Dubai real estate held up in 1Q, but a cooldown is expected

1

WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Reports circle of EGA selling off alumina stock + of a Trump-linked defense firm selling systems to UAE

Good morning, friends. As we ease into 2Q 2025, we look back at the first quarter of the year, from capital markets to the property market. On the property front, it’s good news: The market has held up due to a phenomenal start to the year, but on capital markets, it’s less so: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are still seeing foreign outflows, with the two indices ending March in the red.

In other bad news…. The GCC is likely to slip into a war-induced recession this year, with GDP now projected to contract by 0.2%, according to a recent research note from Oxford Economics. The forecast represents a massive 4.6 percentage point downgrade from pre-war estimates as the Iran war enters its second month and reshapes the region's economic outlook.

The UAE is anticipated to bear the brunt of the downturn, as the regional conflict exposes a critical reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, the note explains. The Emirates' limited capacity for rerouting hydrocarbon exports would mean halting production as domestic storage facilities reach capacity. The fallout is also likely to deliver a long-term blow to tourism and domestic demand, with recovery expected to be gradual and closely tied to how the security situation evolves, the note said.

On the ground, attacks continued yesterday, with one fatality in Fujairah of a Bangladeshi national, state news agency Wam reports.

WEATHER- Expect a high of 27°C today and lows of 19-20°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, according to our favorite weather app.

Watch this space

WAR — The US is “very close” to ending the war on Iran — that’s the main takeaway from US President Donald Trump’s address early this morning. While we were expecting some grand announcement — a ceasefire agreement or a ground invasion — the speech didn’t provide any of that.

Trump shifted his tone regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz, downplaying Washington’s role. Instead, he said, the operation should be led by countries that — unlike the US — rely heavily on the strait for oil imports, adding that the waterway will “open up naturally” after the war ends. This runs counter to Trump’s call on NATO allies to help Washington revive traffic in the waterway last month.

Trump also reiterated his timeline of continuing strikes on Iran for the next two to three weeks, threatening to target its energy infrastructure if “there’s no deal.” He also thanked US allies in the region — including the UAE and Saudi Arabia — and vowed that Washington would “not let them get hurt.”

Market reax: Oil and equities tumbled following the speech, which investors hoped would bring news of a de-escalation. Following the speech, Brent crude futures rose 5% to USD 106.42, and Asian markets opened in the red, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi looking at steep losses. Wall Street also is looking at a volatile day of trading, with futures down.

AND- In another sign of closer alignment with US policy, some Emirati airlines are refusing to carry Iranian nationals either to or through the UAE. Emirates posted a notice on its site seen by EnterpriseAM UAE earlier to this effect and Bloomberg reports that Flydubai and Etihad will be following suit.

However, there are exemptions, including for Golden Visa holders, bank execs, doctors, engineers, investors, and the children of female UAE nationals or spouses of citizens. The decision to keep the door slightly ajar points to an effort to strike a balance between taking a diplomatic stance while accommodating the 500k Iranian expats living in the Emirates and the UAE’s status as Iran’s second-largest trading partner. The UAE also recently said it was upping scrutiny on Iranian state-linked institutions.

Iranians are welcome, Foreign Ministry says: Contrary to some reports, a statement from the Foreign Ministry affirms the Iranian community’s value to the UAE, dismissing “inaccurate media claims” regarding the residency status of expats, state news agency Wam reports.

INDUSTRY WATCH — Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has so far kept quiet about the extent of damage at its Kezad facilities following weekend attacks, but the impact is apparent nonetheless. EGA is reportedly selling large volumes of raw aluminum, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter, with another source telling the news outlet production has stopped at the Al Taweelah facility altogether.

What this might mean: The move suggests its facilities sustained enough damage to make selling and offloading volumes directly, rather than waiting for repairs, the best move. The shipment offers are reportedly running through to June, offering little solace to those hoping the damage would be a quick fix.

ICYMI- As we previously reported, the aluminum market has already felt the impact of the strikes, which also targeted another regional heavyweight, Aluminium Bahrain. Prices increased almost 5% directly afterwards and have continued to climb, according to London Metal Exchange data. A worst-case scenario could see them reach as high as USD 4k per ton, just shy of the USD 4.1k record high that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and would also cause significant disruption to downstream sectors in auto, construction, and packaging.

DEBT WATCH — Nigeria shops for cheaper money in the UAE: Nigeria is weighing a USD 5 bn total return swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) as higher global yields begin to price frontier issuers out of traditional markets, Bloomberg reports, citing a letter from President Bola Tinubu. The agreement is priced at roughly 395-400 bps over SOFR and backed by collateral worth 133% of the loan.

The rationale? If public markets are too expensive, tap Gulf balance sheets instead. The structure is designed to undercut eurobond costs at a time when Nigeria’s 2034s are yielding close to 8%. The terms are “considered competitive relative to prevailing eurobond yields for Nigeria,” according to a Senate committee report, with a six-year tenor, a three-year break clause, and annual rollover provisions.

The UAE is already an active lender in Nigeria: As we previously reported, FAB backed a USD 626 mn slice of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway alongside Afreximbank, while Dubai-based Maser Group is eyeing USD 1.6 bn in investments across the country.

Where it goes: Proceeds would fund roads and ports while refinancing pricier debt, even as Abuja pushes ahead with a 17% expansion in its 2026 budget.

DEFENSE — Ongoing Iranian strikes have already triggered a rethink of the UAE’s defense infrastructure, and it now seems the Emirates has already got the ball rolling, holding talks with US-based and Trump-backed drone firm Powerus about buying weapons systems, Bloomberg reports. The discussions are still early, with no agreement finalized. Such cooperation with a Trump-linked firm wouldn’t be the first, following the reported Emirati stake in World Liberty Financial.

ICYMI- The UAE has faced more than 1k Iranian attacks since the start of the conflict, including 800 drones, and the issue with the current defense system is cost. A single Shahed drone can run as little as USD 20k-100k, while interceptors like Patriot or THAAD can cost USD 3-12 mn per shot.

CAPITAL MARKETS — Brooge takeover lands GulfNav on institutional radars: DFM-listed maritime company Gulf Navigation (GulfNav) joined the S&P UAE BMI Liquid 20/35 Capped Index late last month, according to a bourse filing (pdf). Stronger turnover and liquidity pushed the stock into the index’s eligibility range. The listing allows GulfNav to attract broader investor interest and opens new trading windows for its shares, while serving as a seal of approval for its core fundamentals.

Behind the move: GulfNav’s inclusion comes four months after it acquired Brooge Energy assets in a AED 3.2 bn transaction, which turned the business into an integrated model spanning maritime logistics and energy infrastructure.

The big story abroad

Apart from Trump’s address (which we dive into in the news well, above), space is a big theme on the front pages this morning. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has confidentially filed for an IPO, which could value the firm at above USD 1.75 tn, sources close to the matter told Bloomberg. A confidential filing allows the satellite and AI company to seek feedback from the Securities and Exchange Commission and make changes before any information goes public.

To infinity and beyond: NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years took off yesterday. The Artemis II launched from Florida and will take four astronauts around the side of the moon — the furthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. The move signals that Washington aims to cement its leadership in space exploration amid tough competition from China.

The roundup of news and trends that move your markets and shape corporate agendas delivered straight to your inbox.

Subscribe here

***

You’re reading EnterpriseAM UAE, your essential daily roundup of business, economics, and must-read news about the UAE, delivered straight to your inbox. We’re out Monday through Friday by 7am UAE time.

EnterpriseAM UAE is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Mashreq and Hassan Allam Properties.

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of EnterpriseAM UAE.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on UAE@enterpriseAM.com .

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the MENA logistics industry?

***

Circle your calendar

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

Dubai’s property market has held up in March, but analysts expect a cooldown ahead

The war hasn’t dented Dubai’s property market too hard just yet. Dubai’s property prices held steady while absorbing record capital inflows in 1Q 2026, according to Dubai Land Department and Property Finder data cited by Al Khaleej. Total real estate transactions hit AED 251 bn during the quarter, up 30% y-o-y — the highest quarterly performance on record — across 61.6k transactions, up 6% y-o-y.

The first two months of the year offset any decline in sales in March. “The strength of the Dubai residential market during January and February 2026 has undoubtedly been the key driving force behind another very strong quarter of sales in 1Q,” Matthew Green, head of research at CBRE MENA, told EnterpriseAM. “January and February were phenomenal months, abnormal months even,” Director of Business Development and Client Relations at Cavendish Maxwell Zacky Sajjad told EnterpriseAM.

Even March, when viewed in a historical context, remained “quite strong,” Sajjad added. The market is operating with a sense of “business continuity,” he added.

Prices also have held more firmly than expected: Property Finder data shows just 1% of listings seeing price reductions even as global uncertainty rises.

But momentum may not hold: “We are now likely to see transactional conditions soften further through April as investor confidence is further tested,” Green said.

That was already expected, even before the war hit: “No market just keeps going up indefinitely,” Sajjad said, pointing to the sharp price and volume gains over the past five years. “There was always going to be a stabilizing period.”

REMEMBER- As we’ve previously noted, several analysts had pencilled in a correction for 2025, but with project delivery slippage, those expectations had been pushed out to this year. ValuStrat had seen growth moderating to around 10% in 2026 earlier in the year, and Moody’s now sees a cooling phase ahead — though not an outright correction — depending on how badly confidence takes a hit, and how long the war lasts.

There are healthy signals for the market

A sharp increase in mortgages — 46% to AED 59.7 bn, faster than regular sales — points to a more leveraged, and potentially more sticky, buyer base rather than purely cashdriven flows.

“With market maturity comes more borrowing,” Sajjad said, noting that even buyers with liquidity may choose to finance real estate given its illiquid nature and the UAE’s expat-heavy demographic.

Off-plan transactions alone also accounted for AED 81 bn of sales during the quarter, suggesting developers are still capturing demand and building pipeline despite external noise.

Concerns of real estate players potentially hitting a refinancing wall are more of a consideration now than before, as property bonds see their spreads blow out amid a broader regional sell-off, but analysts we spoke to don’t expect real estate players to default on payments. Analysts cite strong banking relationships, solid liquidity positions, and ample time ahead of maturity deadlines.

There are buffers in place: “Developers today are broadly better capitalized than during early covid times, following a really strong +five-year upcycle, so businesses are much better prepared to endure a period of potentially lower volumes,” Green said.

Less 2008, more managed cycle: Sajjad agreed that today’s market is “vastly different,” pointing to escrow protections, higher loan-to-value requirements, and stricter due diligence. “The risk has been de-risked a lot,” he said, adding that the market is “well placed to weather the storm.”

One thing that also helps? This is playing out against a slight contraction in supply, down more than 3%, helping keep prices anchored, according to Property Finder data.

Demand is still there, just more selective: Interest in properties above AED 5 mn has climbed to nearly a quarter of total demand, signaling that high-net-worth buyers are still leaning in, the data shows.

That shift is showing up in hard data: “Sales of +USD 5 mn homes and offices [...] rose from 711 in 1Q 2025 to 882 in 1Q 2026, reflecting growth of around 25% y-o-y,” Green said. The market is also still seeing large-ticket transactions, including a single AED 422 mn transaction, Property Finder data showed, underscoring depth at the top end.

Early-quarter demand was driven by a mix of new international inflows and existing investors, though activity in March likely skewed more toward existing buyers, Sajjad said. Dubai’s growing global profile, from aviation to tourism, continues to attract international buyers, while domestic demand remains resilient.

From an investor lens, volatility may even open doors. “The increased uncertainty is likely to create new [chances] to enter the market at levels not possible at the start of the year [...] particularly attractive for domestic-based investors that are typically positioned further up the risk curve,” Green said.

Where the pressure is building: The rental market

Demand for units under AED 75k has risen to 44.7%, though this may reflect volume realities more than a mismatch. “The volume of transactions is in studios and one- to two-bed units,” Sajjad said, noting that new supply is largely concentrated in more affordable segments.

Rental leads have fallen between 30-40% y-o-y, according to Betterhomes data we picked up yesterday, with tenant enquiries also dropping 16% y-o-y.

DFM and ADX buckle under war jitters

UAE equities ended 1Q in the red — but it rebounded yesterday. Dubai’s DFM shed 16.4% in March, posting its worst monthly drop since the pandemic, while Abu Dhabi’s ADX fell 8.9%, marking its steepest decline in six years, according to Kamco Invest’s GCC Markets Monthly Report (pdf). This came as the Iran war triggered a pullback from UAE exposure. Still, yesterday, the DFM rose 2%, and ADX gained 1.4%.

The 1Q picture: Abu Dhabi slipped 4.7% by the end of 1Q, while Dubai dropped 10.1%. Foreign investors turned net sellers to the tune of AED 1.06 bn across both markets, even as liquidity rose 22% y-o-y to AED 150.5 bn — a sign that flows were rotating out, according to data compiled by Alkhaleej.

Heavy churn on the ADX + dumping on the DFM: Total value traded on the ADX edged down 0.7% in March to AED 28.9 bn, even as volumes jumped 11.1% to 7.1 bn shares, according to Kamco Invest. Meanwhile, the DFM saw a liquidity surge driven by large-ticket selling, with total value traded rising 26.2% in March to AED 24.7 bn and volumes slipping 0.3% to 5.1 bn shares.

Just over the past week, Dubai saw USD 235 mn in outflows, while Abu Dhabi recorded USD 219 mn in outflows, Mashreq Capital said (pdf).

The biggest drag? The problem is shifting headlines, to which investors remain vulnerable, Mashreq noted. It’s also all about energy and logistics disruptions. “Investors are differentiating markets by perceived resilience of export access rather than near term earnings narratives,” it added.

By the sector

In both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, nine out of 10 indices closed March in the red. The ADX real estate index fell 27.8%, dragged down by RAK Properties (-32.8%) and Aldar (-27.9%). Healthcare followed, down 17.2%, while basic materials stood out as the only gainer, rising 5.0% on the back of Fertiglobe (+16.8%).

On the DFM, the real estate index dropped 27.4%, with all constituents in the red, led by Emaar Development (-30.2%) and Emaar Properties (-27.8%). Consumer staples followed with a 20.1% decline. Materials was the only bright spot, up 8.1%, supported by Naeem Holding (+15.0%).

How we’re faring against regional peers

Emirati equities lagged the broader region: Egypt’s EGX30 fell 7.9% in March as foreign investors stepped up selling, while Saudi Arabia’s TASI moved in the opposite direction, rising 5.05% on the back of higher oil prices and flows into large-cap energy and banking names.

ICYMI- Regulators are moving to shore-up the floor, including a resilience package courtesy of the Central Bank of the UAE to help boost liquidity, alongside a AED 1 bn Dubai stimulus package to protect two of the emirate’s growth engines: tourism and hospitality.

IRH secures 1 mtpa of LNG under 20-year agreement

IRH secures LNG inflows from Mexico: Abu Dhabi-based natural resources investment platform International Resources Holding (IRH) will obtain 1 mn tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG from Mexico’s Amigo floating LNG terminal, according to a press release. This comes under a 20-year sale and purchase agreement between the two, with deliveries expected to start when liquefaction enters commercial operations in 2H 2028.

Location, location, and location: The terminal is located on Mexico’s west coast, providing key access to import-dependent Asian markets across the Pacific Ocean while bypassing the Panama Canal. These markets are currently facing a supply squeeze after a large chunk of Middle Eastern energy inflows was disrupted. For now, the firm hasn’t said where the secured LNG will be headed, but the statement says the agreement aims “to support growing global energy demand.”

IN CONTEXT- With the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint and maritime disruption triggering a global energy crisis, the offtake agreement offers a stable and geographically diversified route to LNG supply.

ADGM Courts tap new chief justice

ADGM Courts name former UK Supreme Court deputy president as new chief justice: Abu Dhabi’s International Financial Center (ADGM) Courts named Lord Patrick Hodge as its new chief justice, effective 1 April, according to a press release (pdf). The appointment follows the retirement of Lord David Hope, who held office for 11 years.

Lord Hodge previously served as justice of the United Kingdom Supreme Court until 2013, and later as deputy president from 2020. He has decades of service at high levels of the UK judiciary, including across commercial courts, international arbitration, and tax and company law. He also previously served as a judge on Scotland’s Court of Session.

ADIB targets healthcare sector, more supply chain support in Abu Dhabi, Borouge International lands, long-term stay startup secures funds, India’s PB Fintech invests in UAE arm

ADIB is taking a slice of the global healthcare trade

ADIB Capital, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s (ADIB) DIFC-based asset management arm, launched a new global healthcare equities fund that gives investors exposure to pharma, biotech, and medical devices through a shariah-compliant structure, according to a press release. ADIB is working with BlackRock to manage the fund.

A closer look: The fund will be structured as a public open-ended investment company (OEIC) that will choose its plays based on a firm’s fundamentals, opting for more firms that it thinks are currently undervalued by the market.

REMEMBER- ADIB is building on its recent expansion into shariah-compliant investment vehicles. It launched a logistics-focused shariah-compliant fund in January 2025, followed by a fund targeting short-term trade transactions in the US and Europe in August.

Supply chain support is coming to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi launches Adeed to strengthen supply chains: Abu Dhabi’s logistics and supply chain operator 7X partnered with government entities to launch the Abu Dhabi Economic and Enterprise Development supply chain support platform (Adeed), according to Abu Dhabi Media Office. The UAE has recently been rolling out measures across a range of sectors to mitigate the effects of the regional war, offering support to banking, tourism and hospitality, and customs operations.

The plan: Adeed uses AI to pinpoint supply chain gaps and connect companies with the right suppliers to ensure the continuity of domestic and international trade and logistics flows. It’ll also monitor operations to ensure compliance with set standards.

Who’s in? The platform brings together entities like the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Abu Dhabi Customs.

Borouge International is officially here

Adnoc’s global investment arm XRG and Austria’s OMV have launched Borouge International after completing transactions to push their USD 60 bn polyolefins merger across the finish line, according to a press release.

REFRESHER- Under an agreement made last year, the new entity combines Adnoc’s plastic unit Borouge, Austria-based oil and gas player OMV’s Borealis, and Canada-based Nova Chemicals under a single brand. Borouge International, which will be headquartered in Austria with a regional base in the UAE, is set to be the world’s leading pure-play polyolefins company.

The two have been locking this down over the past week. They finalized the merger last week after an ownership reshuffle that saw Borouge International pick up Adnoc’s share in Borouge, taking a 90% controlling stake ahead of the wider merger. Adnoc and OMV recently said they will start operating and marketing volumes from the new Borouge 4 complex, saving funds through an at-cost usage fee structure.

PB Fintech funnels AED 12 mn into UAE arm

India’s PB Fintech invested around AED 12 mn (INR 314 mn) in its UAE arm Genesis Group through its wholly-owned subsidiary Icall Support Services, according to a regulatory filing (pdf). The transaction was completed on 31 March using IPO proceeds allocated for overseas expansion.

Genesis? Genesis Group is the holding company for PolicyBazaar Middle East Ins. Brokers, a Dubai-based licensed broker offering life and general ins. products. The transaction involved the purchase of 15 shares at roughly AED 800k apiece and was structured as a related-party agreement conducted at arm’s length.

estaie secures seven-figure pre-seed for regional expansion

Extended-travel stay platform estaie secures seven-figure pre-seed funding: UAE-based long-term accommodation proptech estaie secured seven figures in pre-seed funding, backed by PlusVC and Orbit Ventures, with participation from Falak Angels, Value Makers Studio (VMS), and Vasil Zdravkov, according to a press release (pdf). The capital will be used to support the proptech’s regional expansion, with a focus on Saudi Arabia.

About the platform: Founded in 2025 by CEO Osama Shawky (LinkedIn) and CTO Nimit Solanki (LinkedIn), the platform targets bookings from 30 to 365 days. The company has signed with over 400 hotels in 15 cities around the world.

How the war is rewiring MENA VC -Magnitt

The MENA venture capital (VC) landscape is entering a period of adjustment as geopolitical volatility begins to reshape investor behavior. One month into the ongoing regional conflict and shifting macro conditions, a Magnitt report seen by EnterpriseAM indicates that while headline funding has yet to reflect recent volatility, underlying capital dynamics are starting to shift — with knock-on effects likely to surface in the months ahead.

This adjustment is driven by macro movements. Volatile oil prices (which briefly crested USD 100 per barrel) and inflation raise capital costs, while shifting interest rate expectations tighten global liquidity and heightened risk perception slows international deployment. Disruptions also stem from travel constraints that hinder in-person closings and fiscal shifts that increase sovereign selectivity.

The cascading effect

Reliance on international capital is the primary vulnerability. Foreign investors accounted for 49% of total MENA funding in 2025 and are historically the first to withdraw during shocks. This exposure is most acute in the UAE, where international participation reached 78%, compared to 29% in Saudi Arabia.

This is most pronounced during the growth stage, when international investors provided 69% of Series A and 51% of Series B+ funding in 2025, leaving larger rounds more exposed to changes in deployment pace.

Earlier stages also face risks as uncertainty causes investors to concentrate capital on existing portfolios. With only 7.3% of MENA startups historically advancing from early-stage to Series A, tightened conditions could weaken the long-term pipeline of high-growth companies within 6-18 months.

Exits could also see delays: Because nearly a quarter of MENA’s venture exits involve international buyers, the region may face a liquidity bottleneck as global risk appetite cools. As IPO windows are pushed back and M&A timelines lengthen, the resulting delay in capital recycling threatens to create a “self-reinforcing venture slowdown,” where weaker liquidity today dries up the capital available for the next generation of startups.

What about ol’ reliable? While government-backed sovereign investors continue to provide an important layer of stability, evolving fiscal conditions — which have caused downward revisions of many MENA states’ 2026 GDP forecasts — may lead to more selective strategies. Future allocations will likely prioritize sectors aligned with national mandates, such as AI and fintech infrastructure.

ADX	9,650	+1.4% (YTD: -3.4%)
DFM	5,545	+2.0% (YTD: -8.3%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,591	+3.1% (YTD: +6.1%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.4% o/n	4.0% 1 yr
TASI	11,276	+0.2% (YTD: +7.5%)
EGX30	46,731	+3.1% (YTD: +11.7%)
S&P 500	6,575	+0.7% (YTD: -4.0%)
FTSE 100	10,365	+1.9% (YTD: +4.4%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,733	+2.9% (YTD: -1.0%)
Brent crude	USD 106.16	+4.9%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.82	0.0%
Gold	USD 4,818	+0.1%
BTC	USD 68,113	-0.2% (YTD: -22.3%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.56	-2.7% (YTD: -5.1%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	148.96	0.0% (YTD: -1.9%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	24.54	-2.8% (YTD: +64.1%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 2.0% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.2 bn. The index is down 8.3% YTD.

In the green: Emaar Properties (+5.6%), Tecom Group (+5.5%), and Emaar Development (+5.2%).

In the red: BHM Capital Financial Services (-4.8%), National General Ins. Company (-3.3%), and Alec Holdings (-2.9%).

Over on the ADX, the index rose 1.4% on turnover of AED 1.4 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 3.0%.

Corporate actions

Adnoc Distribution’s shareholders approved a USD 350 mn dividend for 2H 2025, bringing the full-year total to USD 700 mn, state news agency Wam reports.

CALENDAR

MARCH

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

APRIL

6-9 April (Monday-Thursday): Dubai AI Week, Dubai.

7-8 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): Dubai AI Festival, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

21 April (Tuesday): FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC38), Al Ain.

28-29 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa, Abu Dhabi.

MAY

4-8 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Make It in the Emirates, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

8-24 May (Saturday-Sunday): Dubai Esports and Games Festival, Dubai.

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

11-15 May (Monday-Friday): Dubai Future Finance Week, Dubai.

12-14 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, ICC Hall, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

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

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

20-21 May (Wednesday-Thursday): Arab Competition Forum, Dubai.

JUNE

3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Investor Conference, Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai.

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

22-24 June (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.

JULY

31 July (Friday): Large businesses achieving annual revenues equal to or above AED 50 mn must appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation.

AUGUST

17-20 August (Monday-Thursday): Arabian Travel Market, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

SEPTEMBER

1-3 September (Tuesday-Thursday: Middle East Energy, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

7-9 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Property Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

12-13 September (Saturday-Sunday): Emirates International Congress on AI & Visionary Leadership in Transforming Healthcare, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

OCTOBER

4-10 October (Sunday-Saturday): World Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

12-14 October (Monday-Wednesday: Airport Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

20-22 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Health Summit, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

NOVEMBER

4 November (Wednesday): Digital Transformation Summit, Sofitel, Abu Dhabi.

9-10 November (Monday-Tuesday): Annual government meetings, Abu Dhabi.

10-12 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition & Conference, Dubai World Trade Center.

DECEMBER

2-4 December (Wednesday-Friday): UN Water Conference, UAE.

Signposted to happen in 2026:

Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent;
Investopia, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

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

1-3 February (Monday-Wednesday): World Governments Summit;
31 March: Small businesses with annual revenues of less than AED 50 mn are obliged to contract with an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
31 March: Government entities are required to appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;
21-22 April (Wednesday-Thursday): Token2049, Dubai;
1 July: Deadline for small businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1 October: Deadline for governments to implement e-invoicing;
Abu Dhabi’s solar and battery energy facility, combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity and 19 GWh of battery storage, is set for commissioning.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2028:

Artificial Intelligence Summit.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:

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

Sections

About

Privacy & Support

Get EnterpriseAM daily