Borse Dubai to sell USD 1.6 bn stake in Nasdaq

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: It’s the first day of spring + RedBird IMI’s Telegraph takeover bid faces months-long probe

Good morning, wonderful people, and happy hump day. We have a busy, M&A-heavy issue for you this morning, so let’s jump right in.

THE BIG STORY here at home is Borse Dubai’s plans to sell a third of its stake in Nasdaq for USD 1.6 bn. Also worth your time:

Masdar is planning to acquire 50% of US renewables producer Terra-Gen;
Mubadala made a follow-on investment in Moove’s USD 100 mn series B round.

So, when do we eat? Maghrib is at 6:33pm in Dubai, and 6:36pm in Abu Dhabi. Fajr prayers are at 5:05am in Dubai and 5:08am in Abu Dhabi.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT-

Hello, spring: Today is the first official day of springas the vernal equinox will occur a few minutes after we hit “send” on this morning’s issue at 7:07am, signaling the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season in the UAE, Wam reports. Expect equal days and nights as the equinox will bring almost 12 hours of daylight everywhere on earth.

But, not really: We’re still in for some rain and strong winds starting Sunday, along with a chance of lightning and thunder, the National Center of Meteorology said. Weather conditions are expected to stabilize as of Tuesday.

HAPPENING TODAY-

S&P Global’s CERAWeek resumes in Houston, Texas, until Friday. Adnoc CEO, Industry and Advanced Technology Minister, and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber will be on stage along with the chiefs of ExxonMobil and BP. Al Jaber is joined by a who’s who of senior US and international policymakers, global energy and services executives, leaders of national oil companies.

Al Jaber received a leadership award for his work as COP28 president, Wam reports.

Houston, we don’t have a problem: Al Jaber referenced his statements from last year’s CERAWeek event that cautioned oil and gas to step up in the energy transition — adding that “in Dubai at COP28, this industry proved that they are essential to the solution, and can actually drive it.”

ALSO TODAY- The US Federal Reserve wraps its two-day meeting. Nobody expects it to announce a rate cut this evening, but pundits will be scouring its statement for hints of when it might start. A Moody’s analyst tells CNBC that “I expect them to reaffirm three rate cuts this year, so that would suggest the first rate cut would be in June.”

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- ADIA wants to double down on investments in China as the West withdraws –report: The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is looking to take advantage of the withdrawal of Western investors — particularly from the US — from China by snapping up stakes in funds managed by Hong Kong-based private equity giant PAG, the Financial Times reports, citing four people with knowledge of the matter. “It’s a transition from US investors who [previously] favored China, towards Middle Eastern investors that don’t have the same concerns they do,” a source told the salmon-colored paper.

The details: Adia could offer to buy the stakes at a reduced price through a transaction facilitated by PAG, sources said.

REMEMBER- Adia was reported to be in talks for a minority stake in Chinese mall operator Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group, in which Pag holds a 60% stake. The company operates nearly 500 malls for Dalian Wanda Group.

#2- RedBird IMI’s Telegraph takeover is likely to face a months-long in-depth probe from UK regulators, UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said in a statement to parliament, according to Bloomberg. Media regulator Ofcom said that IMI could have an “incentive” to “influence” coverage by Telegraph, potentially impacting what Ofcom explained as the “accurate presentation of news and freedom of expression.”

Background: The acquisition has been facing a lot of heat from UAE regulators and lawmakers, with the Rushi Sunak government working on legislation to effectively block foreign state ownership of media platforms in the country. RedBird IMI is considering a sale of the magazine, or a dilution of its stake, in response.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Cryptocurrency revenues in the UAE are predicted to hit AED 1.65 bn in 2024 as the sector continues to grow this year, particularly in Dubai, Al Bayan quotes Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority CEO Matthew White as saying. Adoption of virtual asset technology in the country has been rising steadily, White said, noting that the adoption rate is predicted to climb to nearly 30% in 2028 from 27% in 2024. The market is expected to grow at an 8% clip annually, leading revenues to hit AED 2.26 bn by 2028.

#2- Emirati investments overseas reached an estimated USD 2.5 tn at the beginning of 2024, UAE International Investors Council Secretary-General Jamal bin Saif Al Jarwan said, according to Wam. One of the UAE’s “landmark” investments overseas is ADQ’s USD 35 bn investment to develop Egypt’s Ras Al Hekma, which is expected to drive the UAE’s total investments in Egypt to around USD 65 bn, according to Al Jarwan.

#3- Power outages hit Abu Dhabi factories in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) and Khalifa A industrial areas once every 20 years on average, lasting less than four minutes in ICAD and over 10 minutes annually in the Khalifa A industrial zone, according to the emirate’s Department of Energy 2023 report, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reports. Meanwhile, customers in the Khalifa B Industrial Areas could experience one 10-minute power outage every 10 years.

#4- The value of real estate transactions in Abu Dhabi rose 159% y-o-y in 2023 to AED 61 bn, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reports, citing data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre. Buying, selling, and mortgage transactions grew 12.2% y-o-y in 2023, according to the center. The emirate recorded over 15.6k sale and purchase transactions during the year worth around AED 87.1 bn, marking a 73.7% y-o-y increase.

#5- Investment app downloads in the UAE have climbed 691% since 2021 to some 533k downloads in 2023, with the number of active users also increasing by 549% during the period to to over 19k users, global fintech company UnaFinancial said in a statement (pdf). Some 62% of the most downloaded financial apps on Google Play in the UAE target money management and investment, followed by budget management tools (30%), and investment tips and services (32%).

The number of investment app users in the UAE could exceed 1 mn by 2028 if activity continues to grow at the same pace, while investment app downloads could hit 47.2 mn, according to UnaFinancial analysts.

#6- Dubai issued some 5.5k ATA carnets — temporary import-export documents offering exemptions from tax and customs duties for one year — for goods worth AED 5 bn in 2023, marking a 47% y-o-y increase, Wam reports, citing the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. This came on the back of an increase in the emirate’s exhibitions, events and conferences.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Leading the front pages this morning:

In Gaza, starving children fill hospital wards as famine looms (Reuters)
The dilemma impeding an Israel-Hamas ceasefire (Wall Street Journal)
Israel’s ban on Palestinian workers is hurting both economies (Bloomberg)
In Hong Kong, China’s grip can feel like ‘death by a thousand cuts’ (New York Times)

Private is the new public — again? Calpers, the biggest pension fund in the United States, wants to see private equity and credit investments account for 40% of its AUM, up from 33% now. The move will see it pour some USD 30 bn or more into private equity after the fund said it thinks it cost up to USD 18 bn in returns by not piling into PE earlier.

Reports of the death of EV manufacturing are greatly exaggerated, if you’ll allow us to quote Mr. Twain this morning. German carmaker Audi is looking into the possibility of manufacturing EVs in the US of A, piggybacking on unused space at a plant owned by parent company Volkswagen.

From Planet AI: Google is talking to Apple about becoming the baked-in provider of generative AI services on iPhones (it already has an agreement that makes it the default search engine of Safari) and Microsoft just hired the founder of DeepMind to run its consumer AI unit.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Abu Dhabi’s industrialists career expo set for April: The Industry and Advanced Technology Ministry and Adnoc are teaming up to host the second edition of the Industrialists’ Career Exhibition set to take place between April 22 and 23 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, Wam reports.

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

Borse Dubai plans USD 1.6 bn sale of a third of its stake in Nasdaq

Borse Dubai, Nasdaq’s largest shareholder, is selling one third of its 15.53% stake in the stock exchange operator for up to USD 1.6 bn, according to a statement. The firm is selling 27 mn shares at USD 58-60 apiece, with plans to agree to an 18-month lock-up on the rest of its shares, which would amount to a 10.8% stake — making it the second largest shareholder in the company. This will give it the right to designate a board nominee.

The firm is also granting underwriters a 30 day-option to buy up to 4 mn additional shares, the statement said. This would bring Borse Dubai’s stake down to 10.1%.

Why it’s selling: “Today’s offering is being conducted to enhance the capital structure and liquidity within the Borse Dubai Group,” Chairman and CEO of Borse Dubai Essa Kazim said. “We have not only been a shareholder in Nasdaq for the past 16 years, but Nasdaq is also a key technology and brand partner for our exchange group and we believe in the strategic vision for the company, [and] we look forward to a continued relationship as a partner,” Kazim added.

Background: Borse Dubai acquired a stake in Nasdaq in 2008 as part of a four-way transaction that also saw it snap up shares in London Stock Exchange, before shedding its stake in LSE in 2015.

Market reax: Shares of Nasdaq fell 3% in extended trading following the news.

ADVISORS- Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are joint lead book-running managers for the transaction. JP Morgan is acting as capital markets advisor to Nasdaq.

Masdar to acquire 50% of US renewable energy producer Terra-Gen Power

Another one in the bag for Masdar: Renewables giant Masdar signed anagreement to acquire a 50% stake in one of the largest independent renewable energy producers in the United States, Terra-Gen Power Holdings, according to a statement. The value of the acquisition — which was purchased from Energy Capital Partners (ECP) — was not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

Who owns what? Masdar will fully acquire ECP’s shares in Terra-Gen while infrastructure investment manager Igneo Infrastructure Partners will keep its 50% stake in the company which it acquired in 2020.

The purchase aims to kickstart Terra-Gen’s expansion plans: “Upon closing, we look forward to actively partnering with Igneo and working closely with Terra-Gen’s experienced management team to support Terra-Gen’s operations, facilitate its development of new capacity renewable energy projects and expand its presence in and beyond its key markets,” said Masdar Americas President and CEO Philip Haddad.

Masdar’s global portfolio is growing: The renewables giant reached financial close on EUR 488 mn in funding to secure its 49% acquisition of the 476 MW Baltic Eagle wind farm off the coast of Germany earlier this week. Masdar is also eyeing an undisclosed stake in Turkish wind producer Fiba Yenilenebilir Enerji and a majority stake in India’s Ayana Renewable Power. The Emirati renewables giant is planning to build a global portfolio of 100 GW renewables capacity by 2030.

About Terra-Gen Power: Established in 2007, Terra-Gen is a leading independent provider of end-to-end renewable project development, financing and operating capabilities. Terra-Gen currently operates approximately 2.4 GW of wind and solar, and 5.1 GWh of energy storage facilities across 32 renewable power sites.

ADVISORS-BMO Capital Markets and JP Morgan are serving as financial advisors and White & Case and Covington & Burling are serving as legal advisors to Masdar. Lazard and Guggenheim Securities are serving as financial advisors and Latham & Watkins is serving as legal advisor to Terra-Gen.

Mubadala, Uber invest in USD 100 mn series B for Moove

Mubadala Investment Company made a follow-on investment in African mobility fintech Moove’s USD 100 mn series B funding round, along with Uber, according to a press release. Mubadala led Moove’s previous USD 76 mn equity and debt funding round last year. The new funding round values the company at USD 750 mn.

Where the money is going: The funds will allow Moove to expand its global mobility business, increasing its vehicle fleet and EV adoption across several markets, with a goal of expanding its footprint to 16 markets by the end of 2025.

The UAE was the first market in which Moove launched its integrated charging solution as well as a network of charging stations exclusively for Moove customers. It was also the first market in which Moove transitioned to a fully electric fleet, resulting in the company providing the most EV trips on Uber in 2023.

About Moove: Moove is a global mobility fintech that aims to make financial services available to mobility entrepreneurs worldwide by integrating its credit scoring technology into ride-hailing platforms. Operating in nine markets, Moove has facilitated over 30 mn trips with vehicles it has financed.

Abu Dhabi hospital operator NMC, DIB secure out of court settlement

Abu Dhabi-based hospital operator NMC Healthcare and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) have reached an out-of-court settlement on all their disputes, ending “all litigation, current and pending, between the parties, and related third parties,” the company and the lender said in a joint statement (pdf).

Background: The formerly London-listed healthcare operator collapsed in 2020 and was forced into administration by a London Court after a report from US shortseller Muddy Waters claimed that NMC had inflated the value of its assets and that it owed over USD 4 bn in hidden debt. Court filings revealed that NMC owed DIB USD 541 mn.

DIB will now own NMC’s holding company: Under the conditions of the settlement, DIB will become an “economic owner” of NMC Holdco, NMC’s new holding company, which was registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market in 2022. The lender will gain ownership of the holding company by receiving Holdco notes that were issued to creditors following the company’s management restructuring in 2021.

What are Holdco notes? Holdco instruments were issued to NMC creditors to evidence the debt obligations owed by NMC Holdco to the creditors, NMC said in a statement (pdf). Some USD 2.25 bn in Holdco notes were initially issued by the company.

The other terms and total value of the settlement agreement were not disclosed.

Dubai Inflation slows in February

Dubai’s annual inflation slowed to 3.36% y-o-y during February, cooling from January’s 3.6%, according to figures from the Dubai Statistics Center (pdf). The lower inflation reading came on the back of a drop in transportation, entertainment, sports, culture, and tobacco prices, alongside a slowdown in food and beverage costs.

The breakdown: Inflation in the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels — the largest component of the basket of goods and services — rose to 6.25% during February compared to 6.2% in January, while food and beverage price inflation decelerated to 3.08% from 3.69%.

On a monthly basis, inflation inched up to 0.54 in February, from 0.26% in January, according to the statistics center’s monthly inflation report (pdf).

Cabinet greenlights national biofuels policy, initiatives to support the workforce

A busy day for the cabinet:The cabinet approved a raft of decisions at its Monday meeting, including adopting the national biofuels strategy, a new structure for the Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry, mandatory private sector health ins., and additional benefits to passports, according to a statement. The meeting also saw the cabinet approve several international agreements and foreign policy decisions.

#1- Gov’t to double down on biofuel production: The cabinet is set to introduce regulations to oversee the production and deployment of biofuels in the UAE under a newly-approved national biofuels policy, designed to accelerate the adoption of clean energy sources and promote environmental protection. The policy will see the government adopt provisions to standardize and streamline biofuel production and trading.

#2- New private sector labor council: The cabinet greenlit a decision to restructure the Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry, including the establishment of the Coordinating Council for Labor Market to be responsible for reviewing federal and local legislation, laws, and decisions pertaining to private sector businesses and their workforce. The council is set to be chaired by the Human Resources and Emiratisation minister.

#3- Mandatory health ins. for private sector employees: Ministers also approved the establishment of a health ins. system for private sector and domestic employees who have no current ins. coverage. Employers will be required to pay the health ins. coverage for their employees upon the issuance or renewal of their residency permits. The decision will enter into effect on 1 January, 2025.

#4- Gov’t to ensure digital inclusivity: The cabinet greenlit the National Digital Accessibility Policy to facilitate access to digital products for the disabled and the elderly. The policy will see the state improve digital services by adopting AI and digital transactions.

ALSO APPROVED-

The appointment of Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi as chairman of the UAE Space Agency;
Appointing Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri as chair of the Emirates Tourism Council for three years;
Updates to the Governance Guide for Boards of Directors in the Federal Government, setting out the roles and duties of the boards and their members, and their respective subcommittees;
Waiving subscription fees to connect to the fire detection system, Hassantuk for Homes, for households receiving social assistance from the Community Development Ministry;

Unspecified measures and penalties for Emiratisation violators who are registered in the Nafis program;
Decisions on the services provided by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, and fees in the federal courts;
The charter for the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat);
Four updated technical regulations in the food, agriculture, and oil and gas sectors.

On the international relations front, the cabinet approved:

Two international agreements of comprehensive economic partnership with the governments of Serbia and Georgia;
An agreement with the Czech Republic to eliminate dual taxation on income tax and to prevent tax evasion;
Three agreements with Vietnam on the extradition of criminals;
The amendment to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreement on the removal of loans and financing restrictions;
Establishing an embassy in Guatemala;
Establishing a consulate general in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh.

Dubai National Ins. and Reins. reports 2023 results

Dubai National Ins. and Reins. reported a net income of AED 47.1 mnin 2023, up 7.8% y-o-y, according to the company’s financial statements (pdf). The company’s ins. revenues rose to 448.3 mn in 2023, up 28% y-o-y. The board proposed a 10% cash dividend totaling AED 11.55 mn for the year.

Rene Egle tapped as Jumeirah Beach Hotel general manager

Jumeirah Group’s Jumeirah Beach Hotel has appointed Rene Egle (LinkedIn) as general manager, effective 1 April, according to a press release. Egle has nearly four decades of experience in luxury hospitality, including over 20 years at Shangri-La’s China, Indonesia, UAE, Maldives, Mauritius, Philippines, and Oman branches. He has also held leadership positions at Kempinski and Swissotel in Europe, China, and South-East Asia.

Global hedge fund Caxton Associates has hired former Millennium Management trader Sameer Garg (LinkedIn) to manage its Dubai portfolio, reports Bloomberg.

Mixed bag for the UAE in the foreign press

It’s a busy morning for the UAE in the foreign press, with everything from climate issues to the national clampdown on money laundering making the rounds — as well as reports that the UAE is vying for an EU trade pact separate from the GCC.

#1-Reuters cited informed sources as saying that the UAE is nudging the EU towards a bilateral trade pact “separate from an Arab bloc,” due to slow trade negotiations between the Union and the GCC — reports which the wire service says an unnamed Emirati official has denied. A few of the sources said there has yet to be an official proposal from the UAE.

#2- Russia’s access to the global banking system via Gulf and European banks is shrinking due to increased scrutiny and sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reports. Dubai’s government-owned Emirates NBD has significantly reduced its Russia-related business, including shutting down accounts held by Russian oligarchs and traders of Russian oil.

ICYMI- The UAE was officially marked off the Financial Action Task Force’s “graylist” last month after the UAE successfully cracked down on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing “deficiencies.”

#3-Plans for a new vertical farm facility in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley got the spotlight in CNN Arabic, in a piece that explores the challenges and interests behind the zero-waste food security initiative ReFarm’s decision to launch the vertical farm by 2026. The facility, dubbed GigaFarm, will power technology provided by Scottish company IGS to transform waste into agricultural products, and produce up to 3 mn kg of food annually.

ALSO GETTING INK-

Dubai Airports boss gives two cents on global travel: Heathrow Airport is no longer a “global transport hub,” due to capacity shortages and prolonged debates over the development of a third runway, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said, according to The Telegraph. Griffiths also criticized the West’s emphasis on the environmental impact of travel, and how that is hindering their development compared to competitors abroad.
CNBC looks into how the UAE aims to address its water scarcity issue with cloud seeding, a weather modification technique to increase rainfall.

Better access to ADX IPOs + Sharjah has its eyes on Japanese investors

CAPITAL MARKETS-

#1- Global retail investors will be better able to access and subscribe to IPOs on the ADX thanks to a partnership between the exchange and global digital investment platform Eureeca, ADX said in a statement (pdf). International investors will be able to subscribe to IPOs on the Abu Dhabi bourse and trade post-listing via the Eureeca platform, which has an international investor base flowing in from 72 countries.

#2- Tungsten bags license from ADGM regulator: Digital assets custody services provider Tungsten is set to commence operations in the Abu Dhabi Global Market after being awarded a license by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, according to a press release.

FINANCE-

Sharjah wants to lure in Japanese investors: A delegation from the Sharjah government’s investment arm, Sharjah Asset Management, visited the Japan Business Federation to promote investments in the emirate and discuss potential partnerships with Japanese businesses, according to a statement. The visit saw the delegation review the business practices adopted in the Japanese markets and learn about the investment climate in the country.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Coxabengoa kicks off operations at Al Taweelah desalination plant: Spanish group Coxabengoa’s renewables and water services firm, Abengoa Agua, has commenced commercial operations at Al Taweelah desalination plant in Abu Dhabi after running the final tests for the plant’s two phases, the group said in a statement. Following the completion of the performance tests, Coxabengoa handed over the plant to Taweelah RO Desalination Company, a JV between Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power — in which it holds a 40% stake — and UAE’s Abu Dhabi Power Corporation and Mubadala Development Company, which hold the remaining 60% stake.

ICYMI- Acwa Power received the commercial operation certificate for Al Taweelah from Emirates Water and Electricity to launch the remaining 76k cbm per day phase of the project, which already began operating at a capacity of some 454.6k cbm per day of desalination capacity in 2022. With this latest addition, the project — which cost USD 874 mn — has now achieved full commercial operation with a total capacity of 909.2k cbm/day.

HEALTHCARE-

#1- UAE-based pharma distribution company Pharmatrade inaugurated its Abu Dhabi Logistics Center, located in AD Ports subsidiary Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad) Group, according to a press release. The new storage and distribution hub is positioned to meet private and public sector demand for pharma and medical devices in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Managing Partner at Pharmatrade, Konstantinos Petridis, said.

#2- Thuraya + Niflink to develop telemedicine solutions: Satellite communications firm Yahsat’s subsidiary Thuraya inked a partnership agreement with Niflink to offer customized remote healthcare and eLearning services to its institutional customers, such as the health and education ministries, through Niflink’s video compression platform, Thuraya said in a press release. The partnership will see the firms utilize Niflink’s embedded video compression technology and Thuraya’s satellite network deliver large-scale remote education and healthcare projects in rural areas.

REAL ESTATE-

Dubai Land Department’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency is partnering with Chinese institute DX Broker Training Service to boost service efficiency in Dubai’s property sector, focusing on training programs and educational courses, reports Wam.

MEDIA-

Dubai Media Council and the Economy Ministry launched the Economic Content Creators program, aiming to improve the quality of media coverage of the economy, the Dubai Media Office said. The program seeks to build content creators’ and journalists’ skills in analyzing economic and financial developments.

Telcos become “techos” in strategic shift for GCC telecom providers

GCC telcos are reinventing themselves amid slowdown in traditional telco services: GCC telcos are rebranding as “techos” in a shift towards more digital-focused revenue streams, S&P said in a recent report. With mobile penetration rates already high at 130%-210%, organic expansion is limited, and core revenues are expected to increase a modest 1-3% between this year and the next.

Enter digital services: GCC government’s digital agendas to boost the telecom sectors’ revenues, stimulating the e-commerce, fintech, streaming, and gaming sectors. Non-telecom sectors could contribute 18%-25% to telcos’ revenues over the next three years — and increasing M&A activity could spur growth further.

Background: Etisalat rebranded as e& in 2022, spinning off itsits telecom operations from its other tech businesses. Bahrain Telecommunications also launched four digital ventures during the same year, rebranding to Beyon, while Qatar’s Ooreedoo spun off its fintech arm, Ooreedoo Money as a standalone company and carved out its data center unit.

Competition and margin volatility will remain, S&P Global says: GCC telecoms benefit from regulations and government relationships, but face competition from smaller players and global tech giants. However, they can collaborate with these giants and leverage local regulations favoring domestic data storage, while acting as integrators or building data centers as local partners for hyperscalers.

THE MARKETS THIS MORNING-

It looks a lot like the start of most trading days before the Fed speaks: Asian shares are mixed slipped at the opening bell and have since made up their losses, with all four major benchmarks we track (the Nikkei, Hang Seng, Shanghai Composite, and Kospi) in the green at dispatch time. US and European futures were down slightly at dispatch time this morning as traders wait to for the Federal Open Markets Committee to wrap up its two-day meeting.

ADX	9,259	+0.13% (YTD: -3.3%)
DFM	4,273	-0.1% (YTD: +5.3%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,731	+0.1% (YTD: -2.9%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.1% o/n	5.4% 1 yr
TASI	12,804	+0.3% (YTD: +7.0%)
EGX30	28,676	-1.4% (YTD: +15.2%)
S&P 500	5,179	+0.6% (YTD: +8.6%)
FTSE 100	7,738	+0.2% (YTD: +0.1%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,008	+0.5% (YTD: +10.8%)
Brent crude	USD 87.38	+0.6%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 1.76	+0.8%
Gold	USD 2,159	+0.1%
BTC	USD 62,738	-7.0% (YTD: +51.0%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX fell 0.3% yesterday on turnover of AED 975.22 bn. The index is down 3.3% YTD.

In the green: Abu Dhabi National Takaful (+15%), Palms Sports (+6.98%) and RAKBank (+6.59%).

In the red: Hayah Ins. (-10%), Al Khaleej Investment (-10%) and Sharjah Cement and Industrial Development (-7.64%).

Over on the DFM, the index is down 0.1% on turnover of AED 338.6 mn. Nasdaq Dubai is up 0.1%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Aldar Properties approved distributing AED 1.34 bn in dividends — at 17 fils per share — to shareholders for 2023, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf).

Germany x UAE cooperation + UAE, Kyrgyzstan launch government accelerators

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in which they discussed the two countries’ bilateral relations, as well as bolstering areas of cooperation between the two, particularly in the economic and trade fields. Al Nahyan and Steinmeier also discussed the Amalthea Maritime Corridor, and the necessity of bringing critical aid into the Gaza Strip.

The UAE and Kyrgyzstan initiated the second cohort of government accelerators following a delegation visit to Bishkek by the UAE’s Knowledge Exchange Office to enhance cooperation, Wam reports. The visit aimed to bolster cooperation in government modernization. The new cohort focuses on addressing challenges such as attracting foreign investment, enhancing legislative structures, increasing exports, expediting document issuance and approvals, and simplifying vehicle registration.

ALSO WORTH NOTING-

Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, discussed enhancing relief aid delivery in Gaza on a phone call. (Wam)
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi and Deputy Secretary-General of the EU’s External Action Service Enrique Mora discussed plans for a Schengen visa waiver for GCC citizens in a meeting held to discuss GCC-European relations. (Wam)

CALENDAR

MARCH

14 March-14 April (Thursday-Sunday): Dakakeen Festival, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre.

21 March (Thursday): Parkin shares begin trading.

21 March-10 April (Thursday-Wednesday): Ramadan Nights 2024, Expo Centre Sharjah.

26 March (Tuesday): Chimera JPMorgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF to debut on the ADX.

APRIL

TBC April: DRIFTx, Abu Dhabi.

9-10 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): End of Ramadan, public holiday.

8-12 April (Monday-Friday): Eid Al Fitr, public holiday.

15-16 April (Monday-Tuesday): Blockchain Life Forum 2024, Festival Arena, Dubai.

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): EcoWaste Exhibition and Forum, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Coatings Show, Dubai World Trade Centre.

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Energy, Dubai World Trade Centre.

17-19 April (Wednesday-Friday): AmCham MENA regional conference, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai.

24-25 April (Wednesday-Thursday): Ras Al Khaimah Investment and Trade Summit, Rak Exhibition Centre.

23-25 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA, Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre.

23-25 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Argus Fertilizer Asia Conference, Abu Dhabi.

24-26 April (Wednesday-Friday): Global Education & Training Exhibition.

24 April-1 May (Wednesday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Mobility Week.

29-30 April (Monday- Tuesday): Dubai World Ins. Congress, Atlantis, The Palm.

MAY

1-5 May (Wednesday-Sunday): The Sharjah Animation Conference, Expo Centre Sharjah.

6-7 May (Monday-Tuesday): Dubai Fintech Summit 2024, Madinat Jumeirah.

7-9 May (Tuesday-Thursday): AIM Congress 2024, Abu Dhabi.

8-9 May (Wednesday-Thursday): Innovative Finance Expo, Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

8-12 May (Wednesday-Sunday): Schmetterling Annual Conference, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

14-15 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Seamless Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre.

14-16 May (Tuesday-Thursday): The Airport Show, Dubai World Trade Centre.

15 May (Wednesday): HFM Summit, DIFC.

18-26 May (Saturday-Sunday): Abu Dhabi Comedy Week, Abu Dhabi.

19 May (Sunday): Investopia Europe, Milan.

21-23 May (Tuesday-Thursday): International Exhibition for National Security Resilience, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

24-25 May (Friday-Saturday): Baby Expo, Dubai World Trade Centre.

JUNE

2-4 June (Sunday-Tuesday): The World Air Transport Summit and International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s annual general meeting, Dubai.

4-6 June (Tuesday-Thursday): The Hotel Show, Dubai World Trade Centre.

4-6 June (Tuesday-Thursday): INDEX, Dubai World Trade Centre.

4-6 June (Tuesday-Thursday): WORKSPACE, Dubai World Trade Centre.

4-6 June (Tuesday-Thursday): Leisure Show, Dubai World Trade Centre.

15 June (Saturday): Arafat day, national holiday.

16-18 June (Sunday-Tuesday): Eid Al-Adha, national holiday.

JULY

7 July (Sunday): Islamic new year, national holiday.

SEPTEMBER

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

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

OCTOBER

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

NOVEMBER

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi.

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

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC Decarbonisation Accelerator, Abu Dhabi.

DECEMBER

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

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

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

2025

JANUARY 2025

1 January (Wednesday): Mandatory health ins. for private sector employees comes into effect.

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