HIG opens in Dubai + AED 500 mn to take Dubai SMEs global

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Winter conference season kicks off in earnest in Dubai

Good morning, friends. From the launch of Lunate’s latest ETF to an AED 500 mn program to take Dubai SMEs global, and US alt investment giant HIG Capital opening in Dubai, it’s a reasonably brisk morning for news here in the UAE.

^^ We have the details on this story and more in this morning’s news well, below.

** Did you know we also publish a Saudi edition every morning at 8am UAE?Have look or subscribe here.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- You’ll soon be able to use a digital wallet to pay for public transport tickets in Dubai: Dubai’s RTA has awarded an AED 350 mn contract to upgrade the Nol ticketing system to a centralized digital wallet system, the Dubai Media Office reports. The goal is to streamline the ticketing process through features including smart channel pre-payments, family / group tickets, and facial recognition.

#2-UAE, New Zealand to boost trade: Minister of State Ahmed Al Sayegh met on Friday with New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay to explore deepening economic and trade ties, according to a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement.

DATA POINT-

Abu Dhabi was ranked the world’s safest city for the eighth consecutive year in online database Numbeo ’s crime and safety indices. The emirate reeled in the highest safety score (86.9), paired with the lowest crime levels (13.1). Ajman, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah were also featured on the list, with Ajman leading in the fourth place, Dubai in sixth, and Ras Al Khaimah in the sixth spot.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- The Arab Health Exhibition 2024 also kicks off today and runs until Thursday, 1 Februaryin Dubai. Over 3k companies are set to attend. Arab Health is one of the two largest regional healthcare conferences to take place every year. It takes place at Dubai World Trade Center.

Emirati real estate developers are in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the UAE Property Forum, hosted by the Emirati embassy in Brazil and the consulate general in Sao Paulo. The exhibition starts today and wraps on Tuesday at the Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo Hotel, according to a press release.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

#1- It’s Fed week: The Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday. Economists are expecting the Fed to keep rates unchanged and wait until the summer before it cuts rates, according to a Reuters poll. Majority of economists polled see the Fed leaving rates at their current 22-year high at 5.25-5.5% when it meets later this week to ensure that “recent progress in inflation is sustainable.”

Setting the stage: The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged — at a record-high 4% — when it met on Thursday. The bank reaffirmed its position to keep rates high for a “sufficiently long duration” to bring inflation down to its target 2% from its current level of 2.9%.

#2- And World Economic Outlook week: The IMF will be out with its January 2024 World Economic Outlook update tomorrow.

#3- The UAE Organ Donation and Transplantation Congress 2024 wraps tomorrow in Dubai. The four-day event, organized by the Health and Prevention Ministry, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health, and the Dubai Health Authority, kicked off on Saturday. Over 8k people have attended sessions on developments in the field, reports state news agency Wam.

MARKET WATCH-

Dana Gas resumes production at Kurdish facility: ADX-listed energy company Dana Gas resumed operations at its production plant at the Khor Mor gas field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following a drone attack, the gas provider said in an ADX disclosure (pdf).

Operations were suspended on Thursday after a suspected drone struck one of Dana Gas’ liquid storage tanks, causing a fire, the energy firm said (pdf).

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

One story dominates on an otherwise slow morning in the global press: The White House says Iran-backed fighters killed three members of the US military and wounded 25 in a drone attack on an American outpost in Jordan.

Why it matters: They’re the first US casualties since tensions started ramping up following Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Pundits on both sides of the ocean are calling the attack a “significant escalation that is likely to draw the US further into conflict even as Washington seeks to avoid a broader regional conflagration.”

“We shall respond,” said US President Joe Biden.

Oil prices climbed overnight following news of the attack and an earlier incident in which Houthi rebels struck a Trafigura-chartered tanker in the Red Sea.

It’s leading front pages from the business press onward: Financial Times | Wall Street Journal | New York Times | Politico | The Guardian.

From the business pages:

Banker bonuses are down: Wall Street’s Masters of the Universe thought their bonuses would be super-sized this year. They’re not. (Wall Street Journal)
Sales of climate-focused mutual funds crashed 75% in the past two years. Blame poor performance, competition from rising interest rates, and the backlash against all things “woke.” (Financial Times)
China is moving to curb short selling as the market downturn deepens. Beijing failed to deliver last week on an anticipated USD 100 bn stock bailout. (Bloomberg)

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Conference season is heating up:

Dubai will host the Family Office Roundtable (FORT) Global this Friday, 2 February at the Museum of the Future, according to a press release. The invite-only event will center discussions on the international finance and investment communities, influential family offices, government members and dignitaries, with nearly 10k guests, hailing from over 35 countries.

The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Tennis Open will take place from Saturday, 3 February to Sunday, 11 February at Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Centre. The tournament will see participation from four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, plus Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, and Barbora Krejčíková, reports The National.

Young entrepreneurs can pitch early-education startup ideas at the AbuDhabi Youth Challenge: Techstars Startup Weekend, running for three days from Friday, 2 February, to Sunday, 4 February at Cloud Spaces ADGM in Abu Dhabi. The top three teams will get AED 30k.

The Middle East Bunkering Convention will take place from Monday, 5 February through to Wednesday, 7 February at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. The event will bring together industry players to discuss issues in the global marine fuel sector, including supply chains, decarbonization, and new fuels.

The UAE Tour Women will take place from 8-11 February starting in Dubai and ending in Abu Dhabi. The event will feature three sprint stages and a mountain climb up Jebel Hafeet, spanning 468 km from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

The Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA will kick off on Monday, 12 February through to Wednesday, 14 February at Kempinski Central Avenue. The event will see 80 speakers and upwards of 200 attendees discuss regulation, financing, and investments in sustainable aviation fuels in MENA.

Dubai will host the World Government Summit from Monday, 12 February, to Wednesday, 14 February. The summit, with a central theme on the daily implications of AI, will include 15 AI-centered conferences, and an annual gathering for the Time 100 AI list. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will be among the speakers headlining the event, Gulf News reports. Over 4k participants from 150 countries are expected to be attend.

Dubai will host the Future Warehouse & Logistics 2024 Conference from Monday, 12 February to Wednesday, 14 February in Dubai. On the agenda: How to boost resilience and overcome challenges, with discussions on disruptions, sustainability, internet of things, automation, workplace management and other topics.

Breakbulk Middle East 2024 will take place from Monday, 12 February, to Tuesday,13 January, in Dubai. The event is being hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to address industry challenges and identify prospects for growth in the UAE, KSA, and East Africa.

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2024 will take place from Thursday, 15 February, to Sunday, 25 February, in Dubai. The competition will see 16 national teams, including Brazil, Iran, Italy, Japan, Egypt, UAE and Portugal, battle on the sand. You can purchase tickets here.

The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is returning on Saturday, 24 February, on Al Marjan Island. The World Athletics Gold Label event will welcome athletes, running enthusiasts and amateurs alike. You can register here.

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

Lunate’s India ETF is live on the ADX

Lunate’s India ETF is live on the ADX: A unit of Abu Dhabi-based Lunate Capital launched on Saturday the GCC region’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) for Indian stocks, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF tracks the performance of Shariah-compliant Indian stocks.

Underlying constituents include big Indian names Reliance Industries, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy. Chimera’s latest ETF replicates the S&P India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index, which tracks the “30 largest and most liquid Shariah-compliant Indian companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.”

The ETF dipped 0.58% on its first day of trading to AED 3.263. By definition, an ETF looks to replicate the movement of the index or other basket of stocks it tracks.

ADVISORS- Authorized participants include International Securities, Arqaam Securities, EFG Hermes UAE, BHM Capital, Al Daman Securities, and FAB Securities, according to the ADX. BNY Mellon is the global custodian of the ETF, while our friends at HSBC Bank Middle East are the sub custodian. S&P Dow Jones Indices is the index provider.

This isn’t Lunate Capital’s first Asian ETF: Chimera launched its S&P China HK Shariah ETF, a Shariah-compliant ETF tracking Hong Kong-listed Chinese equities, in May 2023. The ETF went live on the ADX on 5 June.

Background: The Lunate announced the launch of the fund earlier this month on the back of S&P India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index ’s strong performance, which saw S&P’s AED-denominated index for Indian stocks climb 16% last year, according to Bloomberg.

US private equity firm HIG Capital opens Dubai office

US-based private equity outfit HIG Capital opened its Dubai office at the Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC), the firm said in a statement. Managing Director Oliver Slade (LinkedIn) and Principal Alexia Klat (LinkedIn) will oversee the new office in a bid to strengthen ties with regional investors, the statement said.

What they said: “HIG has been partnering with investors in the region for the past 30 years, and the Dubai office strengthens our commitment to the region and our investors to provide creative investment solutions for our clients in the attractive middle market alternatives landscape,” Executive MD and Global Head of Capital Formation Jordan Peer Griffin, said.

More on HIG Capital: Founded in 1993, HIG Capital bills itself as a global alternative assets firm and manages around USD 60 bn across including private equity, real estate, growth equity, and debt / credit funds, with over 400 companies in its portfolio. The PE firm has offices in major financial centers in the US, Europe, and Latin America.

Dubai launches AED 500 mn initiative to take SMEs global

Dubai-based SMEs are getting an AED 500 mn boost to encourage their expansion worldwide after Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Dubai International Growth Initiative, Wam reports. The initiative is a collaboration between the Dubai government and Emirates NBD.

What’s the pitch? Emirates NBD will provide SMEs with financing at the Emirates’ interbank offered rate (EIBOR) with no additional margin, the news agency said.

How can you get a slice of the pie? The initiative is open to all SMEs established in Dubai, regardless of the owner’s nationality, and will focus on so-far unspecified strategic sectors.

What’s an SME in the UAE? It varies by business type (trade, industry, services), how many staff you have, and what your annual turnover looks like. You can play with the sliders on the UAE Ministry of Economy here. The Government of Dubai’s SME unit already provides a range of finance and other support for qualifying SMEs.

What’s next? A joint committee comprising representatives from both the Government of Dubai and Emirates NBD will oversee the execution of the initiative and choose eligible SMEs. Emirates NBD will provide further details on the financing program next month, Wam said.

Fast facts: SMEs make up 95% of registered businesses in the emirate and employ over 60% of the workforce, said Sheikh Hamdan.

Plant & Equipment acquires Global Equipment Trading in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone

Construction equipment marketplace Plant & Equipment is acquiring Global Equipment Trading in Dubai's Jebel Ali Freezone as it looks to expand in the GCC and MENA region, according to a press release. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The pitch: The company is looking to become a “multichannel” business that allows customers to buy and sell heavy equipment both online and on-site, the press release said. Prospective buyers will now have the option to physically assess consigned machines at the Global Equipment Trading location in the freezone and bid for them on P&E’s online auction platform.

About P&E: PlantAndEquipment.com currently allows sellers the choice between auction and classified listings. P&E Auctions, a subsidiary of Plant & Equipment, functions as an online auction platform, gathering consignments and marketing heavy equipment to buyers in the Gulf, Levant, Africa, and Asia. The company’s live auctions showcase diverse heavy machinery in construction, logistics, agriculture, and mining.

OTHER M&A NEWS-

Gulf Investment House subsidiary buys minority stake in UAE real estate player: A subsidiary of Kuwait-based financial services company Gulf Investment House bought a 7% stake (cc. 15.6 mn shares) in an unlisted UAE-based real estate company for AED 4.5 mn, increasing GIH’s stake in the unnamed company to 25.4%, according to an ADX-bourse filing (pdf).

DXwand secures USD 4 mn from Shorooq Partners and Dubai Future District Fund

Shorooq Partners, Dubai Future District Fund, and Algebra Ventures invest big in AI startup: UAE-based VC firm Shorooq Partners, and the UAE government-backed Dubai Future District Fund co-led a USD 4 mn series A funding round for Egypt-born artificial intelligence startup DXwand, alongside Egyptian VC firm Algebra Ventures, according to a statement (pdf) released on Thursday.

Where’s the money going? The company plans to use the fresh funds for regional expansion, including to Southeast Asia and South America, with plans already in motion and execution expected in late 1Q 2024 or early 2Q, DXwand co-founder and CEO Ahmed Mahmoud told Enterprise UAE. The funds will also go toward expanding research and development in generative AI, and retrieval augmented generation (RAG). The company currently has offices in Cairo and Dubai, along with its HQ in Wyoming.

Who’s DXwand? DXwand is an Egyptian AI startup founded in 2018. DXwand has developed software to automate customer service conversations, using a language model that understands different slang in both Arabic and English. The platform extracts information from these conversations and presents it to businesses. The company’s software also specializes in knowledge mining — a form of AI that quickly learns vast amounts of information — and generative AI.

National Bank of Umm Al Quwain saw its bottom line rise 38% y-o-y in 2023

National Bank of Umm Al Quwain’s (NBQ) net income surged 38% y-o-y to AED 502.6 mn in 2023, according to the bank’s preliminary financial statements (pdf ). Net revenues rose 59.4% y-o-y to AED 954.9 mn, while total assets inched up by 8.6% y-o-y to AED 14.78 bn during the year, the bank said.

Another ceasefire agreement brewing + ICJ orders Israel to prevent genocide

A two-month ceasefire in Gaza? Officials from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Israel met in France last night to discuss a potential agreement that would see Israel halt all fighting in Gaza for about two months in exchange for Hamas releasing over 100 Israeli hostages, the New York Times reported over the weekend. CIA head William Burns, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, Israel’s Mossad head David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohamed Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani attended the talks, which were “defined as constructive … [but] there are still significant gaps,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. The talks are set to continue this week, according to the statement.

What’s next? If the meetings go well and make enough progress, the Biden administration will send Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk to the region to help finalize the agreement, the NYT said.

UN’s Palestinian refugee organization loses funding: The US — the UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) biggest donor — along with the UK, Italy, Canada, Finland, and Australia have suspended additional funding to UNRWA over Israeli allegations that several staff members took part in the 7 October attacks. The UN has preemptively fired several employees over the accusations and is investigating the allegations.

UN calls for continued UNRWA support: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on governments to continue supporting UNRWA. Guterres vowed to take action against any UN employee found to have taken part in the attacks, but stressed that “the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met,” he added.

ICJ ORDERS ISRAEL TO PREVENT GENOCIDE-

The ICJ gives its verdict: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to limit harm to civilians in Gaza and prevent acts of genocide, but did not order an immediate ceasefire in a ruling (pdf) on Friday. The court also found that there is “plausible claim” of genocide that Israel must answer for.

The Foreign Ministry welcomed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling, while calling for a resolution to “avoid further loss of life, and prevent fueling the situation,” the ministry said in a statement.

UAE X mourns the loss of Emirati 24-year-old racer Hamda Taryam Al Shamsi + condemns Israel’s war on Gaza

UAE X is inundated with condolences after the announcement of the death of #حمده_تريم_الشامسي (Hamda Taryam Al Shamsi). The 24-year-old is best known for being one of the first Emirati drag racers, and was featured on Netflix series The Fastest. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, leader of Sharjah, allocated AED 1 mn to the completion of Hamda’s projects via her philanthropic foundation.

We’re also picking up #فلسطين (Palestine), with people from the UAE and beyond sending messages of solidarity to the Gazan people, and condemnation of the continued aggression against them.

Adnoc eyes European petrochemical M&A to keep it resilient through decarbonization

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (Adnoc) pivot towards petrochemicals in the climate fight got a long feature in Reuters. The energy firm is planning a hefty USD 40 bn in European M&A in the petrochemicals sector, which is one of the few resilient energy sectors expected to persist until 2050, even if decarbonization efforts succeed, the newswire wrote.

ALSO FROM REUTERS- The newswire also delved into the various signs pointing to Dubai’s real estate market boom decelerating, from declining FX inflows from China and Russia to house prices potentially falling on the back of surging inflation, unpredictable interest rate environment, and the impacts of the war in Gaza, Reuters cites sources as saying.

Emirates is sticking by Qantas Airways: Emirates CEO Tim Clark told Sky News Australia (watch, runtime:9:59) that the Emirati airline won’t be ending its alliance with its Australian counterpart Qantas Airways amid the latter’s recent challenges, including the impact of Australia’s lockdown during the pandemic and more recently, the resignation of its CEO Alan Joyce. Clark expressed confidence that Qantas would be restored “to its former glory by doing the basics that people want” under a new management team.

Tokai Optical joins SAIF zone + Hira expands Rakez facility. PLUS: More education, healthcare, construction and banking news

MANUFACTURING-

#1- Tokai Optical to join SAIF Zone: Japanese eyeglass lens manufacturer Tokai Optical will lease a 400k sqm warehouse in the Sharjah Airport International Freezone (SAIF Zone) for AED 8 mn, after it inked an agreement with SAIF Zone on Sunday, the freezone said on X. The move marks the first phase of the company’s expansion in the Middle East and Africa.

#2- Hira Industries inaugurates new Rakez facility: Dubai-based HVAC and construction material manufacturer Hira Group launched its new 9k sqm manufacturing plant at Al Ghail Industrial Zone in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez), the company said. RAK ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurated the new facility, which is set to manufacture 1 mn sqm of Aerofoam-branded thermal insulators per month and provide 100 jobs in the emirate, according to a press release.

#3- Al Seer eyes manufacturing unmanned ground vehicles: UAE-based maritime solution provider Al Seer Marine inked an MoU with autonomous technology outfit Milanion for the “development, promotion and sales,” of unmanned ground vehicles that are manufactured in the UAE, on Thursday according to a statement.

EDUCATION-

#1- AD Ports will help train up Abu Dhabi’s workforce with its new education center Abu Dhabi Knowledge Bridge (ADKB),, according to a press release. The center will offer training courses and curricula spanning finance and banking, accounting and audit, management reporting, project management, supply chain, and human resources, the statement said.

All with Emiratization in mind: AKDB targets boosting Emiratization rates in skilled professions by 10% by 2026, the statement said.

#2- The United Arab Emirates University is funding 132 research projects, with the aim of promoting innovation, exploring new research areas and addressing challenges across diverse sectors, according to an Abu Dhabi Media Office statement.

HEALTHCARE-

#1- Abu Dhabi Pension Fund (ADPF) beneficiaries will get exclusive healthcare services at Reem Hospital, after the two sides signed an MoU on Saturday to expand social benefits, according to an Abu Dhabi Media Office statement. The agreement will see pensioners benefit from 25% markdowns on uninsured treatments and medical examinations, in addition to exclusive access to awareness sessions and health events organized by Reem. Services extend to urgent and home care cases and priority for appointment booking.

#2- DISC to provide NAD+ IV therapy: Dubai-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic Diversified Integrated Sports Clinic (DISC) signed a partnership agreement with UK-based NADclinic Group to offer NADclinic's IV therapy at DISC’s Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait facilities, according to a press release.

CONSTRUCTION-

AUS researchers build the first precast conductive concrete building: A research team from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation (SRTIP) unveiled a building made of conductive concrete following 16 years of research, according to a press release. Two patents for the technology have already been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The tech could be used to protect military, security and data centers: The building was constructed of a concrete blend that offers protection from electromagnetic pulse, also known as electronic sabotage, for shielding important civilian and military structures. “This innovative technology holds the potential to safeguard critical facilities like data centers, power stations and security centers,” said Sherif Yehia, one of the project’s two lead researchers.

BANKING-

Noqodi to offer SIB with digital and electronic payment services for its clients: Sharjah and Islamic Bank (SIB) and Emaratech -owned fintech player Noqodi inked a partnership agreement to enhance digital and electronic payment services for SIB's corporate and individual customers, Sharjah 24 reports. The bank’s clients will be able to access Noqodi’s digital payment solutions for various services and products, subject to applicable fees, through its digital payment gateway, according to SIB COO Hakam Abu Zarour.

US economy beats Europe, Asia to recovery from covid-era headwinds

Soft landing? The US economy has outpaced its European and Asian counterparts to represent the world’s best economic recovery from pandemic-era headwinds as the country averts recession and moves into a soft landing, the Washington Post reports. Fresh inflation data showed that the US hit its 2% target over the second half of 2023. Meanwhile, the country saw 3.1% growth over the past year.

What the US did right: The US government made hefty payouts in the wake of the pandemic, increasing spending in the form of loans to small businesses and unemployment benefits more than its European and Asian counterparts. The government allocated 25.5% of its GDP to soften the blow of the pandemic, compared to 15.3% in Germany and 9.6% in France.

Fiscal policy is key: The government’s fiscal policy could play a bigger role in shaping the outcome of future economic downturns, more so than the Fed’s monetary policy, said Claudia Sahm, a former Federal Reserves economist.

ADX	9,567	-0.6% (YTD: -0.1%)
DFM	4,163	-0.2% (YTD: +2.6%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,847	-1.0% (YTD: +0.1%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.1% o/n	5.1% 1 yr
TASI	12,264	+0.8% (YTD: +2.5%)
EGX30	28,625	+3.5% (YTD: +15.0%)
S&P 500	4,890	0.1% (YTD: +2.5%)
FTSE 100	7,635	+1.4% (YTD: -1.3%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,635	+1.2% (YTD: +2.5%)
Brent crude	USD 78.91	+0.8%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.71	+5.5%
Gold	USD 2,036	0.0%
BTC	USD 41,889	-0.6% (YTD: -1.0%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM fell 0.2% yesterday on turnover of AED 172.2 mn. The index is up 2.6% YTD.

In the green: Aramex (+2.0%), Shuaa Capital (+1.4%) and Tecom Group (+1.1%).

In the red: National International Holding Company (-9.9%), Al Salam Sudan (-5.6%) and Ekttitab Holding Company (-3.3%).

Over on the ADX, the index closed down 0.6% on turnover of AED 909.3 mn. The index is down 0.1 YTD. Meanwhile Nasdaq Dubai fell 1.0%.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Stocks on Wall Street snapped a six-day streak of gains at Friday’s close, but still finished the week in the green. European stocks, meanwhile, hit a two-year high as investors cheered strong earnings and found seams of optimism running through recently released economic data.

That pattern looks set to hold this morning: Major Asian benchmarks are largely in the green in early trading this morning. Futures suggest that stocks on Wall Street will dip at the opening bell later today, while major European benchmarks could open the day in the green.

CALENDAR

JANUARY

29 January-1 February (Monday-Thursday): Arab Health Exhibition 2024, Dubai World Trade Centre.

29 January-30 January (Monday-Tuesday): UAE Property Forum, Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo Hotel, Brazil.

31 January-6 February (Wednesday-Tuesday): Emirates LitFest, InterContinental Hotel Festival City.

FEBRUARY

1 February (Thursday): New amendments banning trucks weighing over 65 tonnes to take effect.

1-15 February (Thursday-Thursday): InClassica Dubai International Music Festival 2024, Dubai Opera.

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

2-4 February (Friday-Sunday): All Africa Festival Abu Dhabi.

2-4 February (Friday-Sunday): Abu Dhabi Youth Challenge Techstars Startup Weekend, ADGM, Abu Dhabi.

3-11 February (Saturday-Sunday): Mubadala Abu Dhabi Opening, Zayed Sports City’s International Tennis Centre.

5-7 February (Monday-Wednesday): Middle East Bunkering Convention, Dubai, UAE.

5-8 February (Monday-Thursday): Medlab Middle East, Dubai.

6-7 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): The Middle East ProcureTech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

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

8-9 February (Thursday-Friday): International Crop-Science Conference & Exhibition 2024, JW Marriott, Marquis Dubai.

8-11 February (Thursday- Sunday): The UAE Tour Women.

9 February (Friday): Abu Dhabi International Airport to be renamed to Zayed International Airport.

9-11 February (Friday-Sunday): HERO Abu Dhabi, Al Hudayriat Island.

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

12-14 February (Monday-Wednesday): World Government Summit, Dubai.

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

12-15 February (Monday-Thursday): Future Warehouse & Logistics, Dubai, UAE.

15-25 February (Thursday-Sunday): FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2024, Dubai.

19-23 February (Monday-Friday): Gulfood 2024, Dubai World Trade Centre.

20-21 February (Tuesday- Wednesday): International Dialogue of Civilizations and Tolerance Conference, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

22-24 February (Thursday-Saturday): International Freight Forwarders Conference 2024 Dubai, Hyatt Hotel.

23-25 February (Friday-Sunday): Taste of Dubai Festival, Skydive Dubai.

23 February - 3 March (Friday-Sunday): Maritime Heritage Festival Abu Dhabi.

24 February (Saturday): Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, Al Marjan Island.

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

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

26-29 February (Monday-Thursday): World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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

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

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

29 February-3 March (Thursday-Sunday): Gov Games, Dubai Festival City, Dubai.

MARCH

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

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

5-7 March (Tuesday-Thursday): Dubai Entertainment Amusement & Leisure Exhibition, Dubai World Trade Center.

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

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

APRIL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAY

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

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

JUNE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JULY

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

SEPTEMBER

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

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

OCTOBER

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

NOVEMBER

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

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

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

DECEMBER

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

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

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