Emirates NBD clears hurdle for takeover in India, while OCI-Orascom merger faces hurdles in the Netherlands

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: UAE joins the US’ Board of Peace + Autonomous vehicle regulation is coming to RAK

Good morning, friends, and happy hump day. It’s now raining M&A news after weeks of near silence on that front — atypical of the UAE — which means we’re officially back to business after the holidays.

Two big M&A stories are worth your attention this morning: Overseas regulators cleared one major acquisition, namely Emirates NBD’s planned takeover of India’s RBL Bank, while another over in the Netherlands blocked Orascom Construction’s planned merger with OCI Global to create an entity in Abu Dhabi.

Plus, other UAE firms are making smaller steps overseas, including AD Ports, with its acquisition of a shipyard dedicated to SOVs — vessels needed for offshore wind farms — and Dubai Holding’s acquisition of a hotel in Mallorca.

Happening today

It’s Davos week: World leaders, bankers, and global business leaders are in Switzerland this week for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which runs through to Friday. You can go deeper on the meeting’s microsite here.

The UAE is sending what it says is the fifth biggest delegation at Davos this year, with some 100 officials, ministers, and senior executives from major private companies set to attend, according to Wam. The delegation will be led by Chairwoman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Besides a pavilion which is set to host a series of sessions, meetings, and media engagements, several officials are taking the stage for panels throughout the week. Keep an eye out for Damac’s Founder and Chairman Hussain Sajwani, who takes the stage alongside other regional leaders on Friday for a session focused on the “Prosperity Agenda for the Middle East.”

Also happening today:

The Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition (also known as Acres), which runs until Saturday at Expo Center Sharjah;
UMEX Abu Dhabi, which runs until Thursday, 22 January at Adnec Center Abu Dhabi;
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development is leading a delegation to Italy until Thursday, 22 January.

WEATHER- It’s a little cooler this morning, with temperatures peaking at 23°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with Dubai seeing an overnight low of 15°C and the mercury falling to 14°C in the capital.

PSA

Autonomous vehicle regulation is coming to Ras Al Khaimah, with the emirate issuing a dedicated law for self-driving vehicles, Wam reports. The law will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.

Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority is in charge, designated as the sole regulator and responsible for setting up a legislative and technical framework for safe usage. It is also tasked with licensing, operational control, defining parameters of responsibility for operators and users, and enforcing monitoring, reporting, and safety standards.

For operators, the law requires vehicles to default to a safe mode if autonomous operation cannot continue, stay connected to control centers, and keep operational and incident records.

Similar legislation exists only in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for now. Dubai introduced the UAE’s first framework for autonomous transport — covering licensing, liability, and commercial operation — in 2023, followed by regulations for self-driving heavy vehicles last year. Abu Dhabi included provisions determining registration, licensing, and renewal procedures for self-driving vehicles in 2024.

DIPLOMACY — The UAE is holding its ground as a global soft-power heavyweight: The country retained 10th place worldwide in the Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2026, standing out as major Western nations slid down the rankings. With a score of 59.4 out of 100, the UAE ranked eighth for influence, ninth for international relations, and 10th for business and trade. The index ranks countries according to other international perceptions of them, as well as their ability to influence these.

That brand strength is showing up at the corporate level: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) became the first Emirati brand to enter Brand Finance’s global top 100, while remaining the UAE’s most valuable brand for the eighth consecutive year, according to a statement. Adnoc now ranks as the Middle East’s second-most valuable brand and the sixth-most valuable oil and gas brand globally, with brand value up 11% y-o-y to USD 21.13 bn — a more than 350% increase since 2017.

Speaking of soft power… The UAE has signed onto US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a planned organization that will look to address global conflicts, starting with a peace plan for Gaza, according to a Foreign Ministry post on X.

The move puts the Emirates among the first countries to publicly sign up to join the board, joining only Hungary, as other leaders have stopped short of committing to it amid concerns over the details. This includes the fact that the US published a draft charter for the initiative, which some global leaders have criticized as an attempt to step on the UN’s toes, and that while it aims to move toward halting other global conflicts after implementing peace in Gaza — that extension of the mandate wasn’t greenlit by the UN Security Council in November.

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Trump has also included some interesting caveats, including a three-year limit on membership — unless, that is, countries shell out USD 1 bn to fund the project — and a lifelong chairmanship for Trump himself.

The news comes hot on the heels of more UAE-US collaboration, after the Emirates sig ned onto the US-led Pax Silica framework which aims to secure supply chains vital for the artificial intelligence sector. The framework is essentially a trust network for the entire AI pipeline, including advanced semiconductors, energy, and critical minerals, and is the UAE’s latest effort to secure advanced chips for its data center projects — like the 5 GW Stargate UAE AI campus — as well as abate US fears of historic ties to China in AI.

Watch this space

AI — G42’s AI buildout is picking up pace: The first 200 MW of the state AI firm’s planned 5 GW Abu Dhabi AI campus — part of Washington’s USD 500 bn Stargate program — will come online “in the next couple of months,” CEO Peng Xiao told Bloomberg (watch, runtime: 11:15). Capacity is then expected to scale at 200-500 MW per quarter, pulling the timeline forward from earlier guidance which pointed to initial capacity starting from 3Q 2026.

Chips are next, with guardrails: Xiao said the first batch of advanced US chips, “mostly Nvidia,” alongside Cerebras and AMD, is also due to ship to the UAE in the coming months after the company secured export license approvals. Those approvals came with security conditions from the US. “It was not just a theoretical pledge,” he said, citing safeguards against diversion and unauthorized remote access that G42 says it has already put in place.

On AI capex and power demand, Xiao pushed back: While acknowledging concerns around electricity use, spending, and job displacement, he argued the bigger risk is delay, saying, “If we pause [...] many other nations are not stopping their development.” Xiao pointed to inference demand outstripping supply, upstream supply-chain coordination through the new Pax Silica initiative, and plans to expand AI infrastructure across the Global South, including Africa — describing the continent as a “frontier market” and Abu Dhabi as a “key node on this global AI network.”

US investment bank Piper Sandler now has an official base in Abu Dhabi, after closing its acquisition of Abu Dhabi-based merchant bank MENA Growth Partners, according to a press release. The transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed, gives Piper Sandler an immediate on-the-ground platform in the Emirates, granting it local access to regional dealflow without having to build a Gulf franchise from scratch.

What’s next: The move will see the MENA Growth Partners team, led by founder Eric Wilson (LinkedIn), transition into a consulting role for Piper Sandler. Meanwhile, the US bank’s Nabeel Siddiqui (LinkedIn) will relocate to Abu Dhabi from London to head its regional operations.

ADVISORS- Al Tamimi & Co acted as advisors for Piper Sandler, while Charles Russel Speechlys and TMF Group provided counsel for MENA Growth Partners.

MINING — Abu Dhabi is also eyeing investments in mining projects in Uzbekistan: Abu Dhabi and Tashkent have signed an MoU to invest in Uzbekistan’s mining sector, including exploration, development, and downstream manufacturing, state news agency Wam reports. The agreement sets up a framework linking government bodies, state investors, and private capital, with an emphasis on mobilizing FDI, structuring PPPs, and upgrading enabling infrastructure, including power, water, and logistics.

Our take: Mining appears to be the next leg of the UAE’s Uzbekistan push after a run of energy agreements. Uzbekistan is a major player in the sector, with soil rich in critical minerals like lithium, graphite, and more, and is a big producer of copper, uranium, and silver. The mining sector remains largely controlled by state-owned enterprises such as Almalyk Mining and Metallurgy Complex (Almalyk MMC) and Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Complex (NGMK).

The bigger backdrop: UAE investments in Uzbekistan hit USD 1.3 bn in 2024, including USD 700 mn in renewables, with more than USD 4 bn in joint projects currently in the pipeline, according to the news agency.

Data point

6% — the y-o-y uptick in Ras Al Khaimah’s overnight visitors last year, reaching nearly 1.4 mn, Wam reports, citing Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Agency data. Tourism revenues were up 12% y-o-y, supported by a broader inbound customer base, increased income from the meetings, conferences, and weddings segment, which rose by over 25% y-o-y, and new hospitality openings.

The largest inbound tourism growth came from Russia, up 20%, followed by China (+19%), India (+14%), and the UK (+10%). Domestic tourism stats were up 7% y-o-y, and better air connectivity led to upticks in traveler numbers from Romania (+41%), Belarus (+26%), Poland (+22%), and Uzbekistan (+19%).

The big story abroad

Is “Sell America” back? A massive selloff hit Wall Street last night, as US President Donald Trump stood his ground on plans to take over Greenland despite European opposition.

All three Wall Street indices fell to their lowest since October, with the S&P 500 down 2.1%. At the same time: The USD slid 0.9% against a basket of six peers, gold surged to a record high, and long-term US yields hit a four-month high.

Meanwhile, a historic rout in Japanese bonds sent yields above 4% for the first time ever on concerns over the country’s fiscal health, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for a snap election which could hand her a mandate to pursue stimulus plans, including the removal of a food sales tax.

Adding fuel to the fire: Danish pension fund AkademikerPension said it will exit US Treasuries by the end of the month on the back of concerns that the current administration has created too many credit risks.

What to watch: Trump will be landing in Davos today, where he is set to schedule a few meetings to discuss Greenland.

ALSO- Netflix is tightening its screws in the Warner Bros takeover race: The streamer is converting its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery into an allcash offer, matching one key advantage offered by Paramount Skydance’s Gulf-backed bid, Bloomberg reports, citing a filing. Netflix had previously proposed USD 27.75 per share using a mix of banknotes and stock for Warner’s studio and streaming assets. Investors are set to vote on the transaction in April.

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Emirates NBD clears hurdle for acquisition of Indian bank RBL

UAE-India financial ties just took another step. India’s competition watchdog approved Emirates NBD’s (ENBD) proposed acquisition of a majority stake in the country’s RBL Bank, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the USD 3 bn transaction, according to an X post by the Competition Commission of India..

Refresher: The clearance covers ENBD’s plan, first revealed in October, to acquire between 51-74% of RBL Bank through a preferential allotment and mandatory open offer. If completed, ENBD would become classified as a promoter, with RBL becoming a subsidiary — a rare outcome in India’s tightly regulated banking sector.

India’s rules, in context: Foreign ownership in Indian private banks is capped at 74%, but any single foreign institution typically needs explicit regulatory approval to cross the 15% threshold. RBL had previously sought permission to temporarily cap foreign shareholding at 24% until the agreement closes.

What’s next: The transaction is expected to close in 1Q of India’s fiscal year 2026-27, which starts in April, pending final clearances from the Reserve Bank of India and the government.

Why it matters: If completed, the agreement would be the largest foreign investment in India’s financial sector and the first time a foreign bank takes control of a solvent Indian private lender, setting a precedent for inbound banking capital. It would also sharply expand Emirates NBD’s footprint beyond its current three-branch presence in Mumbai, Gurugram, and Chennai.

ZOOM OUT- The approval lands amid accelerating UAE-India economic ties, after the two sides inked a sweeping set of agreements this week spanning energy, defense, space, food trade, investment, digital infrastructure, and advanced technology, while lifting their bilateral trade target to USD 200 bn by 2032.

The ENBD-RBL agreement adds a financial-services pillar to that expanding partnership, reinforcing India’s role as a priority growth market for UAE capital.

OCI halts Orascom merger vote following court order, proceeds with sale of ammonia unit

OCI Global, Orascom Construction merger on ice: Dutch-listed fertilizer company OCI Global will remove the proposed merger with EGX- and ADX-listed Orascom Construction from tomorrow's shareholder meeting agenda, following a court ruling from the Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber that effectively blocks the transaction, OCI said in a statement (pdf).

The court sided with minority shareholders, citing conflicts of interest given Nassef Sawiris’ involvement in both companies — and his role in leading negotiations — requiring “vigilance” and the appointment of two independent directors who could decisively vote on the transaction. It also gives credence to their claims that investor protections on the ADX — where Orascom Construction and the merged entity would have been listed — are somehow lower.

It also zeroed in on a standard disclaimer in a Beltone report on the transaction that notes the work wasn’t legally independent research, but for marketing purposes. OCI used the Beltone report to defend the valuation in the transaction.

Most Dutch brokers do not offer access to the Abu Dhabi exchange — and the Dutch court seems to believe opening an ADX brokerage account is akin to being asked to learn how to do particle physics.

Refresher: The merger would have seen OCI shareholders swap their stock for roughly 97.8 mn Orascom Construction shares at an exchange ratio of 0.46 Orascom share for each OCI share, based on equity values of USD 1.52 bn for Orascom and USD 1.35 bn for OCI. The board formally approved issuing 97.2 mn new Orascom shares at a USD 12.79 premium, with the remaining 561.8k shares coming from OCI’s existing stake in the company.

Not everything was blocked: The ruling does not apply to the sale of OCI Ammonia Holding.

Why this all matters

The move sought to combine the two Nassef Sawiris-backed firms into a single Abu Dhabi-based infrastructure and investment platform. The combined group would have started with a liquidity position that could surpass USD 1.5 bn, giving it substantial room to scale its infrastructure strategy, according to a CI Capital note seen by EnterpriseAM.

What’s next: The Sawiris family must either revise the offer to satisfy the new directors or abandon the transaction entirely and pursue asset liquidation.

AD Ports Group acquires Spain’s Balenciaga Astilleros shipyard

AD Ports Group doubles down on European offshore wind projects: AD Ports Group subsidiary Safeen Drydocks — part of Noatum Maritime — acquired 100% of Spain’s Balenciaga Astilleros shipyard for EUR 11.2 mn, according to a statement.

The shipyard may be on the smaller side, but it packs a big strategic punch. Despite the price tag being relatively small for AD Ports, the acquisition stands out because Balenciaga Astilleros is one of the few yards in Spain capable of building service operation vessels (SOVs) — specialized floating bases required for offshore wind farms.

Why it matters

What’s so special about it? The yard has two production berths, allowing the simultaneous construction of two specialized vessels; it typically delivers two to three vessels per year when at full capacity. By acquiring one of the few European yards with a track record in these high-spec vessels, AD Ports is securing a foothold in a supply chain facing a potential bottleneck — while also bringing advanced shipbuilding fabrication techniques back to Safeen’s UAE operations.

The great SOV shortage: The SOV market is expected to be supply-constrained in the short term. Fleet expansion is fast-paced, with 32 vessels entering the global fleet last year, yet utilization already exceeds 80%. This, on top of cross-sector competition from oil and gas, has made vessel availability a key pressure point.

The move signals the firm is positioning itself to capture rising demand for renewable energy infrastructure in the Mediterranean and North Sea by upping its production capacity of high-spec SOVs. It also comes as AD Ports looks to collaborate on global offshore wind developments alongside Mubadala-owned renewables firm Masdar, after the pair signed a partnership agreement late last year.

Defense agreements inked, G42 floats digital embassies, Dubai Holding makes moves in Mallorca, and CE Ventures backs US biotech

Edge, Barzan Holdings establish defense JV in Qatar

Edge finalizes defense JV with Qatar’s Barzan: Abu Dhabi defense conglomerate Edge and Qatari state-owned Barzan Holdings are establishing a joint venture to develop advanced defense technologies, according to a press release. The agreement formalizes an MoU inked between the two state firms last year for co-development programs and production, although no further details were given then, or in this latest announcement.

Our take: The Emirati defense firm has been actively sowing out defense bays across the globe. Edge recently entered Europe’s manufacturing industry, teaming up with Spain’s Indra Group to roll out a new defense manufacturing unit, following agreements with Turkey and a possible defense package with Israel. Further east, the UAE just inked a defense partnership agreement with India.

Calidus signs local production agreement

Calidus + US defense tech firm boost local production of UAS: UAE-based defense technology firm Calidus and US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems inked an MoU to locally produce two unmanned aircraft, the MQ-9B and the Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft, state news agency Wam reports.

UAE defense pivots to unmanned systems

The Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement signed AED 879.8 mn in defense contracts on the opening day of Umex and SimTex 2026, Wam reports. Day-one spending leaned toward autonomous air and maritime platforms, underscoring a procurement push to scale local capability in drones, autonomous logistics, and maritime robotics rather than refresh legacy kit.

Where the money went:

State defense firm Edge took the lion’s share, securing AED 28.9 mn to develop Scorpio S and Scorpio M unmanned vehicles; AED 22 mn to convert a gyrocopter into an unmanned logistics aircraft; and AED 661.2 mn for Anavia HT-100 unmanned helicopters;
Abu Dhabi-based Diveco International added AED 167.7 mn with a contract to supply remotely operated vehicles, extending the focus into subsea and maritime autonomy.

Dubai Holding expands its global footprint

Dubai Holding acquired Jumeirah Mallorca, adding a fully operational five-star resort in Spain to its global portfolio, according to a press release. The 121-key property already operates under its portfolio brand Jumeirah, which will continue to manage it following the takeover. The holding firm has earmarked more capital to invest for upgrades, and the latest addition brings its hospitality ownership portfolio to 34 hotels and resorts, including five in Europe.

BACKGROUND- Jumeirah has been steadily expanding in Europe. In 2019, Capri Palace Jumeirah in Italy became the brand’s Mediterranean anchor, followed in 2021 by the reopening of Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London. Later on in 2023, Dubai Holding acquired the historic Hotel Le Richemond in Geneva, marking Jumeirah’s entry into the Swiss ultra-luxury market.

CE Ventures joins funding round for US biotech

CE Ventures participates in USD 55 mn US biotech funding round: CE Ventures, the venture capital arm of UAE-based Crescent Enterprises, participated in a USD 55 mn Series A funding round for Think Bioscience, a US-based biotechnology firm, according to a press release. The capital will be used to accelerate the development of Think Bioscience’s lead drug candidates and scale its capabilities in identifying new bioactive compounds. The biotech firm uses small-molecule therapeutics and synthetic biology to treat otherwise hard-to-treat diseases.

China’s export boom masks a domestic squeeze

China’s exports hit record highs in 2025, generating a USD 1.2 tn trade surplus, even as exporters faced an uphill battle during the year to tap new markets amid freefalling US orders. The shift, exporters tell Reuters, came at a hefty price tag in exchange for smaller, less profitable orders and more work, despite headline numbers suggesting a thriving global trade picture.

The export growth followed a pivot away from the US after President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes cut American orders by about a third. Chinese exporters shifted to markets in South America and Africa, where buyers often negotiated tougher terms and smaller orders. Meanwhile, industrial bottom lines fell 13.1% in November, the fastest decline in over a year.

A two-speed economy

Strong exports masked weaknesses at home: While China’s GDP grew 5% during the year, investment shrank, and consumption remained sluggish, Bloomberg notes. Government incentives, including a USD 72 bn loan-backing facility and interest subsidies for SMEs, aim to boost domestic spending and private investment. Still, interventionist policies, overcapacity, and declining household demand have left industrial profitability and wages under pressure.

Frontline realities

Manufacturers in China are struggling to keep their factories running, with widespread job cuts leaving many factories nearly empty, according to the Financial Times. The number of struggling companies — or “zombie companies” — has reached 12% of the total registered companies, more than doubling since 2018, according to a study by Natixis’ chief Asia-Pacific economist, Alicia García-Herrero.

The contrast highlights China’s economic divide, as exports surge while domestic industries struggle, leaving workers and households with stagnant wages, layoffs, and few prospects, the FT claims. Analysts expect the divide to widen as Beijing doubles down on its export-led growth by supporting its high-tech sector to compete with the US — allowing the housing market to keep deflating.

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MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asia-Pacific markets are broadly in the red once again this morning, weighed down by Washington’s threats of imposing tariffs on European countries over Greenland. Investors continued to pour into safe havens, driving up gold prices even further. The Hang Seng Index and mainland China’s CSI 300 are just marginally in the green, while other markets including Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi are trading down. Futures indicate Wall Street is in for a better start to trading, with Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures trading up.

ADX	10,196	+0.3% (YTD: +2.0%)
DFM	6,375	+0.5% (YTD: +5.4%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	5,106	+0.5% (YTD: +4.5%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	3.4% o/n	3.6% 1 yr
Tadawul	10,912	0.0% (YTD: +4.0%)
EGX30	45,905	+1.9% (YTD: +9.7%)
S&P 500	6,797	-2.1% (YTD: -0.7%)
FTSE 100	10,127	-0.7% (YTD: +2.0%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,892	-0.6% (YTD: +1.7%)
Brent crude	USD 64.16	-1.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.88	-0.8%
Gold	USD 4,838	+1.5%
BTC	USD 88,917	-4.0% (YTD: +1.5%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.8	0.0% (YTD: +1.3%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	151.64	0.0% (YTD: -0.2%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	20.09	+6.6% (YTD: +34.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 0.5% yesterday on turnover of AED 700.7 mn. The index is up 5.4% YTD.

In the green: Chimera S&P UAE UCITS ETF - Share Class A - Accumulating (+14.3%), Al Mal Capital REIT (+9.0%), and Dubai Islamic Ins. and Reins. Co (+5.3%).

In the red: Islamic Arab Ins. Company (-5.9%), National Cement Company (-5.0%), and Ekttitab Holding Company (-4.5%).

Over on the ADX, the index rose 0.3% on turnover of AED 1.2 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 0.5%.

CALENDAR

JANUARY

21-24 January (Wednesday-Saturday): Acres Real Estate Exhibition, Expo Center, Sharjah.

28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.

28-30 January (Wednesday-Friday): World Customs Organization Technology Conference, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

31 January - 7 February (Saturday-Saturday): Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, International Tennis Center, Zayed Sports City.

FEBRUARY

Signposted to happen sometime this month: Investopia, Lagos, Nigeria.

3-5 February (Tuesday-Thursday): The World Governments Summit, Dubai.

4 February (Wednesday) Ministerial dialogue for Pax Silica members, Washington, DC.

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): PropTech Connect Middle East, Grand Hyatt Dubai.

4-6 February (Wednesday-Friday): Arab Actuarial Conference, Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel, Dubai.

12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference, Abu Dhabi.

9-12 February (Monday-Friday): World Health Expo (WHX), Dubai.

10-11 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Top Advisors and Investors Summit, Abu Dhabi.

MARCH

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

26-28 March (Thursday-Saturday): Social Capital Conference, Dubai.

28-29 March (Saturday-Sunday): Emirates International Congress on AI & Visionary Leadership in Transforming Healthcare, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

30 March - 2 April (Monday-Thursday): IAAPA Middle East Exhibition and Conference, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

APRIL

7-9 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Health Summit, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.

13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): AIM Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai.

14-16 April: (Tuesday-Thursday): the International Property Show, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai.

21-23 April (Tuesday-Thursday): UITP Public Transport Summit, Dubai.

MAY

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

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

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.

JUNE

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

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

DECEMBER

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

Signposted to happen in 2026:

The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum;
Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent.

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;
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;
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 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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