Another economic and trade partnership in the bag

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: President Mohammed bin Zayed in Egypt + GCC-Turkey trade talks kick off

Good morning, lovely people. We have a tight issue for you this morning, with an update on e&’s acquisition of PPF’s assets in Europe, news of new feeder funds launched in DIFC, a new trade and economic pact with Chile, and of course, more earnings.

If you’re tuning into the Olympics today, keep an eye out for Emirati swimmer Yousef Al Matrooshi, who will compete in 100 meter freestyle swimming, kicking off at 1:17pm GST.

IN OTHER SPORTS NEWS- Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun, who plays for Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, is joining Emirati side Shabab Al Ahli, his club announced on X yesterday.

MEANWHILE- Are you planning to be in Egypt on 24 September? You may be interested in attending our 2024 Enterprise Finance Forum. Seating is strictly limited at our flagship, invitation-only forum for C-suite executives and other senior leaders.

Why attend? We’re in the early days of a generational realignment of power in our industry — in our region and beyond — and on the cusp of the biggest intergenerational transfer of wealth the world has ever seen. With that as the backdrop, we’re going to take stock of where we stand six months after the float of the EGP and ask what’s next for finance in Egypt and the wider region. Among the questions we’ll be asking:

What roles will Egypt, Saudi and the UAE play in the regional industry going forward?
What are foreign investors looking for right now?
Is real estate the only asset class in Egypt?
What does the next generation of leaders think as they take over established family businesses?

Do you want to request an invitation? Tap or click the image below.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Egypt yesterday at El Alamein International Airport for an official multi-day visit, the Egyptian National Media Authority reports. Al Nahyan is set to hold discussions with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and other officials, Egyptian state-owned media outlet Extra News reported (watch, runtime: 1:32). Discussions will likely cover economic investments, regional security, as well as exploring new avenues for cooperation, according to Egypt’s State Information Service.

#2- Trade negotiations between GCC + Turkey kick off: The Gulf Cooperation Council launched talks with Turkey for a trade agreement yesterday, with negotiations set to continue through to tomorrow, Saudi state news agency SPA reports. Saudi Arabia is heading the first round of negotiations, which will focus on the exchange of goods, services, and investment, as well as technical barriers to trade. The discussions aim to outline the framework for future rounds, and set goals for concluding an agreement. The GCC inked a joint statement with Turkey to initiate trade liberalization talks back in March.

Next up: The UK? UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds reiterated plans to resume trade talks with the GCC, continuing the Tory’s push for trade agreements abroad, in statements to the Financial Times. “Boosting trade abroad is essential to deliver a strong economy at home,” FT cites UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds as saying, adding that a trade agreement with the GCC would provide “substantial” economic benefits for the government, with some GBP 19 bn already invested between the UK and GCC countries by 2021. Six rounds of talks between the UK and GCC have taken place so far, the last in February 2024.

WEATHER- The mercury peaks at 42°C in Dubai, with an overnight low of 36°C, while temperatures in Abu Dhabi will hit a high of 36°C before cooling to an overnight low of 33°C.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT-

#1- Dubai launched two new marine transport lines connecting Dubai Creek Harbour with key areas in the emirate, Wam reports. For a flat fare of AED 2 per stop, one line will operate during weekends from Creek Harbour to Dubai Festival City from 4-11:55pm, while the second line will run on weekdays from Creek Harbour to Al Jaddaf Marine Transport Station and Al Khor Metro Station from 7:30-10:50am and 4-9:50 pm.

#2- Registered tax agents can now obtain accreditation for their accounting services through the Federal Tax Authority’s online platform, EmaraTax, the authority announced.

#3- Over 240 phishing pages have been replicating official Dubai government repayment websites like DubaiPay and Salik using the Digital Dubai Authority website’s interface to steal users’ financial information, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky warned, stating that the scam campaign has been active since April.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Fujairah eyes investments in Egypt: The government of Fujairah discussed potential investments in Egypt’s petroleum sector during a visit by Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi to Fujairah, according to a statement by the Egyptian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry. Discussions included the emirate partnering with Egypt to develop joint projects aimed at enhancing petroleum storage and handling infrastructure in Egypt, as well as cooperation on ship bunkering.

Fujairah Ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi received Badawi at Al Rumaila Palace, where he was briefed by the Egyptian minister on the country’s energy sector, its future growth plans, and ongoing efforts to advance the industry, Wam reports. The discussions followed the minister’s visit to the Port of Fujairah, the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, and Brooge Energy.

#2- Pakistan is set to secure a USD 7 bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund, pending final approval by the end of August, Bloomberg reports. The financial cover will aid the South Asian country in managing its foreign debt obligations by facilitating the implementation of fiscal reforms.

ICYMI- Pakistan held talks with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China to secure financial support for three years in order for the IMF to approve reprofiling its USD 7 bn debt with extended maturities.

#3- Ewec launches gas turbine tender: Abu Dhabi’s utilities provider Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of an open-cycle gas turbine facility in the Madinat Zayed area, southwest of Abu Dhabi, according to a statement. Ewec expects to receive bids in 4Q 2024. The successful bidder will hold a 40% ownership stake in the facility, while the remaining 60% will be owned “indirectly” by the Abu Dhabi Government, while Ewec will be the sole procurer of the generated energy.

About the facility: The plant will have a backup generation capacity of up to 1.5 GW and is slated to be operational by 3Q 2027. The plant is set to boost the integration of renewable energy into the emirate’s power grid.

#4- Masdar seeks further investments in Europe after stake in Spain’s Endesa: Renewable giant Masdar is eyeing more acquisitions of both minority and controlling stakes in Europe’s green energy sector, with the continent set to be a crucial part of its plan to reach its 100 GW target capacity by 2030, its CFO Mazin Khan told Reuters.

Just the start of a wider plan for Europe: The acquisition of a stake in Endesa’s portfolio is just the start of Masdar’s ambitious plan for Europe, Khan said. His statements come days after Masdar secured a transaction that would see it acquire a 50% stake in Spanish power firm Endesa’s solar power installations subsidiary EPGE Solar for AED 3.3 bn. The acquisition will make Masdar a partner in 2.5 GW of renewable energy assets in Spain.

And there’s more to come: Masdar also signed an MoU with Endesa to potentially develop an additional 3 GW of solar capacity, Khan said, without providing further details. The Financial Times had reported earlier this week that the two companies are looking at potentially developing 5 GW of solar generation in Spain, along with stakes in projects by Enel in Brazil and the US, two sources told the Financial Times.

DATA POINTS-

#1- W Capital expects 30k residential units to be handed over in Dubai in 2H 2024 as developers push projects under development forward to address heightened demand, the Dubai-based real estate broker said in a note picked up by Zawya. This will take total handovers in 2024 to around 48k units, before potentially crossing 65k the following year and reaching 70k in 2026, according to W Capital estimates.

“The market has reached a state of maturity… It seems that that trend will continue and the pace of rise will not slow down soon” as more large-scale projects launch in the emirate, driven by rising investors’ confidence, W Capital CEO Walid Al Zarooni said.

ICYMI- Real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield expected in January that 32k residential units will be delivered in Dubai this year.

#2- The UAE was the most targeted nation for M&A transactions in 1H 2024, followed by Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, according to a recent LSEG report picked up by Zawya. The value of M&As in the region — including inbound, outbound, and domestic transactions — went up 48% y-o-y to USD 46.6 bn, despite a 5% drop in the number of transactions.

The value of outbound MENA M&A transactions hit its highest since 2007 in 1H 2024 at USD 28.6 bn, with a 77% y-o-y increase — boosted by the state-run oil company Adnoc’s ongoing bid to acquire German chemicals company Covestro in a transaction that could value the latter at EUR 11.7 bn, setting it up to be the biggest acquisition from a Middle East buyer in Europe in 16 years.

Inbound M&A transactions from non-MENA investors jumped 55% y-o-y in value in 1H 2024 to USD 11.2 bn, while total inbound acquisitions came in at USD 17.6, up 22% y-o-y. Domestic M&As fell 12% y-o-y to 6.3 bn, its lowest in seven years.

#3- The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy backed 3x more startups in 1H 2024 compared to the same period last year, supporting 215 digital startups, up from 69, Wam reports. The startups had a combined market value of around USD 7 bn. The Chamber also trained 243 Emiratis under its Create Apps in Dubai initiative, which aims to enhance digital skills and increase the number of app developers in Dubai.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s another day dominated by politics, with little business news of which to take note.

Venezuela is getting prominent play on front pages this morning after longtime president Nicolás Maduro claimed victory despite the opposition candidate Edmundo González having had the lead in most polls and exit surveys. Venezuelans took to the streets in protest and a number of countries are expressing concern, the Financial Times reports.

The US is cautioning Israel against striking Lebanon’s capital or any major infrastructure following the strike on Golan Heights, Reuters reports. Airlines including Lufthansa, Aegean, and Air France have stopped flights to Lebanon, Bloomberg.

In business news, a single AI story and the first slump in Mcdonald’s sales since 2020 are getting attention.

The AI story in question? Apple revealed in a research paper that it has been using Google’s chips to build and train its new AI software infrastructure, the first real dent in the armor of Nvidia, which has an 80% share of the AI chip market, Reuters reports.

OLYMPICS-

It’s a relatively quiet day in the Olympics, with the highlight being rowing, tennis, and lots of rugby sevens. The men’s triathlon is also scheduled to take place today.

In tennis yesterday: Spain’s Rafael Nadal exited the tournament, losing to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. The Olympics’ website has the rundown on the big names that have made it through to the third round of the men’s and women’s singles.

Surfing also made headlines in Tahiti’s Teahupo’o — also known as the End of the Road, as it is seen as one of the most deadly surfing spots in the world due to the size of its waves and the large, shallow reef at its bottom. The third round of surfing saw favorites exit the competition after a brutal set of eight heats in which two riders went head-to-head, with only one advancing from each run.

The medal standings now at the Paris Olympics:

Japan (6 gold, 12 overall)
France (5 gold, 16 overall)
China (5 gold, 12 overall)
Australia (5 gold, 9 overall)
South Korea (5 gold, 9 overall)

But Enterprise, US media says Amreeka is at the top of the table… US athletes have so far taken home more hardware (20 medals overall vs 16 for France), but the Olympics themselves ranks countries by the number of golds a country has picked up — not by total medal count.

Want to see when your favorite sport is on? Check out the official schedule here.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The annual jiu-jitsu tournament, the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, is returning to Abu Dhabi at the Mubadala Arena on 2 August, Wam reports.

Abu Dhabi will play host to a big night for mixed martial arts fans on 3 August at Etihad arena. The UFC Fight Night will see the return of MMA champion Nick Diaz, who has been out of the limelight since 2021, as he goes head to head with Tony Ferguson.

Also set to clash: Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will face bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera, while world number 2 bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will headline against Umar Nurmagomedov.

The World ESG Summit is scheduled to take place on 20-21 August at Dusit Thani in Dubai. The two-day business conference will gather public and private sector players from key sectors like energy, utilities finance, and manufacturing to explore ESG integration across all industries.

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

Franklin Templeton launches seven feeder funds in the DIFC

Asset manager Franklin Templeton launched seven feeder funds in the UAE yesterday, giving retail investors access to a diverse range of asset classes, including global and regional fixed income, technology, and Shariah-compliant strategies, Bloomberg reports. The funds are domiciled in the Dubai International Financial Center.

The details: The feeder funds will be available through locally licensed promoters, including onshore, conventional, and Shariah-compliant consumer banks. Standard Chartered acts as the feeder fund’s administrator and custodian, Bloomberg quotes EMEA head of wealth solutions at the bank Ayesha Abbas as saying.

Franklin Templeton’s focus on the UAE — its largest retail market in the region — is part of a strategy to deepen relationships with local clients and offer more tailored investment options, given the country’s population surge, the business information service quotes Franklin Templeton MENA head of retail Amar Mehta as saying. The asset manager will “continue to monitor trends in the local market and the evolution of investors’ appetite to expand our offerings in the future,” he said.

REMEMBER- The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) issued a decision in April prohibiting funds and asset managers outside of the UAE from being publicly offered for retail subscription in the UAE. Domestic feeder funds — essentially a sub-fund that pools investment capital under a larger umbrella fund — are one way retail investors can gain access to foreign master funds.

Efforts to boost asset management are paying off: The regulation — aimed at boosting the UAE’s asset management industry and aligning it with Gulf standards — has prompted several UAE-based other asset managers to launch feeder funds. Allianz Global Investors and Daman Investments launched two onshore feeder funds for retail investors last month, while Aditum Investment Management debuted four public funds in the DIFC, with Standard Chartered acting as fund administrator and custodian. Standard Chartered also partnered with securities depository Clearstream to include UAE-based funds on its Vestima platform enabling retail clients to invest in locally-domiciled funds.

That’s not all: Aditum Investment Management and UK manager Fundsmith are launching a new UAE-based feeder fund, dubbed Fundsmith Global Equity Fund IC Open Ended, in 3Q 2024, Citywire reported last week. The fund will offer retail investors access to Fundsmith’s global equity strategy, which focuses on investing in blue-chip equities.

e& offers concessions to close PPF acquisition

e& proposes concessions to quell EU concerns: Telecoms giant e& has proposed concessions in a bid to ease EU concerns over allegedly receiving state subsidies to acquire Czech PPF Telecom Group’s assets in Eastern Europe, Reuters reports, citing a statement from the EU’s competition regulator.

The commission has set a new deadline to clear or block the bid on 4 December, deferring the initial deadline for the decision from 15 October.

REMEMBER- The European Commission began a review of e&’s bid to acquire PPF’s assets in June. The move marked the commission’s first anti-subsidy probe of a foreign buyer, claiming that the telco received state support that impacted its position to acquire the company and hampers market competition.

What state support? The EC is looking at a guarantee and a loan from state banks to help fund the transaction.

BACKGROUND- e& had agreed to acquire a 50% stake plus one share in PPF Group’s telecoms units in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia for EUR 2.5 bn (AED 9.9 bn) last August. Bulgaria’s Competition Protection Commission greenlit e&’s acquisition of Bulgarian mobile operator Yettel Bulgaria and telecoms infrastructure provider Cetin Bulgaria from PPF Group in February as part of the transaction, with CEO Hatem Dowidar saying in February he expected to close the acquisition a few weeks later, following the receipt of final regulatory approvals.

This comes amid a rising wave of protectionism in the EU that has seen several overseas transactions from the region blocked by governments. The UK made legislative changes to block a takeover by Abu Dhabi-based investors of newspapers the Telegraph and the Spectator, citing preserving editorial independence as a major concern. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has been trying to edge out Saudi telecoms operator Stc as a major shareholder, after it became mobile network operator Telefonica’s largest shareholder.

UAE, Chile formalize trade pact

The UAE and Chile inked an economic partnership yesterday aimed at boosting bilateral investments and private sector partnerships, as well as trade between the countries, Wam reports. The agreement marks the UAE’s second economic partnership with a South American country following the agreement signed with Colombia in April.

The agreement will eliminate tariffs for 99.5% of UAE imports from Chile, paving the way to achieve the countries’ target of doubling non-oil trade to USD 750 mn by 2030, up from USD 306 mn last year, Wam wrote. UAE exports to Chile are projected to rise by USD 247 mn by the end of the decade, according to UAE estimates.

Background: Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Chile’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren concluded negotiations on the trade and economic agreement between the two countries last April.

The signing took place during Chilean president Gabriel Boric Font’s landmark visit to the UAE — the first by a Chilean president to the UAE since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1978, Wam reports. Discussions focused on commercial, investment, and developmental cooperation between the two countries.

Several MoUs were signed during the visit, covering food security, agrifood investment, cooperation in investment and information technology, and space research. The two countries also signed a declaration of intent to collaborate in the field of mining.

The talks highlighted the two countries’ mutual interest in renewable energy, digital economy, and climate action. The two presidents also reviewed progress on the Bi-Oceanic Corridor, announced during Cop28 last year by the UAE, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The railway is set to enhance trade in South America as it will span the full width of the continent, from Brazil to Chile.

REMEMBER- The UAE is in talks with Japan and Malaysia to finalize the terms of bilateral trade agreements, with up to seven pacts set to be inked before year-end, in addition to seven more agreements pending final ratification, Al Zeyoudi said earlier this month. This month alone, the UAE formalized its trade pact with Mauritius, and concluded negotiations with Morocco on the terms of the agreement.

Aldar Properties, Drake and Scull, BHM, and DFM post solid 2Q 2024 earnings

ALDAR PROPERTIES-

A solid quarter for Aldar: Abu Dhabi real estate developer Aldar Properties saw its net income after tax grow 37% y-o-y to AED 1.75 bn in 2Q 2024, according to its consolidated financial statements (pdf). The rise in earnings can be credited to “strong end-user demand and increasing global investor interest” in the UAE real estate market, Aldar said in a separate earnings release (pdf), with the developer making AED 7.7 bn in group sales during the quarter, up 10% y-o-y. Revenues came in at AED 5.3 bn, marking a 64% y-o-y increase.

REMEMBER- In real estate, sales ≠ revenues. With off-plan sales dominating the industry, most real estate companies book a sale when you sign a contract to buy a home. But they only record (some or all) of the value of the unit it sold you when it (a) delivers the unit to you or (b) hits a percentage completion on a total project. In most cases, then, revenues are composed of sales from past periods, while sales in a given quarter will be recognized as revenues in the future when units are completed or delivered.

In 1H 2024, Aldar recorded a 57% y-o-y increase in net income to AED 3.32 bn. The real estate developer and service provider’s total revenues reached AED 10.92 bn, up 73% y-o-y, driven by the successful execution of its revenue backlog from new and existing projects. Overseas and expat buyers comprised 79% of the company’s UAE sales during the period.

Looking ahead: The company’s revenue backlog reached an all-time high of AED 39 bn at the end of 1H 2024, while its UAE backlog hit a record AED 33.2 bn, expected to “[propel] revenue recognition over the next 2-3 years.”

DRAKE AND SCULL-

Drake and Scull in the black: Dubai-based contractor Drake and Scull reported a net income of AED 3.84 bn in 2Q 2024, compared to the AED 43.4 mn net loss the company posted in the same period last year, according to the company’s consolidated financial statements (pdf). The return to profitability can be credited to the company successfully wrapping up its restructuring plan, which saw it write off AED 4.1 bn in debt and rake in AED 450 mn in fresh capital to re-list on the DFM, according to a separate earnings release (pdf). The DFM-relisted company’s revenues narrowed 20% y-o-y to AED 20.3 mn during the quarter.

REFRESHER- The DFM approved its restructuring plan — which wrote off 90% of its debt — back in November 2023. The construction company was suspended from trading in November 2018 on the back of excessive financial losses and reporting violations.

On a six-month basis, the company recorded a bottom line of AED 3.79 bn in 1H 2024, after booking net losses of AED 162.6 mn in the same period last year. Drake & Skull’s revenues rose 13% y-o-y to AED 50.9 mn during the same period. Excluding the income on the back of the write-off of its debts, its net income during 1H 2024 came in at AED 30 mn.

BHM CAPITAL-

BHM Capital saw its net income rise 3% y-o-y to AED 7.6 mn in 2Q 2024, according to the company’s financials (pdf). The financial services company’s revenues reached AED 39 mn in the second quarter, marking a 17% y-o-y increase.

On a six-month basis, BHM Capital saw its bottom line increase 14% y-o-y to AED 16.8 mn in 1H 2024, according to a separate earnings release (pdf). The company credited its higher earnings to diversified revenue streams, with total revenues rising 30% y-o-y to AED 76.6 mn.

DUBAI FINANCIAL MARKET-

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) saw its net income after tax jump 19% y-o-y to AED 91.8 mn in 2Q 2024, according to its financials (pdf). The DFM booked AED 157.6 mn in revenues during the quarter, up 23% y-o-y compared to the same period last year.

For the first half of 2024, the exchange’s net income after tax jumped 62% y-o-y, reaching AED 181.4 mn in 1H 2024. Revenues came in at AED 305.7 mn, up 40% y-o-y.

The bourse saw robust trading activity, with the number of trades climbing 22% y-o-y to 1.07 mn, according to the DFM’s earnings release (pdf). Total trading value also rose 4% y-o-y to AED 48 bn.

DFM drew in 72.6k new investors in 1H 2024, with foreign investors accounting for 85% of the total entrants and making some AED 1.2 bn in investments. Institutional investors held a 66% market share of the total trading value.

AESG hires new regional head of environment

Dubai-based International consultancy AESG tapped Brent Ridgard (LinkedIn) to lead its environmental division in the Middle East, according to a press release (pdf). He will oversee environmental and social impact assessments, management, site supervision, compliance, monitoring, due diligence auditing, and risk assessment. Ridgard has over 25 years of experience, having led environmental assessment and planning for professional services firm WSP in Australia and the Middle East. Brent also helped develop Dubai’s Green Building Regulations.

Gaming push + Dubai, Abu Dhabi landmarks in the spotlight

The UAE’s budding gaming industry is getting attention: Bloomberg is looking at the UAE’s move earlier this week to award its first lottery license, after establishing a federal body to regulate gaming.

Also: Two destinations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai made it to Times’ 2024 World’s Greatest Placeslist. Abu Dhabi’s Abrahamic Family House was named one of the greatest places for its visual harmony and promotion of coexistence of different faiths, while Dubai entered the list with the recently opened One Za’abeel. Designed by Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei, the gravity-defying development — which comprises two towers linked with a long cantilever — was hailed as a “head-turner.”

AND- Meetings between US officials and G42 canceled: There was reportedly “miscommunication” about a visit from top staffers of the US’ House Select Committee on China with Emirati government officials to discuss Microsoft’s USD 1.5 bn investment in state-owned AI firm G42 that resulted in the meetings getting canceled, official sources involved with the negotiations told Reuters.

Drake & Scull to receive AED 152 mn in damages

DISPUTE WATCH-

Dubai-based developer Drake and Scull is set to receive AED 152 mn in damages, plus 5% interest, from its former CEO Khaldoun Rashid Tabari and former Managing Director Saleh Muradweij, the Dubai Court of Appeal ruled, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). The two former executives will pay the sum as compensation for the material and moral damages the company incurred under their management.

REFRESHER- Drake & Scull is pursuing claims exceeding AED 2 bn against its former management, Vice Chairman Ahmed Kilani said in June.

REMEMBER- Drake & Scull returned to the DFM in May, after being suspended from trading in November 2018 due to excessive financial losses and reporting violations. The firm was re-listed after it completed its restructuring after raising AED 450 mn in a capital increase, which saw the contractor write off over AED 4.18 bn in accumulated debt.

FINANCE-

Germany’s HDI Global coming to Dubai: German insurer HDI Global is set to open its first office in the Dubai International Financial Center in 3Q 2024, after it received a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, according to a statement. The office will initially focus on engineering, construction, and property ins. and will be headed by Willem van Wyk (LinkedIn).

ENERGY-

CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, met General Electric’s energy arm GE Vernova’s CEO Joseph Anis to explore cooperation in sustainable energy, according to the Dubai Media Office. They focused on applying advanced technologies to energy production and distribution, improving efficiency, and developing renewable energy projects, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

MANUFACTURING-

#1- Abu Dhabi to get a new graphene facility: Tech firm Inovartic Investment has signed an MoU with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to establish a graphene factory in the emirate, according to a statement picked up by Zawya.

Uh, Enterprise, what is graphene? Graphene is a monolayer structure of carbon atoms, which is used in several industries, including the manufacturing of electronics, semiconductors, batteries, and solar panels.

#2- India’s Jagdamba to open its first offshore factory in Sharjah: Indian trailer manufacturer Jagdamba Trailers plans to establish its first offshore factory in Sharjah’s Hamriyah Free Zone with AED 30-35 mn in initial investments, after the company’s promoter Jagdamba Global Equipment Solutions signed an MoU with the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA), Wam reports.

#3- Abu Dhabi-based Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI) has achieved net zero emissions at its steel plant, aligning with the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology and the goal of net zero by 2050, Wam reports. As the largest steel recycling company in the UAE, AGSI produces 600k metric tons of steel bars annually from locally sourced steel scrap and invests in carbon reduction technologies to support sustainability.

EMPLOYMENT-

The Abu Dhabi Misdemeanor Court slapped an undisclosed private company with a AED 10 mn fine for non-compliance with Emiratisation regulations and faking the appointment of 113 Emirati citizens by issuing fictitious work permits, Wam reports.

BANKING-

The Commercial Bank of Dubai has introduced special accounts for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) which meet regulatory requirements issued by the Central Bank of the UAE and the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, according to a statement picked up by Zawya. Laser Digital was the first VASP client to get on board.

Uh, Enterprise, what is VASP? VASPs are companies that manage and transfer virtual assets — such as cryptocurrencies — on behalf of their clients. They also offer exchange services between virtual assets and fiat currencies.

TELECOM-

du boosts 5G network in Abu Dhabi: Telecom operator du, in partnership with Nokia and Taiwanese semiconductor firm MediaTek has boosted its uplink 5G internet speed by 70% and expanded indoor coverage for premium users in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release.

Sound smart: An uplink is the connection that transmits data from a user’s device or a local area network to the central wide area network.

BUSINESS-

Network to provide swift SME financing solutions: Dubai-based payments provider Network International has partnered with lending platform Biz2X to offer accelerated financing options for SMEs in the Middle East and Africa, according to a press release. Under the partnership, Network’s merchants will be able to access a range of credit offerings embedded via Biz2X, while loan underwriters will access the platform’s payment transaction data and credit information to prequalify applicants and monitor loans in real-time to ensure compliance and reduce default risk. The partnership will be active in 4Q 2024.

Fed seen leaving rates on hold as two-day meeting gets underway today

The US Federal Reserve is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.25-5.5% during a two-day meeting that starts later today, the Financial Times reports.

Watch this space: Analysts think the Fed will signal on Wednesday (or in meeting minutes released later) that it is ready to start cutting rates by September. Recent data shows inflation is under control and the labor market is cooling off, with fewer job gains and rising layoffs.

The central bank of Japan and England will also meet this week, as we noted yesterday. Japan could go for a rate hike (its two-day meeting begins today), while the Bank of England looks set to make a cut when it meets on Thursday.

MEANWHILE- China targets bonuses + compensation for fund managers, bankers: China is intensifying its crackdown on financial sector compensation, extending its reach to mutual fund managers and bankers.

What’s happening? Managers at some state-owned funds have been ordered to return bonuses, as are Hong Kong-based executives at Citi and Everbright. Pundits see the clawbacks happening in the context of Xi Jinping emphasis that “new quality productive forces” (read: tech and manufacturing) should be prioritized as finance gets downplayed.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

It’s red as far as the eye can see in Asia this morning. All five of the major equities benchmarks we follow are in the red, signaling a “meh” day for investors in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and China. US and European stock futures are down in overnight trading.

ADX	9,395	+0.8% (YTD: -1.9%)
DFM	4,308	+0.7% (YTD: +6.1%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,768	+1.9% (YTD: -1.9%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.0% o/n	5.0% 1 yr
TASI	12,121	-0.4% (YTD: +1.3%)
EGX30	28,851	-0.6% (YTD: +15.9%)
S&P 500	5,464	+0.1% (YTD: +14.5%)
FTSE 100	8,292	+0.1% (YTD: +7.2%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,815	-1.0% (YTD: +6.5%)
Brent crude	USD 79.84	-1.8%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 1.91	-4.9%
Gold	USD 2,426	-0.1%
BTC	USD 67,444	-0.9% (YTD: +59.6%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX rose 0.8% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.7 bn. The index is down 1.9% YTD.

In the green: Commercial Bank International (+11.5%), Gulf Medical Projects Company (+9.2%) and First Abu Dhabi Bank (+6.4%).

In the red: Eshraq Investments (-1.8%), Agility (-1.7%) and Julphar (-1.7%).

Over on the DFM, the index rose 0.7% on turnover of AED 558.1 mn. Meanwhile Nasdaq Dubai closed up 1.9%.

CALENDAR

JULY

31 July (Wednesday): Deadline for Sidara to submit another takeover bid to Wood Group.

AUGUST

2 August (Friday): Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi.

3 August (Saturday): UFC Fight Night, Etihad arena, Abu Dhabi.

14 August (Wednesday): UAE to participate in ceasefire talks co-mediated by the US and KSA between the warring factions in Sudan.

20-21 August (Tuesday-Wednesday): The World ESG Summit, Dubai.

21-22 August (Wednesday-Thursday): Rex Fuels Global Expo & Conference 2024- Bitumen, Petrochemicals & Products, Dubai.

21-22 August (Wednesday-Thursday): Dubai Business Forum in Beijing, China.

25 August (Sunday): Deadline to register for the AI Challenge.

Signposted to happen sometime in mid-August:

New regulations on telemarketing calls will go into effect

SEPTEMBER

4-5 September (Wednesday-Thursday): 2024 International Government Communication Forum, Expo Centre Sharjah, Sharjah.

5 September (Thursday): Deadline to apply for the sixth edition of Access Sharjah Challenge.

9-11 September (Monday-Wednesday): World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA PPP forum, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA District Cooling Projects & MENA Cool Forum, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai.

11-12 September (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA oil and gas digitization conference, Abu Dhabi.

16-18 September (Monday-Wednesday): World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi.

23-25 September (Monday-Wednesday): WorldFreezonesOrganization’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Dubai.

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Green Steel Summit, Dubai, UAE.

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Global Aerospace Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

28-30 September (Saturday-Monday): World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Biennial General Meeting, Abu Dhabi.

30 September (Monday): Dubai Podfest, World Trade Center, Dubai.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Water, Energy and Environment Technology Exhibition, Dubai.

2-3 October (Wednesday-Thursday): The World Green Economy Summit, World Trade Center Dubai.

7-8 October (Monday-Tuesday): Forex expo, World Trade Center, Dubai.

8-9 October (Tuesday-Wednesday)): Global Trade and Supply Chain Summit, Dubai.

8-10 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition and Conference(Global Rail), Abu Dhabi.

14-18 October (Monday-Friday): IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi.

15 October (Tuesday): Deadline for the European Commission to make a decision on its probe into e&’s acquisition of PPF’s Eastern European assets.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Port Development MEA Forum, Dubai.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Roads, Bridges, Tunnels MENA Conference, Dubai.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): The Alternative Investment Summit, Dubai.

24-27 October (Thursday-Sunday): International Sports Medicine Conference, Dubai.

26-27 October (Saturday-Sunday): International Conference on Tourism, Transport, and Logistics, Dubai.

28-29 October (Monday-Tuesday): MENA Climate Proof Forum, Dubai.

29 October-2 November (Tuesday-Saturday): Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, Abu Dhabi.

30 October-1 November (Wednesday-Friday): World Cities Cultural Summit, Dubai.

NOVEMBER

3-10 November (Sunday-Sunday): Dubai Premier Padel P1, Dubai Dutyfree Tennis Stadium, Dubai.

4-7 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi.

4-7 November (Wednesday-Saturday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi.

4-7 November (Wednesday-Saturday): ADIPEC Decarbonisation Accelerator, Abu Dhabi.

6 November (Friday): World Finance Forum, Dubai.

11 November (Monday): Dubai Diamond Conference, Jafza One Convention Centre, Dubai.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): META Cinema Forum, Dubai.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): Fastmarkets Middle East Iron & Steel 2024, Dubai.

20-22 November (Wednesday-Friday): Xpanse Abu Dhabi, Adnec Centre, Abu Dhabi

22-23 November (Friday-Saturday): Global Meet on Electronics & Electrical Engineering (GMEEE), Dubai.

23 November (Saturday): Wireless Festival Middle East, Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi.

26-27 November (Tuesday-Wednesday) Global Food Security Summit, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

27-28 November (Wednesday-Thursday): RAK Energy Summit, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre, Ras Al Khaimah.

Signposted to happen ahead of ADIPEC:

Changemakers Majlis, Abu Dhabi.

DECEMBER

2-3 December (Monday-Tuesday): National Day, public holiday.

5-8 December (Thursday-Sunday): Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit.

8-12 December (Sunday-Thursday): International Desalination and Reuse Association World Congress, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

9-10 December (Saturday-Sunday): The Bitcoin Mena Conference, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

9-12 December (Saturday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Abu Dhabi.

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Business Aviation, Dubai World Central.

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

JANUARY 2025

1 January (Wednesday): ADGM to slash licensing fees for retail and non-financial firms, and hike fees for finance firms.

14-16 January (Tuesday-Thursday): World Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi.

FEBRUARY 2025

24-25 February (Monday-Tuesday): 3rd World Passenger Experience Forum, Dubai.

24-26 February (Monday-Wednesday): Connecting Hydrogen MENA, Dubai.

APRIL 2025

16-17 April: Global Ports Forum, Dubai.

OCTOBER 2025

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

Signposted to happen sometime before the end of the year:

Spinneys inaugurates three more stores in KSA

Signposted to happen in 2025:

6-11 April (Sunday-Friday): Geo-Spatial Week 2025, Dubai.
3-4 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Make-A-Wish International’s Global Wish summit, Abu Dhabi.
TBD: The Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.
TBD: e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network.

Signposted to happen sometime in the fall of 2025:

2025 Games of the Future, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2028:

Abu Dhabi to host the 47th Chess Olympiad.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:

Dubai to host the International Conference on Computer Vision.

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