Lots of IPOs

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Dubai approves AED 40 bn PPPs + RedBird IMI’s Telegraph acquisition to fall through

Good morning, friends, and happy FRIDAY. We have a pretty busy issue to close out a busy week of news, and the dominant theme of the day? IPOs.

We have news of a strong DFM debut from Dubai’s Parkin, LuLu Group pursuing plans for a potential USD 2 bn IPO on the ADX, and IHC subsidiary 2PointZero looking to tap the Abu Dhabi bourse.

BUT FIRST-

MORNING MUST READ- Our first interview for our weekly My Morning Routine column at the bottom of the newsletter, where we look at how a successful member of the community starts their day — while throwing in a couple of random business questions just for fun.

For our special Ramadan edition, we also check in on how they adjust to Ramadan and what they look forward to in the holy month.

So, when do we eat? Maghrib is at 6:34pm in Dubai, and 6:37pm in Abu Dhabi. Fajr prayers are at 5:02am in Dubai and 5:07am in Abu Dhabi.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT-

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) customers have an extra month to pay off their personal finance installments without fees or extra charges after the bank offered a grace period during Ramadan, the bank said in a statement. Customers can push their payments via ADIB’s mobile app.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Dubai has approved AED 40 bn worth of public-private partnership projects (PPPs) for the next three years as part of its PPP strategy in its first Dubai Executive Council meeting since it was reestablished, according to the Dubai Media Office. The PPPs cover “ten fundamental economic sectors,” the statement says, without disclosing further details.

A framework to track PPP success: Dubai’s Finance Department has built a program to track and oversee the management of PPPs, executive director of the planning and general budget sector at the department, Arif Abdulrahman Ahli, said.

#2- Dubai will establish a new Environment and Climate Change Authority, with the goal of “[promoting] sustainable practices across sectors, [preserving] biodiversity, and [expanding] natural reserves and green spaces,” under new directives from Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reports Wam. The authority will be tasked to help develop policies to mitigate climate change and boost food security, Wam said. Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani was appointed to head the authority as director-general.

#3- Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI’s takeover bid of the Telegraph is set to fall through after the UK published amendments to its legislation that effectively block foreign state ownership of media platforms in the country, the Financial Times reports. This follows UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s decision to refer the acquisition to an in-depth, months-long probe.

A sale could soon be on the cards: British newspaper publisher National World has “renewed” plans to acquire the magazine after the RedBird IMI bid fell through, Bloomberg reports. RedBird IMI has reportedly been considering a sale of the magazine, or a dilution of its stake.

Officials are concerned this could strain wider UK-UAE ties and hamper further UAE investments in the country, Bloomberg said, citing several government sources. Former advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his special envoy to the GCC, Edward Udny-Lister said the UK government should have sent the UAE signals earlier on their feelings about the acquisition rather than “[letting] it get to this stage.”

REMEMBER- Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala is mulling an investment in Heathrow airport, and the UK government has approached Abu Dhabi investors about funding the development of the Sizewell C nuclear facility in Suffolk, the Times reported earlier.

#4- Al Mal Capital’s real estate investment trust (REIT) has extended the subscription period for its tradable rights issue to next Friday, 29 March, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). The trust expects to allocate the rights issue on 5 April, with trading of the new units expected to kick off on the Dubai bourse on 19 April.

Background: Al Mal Capital’s REIT said last month it would increase its capital by up to AED 440 mn through a tradable rights issue. If fully subscribed, the rights issue would see the fund raise its total capital to just north of AED 790 mn from AED 350 mn today.

#5- China’s largest internet firm, Tencent, is planning to increase investments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with a focus on offering cloud storage to gaming and entertainment companies and offering computing power for AI applications, Senior Executive Vice President Dowson Tong told Bloomberg in Riyadh. Offerings could also include building an Arabic large language model. Investments are still at a “nascent stage,” he said, though he expects them to pick up quickly this year, noting that the company sees “a lot of potential” in this market.

The recently announced biofuels policy targets a 20% increase in biodiesel consumption by 2050, focusing on sectors like infrastructure, mobility, and manufacturing, Wam reported yesterday. This will lead to a 75% decrease in the carbon footprint of diesel cars, if drivers opt fully for biodiesel.

#6- The UAE could become one of Africa’s biggest FDI sources over the next five years, with investments focused on renewable energy, logistics, and agriculture, Bloomberg reports. The country made USD 44.5 bn in investment pledges across Africa last year, with key investments in Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, and other countries, with a focus on infrastructure development and resource extraction. The growth of UAE’s FDI presence in Africa had jumped two years ago, last year it was still comfortably in the double-digits, but the next two-to-three years we’ll see a return to growth in the thirties and above,” Standard Bank Group CEO Rassem Zok tells the business information service.

#7- The ADX and DFM benchmark indices could grow 15% in 2024 amid the “very supportive environment” and favorable global economic conditions, Al Ramz Corporation Research head Amer Halawi told Bloomberg (watch, runtime: 3:15). The upward projection is supported by the “phenomenal” 34% y-o-y increase in UAE firms’ 2023 aggregate income, Halawi said, expecting the energy, financials, and infrastructure sectors to continue being the top performers in 2024.

DATA POINT-

Dubai was the world’s largest market for luxury real estate in 4Q 2023, surpassing London, New York, and Singapore, with luxury property sales worth a total USD 1.81 bn, according to a recent report (pdf) by real estate consulting agency Knight Frank. The emirate saw 108 luxury properties valued at over USD 10 mn traded during 4Q alone (up 13.7% y-o-y), and made 384 luxury sales out of nearly 1.8k luxury sales globally throughout the whole of 2023. Luxury property sales in Dubai reached USD 6.7 bn in FY2023, according to the report.

The UAE ranked first in the region and 17th worldwide in the Human DevelopmentInsights ranking of the UNDP Human Development Index 2023/24 (pdf). The annual report provides a data-driven assessment of human development around the world.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Progress on Gaza ceasefire talks is leading the conversation in the foreign press, with the US calling for a vote today on a tougher UN resolution for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” for a six-week period to allow humanitarian aid and protect civilians. The resolution marks the US’ toughest stance on Israel so far in the war, and comes following talks between Egypt, US and Qatar. (Reuters | France24 | The Guardian)

In the business press, an antitrust suit handed to Apple for its monopoly over the phone market by imposing limitations to trump its competitors is getting plenty of ink. (Reuters | CNBC | WSJ)

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Bayanat AI and Yahsat are holding their general assembly meetings simultaneously on 25 April to vote on merging and forming Space42, an AI-powered space technology firm, according to a press release. Both companies' boards unanimously recommended the merger to shareholders of the two entities last December.

RAK Energy Summit will take place from Wednesday, 27 November to Thursday, 28 November at Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, Wam reports. Sponsored by Etihad Water and Electricity, the two-day event will run under the theme “Create and Contribute to the Sustainable Energy Goals of the Future,” featuring panel discussions and networking sessions on accelerating sustainable energy deployment to advance the energy transition and meet net-zero targets.

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

Parkin share price rises 35% on first day of trading

Parkin’s shares climbed 35.2% on their first day of trading on the DFM yesterday to close at AED 2.84, up from their initial price of AED 2.1. The blockbuster IPO — the first of the year — raised some AED 1.57 bn after seeing 165x oversubscription, and marks the sixth state-owned firm in Dubai to list on the bourse as part of a privatization plan to list 10 state-owned companies.

Parkin tapped xCube as a liquidity provider for its shares listed on the DFM, the company stated in a DFM disclosure (pdf).

ADVISORS- Rothschild & Co’s Middle East division acted as the independent financial advisor on Parkin’s IPO, while Emirates NBD, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC Holdings were joint global coordinators, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, our friends at EFG Hermes UAE, and First Abu Dhabi Bank were joint bookrunners. Emirates NBD was the lead receiving bank of the IPO, with our friends at Mashreq, the Commercial Bank of Dubai, FAB, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, AlMaryah Community Bank, Emirates Islamic Bank, Wio Bank, also acting as receiving banks.

Background: Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) established Parkin in January, just a few months after saying it would go public with its taxi and parking assets in 2023. The company designs and manages public and private parking spaces in the emirate, and issues parking permits. The authority also listed Dubai Taxi in a AED 1.2 bn IPO last December, and Salik in 2022.

Lulu taps banks for 2024 IPO

Lulu taps banks for IPO this year: Supermarket chain operator LuLu Group International has reportedly tapped Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Citigroup, Emirates NBD, and HSBC Holdings to work on its planned initial public offering on the ADX this year, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Moelis & Company has also been appointed as an independent financial advisor for the IPO.

The offering could raise as much as USD 2 bn, Bloomberg’s sources say, although no details were provided on the exact timing and size of the offering. The business information service reported last month that the IPO is expected to happen in 2H 2024, with the company considering a potential dual-listing on the ADX and Riyadh’s Tadawul. Abu Dhabi-headquartered LuLu — which valued itself at north of USD 5 bn in 2020 when it sold a stake to Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ and last explored the possibility of an IPO in 2022 — is likely to list its GCC assets in the transaction.

In context: Dual listings in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are rare, with MENA restaurant operator Americana Restaurants being the most recent company to go for an ADX + Tadawul listing in 2022.

About LuLu: LuLu has 18 hypermarkets and seven shopping malls in its pipeline as it pushes ahead with aggressive growth plans. It has some 70k employees across more than two dozen countries, but its centers of gravity are the GCC, India and, more recently, Egypt.

International Holding Company’s 2PointZero eyes ADX listing this year

Investment giant International Holding Company (IHC) plans to list its recently established subsidiary 2PointZero on the Abu Dhabi bourse sometime next year, IHC CEO Syed Basar Shueb told Bloomberg. Details on the size and value of the listing were not disclosed.

Refresher: IHC set up 2PointZero earlier in January as a holding company with some AED 100 bn (USD 27 bn) of assets under its umbrella, including Chimera Investment, private-markets focused firm Lunate, crypto mining player Citadel Technologies, Middle-East focused Sagasse Investments, Egypt’s Beltone Financial Holding, as well as Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding.

IHC has been eyeing the listing for some time: The firm’s initial decision to move the assets under a new holding came in anticipation of a listing debut, Shueb adds. The business listing is expected to raise “significant capital injection” for the companies, helping fuel their growth.

And there’s more: IHC is also planning to debut two more holdings — International Technology Holding (ITH) and Sirius International Holding — on the ADX, with the company prioritizing internal business growth over pursuing new sectors, Shueb told Bloomberg. ITH will hit the bourse this year, while Sirius will likely go live in 2025.

IN OTHER IHC NEWS-

IHC’s International Resources Holding (IRH) is looking to bid for private equity player EMR Capital's 80% stake in Zambia’s Lubambe Copper Mine, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the details. EMR Capital previously received a USD 1 mn offer from China's JHCX Mining. JHCX Mining also offered to take over the project's USD 857 mn debt.

It’s not the first time IRH gatecrashes: IRH shelled out USD 620 mn for a last-minute buyout of a 51% stake in Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines in December 2023. The IHC unit became the Zambian government's preferred investor for Mopani mines ahead of Sibanye Stillwater and China's Zijin Mining Group, Reuters previously reported.

So what happens now? The sale process of Lubambe requires approval from the Zambian government, which holds a 20% stake in Lubambe through state firm ZCCM Investment Holdings. The government’s opinion on JHCX Mining’s offer — and IRH’s interest — is currently pending and unclear, leaving the outcome up to the hands of time, Reuters adds, citing the same sources.

EGA is acquiring Germany’s Leichtmetall in landmark acquisition

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is set to fully acquire German aluminum recycling firm Leichtmetall Aluminium Giesserei Hannover from Leichtmetall Holding after signing a binding sale and purchase agreement, according to a press release. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated to close in 1H 2024. No details were given on the value of the offer on the table.

The acquisition helps bring EGA closer to Europe: “This acquisition provides EGA a platform to develop a recycling business close to our customers in Europe, contributing to the emerging circular economy and building on our existing position as one of the biggest importers of primary aluminum on that continent. Leichtmetall will grow as part of EGA,” EGA CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said.

More on Leichtmetall: Leichtmetall specializes in manufacturing hard alloy billets, up to 1.1k millimeters in diameter, for crafting high load-bearing extruded profiles and large forged components, with clientele across Europe, especially in Germany, Italy, and France.

IN OTHER M&A NEWS-

Emirates Stallions Group (ESG) acquired an additional 40% stake in interior design firms Vision Factory and Decovision, according to a statement (pdf). The International Holding Company subsidiary now holds full ownership of Vision Factory following a previous acquisition of a 60% stake in 2022. ESG’s stake in Decovision now stands at 85%, having previously acquired a 45% stake in 2022.

A soft landing for global economy is in sight -Mashreq

Global central banks will begin loosening monetary policy in 2024 as inflation decelerates, our friends at Mashreq said in their latest 2024 Economic and Markets Outlook report. The cooling inflation figures will encourage central banks to “pause” before beginning to cut interest rates in 1H 2024, as they look to ensure that progress on disinflation is on track. Premature cuts could lead to renewed inflationary pressures, Mashreq notes the European Central Bank said last month.

“Soft landing” on the horizon: With the global economy posting resilient growth last year, Mashreq expects the upward trajectory to be carried over into this year, driven mainly by private consumption activity. Central banks are projected to halt their policy tightening as global headline inflation is projected to cool to 5.8% in 2024 and 4.4% in 2025, Mashreq’s report reads, citing figures from the IMF.

Mashreq suggests that a US recession is unlikely to happen in 2024, as the country continues to register strong economic growth and higher wage growth. The US Federal Reserve is expected to keep implementing disinflationary measures as it eyes “stronger growth,” Mashreq writes, citing Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

Why does this matter? The UAE’s overnight deposit rate, or the base rate on overnight deposit facilities, is anchored to the US Fed’s interest rates as the AED is pegged to the USD.

ICYMI- The Central Bank of the UAE followed in the Fed’s footsteps to keep interest rates steady this month, maintaining its overnight deposit rate at 5.40% and the overnight lending rate at 5.90%.

With 2024 already fraught with risks, the lender expects the global economy to slow down. From the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continuing to impact energy and food prices to the Chinese economy stumbling and “[dragging] down global growth,” Mashreq foresees global economic and geopolitical developments threatening to reverse the disinflationary trend, forcing central banks to delay interest rate cuts, impacting capital flows and trade volumes, and disrupting global supply chains.

The bond market is in for a good year: The global bond market is expected to grow in 2024, propelled by cooling global inflation, receding market volatility and central banks easing their restrictive monetary policies.

Appetite for emerging market (EM) bonds is expected to grow on the back of “lower default risk,” with bilateral and multilateral lenders poised to support distressed issuers. EM central banks are expected to ease their interest rates driven by easing domestic financial pressures in tandem with the decelerating inflation.

New law for rehabilitation and correctional centers in Abu Dhabi

Punitive and correctional establishments in Abu Dhabi will now be named rehabilitation and correctional centers, after President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a new law to regulate the centers, reports Wam. The law is designed to promote the implementation of social and cultural rehabilitation with a focus on inmates’ rights.

The details: The law will see centers — under the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department — provide health and social care services, education, professional training opportunities, and rehabilitation programs to inmates, and inform inmates of their responsibilities and expected behavior. Centers are expected to upskill staff to meet international standards of appropriate duty of care.

Response Plus + Fidelity United report 2023 earnings

Response Plus Holding’s bottom line climbed 68% y-o-y to AED 49k in 2023, according to the company’s financial statements (pdf). The Abu Dhabi-based healthcare service provider recorded revenue of AED 345k during the period, rising 8% y-o-y.

The company’s board approved distributing AED 20 mn in dividends for the year, equivalent to AED 0.1 per share, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf).

Fidelity United Ins. reported a net loss of AED 17.4 mn in 2023 compared to a net income of AED 3.6 mn in 2022, due to the implementation of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The company’s total revenues stood at AED 566.1 mn during the year, up 43% y-o-y.

Ajman Bank taps Ediz Ozsoy as new CFO

Ajman Bank has appointed Ediz Ozsoy (LinkedIn)as its chief financial officer, it said on LinkedIn. Ozsoy has 33 years of experience in business and product management. He previously served as Country CFO for Citi UAE legal entities, “overseeing finance activities for onshore, DIFC, and ADGM branches,” and CFO for Citi in Qatar, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Turkey.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company— more commonly known as du — agreed to appoint Ahmad Julfar (LinkedIn) as vice chairman of its board, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf). Julfar will retain his role as managing director until September.

Dubai's new hotels shift focus from beachfront attractions and toward urban luxury experiences

Luxury hospitality and real estate lead mentions of UAE in the foreign press: Bloomberg looks at two new Dubai hotels, Lana and One&Only One Za’abeel, that are shifting traveler focus from beachfront to city luxury with celebrity chefs, infinity pools, and iconic architecture. Meanwhile, the Financial Times spotlights Head of the Sotheby brand in Dubai, George Azar, who is “shaking up” London’s luxury market a year after taking over UK Sotheby’s International Realty, as he plans to bring “the whole Dubai model to London.”

The UAE’s minerals play is also getting attention: The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the new “big kids in town” in the minerals space, as the countries look to transition away from oil and secure a place in the energy transition, experts tell Foreign Policy.

Dubai-based sustainable sailing club secures USD 1 mn in pre-seed funding

STARTUPS-

Dubai-based sustainable sailing club Wind Rises secured USD 1 mn in pre-seed funding from angel investors, according to a press release. The investment will be used to expand the fleet, improve services, offer lessons and local races, expand the community, and open a second location in the UAE.

About Wind Rises: Wind Rises, an eco-friendly club utilizing wind and water-powered boats with 10 emission-free keelboats, aims to cultivate vibrant sailing communities while lessening environmental harm. It has attracted over 1k visitors in Dubai since its 2023 launch, aiming to make sailing more accessible with affordable experiences.

SUSTAINABILITY-

Dubai-based decarbonization firm Positive Zero and France’s Schneider Electricwill ramp up the adoption of clean energy technologies in the UAE and Oman, after inking an MoU, according to a press release (pdf). The agreement will see the two companies cooperate on distributed microgrid projects, clean mobility solutions, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Fast facts: The global energy-as-a-service market is expected to cross USD 112 bn by 2030 on the back of a heightened adoption of distributed energy resources and green solutions, the press release adds, citing SkyQuest Technology. American multinational investment firm BlackRock pledged a USD 400 mn investment in Positive Zero in December 2023.

LOGISTICS-

DP World opens five new offices in Egypt: Emirati port operator DP World has set up five offices across Egypt, in Cairo, Alexandria, Cairo Airport, Sokhna, and Beni Suef, according to a statement picked up by Al Borsa. The company has plans to set up more offices in Egypt in the coming months in response to a growing market in Egypt for logistics services, said DP’s Egypt country manager Urs Moll said in the statement.

FINTECH-

Fils is integrating KSA’s Cashin to its network of merchants: Saudi-based merchant platform Cashin has partnered with Dubai-based software development company Fils to integrate Fils’ payments platform into Cashin’s network of merchants in Saudi Arabia, a press release reads.

GAMING-

Mobile game publisher Tamatem Games is relocating its headquarters to Abu Dhabi, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The Jordan-based company will employ 40 people at its Abu Dhabi office, the statement reads.

TELECOMS-

e& + Ooredoo to connect UAE-Qatar data centers: Telecoms giant e& will partner with Qatar’s Ooredoo Group to land the Gulf Gateway Cable system, linking data centers in Abu Dhabi with those in Doha, according to a press release. The system will improve data connectivity in the two capital cities, providing both telco customers with high-speed internet services that can go up to 28 terabits per second “with optimal cost and power efficiency per bit.”

AVIATION-

Bayanat arm to help develop India’s unmanned pseudo satellites: Mira Aerospace — a JV between geospatial services provider Bayanat and unmanned system developer UAVOS — will collaborate with Indian aerospace firm VEDA Aeronautics to develop high altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS) for the Indian market, according to a press release. The HAPS platform is set to be delivered by 1H 2024 and will be offered to both the military and civilian markets in India. The satellites are expected to operate at an altitude of 18 km for a minimum of 30-45 days and will initially be deployed over the Indian borders to monitor them.

SOUND SMART- High-altitude pseudo-satellites are unmanned flying aircraft systems, typically powered by solar energy. The aircraft are developed to serve as high-altitude surveillance and communications platforms.

INVESTMENT-

Al Yamuna Densons pours AED 35 mn into RAK-based facility expansion: Indian power cable joining kits manufacturer Al Yamuna Densons is investing AED 35 mn to up the total area of its facility in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Hamra Industrial Zone to 15k sqm by May, reports Wam. The investment includes AED 20 mn for construction and AED 15 mn for machinery.

Reddit shares jump on NYSE debut

Social media platform Reddit’s shares closed up 48% on their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, closing at USD 50.44 apiece after debuting at USD 47 per share. The company’s shares hit an intraday high of USD 57.80 apiece before paring gains throughout the trading day, according to the Associated Press. Reddit sold 22 mn shares in the offering, which has been in the making for nearly three years, raising USD 748 mn from the sale.

ADX	9,285	+0.2% (YTD: -3.1%)
DFM	4,277	-0.3% (YTD: +5.4%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	3,752	+0.1% (YTD: -2.3%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	5.1% o/n	5.3% 1 yr
TASI	12,835	+0.8% (YTD: +7.3%)
EGX30	29,054	+1.6% (YTD: +16.7%)
S&P 500	5,241	+0.3% (YTD: +9.9%)
FTSE 100	7,882	+1.9% (YTD: +1.9%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,052	+1.0% (YTD: +11.7%)
Brent crude	USD 85.39	-0.5%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 1.70	+1.0%
Gold	USD 2,204.90	-0.1%
BTC	USD 65,279.25	-3.8% (YTD: +41.6%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX rose 0.2% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.4 bn. The index is down 3.1% YTD.

In the green: Fujairah Building Industries (+14.8%), Rapco Investment (+4.9%) and Presight AI Holding (+3.9%).

In the red: National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain (-2.5%), Emirates Insurance Co. (-1.4%) and Yahsat Communications Company (-1.4%).

Over on the DFM, the index closed down 0.3% on turnover of AED 900.2 mn. Meanwhile in Nasdaq Dubai, the index rose 0.1%.

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Al Wathba National Ins. has renewed its board recommendation for a share buyback capped at 10% of the company's paid-up capital, an ADX disclosure reads.

Deyaar Development subsidiary Deyaar Facilities Management will go by Ontegra after a company rebrand, reports TradeArabia. The company will roll out two new voice-based AI-powered assistants – dubbed 'Techi' and 'Alegra' – and transition to a Microsoft-based system as part of the rebrand.

Du approved a dividend payout of AED 0.21 per share for 2H 2023, bringing the total amount of dividends for the year to AED 0.34 per share, according to a DFM disclosure (pdf).

Jordan’s King Abdullah discusses bilateral ties with UAE president

Jordan’s King Abdullah arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday, where he and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met to discuss bilateral relations, as well as avenues of cooperation in the fields of development, trade, and others, reports Wam. The two also addressed the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted the importance of the “unimpeded delivery” of aid into the Strip.

UAE, Singapore also talk war on Gaza + bilateral ties: Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan to discuss the latest developments in the region and ramping up relief supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, reports Wam. The foreign ministers also discussed economic cooperation between the two countries to support development.

A USD 2.4 tn GCC-Turkey FTA in the works: Turkey and the GCC have initiated talks for a trade agreement that would establish one of the world's largest freetrade areas, estimated at USD 2.4 tn in value, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said on X. “The agreement will liberalize trade in goods and services, facilitate investments and trade, and increase our country's trade with the region,” according to Bolat.

IN OTHER DIPLO NEWS-

The UAE and Belarus entered yesterday into the third round of negotiations on a draft agreement concerning trade in services and investment. The representatives of the two countries reached a “conceptual agreement” on all pending issues. (Belta)

My Ramadan Routine: Hani Naja, partner at Baker McKenzie

Hani Naja, partner at Baker McKenzie: We kick off our weekly My Morning Routine column, where we look at how a successful member of the community starts their day, with a special Ramadan edition, where we also check in on how they adjust to Ramadan and what they look forward to in the holy month.

Each Friday, My Morning Routine will look at the daily routines of different members of the community — be it C-suite execs, diplomats, or founders — while throwing in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us today is Hani Naja (LinkedIn), partner at Baker McKenzie.

I'm a Lebanese lawyer, but I've been in Dubai for 17 years now, 12 of which have been with Baker McKenzie. I am a corporate lawyer specializing in corporate structuring, reorganization and market entry. I'm also the lead partner for a lot of our big international clients in the Middle East, especially in the technology and the healthcare space. I also work with luxury retail.

I help clients come to the market, set up their presence and connect with their distributors and agencies. I am trilingual, so I studied in France and in Lebanon, in French and in Arabic, but all my practice has been in English. That actually helped me a lot with the diversity of my clients.

In my career in Dubai, the past 18 months to two years have been the most exciting from a legislative perspective. It’s been very active, and we’ve seen many changes. A lot of what we do is try to understand these changes, but we're lucky to also be in a position where we're seen as market leaders by the legislators and the different authorities, so they come to us to consult on some of these new legislation.

I work a lot with foreign companies doing business in the UAE, so the foreign direct investment relaxation and the changes in corporate tax are very important. These changes are resulting in a lot of restructuring, which is the core of my practice. A lot of companies who used to have joint ventures with local partners because that was required under the law are now renegotiating.

The UAE in general, and Dubai specifically, has really opened up for foreign investors in the past three years, more than probably the whole history of the UAE, and that is attracting so much foreign investment.

The healthcare sector is seeing the most consolidation, by far, out of my three focus industries. This sector is getting big interest from stakeholders in the Middle East, including the UAE government and investment funds, as well as Saudi investment funds.

When it comes to my routine, my week is split into three slots. My wife is a senior corporate banker, so she has a very busy life as well. So, we split the week in terms of morning responsibilities between me and her. Otherwise, we can't do anything during the weeknights if we're both going to wake up very early every day. So there's the days where I wake up with the kids and there are the days where I don't wake up with the kids.

My favorite is when I wake up with the kids at 5:45am. I have two two kids, a seven and a five year old. We prepare and have breakfast together, and then we put them on the bus at 6:45am, so we spend a good hour in the morning. Those early mornings are my favorite because the day starts early, and I have a really long working day, so I love the peace and quiet in the morning. That's why I don't do my sports in the morning. I prefer to play sports at night, after everything is done to clear my mind. My morning hour is for me, whether I sit in the garden and have my coffee, read an article, or call my friends.

I usually start my workday around 8-8:15am. To avoid Dubai traffic, unless I have a meeting, I don't come to the office very early, and we're lucky to have that flexibility around working from home. So I do 8-10am in my office because I don't want to spend hours commuting. I use that time slot to go through all the emails that came in from the night before.

Because we're a global firm, we have clients from all over the world and most emails and work comes in overnight, especially from the West Coast, where all the technology companies are. I don't leave home until I've sent out my instructions for the day to all the team members, so by 9:30-10am, everybody knows exactly what they have to do for that day.

I’m lucky to have an amazing team where everyone has very good knowledge of their clients, which is something that I really encourage. In our industry, a lot of partners would have the client relationship, but the way I do it is I push down the relationship to all my team, so the most junior person in my team knows everything about that client. This helps me get the work done faster and much better.

I try not to schedule client meetings except between 10am and 2pm, since the office is in a very busy part of town. I don’t do a lot of calls during that time — this is when I see people. From 3pm to 6pm, I’m looking at what the team has prepared and worked on from my instructions in the morning.

I take a pause between 6 and 8pm where I go home, be with the kids and see my wife for a bit.I try not to do any work in those two hours. Working with the US means I still have some work to do most nights, and those two hours are my only constant. Then if I have something to work on, I’ll do that and then play sports with my wife, like tennis, or we go to the gym or see some friends. I try not to schedule any client dinners, because I’m more of a morning person — I prefer client breakfasts.

My favorite compliment is when a client tells me they feel that I’m a part of their organization — that’s my goal. I don’t like to just give advice, I want to understand their business. I have a couple of clients — and I'm very proud of this — who have us interview their hires, or who send their hires to our office for half a day as part of the induction.

Ramadan doesn’t really impact our working day, it just shifts it a few hours, because of the nature of our industry and the fact that our clients are international. The night is a bit longer in Ramadan, and the day starts a little bit later. But that six to eight is still my six to eight, just now over iftar.

But within the local community here during Ramadan, you see less business meetings.Work is still happening — this is still a hustling and bustling city — but business meetings get swapped with more social gatherings.

I love to engage with our clients during Ramadan. There's a lot of things to do and it's a very peaceful month, so we also take advantage of Ramadan to go meet our clients without talking business and just break bread.

Playing tennis at least three or four times per week is essential for me. If I don't do that, I go completely mad. It’s a great way to relieve stress and organize the mind, and it's probably the only hour in my day where I don't think about anything else. Because if you think about anything else, you're gonna lose. It forces me to disconnect.

Looking ahead, we've moved to this new office four or five months ago because we have great plans for growth. It fits twice as many people as it has right now, so in the next three to five years, I want to double my team.

The best advice I’ve ever gotten is “this too shall pass.” I got it from my dad, who is someone who never gets too low or too high. After every victory, you enjoy it and then you come back to the grind. After a low, know that it’s going to pass.

We're lacking philosophy, and I really enjoy the work of Lebanese scientist Dr. Khaled Ghattass who’s a very modern philosopher and a public speaker, and I really enjoy listening to him on podcasts. He also wrote a book of short stories that I'm enjoying — it’s very philosophical, and each story carries a small message.

CALENDAR

MARCH

11 March-31 March (Monday-Sunday): Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, NAS Sports Complex.

14 March-14 April (Thursday-Sunday): Dakakeen Festival, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre.

21 March-10 April (Thursday-Wednesday): Ramadan Nights 2024, Expo Centre Sharjah.

26 March (Tuesday): Chimera JPMorgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF to debut on the ADX.

APRIL

TBC April: DRIFTx, Abu Dhabi.

4-8 April (Wednesday- Monday): The Mina Cup, JA sports center.

9-10 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): End of Ramadan, public holiday.

8-12 April (Monday-Friday): Eid Al Fitr, public holiday.

15-16 April (Monday-Tuesday): Blockchain Life Forum 2024, Festival Arena, Dubai.

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

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): EcoWaste Exhibition and Forum, 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.

24-25 April (Wednesday-Thursday): Ras Al Khaimah Investment and Trade Summit, Rak Exhibition Centre.

25 April (Thursday): Bayanat AI and Yahsat simultaneous general assembly meetings

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

23-25 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Argus Fertilizer Asia Conference, Abu Dhabi.

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

24 April-1 May (Wednesday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Mobility Week.

29-30 April (Monday- Tuesday): Dubai World Ins. Congress, Atlantis, The Palm.

MAY

1-5 May (Wednesday-Sunday): The Sharjah Animation Conference, Expo Centre Sharjah.

6-7 May (Monday-Tuesday): Dubai Fintech Summit 2024, Madinat Jumeirah.

7-9 May (Tuesday-Thursday): AIM Congress 2024, Abu Dhabi.

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

8-12 May (Wednesday-Sunday): Schmetterling Annual Conference, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

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

14-16 May (Tuesday-Thursday): The Airport Show, Dubai World Trade Centre.

15 May (Wednesday): HFM Summit, DIFC.

18-26 May (Saturday-Sunday): Abu Dhabi Comedy Week, Abu Dhabi.

19 May (Sunday): Investopia Europe, Milan.

19 May (Sunday): RTA’s Deadline for bids to design and build Dubai Metro's Blue Line.

24-25 May (Friday-Saturday): Baby Expo, 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.

27-28 November (Wednesday-Thursday): RAK Energy Summit, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre, Ras Al Khaimah.

DECEMBER

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

9-10 December (Saturday-Sunday): The Bitcoin Mena Conference, Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi.

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

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