our friends at Mashreq Capital launched a BTC and multi-asset class (BITMAC) investment fund for retail investors looking for a way into digital assets that remains low-risk, according to a press release. The fund offers a combination of low- and high-risk investment exposure via ETFs by combining equities, fixed income, gold, and BTC, claiming a low risk profile of 9% compared to 30% risk for a purely BTC-focused fund.

How it works: Minimum investments start from USD 100, with 90% of the fund’s allocations going into traditional global stocks and equities, 5% going to gold, and another 5% going to BTC. BITMAC will reinvest using a buy-the-dip model, looking to deliver long-term returns and avoid common retail investment pitfalls of buying high and selling low. It will automatically rebalance asset portfolios on a quarterly basis if one class performs below target or outperforms.

REMEMBER- We recently spoke wit h Mashreq Capital CEO Philip Philippides about the opportunity available for local asset and fund managers, from the shariah-compliant space to “passive plus” fund. He also talked us through his broader goal of turning Mashreq Capital into a “new age asset manager” with a multi-asset framework — offering innovative products in under-represented segments, from equities to private assets.

Infinity Power breaks ground on Ras Ghareb wind farm

Infinity Power — a joint venture between renewables giant Masdar and Egypt’s Infinity — has broken ground on its 200 MW Ras Ghareb wind farm in the Gulf of Suez, according to a press release (pdf). Construction is set to begin under an engineering, procurement, and construction contract recently signed with PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation.

The details: We already knew that the project will cost around USD 216.7 mn and is expected to come online by May 2027. It is being developed under a power purchase agreement signed with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company in August 2024. The project is set to cut CO2 emissions by 400k tons per year and power more than 300k homes.

REMEMBER- The project reached financial close back in September, after securing a USD 74.1 mn financing package led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Dubai Residential REIT posts solid 9M performance

Dubai Holding’s Dubai Residential REIT has reported solid 9M performance, with revenue up 10% y-o-y, supported by sustained leasing momentum and robust rental growth, according to a press release (pdf). Revenue per leased sq ft increased 7% y-o-y to AED 56.1 and its gross asset value finished 9M at AED 23 bn. Occupancy remained strong at 98% across its portfolio, up 2% y-o-y, and retention held its rate of 97% from 1Q and 2Q on the back of robust lease renewal.

Looking ahead, the REIT, which completed its IPO in May, plans to add 276 units to its portfolio across Jebel Ali Village and Garden View Villas, expected to generate AED 70-80 mn in additional revenue once stabilized. Dividends for FY 2025 are set at the higher of AED 1.1 bn or 80% of net income before changes in fair value.

UAE REITs have seen broad gains this year against the backdrop of a strong property market, with most trading up YTD. ENBD REIT also posted USD 29 mn in 1H FY 2025-26 net income, while Al Mal Capital REIT carried out an AED 220 mn capital raise through offering new units. Dubai Residential REIT is currently trading at AED 1.23, up almost 12% from its IPO price of AED 1.1.

Siemens Energy names Hussein Shoukry as MD for Middle East + Africa

Siemens Energy appointed Hussein Shoukry (LinkedIn) as managing director for the Middle East and Africa, effective since the beginning of the month, according to a press release (pdf). Shoukry will be based in the UAE and oversee operations across 29 offices in the region, which saw EUR 9 bn in order intake in FY 2025.

His background: Shoukry has been with Siemens for over two decades, joining Siemens Energy in 2021 and most recently serving as senior vice president for project execution, leading a 3.5k-strong team across global competence hubs in Romania, Mexico, and India.

Mubadala invest in Korean clean water startup + DP World, Masdar City Freezone expand abroad

M&A-

Mubadala closes investment in Korean cleantech NanoH2O: Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company and Korean investment firm Glenwood Private Equity, alongside co-investors, have completed their investment in NanoH2O — formerly known as LG Water Solutions — after securing all regulatory approvals, according to a press release. The Seoul-based company, spun out of LG Chem this year, supplies reverse osmosis membranes for desalination and brackish water treatment. Over 95% of its revenue comes from overseas operations.

What’s next? Following the capital injection, Mubadala aims to support the cleantech’s expansion, especially in the MENA region where water scarcity is a prominent concern.

REMEMBER- In August, Mubadala and Singapore’s GIC launched a KRW 600 bn (USD 433.1 mn) vehicle to co-fund Glenwood ’s KRW 1.6 tn (USD 1.2 bn) acquisition of LG Chem’s water-treatment unit, Membrane. The unit’s nanotech-based seawater filters — capable of removing 99.89% of salt and contaminants — are a key draw, given their industrial and semiconductor applications.

BUSINESS-

Masdar City Freezone launches China office, inks MoUs: Masdar City Freezone (MCFZ) rolled out its first representative office in China and inked three MoUs with Chinese partners, state news agency Wam reports. The new office, located in Suzhou Industrial Park, aims to attract foreign direct investment, boost technology transfer, and support the establishment of Chinese companies in Abu Dhabi.

The agreements: Masdar City will establish direct institutional links with Suzhou Industrial Park, while Suzhou Yingdi Consultants will manage the new representative office and help local firms set up shop in Abu Dhabi. The Beijing Zhongguancun Science City Innovation Development ecosystem will provide tailored business packages for Chinese early-stage firms looking to launch operations in the UAE.

LOGISTICS-

DP World expands freight forwarding operations to Sweden: DP World is expanding into Sweden with the launch of freight forwarding operations in Stockholm and Gothenburg, starting next February, according to a press release. Two new offices will connect Swedish importers and exporters with DP World’s international network. DP World-owned company Foodtankers, Business Sweden, and the Swedish Trade and Invest Council will also support the rollout.

The new offices will route up to 25% of shipments via rail and sea in their first year to cut road emissions and also launch local education and workforce skills initiatives.

DIGITIZATION-

Moro Hub, PwC partner on smart city infrastructure and loT: Digital Dewa’s IT subsidiary Moro Hub partnered with PwC Middle East to boost the development of smart city, integrated command center, and Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives across the region, according to a press release. The collaboration also aims to advance critical infrastructure monitoring, as well as smart building and facilities management technologies.

Soon to be on offer: Joint initiatives include setting up AI-powered control centers to monitor infrastructure systems and predictive analysis platforms.

TECH-

US identity security firm Savyint rolls out Dubai HQ: US-based AI-driven identity security firm Savyint opened a regional headquarters in Dubai as it looks to tap into growing demand for identity security amid increased cloud and AI adoption, according to a press release. The company also partnered with UAE-based cybersecurity solutions firm StarLink as part of its expansion.

Savyint’s offering: The firm will host its Identity Cloud platform from Dubai, providing identity management and security solutions to help clients meet data residency requirements in the face of growing cybersecurity and identity risk threats. It is targeting industries including banking, energy, government, and telecommunications, and will offer security solutions to regulate employee and contractor access to devices.

AVIATION-

Turkish carrier taps DAE for Boeing newbuilds: Aircraft lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has inked a long-term lease contract with Turkey’s flagship airline Turkish Airlines and budget carrier AJet for 10 new Boeing 737-8 jets, according to a statement. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027. The value of the agreement was not disclosed. The two inked an agreement back in 2024 on the leasing.

DATA POINT- Currently, DAE owns, manages, and has orders for a total of 236 Boeing planes, with a wider total of 750 aircraft valued at USD 22 bn.

REMEMBER– DAE is expanding its portfolio through a mix of firm acquisitions and purchases of used and new jets. The company finalized its full acquisition of Ireland-based Nordic Aviation Capital for an enterprise value of USD 2 bn earlier in May and has committed to acquiring an additional 100 aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, and ATR.

DEFENSE-

Calidus Holding secures Angola LOI for 12 B‑250T trainer aircraft: Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer Calidus Holding received a letter of intent (LOI) from the Republic of Angola to purchase 12 B‑250T training aircraft, supporting advanced training programs, state news agency Wam reports.

Calidus also launched the UAE’s first fully-integrated counter-drone defense system, designed to protect cities, borders, bases, and critical environment from AI drone and swarm threats, state news agency Wam reports. DAMITA has an interception rate of up to 20 drones per minute.

Emerging markets surge on AI optimism, though India lags behind

The AI-driven stock market rally is causing a split between emerging markets, with some indices recording their strongest performance in years, and others experiencing a rout. Still, EM stocks are on track for their best year in nearly a decade, with the MSCI EM index up around 31% YTD, and funds tracking the markets like the USD 141 bn Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets index up 23.5% YTD, marking the highest growth since 2017.

China and South Korea are amongst the top performers, thanks to tech-heavy stocks tied to semiconductors and software, according to the Financial Times. AI-tied stocks like Alibaba Group, up 139% YTD and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, up 35% YTD, are among those seeing the biggest gains. Heavy concentration in these names, however, has also increased benchmark risk.

On the flipside, Indian equities have underperformed other emerging markets by the widest margin in more than three decades amid uncertainty over a US-India trade agreement, faster AI adoption in east Asia, tighter fiscal and monetary policy, and murky earnings visibility, the FT quotes analysts as saying. The MSCI India index booked its weakest return since 1993, with 2.5% in USD terms this year. Foreign investors have pulled out over USD 16 bn from the market, the second-largest outflow on record.

Funds were redirected to higher-performing EM markets linked to the AI boom, and investors treated India as a “funding trade” this year to finance long positions elsewhere in the region, Goldman Sachs global emerging market equity strategist Sunil Koul said.

ALSO ON PLANET FINANCE-

Anthropic enlists Wilson Sonsoni for IPO: US AI firm Anthropic — creator of the Claude chatbot and a major OpenAI rival — has brought on US law firm Wilson Sonsini to handle its work for a possible IPO, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. The move comes at a time of sky-high valuations for tech startups, with OpenAI recently valued at USD 500 bn during a secondary share sale. The firm is eyeing a 2026 listing date, one source told FT.

The AI firm is reportedly seeking a private round valuing it at more than USD 300 bn and has held informal talks with banks but not yet chosen underwriters. An Anthropic spokesperson said no decision has been made on if or when it will go public.

REMEMBER– Abu Dhabi AI investor MGX was reportedly in early fundraising talks with Anthropic when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei was on a tour in the Middle East, as it eyes a USD 170 bn valuation with a USD 5 bn new funding round set to be led by Iconiq Capital, with potential investments from the the Qatar Investment Authority and Singapore’s sovereign fund GIC.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed this morning, with Japan’s Nikkei leading gains, up 1.4%, along with China’s CSI 300 which was up 0.2%. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi dropped nearly 1%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.2%. Over on Wall Street, futures are little changed after stocks rallied yesterday on hopes of a Fed rate cut next week in light of positive jobs data.

ADX	9.871	+1.3% (YTD: +4.8%)
DFM	5,907	+1.2% (YTD: +14.5%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,724	+2.5% (YTD: +13.4%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.8% o/n	3.6% 1 yr
TASI	10,575	+0.4% (YTD: -12.1%)
EGX30	41,342	+1.8% (YTD: +39.0%)
S&P 500	6,850	+0.3% (YTD: +16.5%)
FTSE 100	9,692	-0.1% (YTD: +18.6%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,695	+0.2% (YTD: +16.3%)
Brent crude	USD 62.75	+0.1%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 4.98	-0.3%
Gold	USD 4,233.2	0.0%
BTC	USD 93,367	+0.6% (YTD: -0.3%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.81	+1.6% (YTD: +9.4%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	151.96	0.0% (YTD: +8.6%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	16.08	-3.1% (YTD: -7.3%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX rose 1.3% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.4 bn. The index is up 4.8% YTD.

In the green: Gulf Pharma. Industries (+14.2%), Oman & Emirates Investment Holding Co. (+12.9%) and United Arab Bank (+10.2%).

In the red: Abu Dhabi National Takaful Co. (-9.8%), Hayah Ins. (-6.5%) and NMDC Group (-5.5%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 1.2% on turnover of AED 645.8 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 2.5%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

#1- IHC wraps up AED 5 bn share buyback: International Holding Company has completed its previously-approved share repurchase program of up to AED 5 bn, the company said in a disclosure (pdf). The acquired shares will be held as treasury stock, with no further buybacks planned at this stage.

REMEMBER- The company extended its share buyback program, which was set to run for a year to end in June, until the end of the year earlier in May. The program saw IHC buy back 0.6% of its own share capital, with all repurchased shares to be cancelled, and aims to enhance shareholder value by increasing earnings per share.

#2- Emirates Telecommunications Group’s (e&) share in UK telco firm Vodafone rose to 16.61%, as the UK operator pushes ahead with its share buyback program and dilutes its own stake, according to a disclosure (pdf) to the ADX. e&’s total shares in Vodafone remains the same at 3.9 bn, reflecting a higher proportional holding rather than a new purchase.

ICYMI- e&’s stake in Vodafone has gradually increased since the UK firm started its EUR 500 mn buyback program last year, with the stake rising to 16% over the summer. The Emirati group first acquired a 10% stake in Vodafone in 2022.

CALENDAR

DECEMBER

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

2-5 December (Tuesday-Friday): Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, Abu Dhabi.

3-4 December (Wednesday-Thursday): Binance Blockchain Week, Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai.

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

8 December (Monday): DeFi Technologies Insights Global Symposium, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

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

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

8-10 December (Monday-Wednesday): The Bridge Summit, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

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

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

9-11 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Automechanika Dubai Trade Show, Dubai World Trade Center.

10 December (Wednesday): UAE-Russia Business Forum, Dubai.

12 December (Friday): Emirates NBD to launch an open offer for Mumbai-listed RBL Bank’s public shares.

13-15 December (Saturday-Monday): Mobile Developers Week, Abu Dhabi.

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

26 December (Friday): Tender period for Emirates NBD’s offer for RBL Bank’s public shares ends.

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network;

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.

1 January: Amendments to the Tax Procedures Law and the UAE VAT Law come into effect.

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

13-15 January (Tuesday-Thursday): FESPA Middle East, Dubai Exhibition Center, Dubai.

12-15 January (Monday-Thursday): Dubai International Project Management Forum, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

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.

31 January – 7 February (Saturday-Saturday): Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, International Tennis Center, Zayed Sports City.

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.

MARCH 2026

31 March – 2 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Arab Media Summit, Dubai.

26-28 March (Thursday-Saturday): Social Capital Conference, Dubai.

28-29 March (Saturday-Sunday): Emirates Congress on AI & Visionary leadership in Transforming Healthcare, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

30 March – 2 April (Monday-Thursday): IAAPA Middle East Exhibition and Conference, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

APRIL 2026

7-9 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Health Summit, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.

14-16 April: (Tuesday-Thursday): the International Property Show, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai.

21-23 April (Tuesday-Thursday): UITP Public Transport Summit, Dubai.

MAY 2026

11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center.

19-20 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Capital Market Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

19-22 May (Tuesday-Friday): Abu Dhabi Water and Energy Week, Adnec Abu Dhabi Center, Abu Dhabi

JUNE 2026

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

JULY 2026

31 July (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 in 2026:

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:

1 January: Deadline for large businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of Hassyan seawater desalination project;
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;
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 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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