UAE could be in line for more Nvidia chips as Trump’s visit to the region comes with blockbuster agreements

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: UAE President to attend GCC-US summit in Riyadh

Good morning, lovely people. As expected, the news flow on this fine Wednesday morning is dominated by Trump’s swing through the region, with his first day in Riyadh carrying a more than USD 600 bn price tag.

Next up: He flies to Qatar and then to the UAE tomorrow. Ahead of his arrival, we’re already seeing rumors of a potential agreement that could hike Nvidia chip exports to the UAE.

We have more in the news well below, along with the latest on Dubai Holding’s IPO of its residential REIT, which is set to raise some AED 1.8 bn, an update on Adnoc’s takeover of Covestro, and a first glimpse into some of the UAE’s USD 5 bn investments in Kazakhstan.

ALSO- UAE President to attend Gulf-US Summit: President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a written invitation from the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to attend the Gulf-US Summit, set to take place in Riyadh today during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

On the itinerary: Trump’s Gulf tour comes as his administration looks to deepen economic ties with Gulf countries. Agreements on investment, AI, infrastructure, defense, tariffs, and oil are all in the cards, as well as a potential easing of access to advanced AI chips for the UAE and a broader bilateral chip agreement. We have a full rundown of what to expect here, and the latest from the rumor mill in the news well, below.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Trump kickstarted his Middle East tour with a pledge to lift the longstanding — and crippling — sanctions in place against Syria and a USD 600 bn Saudi investments package. Trump is also set to “say hello” today to Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al Sharaa, while Secretary of State Mark Rubio will meet his Syrian counterpart in Turkey soon.

The Saudi-US summit saw the signing of 145 agreements totalling USD 300 bn at the Saudi-US Business Forum, with the rest of the USD 600 bn package to be announced in the coming months. The Kingdom is set to eventually round out the figure to USD 1 tn in a second phase, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in his speech. AI was a big theme, with Riyadh-based DataVolt planning to invest USD 20 bn in US-based AI data centers and energy infrastructure.

Plus: Companies like Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber have agreed to some USD 80 bn in joint technology investments in the US and the Kingdom.

The US also agreed its biggest defense cooperation agreement to date, with a USD 142 bn defense package for the Kingdom.

☀️ WEATHER– It’s another scorcher across the UAE today. Dubai will see daytime highs of 43°C, while overnight lows will dip to 30°C. Abu Dhabi remains slightly cooler, with daytime temperatures peaking at 37°C and nighttime lows around 29°C.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Abu Dhabi tightens gas safety rules for buildings: The Abu Dhabi Energy Department (DoE) rolled out stringent new regulations governing gas systems in buildings, including freezones, to enhance safety standards, effective upon publication, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.

What’s out? The regulations ban gas cylinders in buildings connected to certified central gas networks. Installing gas storage tanks in buildings with active gas connections underground is also prohibited.

Ensuring compliance: DoE inspectors and accredited third-party agencies will closely monitor compliance through inspections. Companies will have to keep operational and maintenance logs, notify authorities about any issues, and submit technical plans. All gas suppliers must obtain DoE permits, while building owners are required to hire licensed firms for inspections and emergencies.

Penalties: Fines for violations will range from AED 500 to AED 2 mn. Companies and individuals have a 30-day grace period (extendable to 90 days with DoE approval) to comply.

#2- Dubai’s RTA set to open 116 tenders to the private sector: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is launching 116 tenders and auctions for private sector participation, including SMEs, in 2025, Wam reports. The tenders cover services, consultancy, infrastructure, IT, ins., operations, maintenance, and investment, and look to increase public-private partnerships.

#3- Dubai Crown Prince grants golden visas to long-serving nurses: Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has directed 10-year golden visas to be issued to Dubai Health nursing staff who have served for over 15 years, Wam reports.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- Cabsat is on its second day today and running until Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will exhibit the latest trends and technologies in the media, entertainment, and communications sectors in the MEASA region.

#2- The HODL Summit — the rebranded World Blockchain Summit — kicks off today and runs until tomorrow at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The summit will gather stakeholders from across the Web3, blockchain, and crypto ecosystems for discussions on investment, regulation, and innovation. More than 30k C-suite attendees and 5k investors are expected, along with over 1k exhibitors and sponsors and 1.2k speakers.

#3- The inaugural SATExpo Middle East is also on its second day, and runs until Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. Spun off from CABSAT, the new satellite and space-focused exhibition will bring together over 140 exhibitors and 80k professionals across the aviation, maritime, government, telecom, energy, and emergency response sectors, according to a press release. The event offers networking sessions for businesses, governments, and investors in the MEASA region.

#4- The IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion is on its second day and continues until Friday at the Adnec Center in Abu Dhabi. The conference will bring together over 2k global health leaders, policymakers, and advocates to address planetary health challenges, including non-communicable diseases, digital health, precision health, and emergency preparedness.

#5- The Low Carbon Fuels MENA Summit 2025 is on its second and final day at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers. The summit will gather global experts and regional leaders to discuss the challenges and potential in the low-carbon fuel sector, and will feature exhibitions from businesses.

#6- The World Police Summit is on its second day and runs through until Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. The summit brings together over 110 police chiefs and more than 300 speakers from over 110 countries. Key topics include AI in law enforcement, cross-border cybercrime, human trafficking, and digital transformation.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

#1- The Economy Middle East Summit will take place on Thursday, 15 May at the ADGM in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release (pdf). The event will feature discussions on the economy, banking and finance, technology, cybersecurity, AI, hospitality and tourism, real estate, and energy.

#2- India-UAE: Partners in Progress Conclave will be held tomorrow at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in The Palm in Dubai. The event will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and innovators, with an aim to accelerate collaboration across trade, energy, tourism, tech, and startups.

#3- Investopia Europe will take place on Friday, 16 May at Palazzo Mezzanotte in Milan. Approximately 60 Emirati delegates government entities and private sector firms — including the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, Invest in Sharjah, G42, ADQ, NG9, and Marjan — will engage with Italian and European business leaders to explore potential investments and partnerships.

#5- Integrate Middle East will be running from today until Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will showcase advancements in audio-visual technology and media for the broadcasting, communications, and entertainment industries.

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UAE could be in line for more Nvidia chips + OpenAI mulls UAE data center

UAE in line for mns of Nvidia agreement under potential US agreement: The US is preparing to grant the UAE and Saudi Arabia expanded access to advanced AI chips and high-performance semiconductors from Nvidia and AMD, under two separate agreements expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s current Gulf visit, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.

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The US is reportedly eyeing a setup that could allow mns of Nvidia chips to be imported by the UAE, which would far exceed the limits in place since former US President Joe Biden’s AI export curbs, Bloomberg reported separately, citing sources familiar with the matter. The potential agreement — which is still being discussed — could let the UAE import 500k of the most advanced chips on the market each year from now to 2027, according to the sources. One-fifth of those would go to state AI firm G42, while the remainder would go to US companies building data centers in the UAE, according to the people.

G42 would see some chips delivered directly, while others may come by way of a new partnership between G42 and ChatGPT maker OpenAI, the Washington Post reported, without disclosing further details on the partnership.

Is OpenAI mulling a UAE data center? According to Bloomberg, which cites sources in the know, the company is exploring adding data center capacity in the UAE as part of a push in the region. Its backer, Microsoft, already has a hyperscale data center coming up in the UAE, courtesy of state telco du.

The UAE has deep ties with OpenAI: Abu Dhabi AI investor MGX participated in OpenAI’s USD 6.6 bn funding round in October, and the two firms are contributing to a USD 100 bn AI infrastructure fund alongside Softbank and Oracle.

Background: The Biden-era caps, which were set to come into effect today, would have required companies to apply for a license in order to receive AI chips, with a cap of some 320k GPUs over two years.

For KSA, provisions under discussion include US oversight of chip usage and data center access, as well as the creation of “data embassies” — sovereign cloud zones exempt from local data laws — to address concerns over potential Chinese access, WaPo reports. Similar terms could apply to the anticipated UAE agreement.

G42 has already been receiving AI chips from the US, after a USD 1.5 bn investment from Microsoft paved the way for the shipments. The US approved advanced AI chip exports to a Microsoft-run facility in the UAE as part of the partnership with G42 — after the two reached an agreement to prevent access to the facility by personnel from countries with US arms embargoes, or who are on the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List, including China, and to lock the facility down with US defense tech.

REMEMBER- The US and the UAE were set to discuss a potential chip agreement during Trump’s visit to the UAE this week. The UAE is a key partner to the US, with some USD 1.4 tn in investments in US tech and energy sectors pledged over the next decade.

The US and the UAE are big trade partners: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accounted for 54% of total US-Middle East trade in 1Q 2025, reaching USD 18.8 bn out of a regional total of USD 34.7 bn, according to US Census Bureau data cited by Asharq Business. The UAE was the US’ top Gulf trading partner at USD 8.8 bn, followed by Saudi Arabia at USD 5.8 bn.

Zooming out: Total trade between the US and its top 10 Middle East partners reached USD 146.4 bn in 2024. Once again, the UAE led with USD 34.4 bn, with Saudi Arabia following at USD 25.9 bn. The US maintains surpluses with most partners, driven by exports in technology, aviation, and energy.

Dubai Holding’s AED 1.8 bn REIT IPO sells out within minutes

Dubai Holding’s Dubai Residential REIT IPO was fully subscribed yesterday within minutes of books opening, Bloomberg reports, citing a terms document it had seen. The subscription period was set to last until next Tuesday, 20 May.

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The state-owned investment conglomerate is guiding on an indicative price range of AED 1.07-1.10 per unit, according to a statement (pdf). At the top of the range, the offering could generate AED 1.8 bn, implying a market cap of AED 14.3 bn upon listing.

Refresher: The company is set to list 12.5% of the REIT on the DFM, in what is the first pure-play residential leasing REIT to list in the GCC and the largest by assets.

Don’t expect to see cornerstone investors. The company chose not to include cornerstone investors in a bid to make trading in the REIT more liquid, the business news information service reports, citing sources it says are familiar with the matter.

What’s next? The final offer price will be announced on Wednesday, 21 May, along with the allocation of units. The Dubai Residential REIT will ring the bell on the DFM on Wednesday, 28 May.

ADVISORS– Emirates NBD Capital, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are quarterbacking the transaction as joint global coordinators, with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Arqaam Capital and First Abu Dhabi Bank acting as joint bookrunners on the transaction. Deloitte & Touche is auditor, while Ibrahim & Partners is legal counsel. Receiving agents include Emirates NBD Bank, Mashreq Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Emirates Islamic Bank, among others.

Also in the pipeline: Dubai Holding is said to be mulling a second IPO for a portfolio of commercial real estate assets, including malls, hotels, and theme parks.

The bigger picture: The listing would be the first in Dubai this year, and the second in the UAE, following Alpha Data’s AED 600 mn IPO in February. It’s also the first to take place since volatility hit global markets following the US’ introduction of sweeping tariffs last month. ADQ-backed Etihad Airways had pushed its highly anticipated IPO to after Eid Al Fitr, but we haven’t heard anything yet, while Dubizzle and Property Finder are gauging investor appetite ahead of potential listings.

Adnoc gets the all-clear from EU antitrust regulators for Covestro takeover

EU antitrust regulators gave Adnoc’s proposed EUR 14.7 bn acquisition of German chemicals firm Covestro the all clear, as was expected by anonymous sources that had talked to Reuters last week, according to a statement. This came after the European Commission concluded that the transaction poses no competition concerns due to its minimal effect on the relevant markets.

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Regulatory clearances from countries where Covestro operates have already started pouring in, while Covestro also said it is confident it will receive all the approvals before the deadline. The transaction is expected to close in 2H 2025.

REFRESHER- Adnoc’s new low-carbon energy investment arm XRG secured a 91.3% stake in Covestro following the completion of its voluntary public takeover offer, which marks the largest acquisition from a Middle Eastern buyer in Europe in 16 years. After over a year of negotiations, Covestro’s management expressed support for Adnoc’s takeover offer earlier in November.

Adnoc + its subsidiaries have more M&A transactions in the pipeline: Adnoc-owned urea and ammonia producer and exporter Fertiglobe inked an agreement earlier this week to acquire the distribution assets of fertilizer supplier Wengfu Australia. Adnoc has also been shortlisted as a potential buyer of Shell’s downstream assets in South Africa, valued at around USD 1 bn. Meanwhile, XRG is pledging bns of investments in the US’ energy sector, including through USD 9 bn worth of acquisitions of natural gas assets.

UAE’s Terminals Holding to develop Astana airport for USD 1.1 bn

Kazakhstan, UAE expand aviation and trade ties: UAE-based aviation company Terminals Holding signed a USD 1.1 bn investment agreement with Kazakhstan’s Transportation Ministry to expand the airport in its capital Astana, according to a statement from Kazakhstan’s government. The long-term agreement will see Terminal Holdings build a second runway, a new cargo terminal, and a third passenger terminal. No timeline for the new developments has been given.

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The background: The agreement builds on a 2023 preliminary agreement, according to the Kazakh government’s website. It comes as part of Kazakhstan’s broader push to attract foreign investment to its aviation infrastructure, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasizing the need for private capital to position Kazakhstan as a regional transit hub between China and Russia.

ALSO- Kazakhstani national railway company Temir Zholy has dispatched its first wheat shipment to the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port via a new logistics corridor, according to a press release. Facilitated by cargo trader IK Trading, the cargo traveled through Turkmenistan and Iran, with transshipment at Bandar Abbas before continuing by sea to the UAE. The average journey time is 18 days.

1 in 5 bn: These agreements come just a day after the UAE and Kazakhstan signed USD 5 bn worth of MoUs covering energy, AI, infrastructure, and logistics. The agreements include a round-the-clock energy project from Masdar and Kazakh sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, a collaboration with AIQ on Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector efficiency, and #1- an agreement between AD Ports Group and Kazmortransflot to expand capacity for their container shipping partnership in the Caspian Sea.

Abu Dhabi property prices rise 7.2% in 1Q amid supply squeeze -ValuStrat

Abu Dhabi’s property market kicked off 2025 with its strongest capital gains in three years, with broad-based growth across residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail segments, according to ValuStrat’s latest report (pdf).

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Residential prices and rents continued to rise: The ValuStrat Price Index for Abu Dhabi’s residential market rose 2.1% q-o-q and 7.2% y-o-y — the fastest annual increase since 2022. Villas led the gains, with prices up 2.7% q-o-q and 9.7% y-o-y, while apartment prices climbed 1.5% q-o-q and 4.5% y-o-y.

Apartment rents outpaced villas, surging 11.6% y-o-y and 3.4% q-o-q. Villa rents rose 6.3% y-o-y and remained flat q-o-q. Average gross yields across the residential market stood at 7.8%, with occupancy estimated at 88.1%.

Sales activity was mixed amid tight supply: Off-plan sales volumes dropped 79.2% y-o-y and 57.7% q-o-q as new launches slowed. Meanwhile, just 2% of the 2025 residential pipeline was delivered in 1Q. Still, the average ticket size for off-plan units jumped 19.2% y-o-y to AED 3.6 mn.

Meanwhile, ready home sales climbed 13.6% y-o-y but fell 33.6% q-o-q. The average ready home price increased 5.8% y-o-y, while average ticket size rose 23.8% y-o-y to AED 2.6 mn.

REMEMBER- More supply is on the horizon: Cushman & Wakefield expects around 8.5k new residential units to be delivered this year, particularly in Yas Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, and Al Maryah Island. Off-plan launches on Hudayriat Island and Masdar City are also expected to boost unit handovers through to 2027.

Commercial, hospitality, and retail segments remained resilient:

Office rents in prime business districts rose 8.0% q-o-q and 31.8% y-o-y, with occupancy rates coming in at 90.5%;
Hotel occupancy stood at 86.9% as of February, driving a 38.7% y-o-y increase in revenue per available room;
Retail performance remained strong with Yas Mall’s 97% occupancy rate outperforming the 90% market average.

Looking ahead: ValuStrat expects further price and rent growth this year, underpinned by stable mortgage activity and strong end-user demand. New project launches in Saadiyat Island, Ghantoot, and Zayed City point to ongoing developer confidence. The rollout of Abu Dhabi’s first rental index — with quarterly updates planned — is also set to improve market transparency and price benchmarking.

Dubai office rents surged 45% in 1Q as vacancy hit record lows -Savills

Dubai’s office market extended its rally in 1Q 2025, with limited supply and strong demand driving record-low vacancy rates and sharp rental increases, according to Savills’ latest Dubai Office Market report (pdf). Rents rose across all 22 sub-markets tracked, with average y-o-y increases reaching 45%.

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Prime districts led rental growth: Business Bay saw the steepest increase, with rents surging 94% y-o-y — putting prices on par with premium Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) properties. Downtown Dubai followed with a 51% rise, while the DIFC itself recorded a 46% jump. Rents in TECOM clusters, including DIC, DMC, and DKV, were up 23% y-o-y.

Grade A space remained scarce, fueling more demand in Dubai South, Expo City: The vacancy rate in DIFC dropped to just 2%, with occupancy at 98%. Tenants are beginning to look towards core submarkets like Dubai South and Expo City, where rents are more competitive and space is more readily available, the report said. Rents in Dubai South climbed 54%.

Lease renewals > relocations: With steep rent increases of 45% y-o-y on average, many tenants opted to renew existing leases, particularly in areas protected by RERA caps, rather than relocate. This trend also contributed to lower market churn and reduced availability for new entrants, Savills noted.

Flexible workspace providers have also expanded to meet rising demand, with new entrants from Egypt, Asia, and the UK joining the market, while existing providers expanded into malls and semi-industrial zones.

ICYMI- Demand was buoyed by new business activity: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce recorded 70.5k new business registrations in 2024, a 4.6% y-o-y increase. High-growth sectors included construction (+33%), real estate and business services (+8.4%), transport and communications (+8.3%), and financial intermediation (+8.3%). These trends were reflected in leasing activity, with financial services, consulting, and tech and media firms accounting for 51% of Savills’ 1Q transactions.

Looking ahead: Savills expects space constraints and subsequent rental pressure to persist throughout 2025. While new supply is in the pipeline, much of it is already pre-leased, keeping competition for quality space high, the report said.

More 1Q earnings roll in

FERTIGLOBE-

Adnoc-owned urea and ammonia producer and exporter Fertiglobe saw its net income decline 24% y-o-y to USD 73 mn in 1Q 2025, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The company reported a 26% y-o-y increase in revenues to USD 695 mn on the back of higher sales volumes (+7% in own-produced sales volumes), driven by operational improvements, higher urea prices, and “strategic shipment deferrals,” the company said in its earnings release (pdf).

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The company is planning to become a USD 1 bn+ EBITDA1 firm under a new growth strategy. This will see it target USD 35 mn in annual run rate savings and USD 80 mn in EBITDA by 2027, contributing to some USD 165-175 mn in EBITDA on a run rate basis during that time frame.

The Adnoc unit has already nearly completed the first phase of its manufacturing improvement plan, and plans to pursue value accretive investments into low-carbon ammonia that could contribute USD 70-100 mn to EBITDA by 2030. The ammonia producer is also increasing price realization across specific regions and contract types and broadening its portfolio of nitrogen-based products.

SALIK-

Dubai toll operator Salik saw its net income increase 33.7% y-o-y in 1Q 2025, reaching AED 370.6 mn, according to its financials (pdf). The company’s revenues also grew 33.7% y-o-y to AED 751.6 mn during the quarter.

Toll fee revenues grew 35.5% y-o-y to AED 665.6 mn, with the number of trips climbing 35.1% to 210.8 mn. Fines contributed AED 68.4 mn, a 16.2% y-o-y increase.

The robust performance was driven by the launch of two new toll gates last November and the introduction of variable pricing in late January, the company said in a separate earnings release (pdf).

Looking ahead: The company expects revenue to grow by 28-29% compared to FY2024.

INVESTCORP CAPITAL-

Investcorp Capital reported a net income of USD 13 mn in 3Q of the 2024/25 fiscal year, down 13.3% y-o-y from USD 15 mn, according to its financials (pdf). Revenue from capital financing services rose 18.2% y-o-y to USD 13 mn, while capital deployment revenue held steady at USD 10 mn. Investcorp’s fiscal year runs from July to June.

9M snapshot: For the nine-month period ending 31 March 2025, net income declined 16.3% y-o-y to USD 41 mn, while total operating income edged up 3% y-o-y to USD 69 mn. Cash distributable earnings jumped 82% q-o-q to USD 71 mn, supported by exits including RESA Power and the US National I real estate portfolio, the company said in an earnings release (pdf).

The firm deployed USD 1.2 bn during the period and recorded realizations of USD 824 mn, with capital deployment exposure rising to 90% of long-term capital, up from 66% in June 2024. Total assets climbed 23.1% to USD 2.2 bn since June 2024, with 62% allocated to yield-generating investments.

Dividends: “The balance sheet is healthy and our high cash generation supports our commitment to deliver the 8% annualized dividend payment at the end of the fiscal year,” said CFO Rohit Nanda.

AGTHIA-

Agthia Group saw its net income decline 32.5% y-o-y to AED 86.1 mn in 1Q 2025, according to its earnings release (pdf) and financial statements (pdf). Revenues dipped 11.4% y-o-y to AED 1.3 bn, dragged down by the impact of Egypt’s EGP devaluation, a lack of wheat trading activity at the start of 2025 following one-off gains from wheat trading activity in 1Q 2024, and ongoing operational headwinds and lower sales in the dates business. On the upside, revenues in its food and water segment saw a 10.6% uptick, driven by bottled water sales and new B2B contracts.

Looking ahead, the firm hopes its diversified portfolio and recent acquisitions in Abu Auf and Riveiere will help bolster its bottom line.

AGILITY GLOBAL-

ADX-listed logistics firm Agility Global saw its net income for equity holders dip 30% y-o-y to USD 21.4 mn in 1Q 2025, according to an earnings release (pdf). Management attributed the decline to increased depreciation from new operating leases and higher interest expense following its listing on the ADX in May — as well as greater debt usage compared to 1Q 2024. The firm posted revenue growth of around 17% y-o-y to USD 1.1 bn during the same period.

GULF CEMENT-

Gulf Cement Company reported a net loss of AED 10.7 mn in 1Q 2025, deepening the loss for 1Q 2024 by 40.8%, according to its financials (pdf). Revenues rose 22.8% y-o-y to AED 140 mn, driven by increased sales both within and outside the UAE. However, the cost of sales also rose to USD 140.1 mn, bringing overall operating losses to AED 9.6 mn.

REMEMBER- TC Mena Holdings recently acquired a majority stake in Gulf Cement by acquiring an additional stake of 26.44%.

AIR ARABIA-

Air Arabia reported a 26.5% y-o-y jump in net income after tax to AED 305.1 mn in 1Q 2025, up from AED 241 mn in the same period last year, according to the company’s financials (pdf). Revenues rose 14% y-o-y to AED 1.8 bn, driven by increased passenger demand and network expansion, according to its earnings release (pdf). Top line growth helped the firm weather market fluctuations and seasonal challenges that affected the rest of the industry.

E7 GROUP-

Printing company E7 Group’s bottom line dipped 28.6% y-o-y to AED 19 mn in 1Q 2025, according to its financials (pdf). Revenue fell 9.8% y-o-y to AED 113.7 mn, primarily down to the delivery schedule of contracts, the company said in a separate earnings release (pdf). The topline dip weighed net income results down. On the flip side, gross margins rose 90 bps y-o-y to 22.7%, supported by better supply chain and operational efficiency

Looking ahead: Management expects revenue trends to rebound in the coming quarters as new contracts continue. During the quarter, E7 onboarded 17 new clients and secured five contracts, including a major passport agreement within its identity solutions division.

ORIENT INS.-

Orient Ins. reported a 4.1% y-o-y rise in net income to AED 312.6 mn in 1Q 2025, according to the company’s financial statements (pdf). The company saw its ins. revenues increase 20.2% y-o-y to AED 2.2 bn.

***Editor’s note: A previous version of this story mistakenly wrote that Agthia’s net income was dragged down by a lack of wheat trading activity in 2024. The lack of wheat trading activity was actually during 1Q 2025, following one-off wheat trading activity in 1Q 2024.

Dubai taps new sec-gen for Dubai Media Council

Dubai has reconstituted the Dubai Media Council, with Nehal Badri (LinkedIn) undertaking the secretary-general role, state news agency Wam reports. The board includes 10 other members from the public and media sectors, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as chair, and Mona Ghanem Al Marri as vice chair and managing director.

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REMEMBER- Dubai passed a new law last December that centralizes media regulation under the Dubai Media Council, making it the regulatory authority for all media activities across the emirate, including in freezones. The emirate also established the Dubai Films and Games Commission under the council to replace the former Dubai Film and TV Commission.

Botim is first fintech to issue CBUAE’s Jaywan

FINTECH-

#1- Botim first fintech to issue Jaywan cards: Fintech platform Botim, backed by Astra Tech, has partnered with the UAE’s digital Al Maryah Community bank (Mbank) to become the first fintech to issue the UAE’s domestic payment Jaywan cards, according to a press release. Users can now apply for and activate the prepaid card through Botim’s app, as well as manage transactions digitally without requiring a traditional bank account. The card is developed under the supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and supported by Network International.

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REMEMBER- Jaywan, introduced by the CBUAE’s digital payments arm Al Etihad Payments, has already collaborated with several banks and card providers, including Visa and Emirates NBD, and it is also set to launch a credit card option in addition to its existing debit card.

#2- Emirates NBD, Nasscom team up to boost UAE-India fintech collaboration: Emirates NBD signed an MoU with Indian tech and trade non-profit Nasscom to strengthen bilateral fintech and tech innovation ties, according to a press release. The two will identify and onboard high-potential Indian fintechs into the UAE market and conduct joint research on the financial services sector.

ICYMI- The new partnership builds on growing UAE-India fintech ties. Last year, Nasscom signed an MoU with the Dubai International Financial Center to connect Indian tech firms with Dubai’s fintech ecosystem.

MANUFACTURING-

Honeywell opens first Middle East gas detector production line in Masdar City: Honeywell has launched a new gas detection systems manufacturing line at Masdar City’s innovation hub, marking its first production facility for such safety devices outside Mexico, Al Bayan reports.

The details: The plant will produce 100k mobile detectors and 1k mounted detectors each year. The facility will also develop technical solutions for international partners, said Honeywell’s automation president for the region George Bou Mitri.

M&A-

Aldar sells AED 586 mn property to Hong Kong’s Gaw: Aldar Properties sold a residential building in Mamsha Gardens to Hong Kong real estate-focused private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners for AED 586 mn, marking Gaw’s first UAE investment, according to a press release (pdf). The 71-unit residential building, located in Saadiyat Cultural District, spans 16k sqm.

The bigger picture: Buyers from China and Hong Kong buyers made up AED 1.5 bn of Aldar’s sales in 2024, marking a 30-fold increase from 2022 and representing growing interest from investors in Asian markets. International buyers accounted for 87% of Aldar’s UA sales in 1Q 2025. Aldar is also launching the sale of a seventh building today, the statement read.

US stocks extend rally on softer inflation data

US equities rallied Tuesday on the back of a softer-than-expected April inflation reading and a tariff truce between the US and China. The S&P 500 closed higher for the second straight session, wiping out year-to-date losses — the benchmark is now up 0.1% for the year. The rebound comes as a welcome reversal from the steep market sell-off triggered by the announcement of US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on 2 April, which had dragged the S&P down as much as 15% YTD.

Inflation slowed, and tariff pressure eased: Annual inflation slowed to 2.3% in April, down from 2.4% in March, and slightly below forecasts. Consumer prices climbed 0.2% m-o-m in April — also below forecasts — up from a 0.1% drop in March, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “There was nothing in CPI to throw it off,” BMO Private Wealth’s strategist Carol Schleif told Reuters. The CPI data landed just a day after Washington and Beijing announced they would temporarily pause their trade war for 90 days, dialing back trade tensions that have weighed on markets for months.

Market reax: The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, notching a YTD gain for the first time since February. The tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up 1.6%, while the Dow Jones fell 0.6%, dragged by a 17.8% drop in UnitedHealth.

Sentiment shifts fast, but some remain cautious: The truce between the US and China on the tariffs front was akin to going “from iceberg to 80 degrees spring day overnight” said Schleif, pointing out that the news would help retailers stack up imports ahead of the holidays and the new academic year. “There’s been an instant reversal in the prevailing trends of the last several months,” Putnam Investments’ Shep Perkins told the Financial Times, calling the truce a “big positive surprise.”

Still, others warned the rebound may be overblown: “Relief from policy-inflicted stress may be bullish at the margin, but it does not strengthen the economy or reverse the global slowdown that was already under way,” said BCA Research’s Felix-Antoine Vezina-Poirier, warning that a global 10% tariff would remain a “stagflationary drag.”

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed in early trading this morning. Japan’s Nikkei is down 0.6% and the Shanghai Composite is down 0.1%, while the Hang Seng (1.2%) and Korea’s Kospi (0.7%) are in the green.

ADX	9,631	-0.1% (YTD: +2.3%)
DFM	5,363	+0.5% (YTD: +3.9%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,446	+0.4% (YTD: +6.8%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.1% o/n	4.2% 1 yr
TASI	11,532	+0.4% (YTD: -4.3%)
EGX30	31,693	+0.4% (YTD: +6.6%)
S&P 500	5,887	+0.7% (YTD: +0.1%)
FTSE 100	8,603	+0.0% (YTD: +5.3%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,417	+0.5% (YTD: +10.8%)
Brent crude	USD 66.63	+2.3%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.61	-1.1%
Gold	USD 3,255	+0.2%
BTC	USD 104,204	+1.3% (YTD: +11.3%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	USD 3.60	-0.3% (YTD: +1%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	143.0	-0.3% (YTD: +2.2%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	18.2	-0.9% (YTD: +5.0%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 0.5% yesterday on turnover of AED 574.3 mn. The index is up 3.9% YTD.

In the green: Naeem Holding For Investments (+14.8%), Depa (+10.8%) and Agility The Public Warehousing Company (+5.0%).

In the red: International Financial Advisors (-9.2%), National General Ins. (-3.0%) and Ithmaar Holding (-2.5%).

Over on the ADX, the index fell 0.1% on turnover of AED 1.3 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 0.4%.

UAE to invest in Ghana’s renewables, aviation, defense sectors

Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to discuss deepening bilateral ties, state news agency Wam reports. The two sides explored expanding cooperation in key sectors including the economy, trade, investment, and energy.

WATCH THIS SPACE- Several UAE companies have committed to investing in renewable energy, AI, education, health, aviation and defense in Ghana, with some of them set to head to Ghana in the next few weeks, Ablakwa said in an X post.

Al Nahyan also met with Palestinian Vice President Hussain al Sheikh, to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to an X statement.

CALENDAR

MAY

13-15 May (Tuesday-Thursday): World Police Summit, Dubai World Trade Center.

13-16 May (Tuesday-Friday): International Union for Health Promotion and Education Conference, Abu Dhabi.

13-14 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): The Annual HR Tech MENA, Dubai.

13-14 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global Ports Forum, Dubai.

13-14 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Low Carbon Fuels MENA Summit, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Dubai.

13-15 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Cabsat Middle East and Satellite Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

13-15 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Integrate Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

13-20 May (Tuesday-Tuesday): Dubai Holding REIT subscription period.

13-15 May (Tuesday-Thursday): SATExpo Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

14-15 May (Wednesday-Thursday): HODL Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

15 May (Thursday-Sunday): The Economy Middle East Summit, ADGM, Abu Dhabi.

15 May (Thursday): Dewa tender for pumping stations bids deadline.

15 May (Thursday): The India-UAE Partners in Progress Conclave 2025, Taj Exotica, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

15-18 May (Thursday-Sunday): The GLA Global Logistics Conference, Grand Hyatt Dubai.

16 May (Friday): InvestopiaEurope, Palazzo Mezzanotte, Milan, Italy.

19-20 May (Monday-Tuesday): Arqaam Capital MENA Investor Conference 2025, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi.

19-22 May (Monday-Thursday): Make it in the Emirates, Adnec, Abu Dhabi.

20 May (Tuesday): Dubai Business Forum, Hamburg, Germany.

20-21 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): The International Real Estate Investment Summit (IREIS 2025), Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah.

20-22 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Seamless Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center.

21 May (Wednesday): The AWS Summit, the Dubai World Trade Center.

21 May (Wednesday): Dubai Holding REIT final offer price and allocation of units announcement.

21-22 May (Wednesday-Tuesday): The CryptoExpo Dubai, the Dubai World Trade Center.

23-25 May (Friday-Sunday): EuroLeague Final Four, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.

23 April (Wednesday): The HIMSS Executive Summit 2025, Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

26-28 May (Monday-Wednesday): Arab Media Summit, World Trade Center, Dubai.

28 May (Wednesday): The Dubai Residential REIT will ring the bell.

27-29 May (Tuesday-Thursday): INDEX, Workspace, and The Hotel Show, Dubai World Trade Center.

28-31 May: The Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition, Adnec Center Al Ain, Abu Dhabi.

30 May (Friday): Arafat Day.

31 May-2 June (Saturday-Monday): Eid Al Adha.

JUNE

17-18 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

17-18 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.

24-25 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East Rail, Dubai World Trade Center.

27 June (Friday): Islamic New Year.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2H 2025:

Closing of XRG’s acquisition of Covestro

JULY

6-7 July (Sunday-Monday): BRICS Summit, Rio de Janeiro.

29-30 July (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

SEPTEMBER

8-10 September (Monday-Wednesday): DigiHealth exhibition, World Trade Center, Dubai.

8-19 September (Monday-Wednesday): WHX-Tech Expo, Dubai World Trade Centre.

12-14 September (Friday-Sunday): The International Real Estate and Investment Show, Abu Dhabi.

16-17 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Forum, Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, Dubai.

OCTOBER

1-2 October (Thursday-Friday):World Green Economy Summit (WGES), Dubai World Trade Centre.

30 September – 2 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), Dubai World Trade Centre.

3-16 October (Friday-Thursday): Dubai Home Festival.

7-9 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

9-15 October (Thursday-Wednesday): IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi.

27-29 October (Monday-Wednesday): Future Hospitality Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

27-29 October (Monday-Wednesday): Asia Pacific Cities Summit, Dubai Exhibition Center.

28-29 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

NOVEMBER

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

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow 2025, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.

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

DECEMBER

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

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

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

8-10 December (Monday-Wednesday): BRIDGE media summit, Abu Dhabi.

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2025:

The Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.
e& will complete Adnoc’s private 5G network.
Executive Committee Meeting (EXCOM 2025) conference of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO)
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s Global Implementation Support Symposium, Abu Dhabi.
Universal Postal Congress 2025, Dubai.

Signposted to happen sometime in the fall of 2025:

2025 Games of the Future, Dubai.
ICOM General Conference 2025, Dubai

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit’s fourth edition, UAE
3-5 February (Tuesday-Thursday): The World Governments Summit.
12-15 February (Thursday-Sunday): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference, Abu Dhabi.
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 2026, UAE
The first edition of Dubai Future Finance Week.

Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:

Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:

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 and 2029:

The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

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