Microsoft pledges USD 8 bn in investments in the UAE until 2029

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: More energy investments needed to keep up with demand + data center buildout, Al Jaber says

Good morning, lovely people. Exactly as expected, the theme of the day is oil and gas — with a bit of technology thrown in the mix as the nexus between the two gets more attention than ever before at this year’s Adipec in Abu Dhabi.

The big story of the day: Microsoft’s USD 15.2 bn investment in the UAE until 2029, which will be split between capex on data center infrastructure and imports of chips to the UAE.

Plus: Adnoc’s XRG is set to acquire a stake of Azerbaijan’s Southern Gas Corridor. Also: The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority joined other anchor investors backing Indian digital stockbroker Groww’s IPO.

The general themes of day one of Adipec? More energy, more demand, and the growing nexus between energy and technology. Long-term demand for oil is as healthy as ever, Adnoc’s CEO Sultan Al Jaber said in his opening speech (watch, runtime: 47:03), with oil consumption expected to remain above 100 mn bbl / d beyond 2040. Renewable energy capacity is expected to double, while LNG demand is projected to rise by 50%, fueled by a 4x surge in data center power demand, a growing global aviation fleet, and a 30% increase in jet fuel consumption.

More than USD 4 tn will be required annually to fund transmission infrastructure, data-center build-out, and supply across all energy sources, Al Jaber said, flagging accelerated electricity demand through 2040, driven in part by data-center energy needs, and arguing that a shortage of gas turbines is pushing power prices higher.

The same sentiment was echoed by Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei, who said demand is showing no signs of a slowdown into 2026, and that investments are needed to keep pace to avoid supply shortfalls, Global markets still require more energy, and without a price environment that supports upstream spending, producers will struggle to deliver supply, he added.

The energy addition, rather than elimination, narrative remained prevalent, with renewables and climate targets getting less and less attention with every edition of Adipec in recent years.

IN CONTEXT- The statements come amid general speculation of potential oversupply as Opec+ delivered production hikes, with the International Energy Agency trimming its forecast for world oil demand growth this year to some 700k bbl / d. It also expected consumption to stay muted through 2025 and 2026, with annual growth averaging around 700k bbl / d. Opec, on the other hand, has kept its global oil demand growth forecast unchanged at 1.4 mn bbl / d for 2026 — almost double the IEA’s.

As it happens, Morgan Stanley is also turning more bullish on crude after Opec+’s decision to pause hikes in 1Q 2026, bumping its Brent forecast for 1H 2026 to USD 60/bbl from USD 57.50, arguing that the group’s move helps stabilize the market outlook even if it does not materially alter supply expectations, Bloomberg reports, citing a note from the bank.

The quota system and reality on the ground are diverging: Morgan Stanley estimates Opec+ output only rose around 500k bbl / d between March and October, well below the 2.6 mn bbl / d quota increase announced for that period.

The UAE is among several compensating for overproduction, with the country recently revising its plan to offset barrels produced above its Opec+ quota, committing to a stepped series of make-up cuts from October 2025 through June 2026, according to a statement. Abu Dhabi will start with 10k bbl / d in October, November, and December, then lift reductions to 20k bbl / d in January and 30k bbl / d in February. Cuts accelerate further to 50k bbl / d in March and April, before reaching 55k bbl / d in both May and June.

The plan closely matches the previously communicated 10-month roadmap from September 2025 to June 2026, though the reductions are reduced by around 10 mn bbl / d to 270k bbl / d, down from 282k bbl / d previously.

Supporting the view: Opec+’s latest signal is giving the market some confidence that producers remain focused on managing supply through a softer demand season, reinforcing expectations of a steady path toward balance, Vijay Valecha, CIO of Century Financial said in a note seen by EnterpriseAM.

The outlook is further buoyed by geopolitical tensions, following reports of a Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian Black Sea oil port that raised concerns over potential supply disruptions, Valecha said.

WEATHER- Dubai will see a high of 34°C today, along with an overnight low of 24°C, while Abu Dhabi could see a high of 34°C and a low of 23°C, according to our favorite weather app.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Abu Dhabi’s Upper Zakum field is on track to hit its production expansion milestone ahead of time, ExxonMobil’s CEO Darren Woods was quoted as saying at Adipec by Bloomberg. The offshore field, operated in partnership with Adnoc and Japan’s Inpex, currently produces some 1 mn bbl / d. The ongoing expansion aims to lift output to 1.5 mn bbl / d by 2030, with Woods signaling that the ramp-up could be achieved earlier than scheduled.

REMEMBER- ExxonMobil and Inpex announced plans to expand the capacity of Upper Zakum back in May. Adnoc, ExxonMobil, and Inpex were looking to upgrade the field’s infrastructure to feature AI-enabled remote operations, link the field to the UAE’s clean energy grid, and integrate artificial islands for drilling activities.

DATA POINT- Adnoc is targeting a capacity boost to 5 mn bbl / d by 2027, up from roughly 4.85 mn bbl / d today.

#2- Fore — costs are soaring across Dubai’s fairways: The fees to play a round of golf in Dubai have climbed nearly 46% this year, after rising by a third in 2024, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports, citing data from Golfscape. A round at Trump International Golf Club Dubai’s championship course will cost around AED 3.5k in November, Dubai Golf CEO Chris May told the outlet.

What’s driving the rise? Although prices are surging worldwide, May attributed Dubai’s price jump to a mismatch in local supply and demand — with the emirate seeing a short golf course supply relative to the number of active golfers in the city. He also cited rising operational costs like irrigation — which can cost up to AED 5 mn per 18-hole course a year — machinery, fertilizers, and equipment as primary drivers of higher green fees.

#3- UAEmoves closer to the far side of the moon: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) confirmed it has completed development of the Rashid 2 Rover in the UAE following full environmental and functional tests, according to the Dubai Media Office. The spacecraft is now being shipped to the US to begin joint launch integration with US-based aerospace firm Firefly Aerospace ahead of its planned 2026 landing attempt on the Moon’s far side.

REMEMBER-MBRSC inked an agreement back in May with Firefly Aerospace for the American firm to provide the lunar lander needed for MBRSC’s Rashid 2 Rover to be deployed on the Emirates Lunar Mission to the moon.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- The world’s biggest oil and gas forum, Adipec, kicked off yesterday and runs until Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. The energy mega-event brings together global oil and gas, hydrogen, clean tech, and industrial strategy players alongside ministers and climate negotiators, to discuss building a resilient energy sector and developing intelligent solutions.

#2– Arabal International Aluminum Conference also runs until Thursday at the Dubai Exhibition Center. The event gathers regional producers, OEMs, and technology players to discuss industrial decarbonization, supply chain competitiveness, and global metal demand cycles.

#3- Gulfood Manufacturing is also running from today until Thursday at Dubai World Trade Center. The F&B manufacturing event will bring processing, supply, logistics, packaging, and automation players together for exhibitions showcasing the latest developments in the sector.

#4- Dubai Design Week kicks off today and runs through Saturday at Dubai Design District. Designers, studios, universities, brands, and collectors will meet for workshops, exhibitions, a marketplace, and talks, to showcase innovation, materiality, and future-forward design.

#5- The UAE Government Annual Meetings kick off today and run through Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The series of meetings will bring together more than 500 senior officials and government leaders for three days of policy coordination, national briefings, and strategic priority alignment. On the agenda: the economy, investment, AI, healthcare, and traffic congestion.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

US Treasury Department’s top sanctions official John Hurley arrives in the region on Friday, with a plan to visit Israel, the UAE, Turkey, and Lebanon, Reuters reports, citing a statement seen by them. The visit marks his first to the region since taking office, and will discuss pressure against Iran, with his UAE leg also focusing on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

OpenAI’s endless thirst for computing power is dominating headlines this morning. The ChatGPT maker signed a USD 38 bn agreement with cloud arm Amazon Web Services to gain access to its Nvidia GPUs for the next seven years. The processing power — which will be immediately available to OpenAI — will help ChatGPT respond to user prompts and train newer models, with plans to expand capacity in the next few years.

A vote of confidence: Amazon’s share price jumped 4% to close at USD 254 yesterday — an all-time high and a sign of relief for investors who worried Amazon was falling behind the AI race. Chipmaker Nvidia also gained some 4.4%, landing just below USD 209. (Bloomberg | CNBC | Reuters | Financial Times)

ALSO- New York is set for a showdown: The state’s general election will see Democratic nominee — and front-runner with a double-digit lead in the polls — Zohran Mamdani go up against former governor Andrew Cuomo, who landed a late endorsement from Donald Trump. The president lashed out against “Communist” Mamdani and vowed to cut federal assistance to New York under the young progressive candidate. The race — one of the most politically charged in the US in a while — is already seeing unprecedented voter turnout. (New York Times | Fox | Axios | Semafor)

AND- A scandal is rocking Israel: Top military lawyer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi is now behind bars facing accusations of breach of trust and obstruction of justice. Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted last week to leaking a controversial surveillance video last year that showed Israeli soldiers severely abusing a Palestinian inmate at the notorious Sde Teiman camp. The prosecutor then disappeared for a few hours on Sunday night leaving behind a cryptic note and her car, sparking uproar, speculation and a nationwide search campaign that retrieved her safely. Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier called the leak “the most severe diplomatic attack Israel has faced.” (Associated Press | Financial Times | Bloomberg)

ALSO WORTH NOTING THIS MORNING-

China is increasing energy subsidies to the country’s biggest data centers, cutting bills by up to half to help out tech giants, unnamed sources told the Financial Times.
Starbucks is set to relinquish control of China operations to Boyu Capital in a USD 4 bn buyout. (CNN)

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MARKET WATCH-

India’s Bharat Petroleum Corp is turning to Abu Dhabi for crude as US sanctions squeeze Russian supply, CNBC reports, citing two trading sources. The Indian state-run refiner picked up 2 mn barrels of Upper Zakum crude in a spot tender for December loading. The move comes as BPCL replaces Russian barrels following sanctions on the two major producers — Rosneft and Lukoil. Adnoc Trading is set to deliver the cargo, one of the sources said.

Microsoft to invest nearly USD 8 bn in the UAE by 2029 in data centers, chips

Microsoft plans to spend more than USD 7.9 bn in the country between 2026 and 2029, according to a statement This includes over USD 5.5 bn in capital expenses for the ongoing and planned expansion of its AI and cloud infrastructure, and about USD 2.4 bn in operating expenses.

This is part of a broader plan to invest USD 15.2 bn in the UAE between 2023 and 2029, as part of its AI initiative launched in 2023. The company plans to share the next steps in its investment plan in Abu Dhabi later this week, where Vice Chair and President Brad Smith is traveling with a delegation to deepen ties with the country.

So far, the firm has invested over USD 7.3 bn in the UAE, including its USD 1.5 bn investment in state AI firm G42, over USD 4.6 bn in advanced AI and cloud data centers, and more than USD 1.2 bn in operating expenses and the cost of goods sold.

We’d got wind of this before: Microsoft and its partners previously announced their intention to invest USD 5.1 bn in the UAE’s data center regions over the next four years, in agreement that built on an earlier USD 1.5 bn investment in G42. The company said that its activities would add USD 74.4 bn to the UAE economy over the next four years and help create 41.8k jobs through 2028.

The tech giant will ship more AI chips and GPUs to the UAE: Microsoft secured approval from the Trump administration in September to ship the equivalent of 60.4k A100 chips, including Nvidia’s advanced GB300 GPUs to the UAE, the statement said. This is in addition to some 21.5k Nvidia A100 GPUs it has already supplied the country with approvals from the Biden administration.

REMEMBER- The US recently gave the greenlight to export several USD bns worth of Nvidia chips to the UAE to use in US-linked data infrastructure. The agreement came on the back of bilateral AI negotiations in May, as well as definitive plans from the UAE to invest in US AI infrastructure. Early reports expected the Emirates to see up to 500k annually of the US tech giant’s most advanced chips up until 2027.

How did Microsoft secure the approvals? By meeting “updated stringent technology safeguards” required by the Trump administration, the statement said. These range from cyber security to physical security and other security requirements, Smith told the Financial Times.

We don’t know exactly where the chips are heading, but Microsoft is heavily invested in the UAE’s AI sector. Besides its partnership with G42, which also saw them agree to open two AI centers in Abu Dhabi, the firm partnered with du to establish an AED 2 bn hyperscale data center in the UAE. It inked an agreement as well with Abu Dhabi to accelerate its AI-driven government transformation. Stargate UAE, a 5 GW Stargate AI campus which is driven by Microsoft’s key partner OpenAI, along with partners like Nvidia, Cisco, Oracle, and SoftBank is also expected to open in 2026, with final agreements on the remaining 4 GW still under negotiation amid continued US security scrutiny.

XRG wants a piece of Azerbaijani energy firm Southern Gas Corridor

XRG buys into Azerbaijani state-owned energy player SGC: Adnoc’s global investment arm XRG inked a non-binding preliminary agreement to purchase an undisclosed stake in Azerbaijani energy holding company Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) from Azerbaijan’s Economy Ministry for an undisclosed amount, state news agency Wam reports.

SGC’s assets include operating gas fields and a 3.5k-km pipeline network running from the Caspian through Turkey to southern Europe, with a capacity to deliver up to 26 bcm a year.

The agreement would deepen XRG’s presence in the Caspian region where it already holds a 30% stake in the Absheron gas field alongside the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (Socar) and a 38% interest in Turkmenistan’s offshore Block I concession. Socar, in turn, owns a 3% stake in Abu Dhabi’s SARB and Umm Lulu concessions, acquired from Adnoc in 2024.

Expanding east and west: XRG is also said to be in early talks to invest in Argentine energy firm YPF’s LNG project, which aims to produce 28 mn tons a year. The discussions are part of XRG’s broader push into LNG across the US, Latin America, and Asia.

IN OTHER SOCAR TIE-UPS-

Oil and gas company Dragon Oil signed an agreement with Azerbaijani Socar and Socar Trading to expand joint cooperation across exploration, production, development, marketing, and potential projects in oil and gas, Al Khaleej reports. The partnership supports Dragon Oil’s international expansion agenda and aligns with UAE-Azerbaijan strategic energy cooperation, and the focus on the Caspian markets.

Adia backs the IPO of Indian digital stockbroker Groww

Adia backs Groww’s USD 754 mn IPO: The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), along with several other sovereign wealth funds including Singapore’s GIC and Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, are anchoring the INR 66.3 bn (USD 754 mn) IPO of Bengaluru-based online brokerage Billionbrains Garage Ventures, Reuters reports, citing an exchange filing. The company is the parent of India-based digital investment and brokerage platform Groww.

Adia committed to INR 1.4 bn worth of shares — same as GIC — while Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global committed to INR 1.6 bn. A total of 17 domestic mutual funds bought some 46.6% of the shares earmarked for anchor investors.

The anchor book, valued at nearly INR 30 bn (USD 336 mn), opened on Sunday, drawing about 40 institutional investors including mutual funds, banks, and foreign portfolio investors. The public offer opens today and closes on 7 November.

Offer details: The IPO includes a fresh issuance of about INR 10.6 bn (USD 121 mn) shares and an offer-for-sale of roughly 557 mn shares by existing investors, including Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners. Shares were allotted at the top of the INR 95-100 band, valuing the company at around USD 7 bn. This will be India’s largest IPO so far this year, and one of the largest offerings globally.

Groww will use the IPO proceeds to fund brand and marketing, cloud infrastructure, and potential acquisitions. It will also infuse capital into its lending and margin trading subsidiaries. The remaining funds will go toward general corporate purposes.

ADVISORS- Kotak Mahindra Capital, JPMorgan India, Citigroup Global Markets India, Axis Capital and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors are the book-running lead managers, while MUFG Intime India is the registrar.

ADGM hardens enforcement toolkit for stablecoins

ADGM has reviewed its digital assets rulebook — introducing new enforcement powers that allow the regulator to suspend financial services licenses for up to 12 months and extending misconduct rules to cover fiat-referenced tokens, according to its amendments (pdf). Fiat-referenced tokens now fall under the rules applied to virtual assets and spot commodities.

Token + misconduct contraventions: If the regulator detects contraventions in fiat-referenced activity, it can ban the issuance, sale, transfer, and custody activities relating to the specific token through a written notice that can be referred to an appeals panel.

The rules also include changes to financial services permissions and approvals — which the regulator can now vary or suspend for up to 12 months if necessary, including while it conducts an investigation into an authorized person it suspects of misconduct. Suspensions can be appealed. The regulator can also halt the offering of a unit in a fund if contravening regulations and withdraw the fund from the register.

Fees for fiat-referenced tokens: ADGM also clarified in an accompanying fees rulebook (pdf) that firms conducting fiat-referenced token activities are subject to:

An annual USD 10k supervision fee and an initial USD 10k application fee to the regulator;
For all related regulated activities, firms must also pay a USD 20k application fee and USD 15k supervision fee;
If the activity involves a multilateral trading facility, an additional USD 125k application fee and USD 60k supervision fee applies;
No double charge: Firms conducting both virtual asset activities and fiat-referenced token activities will only pay for virtual asset activities.

REMEMBER- The ADGM recently proposed a regulatory framework to govern fiat-backed tokens (or stablecoins pegged to fiat currencies) to regulate intermediation and custodians, after earlier introducing a framework for FRT issuance, defining the tokens and their use as payment instruments.

Mashreq, PureHealth, Masdar, Burjeel, Alpha Dhabi turn in earnings

MASHREQ-

Our friends at Mashreq posted AED 3.2 bn in operating income in 3Q 2025, up 8% y-o-y on the back of increased client activity, robust core operations, and a 20% y-o-y uptick in non-interest income, according to its financials (pdf) and a separate management discussion and analysis report (pdf). Net income after tax rose 2% q-o-q to come in at AED 1.7 bn for 3Q.

On a nine-month basis, Mashreq saw its operating income reach 9.4 bn, up 3.1% y-o-y, driven by strong performance from its corporate, retail, and international segments. Net income before tax came in at AED 6.1 bn, as income from investment rose 50% y-o-y to AED 311 mn and income from ins., FX, and other income streams increased by 41% to just shy of AED 2 bn. Customer loans and advances grew by 21% compared to 9M 2024 and customer deposits also saw strong performance — up 20% y-o-y.

The bank also logged total assets of more than AED 300 bn for the first time, as lending to customers and banks increased by 24% y-o-y and customer deposits reached AED 187 bn.

The bank is expanding its operations in Asia this year: The lender rolled out commercial operations in Pakistan in September, and is preparing to open its first branch in India’s GIFT City in 4Q 2025. “Our growing presence across key international markets is enabling us to support the flow of capital and commerce along vital global trade corridors connecting Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States,” CEO Ahmed Abdelaal said.

ALPHA DHABI-

AlphaDhabi Holding’s 3Q 2025 net income came in at AED 3.8 bn, down 13.6% y-o-y, according to its financials (pdf). Revenue rose 27.8% to AED 19.1 bn, supported by growth across industrial, real estate, construction, and services and others, according to a separate earnings release (pdf), .

On a nine-month basis, its bottom line fell 5.9% y-o-y to AED 10.4 bn, while group revenue increased 24.2% y-o-y to AED 54.9 bn, according to its management discussion and analysis report (pdf). Its industrial operations accounted for AED 20.5 bn of total revenues, whilst its real estate segment brought in AED 19.3 bn. Construction added AED 8.8 bn in revenue and services and others contributed AED 6.3 bn. Revenue generated outside the UAE reached AED 7.3 bn, accounting for 13% of group revenue and up 20% y-o-y.

MASDAR-

Renewables giant Masdar reported a drop in its net income to AED 13.1 mn in 2Q, down from AED 103.6 mn during the same period last year, according to its quarterly financials (pdf). The company logged a revenue of AED 750.2 mn, marking a 32.2% y-o-y increase.

During 1H 2025, the company’s revenues grew 15.5% y-o-y to AED 1.7 bn, while its bottom line dropped to AED 48.8 mn — down from AED 111 mn during 1H 2024.

The breakdown: Revenues during 1H came primarily from Uzbekistan (AED 581.7 mn) and Greece (AED 525.2 mn), followed by Spain and the UK. Income from renewable power generation jumped to AED 1.1 bn, up from AED 204.5 mn the year before, while inflows from concessions dropped to AED 579.5 mn, down from AED 1.0 bn. Masdar also invested AED 334.4 mn into physical assets, up from AED 90.8 mn the previous year, reflecting increased spending on property, plants, and equipment.

PUREHEALTH-

ADX-listed healthcare giant PureHealth saw its net income grow 20.7% y-o-y to AED 521.6 mn in 3Q 2025, according to its quarterly financials (pdf) and management discussion and analysis (pdf). Its revenues edged up 1.2% y-o-y to AED 6.5 bn. 3Q saw the firm complete its 60% takeover of Hellenic Healthcare Group, with the largest hospital operator in Greece and Cyprus set to add 11 hospitals and 23 diagnostic centers to PureHealth’s portfolio.

On a nine-month basis, the company’s top line rose 6% y-o-y to AED 20.1 bn on the back of strong core operations from its care and cover verticals. Its UAE operations brought in the lion’s share of revenues with USD 15.3 bn, with international operations bringing in the remaining AED 4.8 bn. Hospitals accounted for 57% of total revenues, followed by its health ins. segment with 22% and procurement with 15%. Its net income increased to AED 1.6 bn — up 7.9% y-o-y.

Driving the results: Higher patient and diagnostic volumes in both the UAE and UK, longer operating hours, and new clinics led to a 20% rise in income from its care segment, while its ins. subsidiary Daman saw robust renewal rates boost its top line, and effective cost management and underwriting raise its bottom line by 22% y-o-y.

BURJEEL HOLDINGS-

Burjeel Holdings saw its 3Q net income rise 27.5% y-o-y to AED 175.2 mn, supported by operating leverage and better cost efficiency, according to its financials (pdf), a separate earnings release (pdf), and a management discussion and analysis report (pdf). Revenues rose 7.9% during the quarter to AED 1.4 bn, driven by a 4.6% uptick in overall patient footfall and sustained demand in complex subspecialties.

For 9M 2025, net income increased 18.2% y-o-y to AED 326 mn, while revenues climbed 10.6% y-o-y to AED 4.1 bn. Its hospital segment accounted for 88% of total revenues for 9M and income from its medical centers operations grew 15.8% y-o-y to AED 111 mn. Outpatient revenues grew 10.8% y-o-y and inpatient income was up 6.4%.

ADIB is first bank tapped for MoF’s retail sukuk program

DEBT-

ADIB is first onboard MoF’s retail sukuk scheme: The Finance Ministry (MoF) tapped Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) as its first partner for its recently launched retail sukuk initiative, according to a statement. Through the tie-up, UAE citizens and residents will be able to invest in shariah-compliant government-backed treasury sukuk (T-Sukuk) through ADIB’s smart sukuk platform. Partnerships with more banks are set to be announced soon, the statement read.

ICYMI- MoF said it was opening up investments in treasury sukuk to retail investors for the first time last week, allowing for investment in shariah-compliant, government-backed sukuk through fractionalized digital platforms operated by national banks.

How it’ll work: Investors will sign up using either their Emirates ID or UAE Pass, and can invest between AED 4k and AED 28k per transaction in sukuk, including in fractional units. The Ministry will list all sukuk, bar those nearing maturity, on the platform, and the bank will manage the portfolio through primary allocation and secondary market transactions.

MANUFACTURING-

Al Ghurair Foods launches ingredients arm: Al Ghurair Group’s subsidiary Al Ghurair Foods has launched a new food ingredients division that will focus on the B2B segment, according to a press release. The division marks its expansion beyond commodity trading, with the firm targeting bakery, beverage, confectionary, and baby food manufacturers.

Its new cornstarch manufacturing facility is part of the plan. Based in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad), the plant is slated to be up and running in 1H of next year. It will produce starches, glucose, and maltodextrin — making Al Ghurair the first regional producer of baby food ingredients. The group has also earmarked AED 500 mn to develop fermentation and spray drying tech to boost local production and regional food security.

TELECOMS-

Du + Peace Cable extend connectivity to Africa via UAE-Kenya corridor: UAE-based telco operator du and submarine cable network infrastructure provider Peace Cable International Network are expanding their Peace Gulf Extension submarine cable system partnership to Kenya, according to a press release. Peace Cable International is a subsidiary of Chinese power and fiber optic cable manufacturer Hengtong Group.

REFRESHER- The two partnered earlier this year to develop Peace Gulf Extension, bringing Peace’s open-access submarine cable system to the UAE to improve du’s connection speeds.

The new link: This latest digital infrastructure corridor aims to help data, cloud services, and digital content move more quickly and efficiently between the GCC and Kenya, and targets the AI and digital transformation sectors.

M&A-

GFH expands its logistics portfolio in KSA: GFH Partners — the Dubai-based global asset management arm of Bahraini GFH Financial Group — has acquired a fully leased, high-spec logistics facility in Riyadh’s industrial district at a SAR 200 mn (USD 53 mn) investment ticket, according to a press release. The acquisition marks the asset manager’s fourth logistics asset in Saudi Arabia. Post takeover, GFH’s total logistics and industrial assets in the GCC is set to reach nearly SAR 1.5 bn — with its global portfolio currently exceeding SAR 26 bn in managed assets.

A long-time coming: GFH Financial Group inked a partnership agreement with European real estate developer Panattoni’s Saudi arm to develop premium logistics facilities worth SAR 2 bn (USD 500 mn) in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam over a five-year timeframe last year.

REAL ESTATE-

Leos launches AED 5 bn master community in Dubailand: UK-based real estate developer Leos Developments is launching an AED 5 bn master-planned community in Wadi Al Safa 5 in Dubailand — its first large-scale development in the emirate, according to a press release.

More details: The project, developed in collaboration with Dubai Holding, will roll out in phases. The first phase, Regent’s Park, will feature around 800 homes — a mix of three- to four-bedroom townhouses and five- to seven-bedroom villas.

AI-

#1- Al Tamimi & Co integrates Legora into operations: Law firm Al Tamimi & Co is partnering with AI firm Legora to roll out its law-focused AI platform across its operations, as well as launch it in Arabic, according to a press release (pdf). The Legora platform will automate routine workflows to save time for higher value advisory services, and the two will collaborate to develop the platform in Arabic with a view to integrate it into Al Tamimi’s operations when ready.

IN CONTEXT- The move comes as part of Al Tamimi & Co’s broader plan of integrating AI into its systems — including tapping into Harvey’s advanced AI platform in 2023, deploying its language processing, machine learning, and data analytics to automate and enhance operations.

#2- Adnoc + SLB to optimize upstream production with AI: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and multinational oilfield services firm SLB have launched an AI-powered production system optimization platform, according to a press release. The system has initially been deployed across eight upstream fields, with Adnoc aiming to roll it out across all 25 of its onshore and offshore fields by 2027.

How it works: The platform analyzes mns of data points in real time to monitor and improve operational efficiency along the entire production chain, spanning hydrocarbon wells, processing plants, and office operations.

EVs-

Vortex backs USD 32.8 mn recap for UK EV charging firm: ADGM-domiciled energy transition investment firm Vortex Energy participated in UK-based electric charging solutions firm EO Charging’s GBP 25 mn (c. USD 32.8 mn) recapitalization, according to a press release (pdf). The funding came in the form of a debt facility from HSBC, as well as new equity from existing backers Vortex and London-based private equity firm Zouk Capital.

The next steps: EO, which is currently making an exit from the US market and selling its domestic EV charging hardware and manufacturing segment, will put the funds towards its core operations including rolling out its commercial-grade charging infrastructure, as well as its charge assurance software platform that boosts energy optimization for fleet operators.

America’s top ten richest have seen their wealth rise more than 500% since 2020, but not everyone else has been as fortunate

The collective wealth of the 10 richest Americans has surged by USD 698 bn in the past year alone, and the prospect of the world’s first tn’aire no longer seems as absurd as it once did, with Elon Musk already half way there, according to a report (pdf) from Oxfam America. In only the short few years since 2020, these same 10 individuals have seen their wealth adjusted for inflation rise 526%.

In America at least, it seems that a rising tide doesn’t necessarily lift all boats, with the USD 8.4 mn gain for households in the top 1% from 1989 to 2022, outpacing the median household gain of only USD 83k for the period. Zooming in on the top 0.1%, that figure picks up again all the way to USD 39.5 mn.

There’s also a stark disparity in terms of race, with average White households seeing their wealth increase 7.2x more than Black households and 6.7x more than Hispanic households. Gender was also a determiner, with male-headed household wealth gains outpacing those headed by women by 4x.

In addition to the concentration of wealth, there’s also a concentration of stocks, with 24% of shares in the stock market owned by just the top 0.1% and 49.9% by the top 1%. In contrast, just 1.1% of the stock market is owned by the bottom 50%, despite the prominent role it plays in many Americans’ retirement plans.

Oxfam sees inequality getting worse in years to come, pointing to the Trump administration’s “massively regressive tax reform, major cuts to the social safety net, and

significant rollbacks for worker’s rights.” It estimates that Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — which we imagine Oxfam would describe rather differently — will cut taxes on the top 0.1% by USD 311k in 2027, while raising taxes for those earning less than USD 15k a year, marking “the single largest transfer of wealth upwards in decades.”

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed in early trading this morning — Japan’s Nikkei and the Hang Seng are both looking at gains, while the Shanghai Composite and Kospi are both in the red, down 0.1% and 1.6%, respectively.

ADX	10,024	-0.8% (YTD: +6.4%)
DFM	6,019	-0.7% (YTD: +16.6%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,878	-1.3% (YTD: +27.9%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.0% o/n	3.7% 1 yr
Tadawul	11,484	-0.5% (YTD: -4.6%)
EGX30	4,003	+1.8% (YTD: +29.7%)
S&P 500	6,852	+0.2% (YTD: +16.5%)
FTSE 100	9,701	-0.2% (YTD: +18.7%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,679	+0.3% (YTD: +16.0%)
Brent crude	USD 64.89	+0.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 4.23	-0.8%
Gold	USD 4,008	-0.2%
BTC	USD 106,333	-3.6% (YTD: +13.8%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.78	-0.5% (YTD: +8.5%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	152.05	-0.2% (YTD: +8.7%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	17.17	-1.6% (YTD: -0.8%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX fell 0.8% yesterday on turnover of AED 1.1 bn. The index is up 6.4% YTD.

In the green: Gulf Medical Projects Company (+4.0%), National Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain (+2.5%) and Abu Dhabi National Co. for Building Materials (+2.4%).

In the red: Americana Restaurants International (-9.6%), Phoenix Group (-6.5%) and Sudatel Telecommunications Group Company (-4.0%).

Over on the DFM, the index fell 0.7% on turnover of AED 614 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was down 1.3%.

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

29 October-19 November (Wednesday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS).

2-6 November (Sunday-Thursday): Institutional bookbuilding period for Almasar Education’s IPO on Tadawul.

3-6 November (Monday-Thursday): Adipec, Abu Dhabi.

4-6 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Annual government meetings, Abu Dhabi.

4-6 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Arabal International Aluminum Conference, Dubai.

4-6 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Gulfood Manufacturing, Dubai World Trade Center.

4-9 November (Tuesday-Saturday): Dubai Design Week, Dubai.

10-15 November (Monday-Saturday): SASC organizes Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, Abu Dhabi.

10-15 November (Monday-Saturday): RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP), Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

10 November (Monday): SASC organizes The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, Abu Dhabi.

10-11 November (Monday-Tuesday) Future Cities Week, Dubai.

11-12 (Tuesday-Wednesday): World Tobacco Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

11-17 November (Tuesday-Monday): International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference, Dubai.

12 November (Wednesday): Dubai Business Forum, Cipriani South Street, New York City.

12-17 November (Wednesday-Monday): RoboCup Asia-Pacific, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi.

13-15 November (Thursday-Saturday): International Financial Markets (ICA) Conference and Exhibition, Conrad Dubai.

14 November (Tuesday): Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, Al Ain Region, Abu Dhabi.

15-17 November (Saturday-Monday): Myplant & Garden Middle East Green Expo, Dubai Exhibition Center, Expo City.

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.

17-18 November (Monday-Tuesday): The Mining Show, Za’abeel Halls, Dubai World Trade Center.

17-19 November (Monday-Wednesday): Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo, Dubai World Trade Center.

18-19 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Dubai Future Forum, Museum of the Future, Dubai.

18-19 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC), Dubai World Trade Center.

18-20 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Retail subscription period for Almasar Education’s IPO on Tadawul.

19-20 November (Wednesday-Thursday): Knowledge Summit, Dubai World Trade Center.

19-20 November (Wednesday-Thursday): Investment and Business Summit, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Convention Center, Ras Al Khaimah.

19-23 November (Tuesday-Sunday): Abu Dhabi Art, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi.

24-27 November (Monday-Thursday): Big 5 Global Exhibition, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.

24-27 November (Monday-Thursday): LiveableCities X, Dubai World Trade Center.

26 November (Wednesday): DFSA-HKMA Joint Climate Finance Conference, Dubai.

26 November (Wednesday): Final allocations for Almasar Education’s IPO on Tadawul.

26-27 November (Wednesday-Thursday): DATE (Digital Acceleration and Transformation Expo), Dubai.

DECEMBER

1-3 December (Monday-Wednesday): Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day).

2-5 December (Tuesday-Friday): Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, Abu Dhabi.

1-5 December (Monday-Friday): The World Congress of Neurosurgery, Dubai World Trade Center.

3-4 December (Wednesday-Thursday): Binance Blockchain Week, Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai.

7-14 December (Sunday-Sunday): Asian Youth Para Games, APC headquarters, Dubai.

8 December (Monday): DeFi Technologies Insights Global Symposium, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): BTC MENA Conference, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): Global AI Show, Abu Dhabi.

8-10 December (Monday-Wednesday): The Bridge Summit, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.

8-11 December (Monday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, ADGM, Al Maryah Island.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

9-11 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Automechanika Dubai Trade Show, Dubai World Trade Center.

10 December (Wednesday): UAE-Russia Business Forum, Dubai.

13-15 December (Saturday-Monday): Mobile Developers Week, Abu Dhabi.

18-23 December (Thursday-Tuesday): Games of the Future, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

29-30 December (Monday-Tuesday): World Sports Summit, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network;
Executive Committee Meeting (EXCOM) conference of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO).

Signposted to happen sometime in 2H 2025:

Closing of XRG’s acquisition of Covestro.

JANUARY 2026

1 January: Client asset regime changes in Dubai International Financial Center take effect.

9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit, UAE.

13-15 January (Tuesday-Thursday): FESPA Middle East, Dubai Exhibition Center, Dubai.

12-15 January (Monday-Thursday): Dubai International Project Management Forum, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

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 2026

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

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

9-13 February (Monday-Friday): The World Health Expo (WHX), Dubai.

MARCH 2026

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

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

APRIL 2026

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

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

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

MAY 2026

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

JUNE 2026

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

JULY 2026

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 in 2026:

13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): The International Glass Manufacturing Show, Dubai;
14-16 April: (Tuesday-Thursday): the International Property Show, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai;
11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): AI Everything Global, Adnec Center;
The UAE to host the Arab Competition Forum;
Dubai to host the Arab Actuarial Conference;
United Nations Water Conference;
Dubai Future Finance Week;
Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent.

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

1 January: Deadline for large businesses to implement e-invoicing;
1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of Hassyan seawater desalination project;
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 between 2027-2029:

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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