Cabinet shuffle announced

1

WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

UAE announces limited cabinet shuffle + Blinken due in Abu Dhabi

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We have a reasonably busy issue with which to begin a new work week, bringing us a little bit of everything from government news to macroeconomic updates and diplomacy.

THE BIG STORY AT HOME today is the cabinet shuffle President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan announced over the weekend, giving us five new faces in the council of ministers. We have the full rundown in this morning’s news well, below.

HAPPENING TODAY

Blinken is coming to town:US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in Abu Dhabi today, as part of his fourth Middle East tour since fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports. Blinken’s tour — which began on Thursday and runs through to this coming Thursday — has already seen him visit Turkey, Greece, Jordan, and Qatar. The diplomat will also visit Saudi Arabia today, while the rest of the trip will include stops in Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt.

SteelFab 2024 starts today at Sharjah’s Expo Center, with some 275 exhibitors from 35 countries set to attend the industrial solutions exhibition, Wam reports. The event will showcase CNC cutting systems, electronic beam welding apparatus, cost-effective laser systems for metal cutting, iron and steel processing machinery, artificial intelligence robots, and more. The four-day expo was organized with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Doors are open daily from 10am to 6pm.

National team heads to Doha for AFC Asian Cup: The national football team departs for Doha today to participate in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, Wam reports. The 24-team tournament will run from this Friday, 12 January through to 10 February. We will be playing in Group C, alongside Iran, Hong Kong, and Palestine, with our first clash against Hong Kong kicking off on Sunday, 14 January at 6:30pm UAE time.

HAPPENING NOW- It’s Golden Globes night across the ocean, the first entry in Hollywood’s 2024 awards season. Follow along with liveblogs from Deadline or NBC News.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

#1- People applying for a driving license in Dubai can now book and reschedule their driving test appointments via WhatsApp, according to a Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) statement. The service can be accessed via the RTA’s Mahboub Chatbot at 0588009090, which is available in English and Arabic.

#2- Watch out for traffic fine scams:Dubai Police cautioned residents about a rise in fraudulent schemes involving scammers posing as law enforcement and government agencies. The perpetrators aim to deceive individuals into divulging personal information and making illegitimate payments through misleading links.

#3- Steer clear of Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Street bridge, as the bridge will be closed for almost a month starting from today, until Saturday 3 February, Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) said.

#4- The minimum Nol card top-up will be bumped up to AED 20starting next Monday, 15 January, the RTA said on X. You can reload your Nol card easily at any RTA ticket vending machines, solar top-up machines, or through the Nol Pay app for virtual cards.

#5- Planning a trip to Europe? Now’s a good time to book flights + get a Schengen:Schengen visa processing time at embassies is now falling back below two weeks after peaking at 1-2 months between the October-December high season, Gulf News reports. Wait times could get lengthy again as travel demand picks up in April with the Eid Al Fitr holiday, Gulf News cites a travel agent as saying.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Lawmakers in the US have reached a basic agreement on a USD 1.66 tn spending bill — and now have less than two weeks to pass it if they want to avoid a government shutdown, the Washington Post reports.

MEANWHILE- The WSJ has a long investigative piece on allegations that Space X / Tesla / X boss Elon Musk uses illegal substances — and that his use of them could be a contributor to what some in the boardroom and in media have dubbed “erratic office behavior.”

AND- Nearly 200 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft remain groundedin the United States after a section of fuselage blew off on an Alaska Airlines flight and oil prices are down in early trading this morning after Saudi Arabia cut yesterday the February price of its popular Arab Light crude.

MORNING DISTRACTIONS-

#1- 2024 could be the year that passwords die as tech giants and startups alike push forward with passkeys — a technology that could make the need to remember or track dozens of passwords obsolete.

What are passkeys? They replace passwords with “authentication mechanisms built into your own devices,” the Verge writes. “That means you can use Face ID on your iPhone, Windows Hello on your PC, or the fingerprint sensor on your Android phone to authorize access to your websites, apps, and services.”

Why? They’re more secure — only a hashed version is saved by developers and they’re protection against phishing attacks: Your grandpa (or mom or dad or the guy in finance) can’t be tricked into clicking a bogus link because “the browser or OS handles verification” that the website is legit.

How to get started: The Verge has a constantly updated storystream that should be more than enough to get you started. Want to get a bit nerdier? Go to Smashing Magazine.

#2- Residents of Planet Startup shouldn’t think that venture capital’s annus horribilis is over. Early data from PitchBook “indicates global VC investment in startups continued to slide in the fourth quarter of 2023,” TechCrunch writes.

#3- Object of desire for type nerds: Shift Happens: A Book about Keyboards. 1.3k photographs over 1.2k pages in a two-volume book about keyboards. Even if you don’t want to order it (the shipping bill…) the website is a ton of fun for the design-minded among us.

** You’re reading Zero Issue #24 of EnterpriseAM UAE.

** Think of a zero issue as a “beta.” This issue has not been published or distributed to a wide audience.

** Did you receive this as a forward? Email editorial@enterprisemea.com and let us know if you’d like to be added to our list of beta readers ahead of our launch.

** Have a comment, criticism, or story tip? Hit up patrick@enterprisemea.com.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Falcon championship to kick off on Friday: The Abu Dhabi Falconers Club will host the president’s 16-day Cup Falcon Competition, which will kick off this Friday and run until 27 January at Abu Dhabi’s Al Falah Field, Wam reports. The championship comprises seven competitive categories, including sheikhs, public owners, and public amateurs, and will feature an unprecedented number of rounds in the falconry competition’s history.

The 1 Bn Followers Summit is coming to Dubai this Wednesday and Thursday, 10-11 January. The event will feature more than 20 workshops on social media management skills, from creativity, to monetisation strategies, to platform growth, Wam reports. Four workshop tracks — Get Ahead, Get Paid, Get Creative, and Get Connected — will be run by social media experts including Salah Abo El Magd, Kareem Esmail, and Dhruv Rathee.

Calling all classic car enthusiasts:Sharjah is set to host its inaugural Classic Car Festival from 2-4 February.The festival will showcase vintage vehicles and offer educational and entertainment activities, Zawya reports. Organized by the Sharjah Old Car Club, the event is set to be the largest vintage car gathering in the UAE and the region.

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center calls for 2024 SEFFY nominees: The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), has launched the 2024 SEFFY Awards to recognize impactful startup founders and mentors for their achievements in the startup scene throughout 2023, Wam reports. The awards will feature four categories: Techprenuer, Social Impact, Emerging Founder, and Outstanding Mentor. You can submit your nomination here. Entries close on 18 January.

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

UAE announces limited cabinet shuffle

Cabinet shakeup: President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum laid out a federal cabinet reshuffle on Saturday, making a total of five new appointments and bringing three new faces to sit around the cabinet table.

#1- SheikhMaktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is now the deputy minister for financial and economic affairs, a role in which he will serve alongside his responsibilities as deputy ruler of Dubai, the deputy prime minister, and finance minister. The Dubai ruler’s third son has been the deputy ruler of Dubai since 1 February 2008, and the finance minister since 25 September, 2021.

Sheikh Maktoum also serves in various roles throughout Dubai’s financial landscape, including chairing the general budget committee, the federal tax authority board, and the Dubai markets supervisory committee. He also serves as the vice chairman of the Dubai investment corporation and chairman of the Dubai international financial center and the Dubai development authority.

#2- Cabinet newcomer Sultan Al Neyadi takes over as minister of state for youth from Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris. Al Neyadi, an astronaut with a PhD in Information Technology, made history as the first Arab astronaut to complete a six-month mission on the International Space Station and the first to perform a spacewalk. Al Neyadi joins the cabinet as minister of state for youth given his interest in advancing and promoting youth issues, according to a statement by the vice president.

#3- Fresh face Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi (LinkedIn) assumed the role of environment minister, succeeding Mariam Almheiri. Al Shamsi previously served as the assistant undersecretary for care & capacity building at the Education Ministry since July 2016, as well as the director of the department of innovation and entrepreneurship at the same ministry. Al Shamsi also led several federal strategic projects and served as the official government spokesperson during the covid-19 pandemic.

#4- Following her near-three-year stint as environment minister, Mariam Almheiri (LinkedIn) has been appointed as head of the international affairs office at the presidential court.

Almheiri served as the climate change and environment minister since September 2021 and took on a leading role at last year’s COP28. Almheiri previously served as the minister of state for food and water security and represented the UAE at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. She also chaired the boards of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural, the Dubai Future Foundation, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Food Systems Innovation.

#5Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei now sits at the cabinet table as the minister of state for defense affairs.Al Mazrouei previously served as the undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court from 2009-2022, and an advisor at the presidential court from 2022. Al Mazrouei was also a member of the Abu Dhabi Government Restructuring Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority.

UAE’s non-oil private sector records second-highest expansion in over four years

Activity in the non-oil private sector expanded to its highest level in over four years in December,propelled by a surge in new orders, according to S&P Global’s purchasing manager’s index (pdf). The index climbed to 57.4 in December, up from 57.0 in November, recording the second-best expansion level since mid-2019.

It was a good end to the year: “The UAE non-oil economy closed the year with another impressive expansion, confirming the strongest quarterly upturn since Q2 2019 and putting the sector in a favorable position for 2024,” said David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. December’s PMI reading signals “a robust improvement in the health of the non-oil private sector, driven by considerable uplifts in output and new orders,” the report said.

New business orders saw a “sharp upturn,” with the sub-index rising to 63.0 in December, up from 60.5 a month earlier, on the back of strong domestic demand. The jump in new orders was boosted by robust domestic market conditions, despite external market demand slowing down. The sub-index for output posted 63.9 in December for the second consecutive month, bolstered by businesses’ “ability to complete work on time, evidenced by only a slight uptick in backlogs.“

Purchasing activity remained on an upwards trajectory to meet growing demand, although some businesses downsized their stocks to offset the inflationary pressures, causing inventory growth to slow in December to a three-month low. Price pressures also eased “as purchasing costs rose to the least degree in almost a year,” Owen said.

Business confidence remains high: Optimism for the non-oil sector’s growth over the next 12 months remains high, with the outlook being “among the highest seen since prior to the covid-19 pandemic.” Surveyed businesses said that the optimism is “largely based on robust sales pipelines,” spurring an expansion in employment so that the pace of job creation matches the expected upward activity.

FROM THE REGION-

Saudi PMI maintains growth streak: Saudi Arabia’s PMI (pdf) stood at 57.5 in December, unchanged from November’s reading. The strong performance was driven by increased demand, with new orders surging at a six-month high.

Egypt PMI contracts at a softer pace: Non-oil business activity in Egypt continued to decline in December amid currency weakness, according to the PMI (pdf). The PMI inched up to 48.5 in December from 48.4 in November, as new orders decreased at the sharpest rate since May.

UAE economy grew 5.9% in 9M 2023

Non-oil GDP grew at a 5.9% clip during the first nine months of 2023, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said during cabinet’s first meeting of the year on Friday at Qasr Al Watan, Wam reports.

The breakdown: Transport and storage sectors saw the highest rate of growth at 12.1% y-o-y mainly due to high footfall in the country’s airports. Accommodation and food services secured the second spot in growth at 11.6% y-o-y, fueled by a rise in travelers visiting the UAE’s tourist destinations and events.

An “exceptional” year in the books: “The year 2023 was exceptional, under the leadership of my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, along with his deputies and brothers. It was a year during which the UAE witnessed unprecedented economic growth, massive global political presence, scientific advancement, new educational and healthcare developments. The year 2024 will be a new opportunity to achieve further development achievements with greater momentum in all sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.

AD Ports to develop three Red Sea cruise terminals in Egypt

AD Ports inks USD 3 mn agreement to develop and operate three Egyptian cruise terminals: Abu Dhabi Ports Group (AD Ports) is set to develop and operate three Red Sea cruise ship terminals under a 15-year concession agreement signed with Egypt’s Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) on 5 January, the port operator said in a press release.

The details: The agreement will see AD Ports invest USD 3 mn over 15 years to construct, manage and operate cruise ship terminals in Hurghada, Safaga, and Sharm El Sheikh. Under the collaboration, the company will also renovate the Sharm El Sheikh terminal. The partnership aims to “boost cruise tourism in the Red Sea, bringing world-class services and facilities to these ports, whilst supporting economic growth for Egypt,” AD Ports regional CEO Ahmed Al Mutawa said. AD Ports expects to close the agreement in 1Q 2024 if the relevant regulatory approvals are received.

AD Ports is no stranger to Egypt: AD Ports signed a USD 200 mn, 30-year concession agreement with the RSPA last month to develop and operate Safaga 2 terminal, a multipurpose container terminal at Safaga Port. It is also, since 2022, the majority owner (pdf) of Transmar International Shipping Company and Transcargo International, previously Egypt’s largest independent cargo line.

And there’s more in the pipeline: More maritime transport contracts between AD Ports and Egypt will be revealed within the next month, Al Mal reports, citing Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir.

BACKGROUND- The Red Sea is witnessing some turbulent tides: The agreement comes against the backdrop of shipping disruptions in the Red Sea, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels repeatedly attacking international shipping vessels passing through the region. On account of the attacks, Danish shipping giant Maersk, the world’s second-largest shipping line, said on Friday that it would suspend shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the foreseeable future.

MDGH, Mubadala Subsidiary, lists bonds on london stock exchange

Mamoura Diversified Global Holding bonds debut on the London Stock Exchange: A subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, Mamoura Diversified Global Holding (MDGH) is listing two bond issuances, one with a total amount of USD 4.8 bn and one totaling AED 750 mn on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), starting today, according to an ADX disclosure.

The bonds include USD 4.8 bn senior unsecured green notes, issued on 25 October 2023, with a fixed interest rate of 5.875% and a tenor of 10.5 years. The bonds carry issue ratings of Aa2 from Moody’s and AA from Fitch.

The second issuance is AED 750 mn in senior unsecured notes, issued on 8 November 2023, have a fixed interest rate of 5.650% and a tenor of 5 years. The denomination for the notes is AED 500k with integral multiples of AED 5k. Semi-annual interest payments are scheduled on 15 May and 15 November until 2028. The bonds carry an issue rating of AA from Fitch.

BACKGROUND- MGDH GMTN is the vehicle Mubadala uses to raise long-term capital. You can check out the prospectus for the current program here (pdf).

Bill O'Regan appointed as Q Holding’s new Group CEO

Q Holding has a new Group CEO: ADX-listed Q Holding, a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC) has tapped Bill O’Regan (LinkedIn) as group CEO, according to an ADX disclosure. He succeeds Majed Odeh (LinkedIn) who held the position for two years. O’Regan was most recently CEO at Modon Properties, a position he held since March 2020.

Condolences for Wael Al Dahdouh

Condolences to Palestine’s Al Dahdouh: Yesterday we saw the hashtag وايل_الدحدوح# circulating, as Palestinian journalist and Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza Wael Al Dahdouh’s eldest son, Hamza Al Dahdouh, was killed in an air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Condolences for Al Dahdouh — who also lost four other family members, including his wife and two other children in another airstrike in October — and support for the Palestinian cause poured in from across the region.

73 UK MPs move to halt Redbird IMI’s The Telegraph acquisition

Leading the conversation on the UAE in the international press this morning: A total of 84 individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood will go on trial at the Abu Dhabi State Security Court for establishing “another clandestine organization for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil,” according to Wam. The story is getting coverage in the Associated Press, ABC News, The Jerusalem Post, and the Daily Observer.

UK MPs oppose Abu Dhabi takeover of The Telegraph: 73 members of the UK’s Parliament, including a cabinet minister and frontbenchers from both political parties are calling on the halting of the International Media Investments-backed Redbird IMI’s takeover of The Telegraph, The Telegraph reports. The Abu Dhabi-based company is contributing 75% of the GBP 600 mn price for both The Telegraph and its sister publication, The Spectator.

NASA, UAE to orbit the moon + Dragon Oil investing more in Turkmenistan. Plus: News from Ajman Bank, Ford Middle East and DB Schenker, and PureHealth

SPACE-

NASA + UAE to orbit the moon: The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) inked an agreement with NASA yesterday to launch Gateway, the first space station to orbit the moon, according to a statement on NASA’s website. Under the agreement, MBRSC will provide Gateway’s airlock module, engineering support, and an Emirati astronaut who will fly to the space station on a future Artemis lunar mission.

SOUND SMART-An airlock is a device with two interlocked compartments that permits passage between regions of differing air pressures. In this case, it will primarily be used to exit, enter, and transfer materials to and from the Gateway space station.

ENERGY-

State-owned Dragon Oil plans to develop three new offshore oil fields in Turkmenistan, with the company signing an MoU with Turkmenistan’s national oil company, Turkmennebit, according to a press release. The company plans to develop three new offshore oil fields within Block 19, near the Cheleken Contract Area, where Dragon Oil operates a concession, “with the aim of raising and increasing production in the near future,” CEO Ali Al Jarwan said. The next step involves drilling of two to three appraisal wells, followed by development and exploration of the new field, targeting the production of crude oil, he said.

LOGISTICS-

Ford Middle East and DB Schenker have started construction on a new parts distribution hub at Dubai World Central, according to a press release. The new facility — dubbed the DB Schenker-Ford Parts Distribution Center (PDC) — spans over an area of 42k square meters and is set to become operational in January 2025. The distribution center will serve as a consolidated storage and distribution site, slated to enhance the availability of parts, inventory management and customer service.

REAL ESTATE-

Islamic bank Ajman Bank has launched a real estate asset management subsidiary Skyrise Properties, according to a press release. The new subsidiary provides services including property management, sales leasing, brokerage, third-party evaluations, and facilities management supervision, the statement reads. Mohammed Al Shamsi, with 25+ years of retail and real estate experience, now heads Skyrise Properties as CEO after 9+ years at Ajman Bank.

AVIATION-

Turkmenistan launches flights to Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi is set to welcome passenger flights from Turkmenistan, which is debuting a new route connecting Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat to Abu Dhabi, BNN Breaking reports.

ENVIRONMENT-

Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) and XMILE Group are launching an enzyme-based fuel additives processing facility, the first of its kind in the MENA region, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Department of Economic Development statement.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (AED) and PureHealth inked an agreement to investigate the link between climate change and public health in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reports. Both organizations will exchange data, research knowledge, and participate in capacity-building initiatives, including training programs, the article reads.

MBC makes it Tadawul debut today

MBC goes public on Tadawul today: The official trading on the regional broadcaster’sshares kicks off today on the Saudi exchange, after receiving bumper demand from institutional and retail investors for its SAR 831 mn (USD 222 mn) initial public offering, according to a Tadawul regulatory filing yesterday.

MBC has priced its shares at the top of the range at SAR 25 a piece, valuing the company at SAR 8.1 bn. The institutional offering, which wrapped on 6 December, drew SAR 54.5 bn (USD 14.5 bn) of orders and closed 66x oversubscribed, while the retail offering was 18x oversubscribed. Ninety percent of the shares were offered to institutions, while 10% were handed to individual buyers.

Advisors: HSBC Saudi Arabia is quarterbacking the transaction as lead manager, JP MorganSaudi Arabia, SNB Capital, along with HSBC are acting as joint financial advisors, bookrunners, and underwriters.

ADX	9,661	+0.1% (YTD: +0.9%)
DFM	4,088	0.0% (YTD: +0.7%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,811	+0.1% (YTD: -0.8%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.1% o/n	5.1% 1 yr
TASI	12,285	+1.2% (YTD: +2.7%)
EGX30	25,350	-0.2% (YTD: +1.8%)
S&P 500	4,697	+0.2% (YTD: -1.5%)
FTSE 100	7,690	-0.4% (YTD: -0.6%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,464	-0.2% (YTD: -1.3%)
Brent crude	USD 78.76	+1.5%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.89	+2.6%
Gold	USD 2,049.80	0.0%
BTC	USD 44,227.22	+0.6% (YTD: +4.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM remained flat yesterday on turnover of AED 182.71 mn. The index is up 0.7% YTD.

In the green: BHM Capital Financial Services (+14.6%), Taaleem Holdings (+3.4%) and Emirates Central Cooling Systems (+1.7%).

In the red: Ithmaar Holding (-3.8%), Takaful Emarat (-2.3%) and Commercial Bank of Dubai (-2.0%).

The ADX rose 0.1% yesterday on turnover of AED 915.89. The index is up 0.9% YTD.

Asian markets are flirting with positive territory in early trading. Futures suggest the Dow will open in the red at the opening bell in New York this morning, with the S&P500 and Nasdaq in the green. European shares look set for a strong open.

UAE + Jordan talk investment, economic ties

UAE president meets Qatar’s PM: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at Qasr Al Shati during a visit to Abu Dhabi, according to statements by both countries’ Foreign Affairs Ministries (here and here). The leaders “discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on them,” the statement reads.

Rekindling UAE-Japan Business Council: UAE Chambers’ Secretary-General Humaid Mohamed bin Salem and the Director-General of Japan’s External Trade Organization (JETRO) met to discuss the membership structure and requirements of the UAE-Japan Business Council, established in July 2023, Wam reports. Bin Salem stressed the Business Council’s commitment to encouraging Japanese investments in tourism, space exploration, healthcare, oil and gas, mining, energy generation, and industrial projects.

PLUS- Stronger economic + investment ties with Jordan, Pakistan:

Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi met with Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and Trade Minister Yousef Mahmoud Al Shamali in Amaan last Wednesday, according to a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement. The ministers discussed promoting investment ties and cooperation between the two states’ private sectors.
Al Zeyoudi and Pakistan’s Interim Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz discussed improving trade and economic ties during a meeting on Saturday, Arab News reports. They also discussed expanding UAE shipping and cargo services in Pakistan.

CALENDAR

JANUARY

8-11 January (Monday-Thursday): SteelFab 2024, Sharjah Expo Centre

9-11 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai World Trade Centre.

9-11 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Gulf Print and Pack, Dubai World Trade Centre.

10-11 January (Wednesday-Thursday): 1 Billion Followers social media summit, Emirates Towers and Museum of the Future, Dubai.

19 January (Friday): The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship 2 (ADXC 2), Mubadala Arena. UFC champions Aljamain Sterling and Chase Hooper will be in the ring.

21-23 January: World of Coffee Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre.

23-25 January (Tuesday-Thursday): The Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi.

26-28 January: Dubai Challenge Cup

29 January- 1 February: Arab Health, Dubai World Trade Centre.

FEBRUARY

2-4 February (Friday-Sunday): Sharjah Classic Cars Festival.

12-13 February (Monday-Tuesday): Breakbulk Middle East conference, Dubai Trade Centre.

12-14 February (Monday-Wednesday): Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA Congress, Hotel Dubai Mall.

7-8 February (Wednesday-Thursday): Sharjah Investment Forum, Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.

26-28 February (Monday-Wednesday): Management and Sustainability of Water Resources, Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf.

27-28 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Dubai Association Centre Conference, Dubai World Trade Centre.

28-29 February (Wednesday-Thursday): Ras Al Khaimah Investment and Trade Summit, Rak Exhibition Centre.

28-29 February (Wednesday-Thursday): UAE delegation attends ‘Invest in Austria’ conference, Vienna.

28 February-1 March (Wednesday-Friday): MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition 2024, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in February:

World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

MARCH

5-6 March (Tuesday-Wednesday): MRO Middle East, Dubai Trade Centre.

5-7 March (Tuesday-Thursday): World Police Summit, Dubai World Trade Centre.

5-8 March (Tuesday-Friday): Forbes’ Third Annual 30/50 Summit In Abu Dhabi During International Women’s Day

12 March (Tuesday): Start of Ramadan, public holiday.

APRIL

11 April (Thursday): End of Ramadan, public holiday.

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

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

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

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

MAY

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

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

JUNE

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.

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.

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

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily