Dubai is now the seventh most expensive city. PLUS: Wizz Air shuts down Abu Dhabi operations

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: GulfNav wraps bond sale to fund Brooge M&A play + SCA issues “goodwill” framework for public firms

Good morning, wonderful people. It’s only getting busier as the week drags on, and the first trickles of earnings season suggest it will keep getting busier…

Today’s issue has a bit of everything — another acquisition from Mubadala, a report from Julius Baer listing Dubai as the seventh most expensive city in the world, Wizz Air shutting down its Abu Dhabi operations, and more.

ALSO- Speaking of the most expensive city: Whoever among you is staying put in the summer and not joining the exodus to cooler destinations can enjoy the massive annual sale hitting malls as of next weekend — and lasting through to 10 August. This next Friday specifically will see all Majid Al Futtaim malls launch 12-hour sales with up to 90% off at some stores. (Friendly advice: Avoid the late afternoon and try to make it early in the morning before things get crazy).

WEATHER- Dubai will see temperatures peak at 44°C today, with a warm overnight low of 35°C. Abu Dhabi is slightly cooler, with a high of 40°C and a low of 33°C under clear skies.

For decades, Sahel has been synonymous with summer's embrace: clear waters, crisp breezes, and vibrant nights. Last year, Ras El-Hekma cast a spotlight on its potential as a regional investment and tourism engine.

In the second issue of our Destination Sahel series, we’re digging deep into the infrastructure needed to support this evolution — and whether Sahel has a spot on the global tourism stage..

Subscribe to our Egypt edition to get the second issue of our series EnterpriseAM Destination Sahel in your inbox today at 10am.

UPDATE-

#1- GulfNav wraps bond sale to fund Brooge M&A play: Maritime shipping company Gulf Navigation (GulfNav) closed its AED 500 mn mandatory convertible bond (MCB) issuance, which was oversubscribed by shareholders, it said in a filing (pdf) to the Dubai bourse. This comes nearly one month after subscriptions kicked off. The fresh paper, which will be converted into equity by Wednesday, 29 October, will help fund the banknote portion of GulfNav’s AED 3.2 bn acquisition of Nasdaq-listed Brooge Energy’s Fujairah-based oil storage businesses. The notes were priced at AED 1.1 each.

The oversubscription signals solid shareholder backing for GulfNav’s pivot beyond maritime transport and into energy infrastructure. This is part of a broader cash-and-share swap that will eventually give Brooge shareholders a 63% stake in GulfNav, while handing the shipping company exposure to sectors that are more insulated from freight market cycles — namely oil storage and midstream logistics.

What’s next? The firm plans to settle the rest of the transaction through the issuance of 359 mn new shares at a discounted AED 1.25 a piece, and AED 2.3 bn worth of convertible bonds to Brooge converted at the same rate, both subject to one-year lockups, according to the bourse filing. No second tranche will be opened, given as the full amount was raised in the first round, with final allocations due Tuesday, 22 July. GulfNav’s shares closed up 1.5% at AED 6.04 yesterday.

ADVISORS- Gulf Navigation appointed Truss Bridge Advisory (DIFC) as its exclusive financial advisor, and Pinsent Masons as its lead counsel. Ibrahim & Partners Law Firm provided advice on the transaction structuring and related regulatory aspects. Emirates NBD was the lead receiving bank.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Goodwill, meet balance sheets: The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has set out new rules recognizing goodwill as an intangible asset in publicly listed firms, according to a statement. Goodwill typically reflects non-physical assets like brand value or customer loyalty on the company’s balance sheet, often arising during acquisitions when a company pays more than the fair value of another’s net assets.

The rationale: The move aims to enhance financial transparency, support accurate valuations, and bring the UAE’s regulatory practices in line with global norms.

PLUS- A joint regulatory committee for UAE’s financial markets: The SCA also approved the formation of a joint regulatory committee — bringing together the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Dubai Financial Services Authority, VARA, and independent experts — to review legislation and coordinate across the UAE’s financial watchdogs. The moves come as the SCA pushes to cement the UAE’s position as a globally competitive, innovation-driven financial hub.

This comes following a record 1H: The SCA saw a banner 1H, with a 55% y-o-y jump in newly issued licenses and a 230% surge in total assets under management (AUM), driven by a sharp increase in local investment funds. Foreign fund registrations also rose 54% y-o-y, while sukuk and bond program values climbed 35% y-o-y.

#2- Dubai’s Vara eyes gold and DeFi pilots: Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) is looking to pilot digital asset schemes involving gold and decentralized finance (DeFi) products as it develops frameworks for emerging asset classes, CEO Matthew White told state news agency Wam.

Tokenized real estate assets will soon become available on trading platforms, White said. So far, Vara’s ongoing pilot with the Dubai Land Department has listed two properties under a fractional ownership model, drawing around 700 investors — 70% of them first-time buyers in Dubai.

In demand: Several hundred entities are currently at various stages of the licensing process with Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara), which has issued 36 full licenses to date, with global firms being among applicants.

DATA POINT-

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez) registered around 8.5k new companies in 1H 2025, up 43% y-o-y, state news agency Wam reports. Most new businesses operated in consultancy, e-commerce, trading, F&B, and building materials.

Indian investors made up the largest share of new registrations at 43%, followed by investors from Pakistan, the UK, Egypt, and the Philippines. Rakez now hosts over 35k active companies from more than 100 countries.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

In a big reversal of his foreign policy stance towards Russia, US President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Russian imports — along with fresh sanctions — if Russia does not end its war on Ukraine within 50 days — and pledged bns of USD of new weapons for Ukraine. (Bloomberg | Reuters | Wall Street Journal)

Meanwhile, Trump is eyeing tomatoes and drones: The US will now be slapping Mexican tomatoes with a 17% tariff — separate from the 30% tariff on other imports from the country, while launching probes into drone imports, as well as imports of parts for unmanned aerial vehicles and for polysilicon, an important material for solar power. If the probes find that the imports are a threat to national security, new tariffs could be imposed. (Bloomberg | Reuters | New York Times)

Across the pond, the EU has prepared a list of USD 72 bn worth of US goods it plans to target with countermeasures as a retaliation against the US’ 30% tariff on EU imports. This includes Boeing aircraft, automobiles, Bourbon, machinery products, chemicals and plastics, medical devices, electrical equipment, and wine. (Bloomberg)

This comes as the EU’s lead negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič’s, warns of a “big gap” in trade talks with the US ahead of the 1 August deadline for the US’ reciprocal tariffs, the Financial Times reports.

ALSO- Keep an eye out for Wall Street’s earnings season: Major US banks including JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup are due to report their 2Q 2025 earnings today, and while forecasts are positive, it will be interesting to see how they fared during a volatile period marked by the introduction of tariffs and fears of a recession.

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Dubai climbs up the ranks of most expensive global cities for high-net-worth individuals

Dubai jumped to seventh place in the 2025 Julius Baer Global Wealth andLifestyle Index (pdf), up from the 12th spot a year earlier, making it one of the fastest climbers among global cities in terms of cost of living for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Dubai now ranks fourth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, overtaking traditional wealth hubs such as Monaco and Zurich in several key spending categories.

The climb is largely tied to sharp increases in big ticket items, with residential property prices rising 17.4% y-o-y, and car prices seeing a 12.5% jump. Champagne prices were also up by more than 33%. This comes despite a relatively modest 1.4% average increase in prices across the 20 goods and services tracked in the index.

The surge in real estate costs is driven by rising demand from relocating HNWIs, according to the report. As of the end of last year, Dubai was home to 81.2k m’naires, 237 centim’naires, and 20 b’naires. It saw a 102% increase in its m’naire population over the past decade, according to a Henley & Partners report.

More bang for your buck in Dubai: Buyers are being drawn in part by relative value, with the report noting that Dubai offers more than twice the sq footage for the same budget compared to London. “Though the cost of living well in the emirate may be swelling [...] its attractiveness appears to remain undimmed,” the report said.

Peachy policies pulling ‘em in: Dubai’s policies are also driving the influx with long-term residency programs, favorable tax rules, and the expansion of financial hubs like the Dubai International Financial Center contributing to the city’s growing appeal. The emirate is also investing in health and lifestyle infrastructure like AI-integrated residential buildings that are designed to monitor and support residents’ wellbeing.

The emirate’s steady rise up the list challenging traditional wealth hubs is unlikely to slow down, the report said. An estimated 9.8k m’naires are set to relocate to the UAE this year — the highest net inflow globally. Once again, it looks like they’ll have their eyes on the real estate sector after a Knight Frank survey of 387 HNWIs showed that 68% identified UAE residential property as their top asset class. Around 33% plan to invest in the sector this year, and over half are considering relocating to Dubai as their primary residence. Knight Frank also expects some USD 10.3 bn in global capital to flow into Dubai’s property market by the end of 2025, up from USD 6.9 bn in 2024.

HOW THE REST OF THE WORLD FARED-

Across the Middle East, wealthy individuals continue to spend heavily on both goods and services. Real estate and equities were the top two asset classes for the region’s HNWIs over the past year, while spending remained high in categories including fashion, fine dining, travel, and healthcare.

Globally, the Julius Baer index recorded a 2% decline in the overall cost of “living well” in USD terms — a reversal driven largely by falling technology and luxury goods prices. Some services, however, saw steep price hikes. Business class flights rose 18.2% y-o-y, while private school fees were up 5.1%, as spending patterns continued to shift toward experiences and wellbeing-focused services.

Mubadala backs German energy firm Techem in Partners Group-led investment

Mubadala, along with Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC and the climate investing arm of TPG, are investing in German energy services firm Techem as minority partners in a new transaction led by Switzerland-based private markets giant Partners Group, according to a press release (pdf). The transaction values the company at EUR 6.7 bn and is set to close in 2H 2025, subject to regulatory clearance.

Partners Group will retain control of Techem, shifting ownership from its private equity arm to its infrastructure fund. Meanwhile, Canada’s La Caisse and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which invested in Techem alongside Partners Group in 2018, will exit their positions.

A revised approach: GIC and TPG had previously been in talks to buy Techem outright, but the agreement was called off earlier this year after they pulled their antitrust filing with EU regulators in May amid fears it will not receive approval ahead of the transaction deadline, Bloomberg reports.

What’s next? The company currently serves more than 13 mn homes in 18 countries and plans to accelerate its rollout of smart meters, digital services, and energy efficiency tools. The move comes as the real estate sector faces growing pressure to cut carbon emissions.

Busy week for Mubadala: The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has been tied to late-stage discussions, along with other existing shareholders, to invest GBP 500 mn into UK broadband provider CityFibre, and is also reportedly eyeing a larger stake in global fintech and neobank Revolut, having participated in a USD 500 mn share sale last year.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to shut down operations by September

Wizz Air exits Abu Dhabi: Low-budget airline Wizz Air has shuttered its Abu Dhabi operations, citing unpalatable costs amid engine issues, unfavorable weather conditions, and geopolitical turmoil, CEO Jozsef Varadi told Bloomberg. The decision to phase out Abu Dhabi flights will take effect on 1 September 2025.

What happened? Wizz Air fell under pressure to review its cost structure after its stock plummeted — as much as 29% — following an earnings report last month that revealed unusually high expenses. In June, the budget airline said it anticipates slightly increased costs for fiscal year 2026. This rise was attributed to grounded jets, the retirement of older aircraft, and a slower-than-expected improvement in airport costs.

Too hot to fly: Wizz Air has faced protracted maintenance problems with Pratt & Whitney engines, which wear out easily or run into crippling issues in hot environments, therefore grounding the airline’s aircraft. “The more we operate in Abu Dhabi, the more engines we have to ground” thanks to hot weather conditions, Varadi is quoted as saying. The company will redeploy aircraft in more suitable markets in order to raise profitability.

Costs associated with suspended operations during temporary airspace closures amid heightened geopolitical tensions did not help with rising costs, Varadi said. This is in addition to an inability to use its Abu Dhabi base to break into India and Pakistan due to a lack of regulatory approvals from Abu Dhabi, he added.

Abu Dhabi made up about 5% of the airline’s operations, while Central and Eastern Europe accounts for roughly two thirds.

What now? The airline will shift its focus to the Central and Eastern European markets, where Wizz Air has under-invested on the back of its prolonged pre-occupation with Abu Dhabi. It is currently “very carefully reviewing” any further services for its long-range A321 jets in the region, and is amending an order of 47 jets, he said. Staff based in Abu Dhabi will also be offered roles in Europe.

There were signs this was coming: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announced last week the discontinuation of flights to Sarajevo, Varna, Tirana, Kutaisi, and Belgrade due in July and August, which followed the termination of flights to Sofia and Cluj. The move followed a 20% y-o-y surge in seat capacity and passenger numbers in 2024, offering over 4.4 mn seats and flying over 3.5 mn passengers.

MEANWHILE- Emirates also seems to be taking a more cost-conscious approach this year with more modest pay increases for its staff, Bloomberg reports, citing documents it has seen. The airline granted most employees a 3% increase, one percentage point less than last year, while cockpit and cabin crew got a 5% increase. The business news information service cited headwinds for the industry amid geopolitical tension as a possible reason for the decision.

Al Futtaim enters Kuwait with real estate venture

Al Futtaim launches new real estate venture in Kuwait: UAE-based Al Futtaim Investment Group is making its foray into Kuwait with the launch of Kuwait Festival City, Gulf News reports. The new venture was given the greenlight by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and comes amid recent regulatory easing of real estate ownership laws in the country for foreign investors.

The plan: The new venture will focus on project management, and both residential and non-residential builds. It will be headquartered in Kuwait under an initial 99-year contract.

Easing up on the regs: The move comes hot on the heels of amendments to Kuwaiti legislation earlier in February, which opened up real estate market access for foreigners, AGBI reported. Previously, only Kuwaiti nationals could own property but now KDIPA-licensed entities, as well as ones listed on its stock exchange, can hold real estate assets as well following the updates. The efforts will allow more private developers into the country's housing sector, which was traditionally dominated by government-backed developers.

The demand is there, with at least 100k families awaiting housing. The Kuwaiti government is actively seeking public-private partnerships — piquing the interest of major regional developers — and a new public debt law could allow it to spend more on large housing and infrastructure projects . The Kuwaiti Housing Ministry has already identified three large residential projects, expected to provide around 170k housing units, that will engage developers for unit delivery.

A mortgage law is also in the pipeline, which would allow commercial banks to provide real estate loans, AGBI reported elsewhere. Currently, only the state-backed Kuwait Credit Bank (KCB) can hand out loans for real estate. The reforms would line lenders up for a windfall, and allow them to foreclose on defaulters — boosting cashflow.

UAE debt issuances grew in 1H 2025 despite regional slowdown

UAE bucks regional trend with rising debt issuance in 1H 2025: Debt market activity in the UAE edged higher in the first half of the year, hitting USD 32.9 bn, up 3.8% y-o-y, even as most GCC countries saw double-digit declines, according to Kamco Invest’s GCC Fixed Income Market Update (pdf). The y-o-y growth was largely driven by corporate players, particularly banks.

This came amid a broader slowdown in issuances in the region: Total GCC issuances came in at USD 100.3 bn, down 22% y-o-y. This was mainly due to a decline in issuances from governments, which halved their issuances to USD 36.6 bn.

Bahrain was the only other bright spot: Bahraini issuers also defied the y-o-y downward regional trend. While Saudi Arabia retained its top spot in terms of fixed income issuance volume and value, it saw a 31% y-o-y drop in 1H to USD 50.2 bn from USD 72.4 bn a year earlier. Similarly, issuances from Qatar and Oman nearly halved on an annual basis.

Sukuk slump while bonds hold steady: Conventional bond sales held flat y-o-y at USD 60.9 bn in 1H, while sukuk issuances fell nearly a third to USD 39.4 bn. The drop came amid rising market caution and a shift toward simpler debt structures. Perpetual bond issuance rebounded sharply, hitting USD 10.7 bn (already matching full-year 2024 levels) with Saudi and UAE issuers leading the way.

Green issuances are slowing: GCC green bond and sukuk volumes fell by more than half (51.7%) to USD 8.7 bn in 1H 2025. Saudi issuers still led with USD 5.6 bn in green paper, only slightly below last year’s tally. Issuances in UAE stood at USD 3.1 bn in 1H, down from USD 5 during the same period last year.

GCC fixed income maturities piling up: GCC bond and sukuk maturities are set to remain elevated through 2029. Sovereigns face USD 226.1 bn in maturities over the next five years, while corporates must refinance USD 223 bn, with banks and financial firms holding 75% of all corporate maturities. Most of the maturities (59%) are in USD, followed by SAR and QAR. Saudi Arabia faces the biggest wall of maturities at USD 166 bn through 2029, while the UAE follows with USD 146.8 bn in maturities, primarily from corporates.

The outlook: Debt issuance in the region is expected to pick up in 2H 2025 as issuers move to lock in lower rates. Kamco forecasts USD 21.7 bn in maturities through year-end, with government deficits and Kuwait’s planned USD 6 bn bond sale set to drive activity. Sukuk issuance is also seen rising on stronger demand and funding diversification.

This comes amid uncertainty over US tariffs and a weaker greenback, which are clouding the US Federal Reserve’s rate path, with one to two cuts now expected by year-end. Most GCC central banks are likely to follow suit due to USD pegs, though Kuwait — pegged to a currency basket — is seen cutting by just 25 bps.

Zooming out: The global debt market posted a record-smashing USD 6.4 tn in issuances during 1H, up from previous years as companies, sovereigns, and financial institutions rushed to tap markets in a still-favorable rate environment, according to LSEG data.

Private equity firm BlueFive takes over Abu Dhabi’s Wusoom Holding

BlueFive scoops up full stake in Wusoom Holding: BlueFive Capital’s newly-launched private equity fund has fully acquired Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Wusoom Holding for an undisclosed sum, it said in a press release. The takeover comes just days after it closed the USD 2 bn debut equity fund and marks the vehicle’s first public deployment.

ICYMI- Reef Private Equity Fund I is among the region’s largest-ever PE funds. The vehicle is targeting large-cap GCC companies across healthcare, tech, hospitality, aviation and industrials, sidestepping initial plans to focus exclusively on financial services players.

What’s next: BlueFive said it will focus on operational enhancements, tech adoption, and cross-portfolio collaboration as part of its post-acquisition strategy.

About Wusoom: Wusoom Holding (formerly known as Sinyar Enterprises) was formed in 2013 through the merger of three local investment firms. It currently operates a portfolio of over 40 companies across real estate, aviation, healthcare, technology and hospitality.

About the PE firm: BlueFive closed an oversubscribed founding round last week, which valued the firm at USD 120 mn. The investment platform was launched in November of last year by former Investcorp co-CEO Hazem Ben-Gacem and is targeting USD 25 bn in value within five years. Prior to the Wusoom transaction, the firm reported USD 650 mn in assets under management (AUM) with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, London, Bahrain, Singapore, and Beijing.

ADCB’s 2Q outperforms analysts’ predictions

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) reported a 10.8% y-o-y increase in net income to AED 2.6 bn in 2Q 2025, according to the bank's financial statements (pdf). The results exceeded LSEG analyst expectations of AED 2.3 bn in net income, Reuters reports. Operating income rose 21.5% y-o-y to AED 5.7 bn, with net interest income up 12% y-o-y to AED 3.7 bn.

On a sixth month basis, the lender’s bottom line came in at AED 5 bn, up 12.5% y-o-y. Its operating income was up 15.5% y-o-y to AED 10.7 bn.

Business confidence + healthy balance sheet growth: “Balance sheet growth remains strong amid healthy consumer and business confidence and ample system liquidity,” the lender said in an accompanying earnings release (pdf). The bank also cited strong performance across its key operations, as well as growth in the energy, financial institutions, transport, comms, and trading sectors, as driving the results. Its total assets also grew during 1H, rising 17% y-o-y to AED 719 bn.

Trade credit insurer Coface taps new GCC CEO

Coface names new CEO for GCC + Egypt: Global trade credit insurer Coface has appointed Mohamad Jomaa (LinkedIn) as CEO and country manager for the GCC and Egypt region, according to a press release. Based in Dubai, Jomaa will report to Mediterranean Africa region CEO Ernesto De Martinis (LinkedIn). Jomaa was previously COO for Coface North America and has over 22 years of global experience in trade credit ins. and risk management.

Emirates Road is getting an upgrade

TRANSPORT-

Emirates Road gets AED 750 mn expansion: The Energy and Infrastructure Ministry has earmarked AED 750 mn to widen Emirates Road and improve traffic between the emirates, Wam reports. Construction is set to begin this September and will take two years to complete. It aims to reduce travel time on routes between Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Dubai by 45%.

The details: The work will start by expanding a 25 km section between Sharjah's Al Badee Interchange and Umm Al Quwain to increase capacity to 9k vehicles per hour, up 65% from current levels. The road’s Interchange No. 7 is also set to be upgraded with six directional bridges — totaling 12.6 km.

INDUSTRIALS-

#1- New Dubai-China pact targets business expansion: Dubai Chambers inked an MoU with the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF) to strengthen industrial cooperation between Dubai and Chinese businesses, according to the Dubai Media Office. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of a Dubai Chambers roundtable attended by industry leaders from China.

Under the agreement, Dubai Chambers will assist Chinese manufacturers entering the Dubai market and CMIF will connect Dubai firms with Chinese partners. The MoU also creates structured support for cross-border industrial expansion and the two will also collaborate on trade shows, business delegations, and economic data sharing.

#2- UAE inks IP agreements with Spain, Morocco: The Economy and Tourism Ministry signed two MoUs to strengthen intellectual property (IP) cooperation in industry with Spain and Morocco, Wam reports. The agreements establish collaboration frameworks within the industrial sector, including on digital transformation, talent development, industrial property registration, and AI-driven patent search and classification processes.

ENERGY-

Enova and Schneider Electric team up: Enova, Majid Al Futtaim’s and France’s Veolia’s energy services JV, has partnered with Schneider Electric to deploy integrated energy solutions across the region, according to a press release. The tie-up will see the two help businesses integrate renewable energy and smart technologies, including Schneider’s EcoFit and EcoCare programs, into their operations.

INVESTMENT-

Adio-EFOA agreement targets global family offices: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) and the Emirates Family Office Association (EFOA) signed a strategic agreement to attract and facilitate global family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals’ entry to the emirate, according to a statement.

Under the partnership, Adio will support investors with market entry, licensing, and integration, while EFOA will identify potential investors, facilitate connections, and develop sector-specific investment plans. The agreement also covers joint roadshows, private forums, and regulatory collaboration to expand Abu Dhabi’s wealth management infrastructure.

BANKING-

National Bonds adds RakBank to Al Manassah sukuk platform: Shariah-compliant savings and investment firm National Bonds onboarded the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (Rakbank) to its sukuk trading platform, Al Manassah, according to a press release.

About Al Manassah: The fully automated digital investment platform facilitates 24/7 trading of Mudaraba-based sukuk for licensed financial institutions, and has processed AED 199 bn in transactions since it started in 2013. United Arab Bank joined the platform last year, and Al Manassah’s network currently includes 13 financial institutions and banks.

Wealth funds and central banks are shifting gears to navigate an unpredictable world

Times have changed, and the market is adapting. Sovereign wealth funds and central banks are altering their approaches in a bid to navigate the volatile global environment, Reuters reported, citing a survey by US-based global investment firm Invesco.

Investors are getting worried: The survey — taking place between January and March before Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcements — still showed a surge in concerns regarding market volatility and increased protectionism. Further down the road, climate change and higher levels of sovereign debt add to investors’ worries over the next 10 years.

Active management is the new trend: Funds managing over USD 100 bn in assets are increasingly moving to active management of their portfolios to weather the storm. While passive management — following weighted indices and portfolios — is traditionally more preferred as it seems to deliver better results, it needs predictable market conditions, which is “no longer the case,” Invesco’s head of official institutions Rod Ringrow told the newswire.

China is grabbing attention too: About 60% of wealth funds are planning to invest in Chinese assets, especially the tech market, in the next five years, with the “strategic urgency they once directed toward Silicon Valley,” according to the survey.

Alternative sources of income include private credit, with half of the funds actively increasing their allocations. Stablecoins — crypto pegged to USD and other currencies — are also seeing growing interest, especially among funds in emerging markets.

ALSO- Two thirds of the 58 central banks surveyed said they want larger, more diversified reserves to prepare for what is to come. Over 70% expressed concerns over US debt levels negatively affecting the USD over the long term.

BUT- Don’t expect the USD to weaken anytime soon. Some 78% expect the USD to maintain its strength for at least two more decades, until a credible alternative can rise to butt heads with the world’s reserve currency.

ALSO FROM PLANET FINANCE-

BTC climbed to an all-time high beyond the USD 120k threshold yesterday amid growing investor sentiment and favorable market conditions. The cryptocurrency has gained over 29% YTD. (Reuters)
Investment banking at major US banks could be in for its 14th consecutive quarterly underperformance in 2Q 2025, with revenues projected to fall nearly 10% y-o-y to USD 7.5 bn — less than a quarter of total revenues — for JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. (Financial Times)

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mostly in the green this morning, while investors wait for insights on China’s economy. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is up 0.8%, while Shanghai Composite is down 0.5%. Wall Street investors are also waiting for big banks’ earnings and inflation data, keeping futures virtually unchanged.

ADX	10,063	-0.0% (YTD: +6.8%)
DFM	5,857	+0.0% (YTD: +13.5%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,830	+0.2% (YTD: +16.0%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.3% o/n	4.2% 1 yr
TASI	11,214	-0.4% (YTD: -7.0%)
EGX30	33,727	+2.0% (YTD: +13.4%)
S&P 500	6,269	+0.1% (YTD: +6.6%)
FTSE 100	8,988	+0.6% (YTD: +10.1%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,371	-0.2% (YTD: +9.7%)
Brent crude	USD 69.09	-1.8%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.45	+4.1%
Gold	USD 3,350	-0.4%
BTC	USD 120,159	+1.3% (YTD: +28.5%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.6	+2.6% (YTD: +1%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	145.86	-0.1% (YTD: +4.2%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	17.20	+4.9% (YTD: -0.9%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM remained flat yesterday on turnover of AED 834.4 mn. The index is up 13.5% YTD.

In the green: Ekttitab Holding (+15.0%), Ithmaar Holding (+12.6%) and National International Holding Company (+10.2%).

In the red: Dubai Refreshment Company (-8.1%), Agility The Public Warehousing Company (-6.0%) and Sukoon Takaful (-5.7%).

Over on the ADX, the index remained flat on turnover of AED 1.1 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 0.2%.

CALENDAR

JULY

7-25 July (Monday-Friday): Subscription window for Al Mal Capital REIT’s follow-on offering on the DFM.

29-30 July (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

AUGUST

8-15 August (Friday-Friday): Expected trading window for Al Mal Capital REIT’s new units on the DFM.

SEPTEMBER

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

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

8-19 September (Monday-Wednesday): WHX-Tech Expo, Dubai World Trade Center.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OCTOBER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOVEMBER

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

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

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

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

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

DECEMBER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2H 2025:

Closing of XRG's acquisition of Covestro

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

1 January: Client asset regime changes in Dubai International Financial Center take effect.
9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit, UAE.
28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.
3-5 February (Tuesday-Thursday): The World Governments Summit.
12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference, Abu Dhabi.
13-15 April ( Monday-Wednesday) : The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.
11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center.
The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum
Dubai to host the Arab Actuarial Conference
United Nations Water Conference
Dubai Future Finance Week
Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

Abu Dhabi’s solar and battery energy facility, combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity and 19 GWh of battery storage, is set for commissioning.

Signposted to happen sometime between 2027 and 2029:

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

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