Good morning, everyone. Our week is off to a leisurely start here, yet the run-up to Ramadan hasn’t stopped IHC from unveiling another investing behemoth worth AED 100 bn. Also on the investment front, a startup has secured funds as it looks to deepen its footprint in the UAE’s burgeoning gaming scene, and yet another UK player is looking to tap into HNWI inflows in Dubai.
Plus: The likes of IHC, Talabat, Lulu, and AD Ports have handed in their 2025 financial results. We’re also keeping our eye on an Emirati delegation that’s just landed in India for a week-long summit all about AI, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Abu Dhabi, as well as news of GFH looking to list its healthcare investment arm on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul.
Happening today
[wwtt3 ] A UAE delegation led by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is in New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit, which starts today and runs through Friday, 20 February, according to Abu Dhabi Media Office.
What’s on the agenda: Discussions on global frameworks for AI governance, future strategic priorities for the technology, and mechanisms to strengthen public-private cooperation in support of Sustainable Development Goals. The program also features specialist sessions on emerging applications and global technology shifts, alongside an exhibition,
President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement on X. The meetings aim to strengthen bilateral ties across key sectors and will include discussions on regional and global security issues. It will also see the two sides ink several agreements following earlier negotiations.
ICYMI- The meeting follows recent diplomatic visits, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s in January.
WEATHER- Temperatures are finally cooling down after a bout of heat that has lasted a couple of weeks, with the mercury set to cool and blowing winds — potentially bringing dust — and clouds set to gather. Expect a high of 26°C and a low of 20°C in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, according to the National Center of Meteorology.
Watch this space
IPO WATCH- GFH is taking its Abu Dhabi-born healthcare platform to a Riyadh exit: Bahraini investment bank GFH is looking to IPO its healthcare investment arm Healian on the Saudi exchange (Tadawul) over the next 12-18 months, CEO Hisham Alrayes told Bloomberg (watch: runtime: 5:41), citing the sector’s “very attractive” valuations. Alrayes had previously said that GFH, which is listed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait, was weighing an IPO in Saudi Arabia.
Why not ADX or DFM? While Saudi equities have seen some compression over the past year, Tadawul remains the logical regional venue for a healthcare name given its liquidity depth and investor appetite for defensive growth plays, a financial market strategist told EnterpriseAM.
About the platform: Helian expanded in November 2021 when GFH acquired a majority stake in UAE-based Multi-Specialty Healthcare Partner Holding, which operates over 30 clinics and pharmacies across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and other emirates, spanning dental, cosmetic, and dermatology services, primary care, women’s health, and pediatric rehabilitation.
UAE-US RELATIONS — Capitol scrutiny circles UAE-linked Trump crypto stake: Two Democratic senators have asked the US Treasury to assess whether a national security review is warranted into a reported USD 500 mn UAE stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family-linked crypto venture, Reuters reports, citing a letter it reviewed. The letter asked the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to look into concerns about how data and information collected by World Liberty Financial could be used.
Under the microscope: As we previously reported, the Wall Street Journal said the agreement involves a 49% stake acquired days before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration by Aryam Investment 1, a Tahnoon-backed vehicle set to become World Liberty Financial’s largest shareholder and take two board seats. Trump denied knowledge of the sale earlier this month.
Why it matters: CFIUS can block, unwind, or impose conditions on foreign investments deemed risky. A probe could slow or reshape the transaction — and put future cross-border crypto and tech agreements under sharper regulatory guardrails. Currently, the UAE and US are in a broader-phase tech engagement, one that includes Washington’s approval of large-scale Nvidia AI chip exports to help advance the 5 GW Stargate UAE AI campus, and Abu Dhabi’s entry into the US-led Pax Silica initiative aimed at securing AI-era supply chains.
Data point
802.1 mn — that’s how many people used public and shared transport in Dubai last year, up 7.4% y-o-y, according to a press release. Average daily usage reached 2.2 mn as the year saw a total of 167.3 mn trips.
The breakdown: Dubai Metro was the most popular form of transport, accounting for the largest portion of users at 37%, with a 7% increase in passenger trips to 294.7 mn across its red and green lines. Taxis accounted for 26% of users, while buses saw 25%. Share mobility services accounted for 9%, marine transport brought in 2%, and Dubai Tram saw 1%.
The big story abroad
The Netflix-Paramount-Warner Bros dance is back in the news after Bloomberg broke the news that Warner Bros Discovery is mulling a renewed hostile bid from Paramount Skydance which could potentially nix a prior agreement with Netflix. Paramount has vowed to pay the termination fee — at USD 2.8 bn — owed to Netflix if the streaming giant’s bid is turned down, as well as backstop Warner Bros’ debt refinancing. Netflix’s bid of USD 27.75 per share for Warner Bros’ namesake studio and HBO Max streaming business was accepted late last year.
ALSO WORTH NOTING THIS MORNING- The automotive industry is reeling from a USD 65 bnhit following a sweeping reversal of US climate policy. The downturn has disproportionately affected the companies that wagered the most on EVs, with global automotive player Stellantis being hit the hardest after suffering a USD 26 bn write down.
AND- The CHF has appreciated recently — driven by geopolitical turmoil and the greenback’s recent dip — against the EUR and USD and is undermining the competitiveness of Swiss exporters. The haven currency has already recorded a 3% rise in 2026 and has especially pressured small and medium-sized companies, trade associations have said. Switzerland’s exported goods and services make up more than 70% of its GDP.
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