UAE reopens airspace as Trump announces Iran-Israel ceasefire

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: UAE reopens airspace + Trump says Iran and Israel agree to a ceasefire

Good morning, wonderful people. The brief disruption of airspace in the region yesterday and the looming sense of panic after Iran struck a US military base in Qatar have both been quashed overnight, after US President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran had reached a tentative ceasefire.

Trump hinted at a complete “end” to hostilities after 24 hours, with the news making it to the front pages of virtually every foreign news outlet: Financial Times | Bloomberg | Reuters | Associated Press | Guardian

The announcement came mere hours after the strikes in Qatar, which were intercepted and caused no injuries or casualties, but had led to the brief closure of airspace in Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

The strikes came in response to the US’ strikes earlier this week on Iran’s nuclear facilities, though most political analysts concede that the move was largely symbolic, and that Qatari officials were aware they would take place. While Trump characteristically dismissed the strikes as a “very weak response," he less characteristically thanked Iran for giving it advance notice to avoid any loss of life and called for both Israel and Iran to seek peace. (Reuters | Bloomberg | Associated Press | New York Times | Washington Post | Guardian)

The news sent oil prices tumbling 5%, with Brent futures closing at USD 71.48 a barrel. Stocks cheered the news, while safe haven assets like the USD fell in a risk rally. We have more on the market response in this morning’s Planet Finance, below.

Flights to and from the UAE should now be back to normal, with only a dozen flights having to divert from Dubai last night, Bloomberg reports. British Airways, which had suspended flights to Dubai earlier on Monday, has also resumed flights, the Natio nal reports.

Still, the turbulent events leading up to the ceasefire left their mark. Prominent financial institutions pulled staff and family members from the Middle East, amid concerns over regional stability, Reuters reported earlier yesterday. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group evacuated family members of staff based in Dubai and Riyadh, and was reportedly considering allowing employees to depart at their own discretion, depending on how the situation evolves. Mizuho Financial Group was also evaluating contingency options, including potential staff withdrawals, and JPMorgan is only allowing essential travel to the region.

WEATHER- Dubai will see an afternoon high of 40°C today — though it will feel as hot as 51°C — before cooling down a bit to an overnight low of 30°C, according to our favorite weather app. Temperatures in Abu Dhabi are on the cooler side as usual with afternoon highs reaching 35°C before dipping to an overnight low of 31°C.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- New AED symbol coming to your laptop soon? The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has asked major tech firms to adopt the new AED symbol across digital platforms, Emarat Al Youm reports. The request went to firms like Apple, Microsoft, and Google, to switch the current symbol to the new AED one on keyboards, financial transactions, and search engines.

The timeline: The bank set September as an adoption target, but this could be pushed to next year if the alteration doesn’t catch companies’ update cycle in time this year, a source said. The bank guide proposes placing the symbol on the 6 key on keyboards, though the final implementation requires approval from tech companies.

ICYMI- UAE banks rolled out the country’s new AED symbol across mobile apps and ATMs last month, marking the first step in its phased adoption. The new symbol, unveiled earlier in March, features two horizontal lines signifying stability, inspired by the UAE flag.

#2- Americana confirms talks with Cravia over a buyout: ADX and Tadawul-listed F&B giant Americana Restaurants International has confirmed it is in early talks to acquire a stake in Dubai-based Cravia, the MENA operator of Five Guys, Cinnabon, and Zaatar w Zeit, according to a disclosure (pdf ). No details on the size, value, or timeline of the acquisition were disclosed. Americana was said to be in initial talks for the move last week with Dubai-based private equity firm Fajr Capital, which acquired Cravia in 2016.

DATA POINT-

Indian-owned businesses accounted for the lion’s share of non-Emirati firms joining the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 1Q 2025, with 4.5k new joiners, according to the Dubai Media Office. Pakistani companies followed with 2.2k registrations, while Egyptian firms ranked third with 1.4k. Bangladeshi members grew 28.5% y-o-y to 817, while firms from the UK (678), Syria (462), Jordan (350), China (347), Turkey (329), and Iraq (303) also made it into the top ten.

Sector-wise, new members came primarily from the wholesale and retail trade segment, while real estate and business services accounted for 35.4%, and construction’s 16.7% share put it in the third spot.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- EVCharge Live Middle East arrives at the Dubai World Trade Center today and tomorrow, spotlighting EV charging infrastructure. Event highlights include a conference with over 150 speakers, an EV and charging exhibition, and networking meetings.

#2- Solar & Storage Live is also happening today and tomorrow at the Dubai World Trade Center. The solar energy and battery storage exhibition will see over 10k attendees meet for talks and exhibitions on technology focused on the green transition.

#3- Mobility Live Middle East returns to Dubai today and tomorrow at the Dubai World Trade Center, spotlighting future transport. The trade event will bring together regional mobility leaders for keynotes, panel sessions, and an expo featuring autonomous tech, smart cities, and public transport.

#4- Middle East Rail will run in parallel today and tomorrow at Dubai World Trade Center, bringing together transport ministries, rail operators, and tech firms for discussions and exhibitions on high-speed networks, digitalisation, and transit infrastructure.

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Budget surplus narrows in 1Q 2025

The UAE federal government’s consolidated revenues came in at just under AED 120.8 bn in 1Q 2025, according to preliminary Finance Ministry data (pdf). This represents a mere 0.1% increase from the quarter last year, when revenues came in at AED 120.6 bn, according to the previous year’s data (pdf).

Taxes once again made up the lion’s share of the government’s overall revenues for the quarter, reaching AED 75.2 bn — representing 62.3% of the UAE’s total revenues in 1Q. Tax revenues were down 10.6% y-o-y.

Total expenditure rose by 10.9% y-o-y to reach AED 107.7 bn in 1Q, compared to just under AED 97.1 bn in the same quarter of the previous year. Breakdown of spending:

AED 31 bn were spent on salaries and employee compensation;
AED 29.6 bn went to spending on goods and services;
AED 17.4 bn were spent on social benefits;
AED 3.6 bn were allocated for financial interest payments;
AED 2.3 bn went to spending on subsidies;
AED 2.2 bn for fixed capital consumption;
AED 244.5 mn for grants;
AED 19.4 bn accounted for other unnamed expenses.

The UAE borrowed less in 1Q 2025 on an annual basis: Net lending/borrowing at the state level amounted to approximately AED 13.1 bn, down from AED 23.5 bn in 1Q 2024. The fiscal surplus narrowed from AED 23.5 bn in the same quarter last year.

REMEMBER- The UAE is projected to see fiscal surpluses averaging 3.2% of GDP until 2028 — but the surplus will halve relative to what was seen between 2021-2024, S&P Global Ratings wrote previously. Lower oil prices and higher government spending is expected to lower the surplus to 2% of GDP this year, after which it will average 3.8% over 2026-2028, bringing it below the 6.4% average for 2021-2024. Sharjah — unlike Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah — is expected to see a fiscal deficit of 5% of its GDP over the next four years.

Stryde acquires angel investment network Qora71

Stryde buys Qora 71 + rebrands it as new VC arm: DFSA-regulated digital investment outfit Stryde has acquired Abu Dhabi-born angel investment network Qora71 in a share swap, marking its foray into tech investing, Qora71 Founder Youssef Salem told EnterpriseAM. The takeover gives Stryde, which is based in Dubai, a foothold in Abu Dhabi, while also granting Qora71 access to a larger licensed investment infrastructure.

The details: Qora 71 will be rebranded as Stryde 71, becoming a dedicated venture capital arm under Stryde’s umbrella, according to a joint statement (pdf). It will offer streamlined access to syndicated tech and early-stage investment channels. Meanwhile, Qora 71 founder Yousef Salem will join Stryde as a partner, bringing his network and expertise to the newly formed vertical.

Transaction mechanism: Stryde bought 100% of Qora71’s shares from its founder Youssef Salem in exchange for an undisclosed amount of newly-issued shares in the Dubai-based firm, Salem told EnterpriseAM.

In the pipeline: The rebranded entity has a pipeline of over USD 1 mn of transactions, targeting one investment per month, according to Salem. The firm says it is sector agnostic, and has been seeing activity in AI, biotech, and digital asset startups.

About the firms: Founded in October 2024 as a regulated private market investment platform, Stryde provides early-stage funding options to startup founders in MENA with a minimum investment of USD 1k, with the aim of increasing access to private equity and venture capital investments. Qora71 currently boasts a network of 130 angel investors and has facilitated more than 50 transactions in startups, deploying some USD 2 mn in capital within five months.

ICYMI- Qora 71 was among the four angel investor networks selected in December to receive AED 150k in support from Hub71 aimed at expanding their investor base and establishing legal investment structures. Since then, Qora71 has led a seed round for eVoost AI, its first major transaction, participated in Lumi AI ’s seed round, and joined the Series A funding round for Toronto-based Basetwo.

IN OTHER QORA71 NEWS-

Qora71 backs Roomz.rent in pre-seed round: Qora71 led a pre-seed funding round of an undisclosed sum for co-living startup Roomz.rent, alongside a group of angel investors, according to a company statement (pdf). “Roomz.rent is tackling one of the biggest and most broken categories in MENA, urban rentals,” Qora71 Director Youssef Salem said, citing the startup’s early traction and “discipline we usually see at a later stage than pre-seed.”

About Roomz.rent: Launched in November 2024 by Mohamed Ayman (LinkedIn), Yasser El Sarrag (LinkedIn), and Ahmed Mandour, (LinkedIn), the platform offers fully managed, furnished rentals with minimum stays of three months. It says it has already signed over USD 100k worth of contracts, with tenants averaging nine-month stays. Roomz.rents plans to grow its operations in Cairo and lay the groundwork for future regional expansion.

Wealthbrix Capital Partners launches in DIFC to serve growing base of mid-tier m’naires and UNHWIs

New wealth manager in town: Wealth management firm Wealthbrix Capital Partners has officially launched operations from the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), according to a statement. Licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the newly established firm will offer private wealth, asset management, and corporate finance advisory services to clients across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Who’s backing it? Wealthbrix launched with an eight-figure USD equity raise backed by a group of global investors, including family offices, a venture capital firm, and regional angel investors. No other details on the funding round and the identities of the investors were disclosed. Wealthbrix’s team brings together a group of private banking and wealth management veterans who have overseen upwards of USD 30 bn in assets under management.

Targeting a market gap: The firm is focusing on mid-tier m’naires with USD 5-30 mn in investable assets — a fast-growing but underserved segment, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UNHWIs), according to Wealthbrix. “This is a rare moment to elevate and optimize how wealth is managed in the region,” said CEO Rajesh Khanna.

The pitch: Wealthbrix’s platform includes open-architecture investment access, in-house asset management capabilities, multiple global custody partners, and integrated debt and equity advisory. Clients will also be able to use a digital dashboard that offers consolidated portfolio reporting and a comprehensive view across banks and asset classes. As part of its long-term strategy, the firm is also building a DIFC-based fund platform to anchor investment activity locally.

New funds incoming: The firm is planning on launching several DIFC-domiciled funds, CityWire quotes Wealthbrix’s asset management head Steve Corrin as saying. A fixed income fund and a regional money market fund are set to be the first to be rolled out, with multi-asset strategies slated to follow this year.

Why Dubai + why now? The emirate represents “a unique convergence of regulatory clarity, global talent, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Khanna said, while advisory board chairman Hamad Buamim added that “[t]his is the Dubai moment.”

IN CONTEXT- The launch comes amid a historic shift in global wealth flows, with an estimated USD 85-100 tn set to change hands by 2050, including around USD 1 tn in the GCC. In the UAE alone, more than 6.7k m’naires relocated to Dubai in 2024, with over 30k expected in the next five years — a trend Wealthbrix is looking to tap into.

How much of the UAE’s oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and what are the alternatives?

The crucial role the Strait of Hormuz plays in the flow of crude oil from the region has taken center stage since Israel first attacked Iran earlier this month. With the possibility of the closure growing very real this week, after Iran’s parliament reportedly voted for its closure as retaliation against the US and Israel following the US’ attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, we take a look at the UAE’s alternatives for oil exports — and how practical they would be in the event of the strait’s closure.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

DISCLAIMER- Even before US president Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, the consensus among analysts was that the closure of the strait would be an unlikely scenario, as it would put Iran in a difficult position with China, which is a key Iranian ally and receives most of its oil through the strait.

By the numbers: About 30% of the world’s daily oil supply and 20% of global LNG trade pass through the strait. The UAE moves about 1.5 mn bbl/d out of its 2.8 mn bb/d exports through the strait, M ees reported.

The UAE currently only has one option for bypassing the strait: The Adcop — or the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline — connects Adnoc’s Habshan crude oil processing plant in Abu Dhabi with the nation’s Fujairah export terminal on the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Strait, Mees reported. The pipeline has a capacity of 1.8 mn bbl/d — about 67% of the 2.85 mn bbl/d of crude oil exported from the Emirates this year.

The catch: The pipeline only links to Adnoc’s Murban onshore fields, leaving offshore-sourced crude reliant on the strait for market access. This means that about half of the UAE’s crude exports — 1.5 mn bb/d of offshore production — wouldn’t be up for diversion through Adcop, which would force the UAE to up its production from the onshore Murban facilities.

The good news is: The UAE is working on new alternatives. Adnoc is developing a USD 3 bn 1.5 mn bbl/d crude oil pipeline to link up its Ruwais’ Jebel Dhanna terminal with Fujiairah, but it won’t be operational until 2027. The Emirates would see its bypassing capacity almost doubled when the project is operational.

Any measure to restrict movement in the Strait of Hormuz would “paralyze the [Arabian] gulf and impact the entire world,” Iraqi economist Hilal al-Taan told Shafaq News. Notable ports like UAE’s Jebel Ali, along with oil-reliant nations Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait will incur catastrophic financial losses, al-Taan said. While the UAE and KSA have alternative routes, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are wholly dependent on the strait for their energy exports, leaving them as the most vulnerable for the closure.

The strait’s closure would also likely shock oil markets, with Bloomberg analysts crude estimating a rise in oil prices to USD 130 per barrel in that scenario.

Sharjah to implement government HR overhaul

Sharjah mandates a standardized HR system across all agencies: Sharjah Ruler Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi issued a new law restructuring human resources management across Sharjah's government entities, state news agency Wam reports. The legislation standardizes HR practices for all public sector employees — including those in agencies with existing systems — and includes amendments on eligibility practices and job classifications.

The updates: The law mandates all government bodies to submit employee data, including salary information, to Sharjah’s human resources department through designated digital platforms. It also establishes a supreme committee for human resources under the Sharjah Executive Council to oversee policy interpretation, employee grievances, and other HR-related duties and affairs. The council and HR department will work on forming the committee.

The framework also prioritizes Emirati citizens and children of female citizens for government appointments while maintaining provisions for contractual hires of non-citizens.

What's being standardized: The reforms standardize HR practices including recruitment, performance evaluation, promotions, and disciplinary procedures. The law also establishes uniform policies for working hours, leave entitlements, and end-of-service benefits across all government entities.

City vs. Al Ain epitomizes the UAE’s decades’ worth of sports investments

The UAE’s state-led investment in global (and domestic) sport is getting ink in the Athletic, which used Manchester City and Al Ain’s Sunday’s Club World Cup face-off in Atlanta as an entry point for a profile of the decades’ worth of investments in sports from the Abu Dhabi-based Al Nahyan and Dubai-based Al Maktoum families. The sports news outlet points to a long-term strategy rooted in infrastructure development over splashy transfers, though despite the heavy investments, the local football culture is still behind others in the region and abroad.

IN CONTEXT- The match brought together two clubs backed by the UAE’s most senior leaders: City is owned by UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed, while Al Ain — the UAE’s most decorated club — has been led by his brother, President Mohamed bin Zayed, since 1979.

The business of sports in the UAE extends beyond direct investments in football clubs — airlines like Emirates and Etihad Airways are also sponsors of UAE-backed and UAE-based football clubs, including City, which is backed by the latter, and Al Ain, which is the official partner for the former.

Zand gets a BBB+ rating from Fitch +

DEBT-

#1- Fitch assigns Zand’s IDR a BBB+ rating: Fitch Ratings has assigned UAE-based digital Zand Bank ’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) a BBB+ rating with a stable outlook, according to a press release. The rating agency gave the bank a viability rating of B-, cautioning that it remains weak as the digital-first lender grapples with rapid growth, asset concentration, and capital pressures in its early phase.

The rationale: Despite solid operating conditions in the UAE and potential support from authorities, Zand’s loan book is young and highly concentrated, and its pricing power is limited by its small market share. Losses have narrowed significantly since launch, and Fitch expects Zand to reach profitability either this year or next, though it warned that capital buffers are rapidly shrinking due to high loan growth and accumulated losses.

#2- UAE-based brewery Falcon Brews has secured a USD 25 mn term loan facility from the Middle East arm of an unnamed Indian bank, Zawya reports, citing a senior company official, refuting recent speculation that the USD 65 mn venture project was on hold. The venture in Ras Al Khaimah is being developed in two phases, with USD 45 mn allocated to the brewery and USD 20 mn to the spirits bottling line.

The details: The USD 25 mn loan facility, structured with India-based collateral, will finance phase one of the project under a 70:30 debt-to-equity model. Disbursements will be milestone-based, with the company considering converting the remainder of the loan into working capital once construction wraps. The bottling line is expected to start operating by January 2026, and the brewery is on track for a late 2026 completion.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Adio, Adpic to streamline PPP delivery: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Center (Adpic) signed a strategic agreement to jointly oversee the planning, structuring, and procurement of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure projects across the emirate, according to a statement. The agreement introduces a unified operating model designed to improve coordination, speed up approvals, and enhance accountability, with oversight guided by joint KPIs and scheduled inter-agency coordination.

The agreement comes as Abu Dhabi ramps up its PPP activity: Adpic has signed AED 22 bn in contracts so far this year and plans to finalize another AED 47 bn in 2H 2025. The emirate targets AED 450 bn in infrastructure investments over the next five to 10 years.

STARTUPS-

Playbook partners with FinBursa to boost women's access to private markets: Global women's executive networking platform Playbook teamed up with investment technology platform FinBursa to address gender gaps in private market investing, according to a press release (pdf). The partnership will provide women in Playbook’s network with education, tools, and direct investment opportunities, and will launch on Wednesday, 25 June.

About FinBursa: FinBursa, backed by cofounder and Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf Al Saud launched in the Dubai International Financial Center last month with plans to expand into MENA, North Africa, and Southeast Asia over the coming year. The platform aims to digitize and streamline access to private market investments by connecting investors, capital seekers, and advisors through an AI-powered interface to streamline investing processes.

REAL ESTATE-

Amaal + Mansory partner on Dubai luxury tower: Amaal Real Estate and automotive design firm Mansory will collaborate on a AED 1.8 bn residential project in Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid City, according to press release. The 48-story tower, named Mansory Residences, marks Mansory's first real estate venture, with completion set for 4Q 2028. The development will include one- to three-bedroom units and eight penthouses across 142.8 sqm.

SubHed_! DISPUTE WATCH-

New infrastructure dispute system in Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Center (ADPIC) inked an MoU with Abu Dhabi Global Arbitration Center (arbitradeAD) to establish a standardized framework for resolving disputes across the emirate's infrastructure projects, according to a press release.

Under the agreement, ADGAC will appoint arbitrators and dispute resolution boards for ADPIC's projects, which exceed AED 200 bn in value. They will form independent expert panels before projects begin to address potential conflicts during execution, aiming to reduce delays and improve risk management. The framework also includes training programs for contractors and government entities on dispute avoidance.

TECH-

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has been named a founding member of the OpenSTX Foundation — a new global initiative hosted by the US-based non-profit Linux Foundation aimed at setting an open, vendor-neutral standard for next-generation wireless communication, according to a press release.

The OpenSTX foundation will focus on developing standards for synchronous transmissions (STX), a protocol designed to enable reliable, energy-efficient, low-latency communication across industrial systems.

M&A WATCH-

Burjeel Holdings acquired the Medeor 24x7 Hospital building in Dubai for AED 170 mn, converting the leased facility into a company-owned asset, according to a press release (pdf). The Abu Dhabi-listed healthcare group previously operated the hospital under a lease agreement with AED 343 mn set to be settled in remaining payments over 15 years.

The details: The transaction removes long-term lease liabilities while securing permanent control of the strategic Bur Dubai location near BurJuman mall. Operations will continue, and future service expansions and modifications could potentially follow.

CRYPTO-

Dubai’s G3 secures Vara license: Dubai-based Gap 3 Partners (G3) has received an operational license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara), becoming the first regulated virtual asset investment advisor authorized to serve institutional clients across the emirate, according to a press release. G3 offers advisory services including token strategy, investment structuring, licensing, treasury management, and market execution.

Now what? The firm says it will focus on working with family offices, corporates, and investment institutions on projects related to tokenization and blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

HOSPITALITY-

SSH has been appointed lead design consultant for the upcoming Radisson Red hotel on Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, according to a press release. The 269-room hotel is being developed by BB Holding, with Stirling Hospitality Advisors acting as its owner representatives and coordinating delivery across stakeholders including Radisson and SSH International Consultants.

PAYMENTS-

Uruguayan financial technology company dLocal has secured a payment services license for the UAE, enabling it to directly facilitate cross-border pay-ins and payouts — the company’s core services — within the country, the company said in a press release. The firm specializes in cross-border payments for emerging markets.

Abu Dhabi Investment Office Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre ALSO ON OUR RADAR Amaal Burjeel Holdings CRYPTO debt dispute watch Fitch Ratings hospitality infrastructure investment M&A Ras Al Khaimah Real estate startups tech Technology Innovation Institute Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

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PLANET FINANCE

Investors cheer ceasefire news after earlier jitters

Ceasefire triggers risk rally: Stock markets cheered signs of a potential resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict, with the S&P 500 ending the day up 1% yesterday. Regional markets, which closed earlier in the day before news of an Iran-Israel ceasefire broke out, also settled in the black.

Earlier this week, the USD had staged a modest rally, though it weakened yesterday, falling 0.2% against the JPY, while the EUR and AUD strengthened. The Bloomberg USD Spot Index — which weighs the USD against a basket of developed and emerging market currencies — fell 0.2%.

The earlier rush to safe havens still held when it came to US Treasuries, which rallied after Iranian state media reported a missile strike on a US air base in Qatar, Bloomberg reports. Yields on 10-year Treasuries fell to their lowest levels in a month, while the five-year yield fell to 3.86% on hopes for a sooner-than-expected interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve, after Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said she would support a July rate cut if inflation continued to cool. Gold also settled up 0.3%.

The dip in yields have also spurred more bond sales, with companies in the US and Europe looking to lock in more affordable rates amid uncertainty over the outlook for yields down the line. The Royal Bank of Canada sold EUR 750 mn in green bonds, while BNP Paribas is looking to sell a USD-denominated AT1 bond, and Australia’s OMV sold a EUR 750 mn hybrid bond.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets also gained on the back of news of the ceasefire, with South Korea’s Kospi up 2.1%, Japan’s Nikkei rising 1.3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up 1.4%. China’s CSI 300 was flat. Over on Wall Street, futures rose on the news, with S&P 500 futures up 0.4% and Nasdaq futures rising 0.6%.

ADX	9,558	+0.5% (YTD: +1.5%)
DFM	5,411	+1.1% (YTD: +4.9%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	4,387	+1.2% (YTD: +5.3%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.2% o/n	4.3% 1 yr
TASI	10,710	+1.3% (YTD: -11.1%)
EGX30	31,419	+1.2% (YTD: +5.6%)
S&P 500	6025	+1.0% (YTD: +2.4%)
FTSE 100	8758	-0.2% (YTD: +7.2%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5222	-0.2% (YTD: +6.7%)
Brent crude	USD 70.58	-8.4%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.70	-3.9%
Gold	USD 3395.00	+0.3%
BTC	USD 103,765.6	+4.7% (YTD: +11.0%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.66	+2.8% (YTD: +2.6%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	144.12	-0.1% (YTD: +3.0%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	19.83	-3.8% (YTD: +14.3%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The DFM rose 1.1% yesterday on turnover of AED 787.5 mn. The index is up 4.9% YTD.

In the green: Ekttitab Holding Company (+14.7%), National Cement Company (+11.1%) and Ithmaar Holding (+6.7%).

In the red: Agility The Public Warehousing Company (-9.0%), Dubai National Ins. and Reins. (-8.7%) and Emirates Investment Bank (-6.7%).

Over on the ADX, the index rose 0.5% on turnover of AED 840.8 mn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 1.2%.

Oman and UAE eye competition regulation + UAE joins Islamic Fund for Sahel Youth Support

UAE, Oman ramp up cooperation on competition policy: The Economy and Tourism Ministry — previously known as the Economy Ministry — held talks with Oman’s Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion Ministry to deepen bilateral cooperation on competition regulation, state news agency Wam reports. Discussions focused on curbing monopolistic practices in digital markets, strengthening enforcement tools, and encouraging private sector participation, with both sides agreeing to develop an action plan focused on the digital platform economy.

PLUS- UAE joins Islamic Fund for Sahel Youth Support: The UAE agreed to join the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Fund for Youth Support in the Sahel and Lake Chad region during the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, Dubai Eye reports.

CALENDAR

JUNE

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

24-25 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Solar & Storage Live, Dubai World Trade Center.

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

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

27 June (Friday): Islamic New Year holiday.

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

1-6 September (Monday-Saturday): Dubai Fashion Week, Dubai Design District.

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): The KT UniExpo, The H Dubai.

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

24-25 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, 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 October (Thursday): Family Office Summit, Park Hyatt, Dubai.

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

14-16 October (Wednesday-Friday): Global Future Councils, Dubai.

22-24 October (Wednesday-Friday): World Investment Conference, Expo Centre Sharjah.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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:

ICOM General Conference 2025, Dubai

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

9-11 January (Friday-Sunday): 1 Bn Followers Summit’s fourth edition, UAE.
28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.
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.
Investopia Global Talks, Tashkent.

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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