XRG-led consortium gets two more weeks of due diligence for Santos takeover bid

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Four UAE landmarks top regional attractions on TripAdvisor ranking + Adnoc Distribution plans KSA expansion

Good morning, lovely people, and welcome to the start of a new workweek. It’s a quiet morning on the news front, but a big (positive) update on Abu Dhabi’s XRG and ADQ-led consortium’s USD 18.7 bn bid to acquire Australian natural gas producer Santos came in overnight. While the consortium is getting another two weeks for due diligence, it has already said it’s nearly finished with the process and has found nothing to deter it from its plans.

Plus: On the capital markets front, MSCI’s latest rebalancing brought Dubai Residential REIT and Union Properties to its Emerging Markets Small-Cap Index, while Aramex was removed. Meanwhile, Azimut Group’s Managing Director Marwan Haddad is bullish on UAE equities through 2H 2025 as valuations remain attractive and local dynamics continue to trump global headwinds.

And our latest batch of earnings show the UAE’s population growth is still continuing to spur demand for property, electricity, water, and district cooling, with Dewa, Tabreed, and Sobha Realty all posting strong results.

WEATHER- Temperatures are set to reach 41°C in Dubai, with an overnight low of 32°C, and 44°C in Abu Dhabi, with an overnight low of 34°C. The National Center of Meteorology forecasts (pdf) fair to partly cloudy skies, especially in eastern areas, with light to moderate winds.

MORNING MUST-READS-

#1- Wall Street candidates are coming to the UAE — and so are Wall Street’s perks. As Gulf sovereign wealth funds step up their poaching of top Wall Street candidates, many are facing increased pressure to match the types of rewards offered by Wall Street, including carried interest awards, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. These are usually offered by private equity firms, offering small stakes in the firms with the carry being a share of the gains made when a successful exit is made.

Middle Eastern funds are now offering them, with a twist: Mubadala Capital and Lunate have both been able to attract some employees from the likes of Apollo and other private equity giants by offering this reward to the most high-level executives, though without giving them actual stakes in the funds. This is all the more important for Mubadala as it rejigs its investment strategy to target larger positions in big firms, sources are quoted as saying.

This comes as competition becomes more cut-throat in the region. Sovereign wealth funds across the region are all competing for top candidates as the region becomes a hotspot for IPOs and capital flows while dealmaking and exits take a hit elsewhere in the world. While lifestyle perks are being offered alongside attractions like low taxes, relatively low salaries offered to executives when compared to effectively uncapped carry rewards at global PE firms means local funds need to become more creative, and carry rewards are becoming crucial.

#2- We have the Middle East’s top attractions, according to TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor’s 2025 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards ranked Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque first in the region and eighth globally. The rankings are based on the quality and quantity of visitor reviews over the past year.

Other UAE sites making the regional top five include Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (#2 regionally, #20 globally), Dubai Frame (#3), Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi (#4), and The Dubai Fountain (#5).

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Adnoc’s fuel retail arm Adnoc Distribution plans to add 160 new fuel stations in Saudi Arabia by 2026, bringing the total to 300, CEO Bader Al Lamki told Asharq Business on Thursday (watch, runtime: 8:42). This expansion, which has already seen its Saudi network double to 140 stations this year, is being achieved through a dealer-owned station model.

REMEMBER- Back in May, Adnoc Distribution said it plans to open 40-50 new fuel stations in the Kingdom this year, having already secured contracts for 15 stations in 1Q 2025.

#2- Applications are now open for the 100 Companies of the Future: The Economy Ministry and the Government Development and the Future Office are now accepting applications for the 100 Companies of the Future initiative, state news agency Wam reports. Benefits for startups and SMEs chosen for the initiative include mentorship, potential funding and investment, competitive financing solutions, and AI services. UAE-based companies can apply here through October 2025.

Target sectors: Advanced industries, agri-tech, biotech, creative industries, cybersecurity, edtech, foodtech, healthcare, HR tech, smart mobility, legaltech, proptech, renewable energy, space, sustainability, environmental solutions, and fintech.

#3- Dubaiopens applications for second AI in gov’t services accelerator: The Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence is launching a second cycle of its Future of AI in Government Services Accelerator in partnership with Dubai Future Accelerators, which invites local and international AI firms to co-develop solutions with more than 20 government entities, Wam reports. The partnerships also allow them to retain full ownership over their solutions.

The program targets four areas: Improving personalization and efficiency of existing services, creating AI-powered services, embedding AI to boost operational efficiency, and enhancing accessibility.

Applications close on 28 August, with the selected cohort joining an eight-week program in Dubai from 6 October to 28 November.

#4- Presight AI + Dow Jones Factiva partner on AI risk tools: G42-backed data analytics firm Presight AI and business information and research tool Dow Jones Factiva signed an MoU to develop AI-powered risk and compliance solutions for financial institutions, regulators, and sovereign entities, according to a press release. Planned products include AI-native KYC, sanctions screening, adverse media monitoring, sustainability tracking, and risk analysis — operating in sovereign-grade environments that adhere to national data residency and security requirements.

The initial rollout would target sovereign wealth funds, central banks, and Tier 1 banks in the UAE and GCC — with potential expansion to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, the UK, and the US.

PSAs-

#1- Emirates passengers can no longer use power banks to charge their phones in-flight as of 1 October, according to new guidelines from Emirates. Travelers are still allowed to carry one power bank under 100 Wh capacity — which must be stored in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat — provided its specifications are clearly labeled and it’s not being charged onboard the flight.

#2- Bigger housing loans for UAE nationals: The Abu Dhabi Housing Authority is now offering UAE nationals top-ups to their housing loans after inking agreements with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Adib), and Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank), according to Abu Dhabi Media Office. The program aims to boost homeownership among UAE nationals while giving borrowers more flexibility to plan and complete residential projects.

The details: The sharia-compliant facilities will provide up to AED 500k in additional financing for Emiratis, repayable over up to 25 years, with the Abu Dhabi government covering 50% of interest or income rates.

Who’s eligible? Nationals with an existing AED 1.75 mn housing loan from Adha — including those who have activated but not yet disbursed funds — can apply through the Iskan Abu Dhabi app. They must also have monthly incomes above AED 30k.

#3- Kuwait to offer visas on arrival to GCC residents: Foreigners residing in any GCC country for at least six months can now get a tourist visa upon arrival in Kuwait, effective immediately, Gulf News reports, citing an announcement in Kuwait’s official gazette.

WATCH THIS SPACE- It’s going to get easier to travel between GCC countries soon anyway: A Schengen-style Gulf tourist visa is meant to be launched in a trial phase in the final quarter of this year before a full rollout at a later stage, Al Etihad reported in July.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are leading headlines in the global business press this morning, as the two tech firms reached an agreement with the US government to pay a 15% fee on their chip sales to China. Nvidia will pay the fee on its H20 chips, while AMD will pay the fee on revenues from its MI308 chips. The levy comes in exchange for the companies receiving licenses to export semiconductors to China, following reports over the weekend that the US Department of Commerce had begun issuing export licenses for Nvidia’s H20 chips. (Financial Times | Bloomberg | Axios | CNBC)

Elsewhere, Ukraine vs Russia continues to get play: EU foreign ministers are set to meet later today to discuss “next steps” ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The EU meeting comes as the bloc calls on Trump to bring Ukraine to the negotiating table. (Reuters | Wall Street Journal)

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OIL WATCH-

India’s Reliance will likely begin to rely more on MENA crude: India’s Reliance Industries is likely to revert to sourcing crude from its traditional Middle Eastern suppliers like the UAE and Saudi Arabia due to geographical proximity if India yields to US President Trump’s pressure to cut Russian oil imports, Reuters reports, citing trade sources. The Indian firm purchased 1 mn barrels of Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude last month through a series of futures contracts, to be loaded in September, and earlier made a Murban acquisition on the spot market, shortly after the European Union imposed fresh sanctions on Russian crude supplies.

This could raise prices on the spot market: “Any hit to Russian supplies will increase their participation (in the spot market) and that would tighten spot market and raise prices. They are a giant player,” said Tushar Tarun Bansal, senior director at oil consultancy Alvarez and Marsal.

It’s not just Reliance: Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum are planning to pause purchases of Russian crude on the spot market until the government's stance is clear, Bloomberg reported, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. India is yet to give direction to halt Russian crude imports, though Trump is upping the pressure, recently hiking tariffs on the country to 50% due to its purchases of Russian oil.

REMEMBER- Traders are watching to see if Middle Eastern crude like Murban will increasingly replace sanctioned Russian grades like Urals. Murban contracts typically see less activity than Brent or West Texas Intermediate, but trading volumes of Murban futures have increased in recent weeks amid growing market interest in alternative crude sources as geopolitical tensions shift procurement patterns across Asia and Europe.

XRG-led consortium on track to finish due diligence for Santos takeover in two weeks

XRG consortium gets two-week due diligence extension for Santos takeover: Australian oil and gas producer Santos has agreed to extend the exclusive due diligence period for the consortium led by Adnoc’s international investment arm XRG for another two weeks, after the consortium said it is done “substantially” with the process, Santos said in a statement. The consortium said it has so far found nothing that would change its plans to acquire Santos. It now has until 22 August to complete due diligence.

Background: The consortium, which includes Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ and private equity firm Carlyle, submitted in June an indicative, non-binding USD 18.7 bn takeover bid to acquire Santos. The consortium would pay USD 5.76 (AUD 8.89) per share as part of the transaction. The transaction — Adnoc’s biggest energy acquisition to date — would give it access to Santos’ 7.5 mn tons-per-year of LNG capacity and direct entry into fast-growing Asian markets as it looks to become a major global LNG player.

REMEMBER- The acquisition would require 75% support from Santos’ investors, as well as approval from several Australian regulators, including the Foreign Investment Review Board, which one analyst said previously could be a risk to the agreement, since it involves critical energy infrastructure in Australia. The company is the biggest supplier of natural gas in Australia, and owns pipeline gas and oil assets as well.

ADVISORS- Goldman Sachs and JB North & Co are financial advisors to Santos, while Rothschild & Co is acting as independent board advisor. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is acting as legal advisor to Santos.

Local drivers to outweigh global headwinds for MENA equities in 2H 2025, with the UAE set to maintain momentum -Azimut MD

UAE equities are well placed to sustain their momentum heading into 2H 2025, with stock valuations in sectors such as real estate, banking, and consumer names still offering upside relative to earnings growth, Marwan Haddad, managing director of Azimut Group told CNBC in an interview (watch: runtime: 4:52). With Dubai coming out as the top performer in the region — and one of the best in the world — in 1H 2025, strong earnings growth and a macro environment benefiting from “decades of investments” in infrastructure and reforms and regulations are expected to continue to buoy performance throughout the year, despite global headwinds like tariffs and oil price volatility.

Valuations remain attractive: With banks, real estate, and consumer-facing companies all delivering strong operational performance, Haddad believes investors will continue to find value, even as global macro risks linger. Many listed firms in the UAE are seeing their earnings grow faster than their share prices, thus keeping valuations in check, Haddad said. “Most of the time you see valuations run ahead and then earnings catch up,” Haddad said. “But over the last two years [in the UAE] it’s been very unique, earnings have really been running ahead of multiple expansions,” he noted, adding that some stocks are still trading at steep discounts (40%) to their benchmarks while offering yields of around 6.5%.

A strong real estate sector is a major contributor: Property developers in particular — despite fears of the sector overheating — are continuing to post record earnings, Haddad said, citing DFM-listed Emaar’s record quarterly sales backlog as evidence of underlying demand.

REMEMBER- Saudi Arabia’s oil-heavy Tadawul has underperformed regional peers this year, with investors taking a more selective approach as project momentum slows and oil hovers around USD 70/bbl. In contrast, Dubai’s benchmark climbed 7.9% in July, extending YTD gains to 19.4% — the strongest performance in the GCC — on the back of double-digit growth in heavyweight banking and real estate stocks. Meanwhile, Tadawul’s benchmark index TASI moved in the opposite direction, slipping 2.2% in July to widen its YTD loss to more than 9%.

The region as a whole is expected to remain resilient to external shocks: Despite lackluster performance for some regional indices earlier this year, local dynamics — think earnings growth, sector performance, domestic liquidity, and government spending plans — are likely to be the main forces shaping market performance through year-end, Haddad noted. Still, investors may remain more cautious about Saudi Arabia until oil prices or project pipelines show stronger momentum.

MSCI to add Dubai Residential REIT, Union Properties + drop Aramex from EM Small Cap Index

MSCI adds Dubai Residential REIT + Union Properties to small-cap index: MSCI is adding DFM-listed real estate players Dubai Residential REIT and Union Properties to its Emerging Markets Small Cap Index, and removing Aramex, as of market close on Tuesday, 26 August, according to its index review (pdf).

Why it matters: Being added to an MSCI index basically means the company has met certain global standards for metrics, including market cap and liquidity, which puts it on the radar of international investors. It’s also a way for getting a stock picked up by global funds and ETFs, which could lead to stronger investor demand for the stock, giving the constituent more visibility and credibility in international markets.

Background: For Union Properties, stronger trading activity this year, buoyed by Dubai’s booming property market and reduction of its legacy debt to reduce balance sheet pressures, likely supported its inclusion. Meanwhile, Dubai Residential REIT was added shortly after it went public in what was the UAE’s largest IPO of the year in May. On the other hand, Aramex’s removal comes as the firm’s profitability takes a hit amid broader shifts in trade flows, and after its acquisition by AD Ports. The firm turned a loss of AED 9.3 mn in 2Q 2025.

Dewa, Tabreed and Sobha report strong earnings on strong demand as Dana Gas quarterly performance takes a minor hit

DEWA-

Dewa boasts strongest-ever financials in 2Q: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) reported a 25.8% y-o-y net income increase to AED 2.4 bn in 2Q 2025, its best performance to date, according to its financials (pdf). Revenue also rose 9.8% y-o-y to AED 8.6 bn. The utility attributed the results to higher demand for electricity, water, and district cooling, as well as steady clean energy contributions, in a separate press release (pdf). The utility increased power generation 10.9% y-o-y to 16.9 TWh, while installed capacity reached c.18 GW.

1H saw similar record results: The DFM-listed provider’s net income jumped 13.2% y-o-y to AED 2.9 bn in 1H 2025, as revenues climbed 6.9% to a record AED 14.6 bn.

Dividend: The utility has approved an AED 3.1 bn dividend for the first half of the year, in line with its annual policy of paying AED 6.2 bn in two equal installments. The payout will be made in October.

TABREED-

Tabreed posted a 2.2% y-o-y increase in net income to AED 160.3 mn in 2Q 2025, according to financial statements (pdf). Revenues in 2Q surged by 5.1% y-o-y to AED 642.7 mn, supported by an 8% y-o-y growth in consumption volumes, according to a press release.

On a 1H basis: The company’s bottom line for 1H 2025 increased by 2.5% y-o-y to AED 276 mn. Revenues surged by 2.7% y-o-y to AED 1.1 bn, aided by increased demand for cooling solutions and capacity expansions in key markets. The company’s total connected capacity reached 1.37 mn refrigeration tons (RT), with 41.6k RT added during the period, nearly double the capacity added in full-year 2024.

Dividend: Tabreed's board proposed its first-ever interim dividend of 6.5 fils per share for the first half of 2025. The dividend will be paid following shareholder approval in September.

DANA GAS-

Dana Gas net income dips in 2Q, edges up in 1H: Sharjah’s Dana Gas reported a net income of AED 112 mn in 2Q 2025, down marginally from AED 124 mn a year earlier, as revenues also fell c.14% y-o-y to AED 293 mn, according to its financials (pdf). The dip was due to lower realized hydrocarbon prices and reduced production in Egypt, partially offset by higher output in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and improved pricing in Egypt, the company said in a separate earnings release (pdf).

In 1H 2025, net income inched up to AED 270 mn from AED 263, while revenues dropped 10% y-o-y to AED 627 mn. Group production averaged 51k barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), down from 55.25k boe/d a year earlier — with KRI’s volumes up 3% to 38.6k boe/d and Egypt’s down 29% y-o-y to 12.5k boe/d.

Looking ahead: Dana Gas is ahead of schedule on the KM250 expansion in the KRI, which will add 250 mn standard cubic ft (scfd) of capacity, and is progressing with its USD 160 mn Chemchemal field program, targeting up to 75 mn scfd of early production in 1Q 2026. In Egypt, it launched its USD 100 mn, 11-well drilling plan, with the Begonia-2 well confirming 9 bn cubic ft (bcf) of reserves and the Balsam-3 recompletion targeting 4 bcf. The program aims to add 80 bcf of recoverable reserves and support long-term production recovery.

SOBHA REALTY -

Dubai-based real estate firm Sobha Realty recorded an 83% y-o-y surge in its bottom line to AED 1.9 bn in 1H 2025, according to financial statements (pdf). Revenues also increased by 83% y-o-y to AED 7.2 bn, supported by accelerated construction in 1H.

Robust sales: Sobha’s margins grew on the back of robust sales of AED 15.6 bn in 1H, recording a 73% y-o-y growth. The realty firm launched some 7k housing units and completed 2k units in 1H, retaining its rank as the third largest player in the market in terms of net property transactions.

Looking ahead: With over 30k property units in the pipeline, a planned geographical diversification that includes expansion in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, and joint ventures with the government of Umm Al Quwain, Sobha Realty is poised for sustainable future growth, according to its investor update (pdf). It currently has a revenue backlog of AED 27 bn.

Trump opens US retirement savings to private equity and crypto

US President Donald Trump has issued a measure allowing 401k retirement plans to include alternative assets such as private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and cryptocurrencies, the Financial Times reports. This move to reshape the c. USD 9 tn retirement savings market follows years of lobbying from big private capital firms and crypto groups.

Proponents of the move argue it will open up higher returns for the some 90 mn retirement savers. Some, including the PE-backed lobby group Defined Contribution Alternatives Association, have also argued that retirement plans’ inability to deliver on the same returns as PE groups could be grounds for 401k contributors to sue. Carlyle Group CEO Harvey Schwartz presents the move as an opening up of these higher returns, which “wealthy clients have had access to … for a very long time.”

The move could also help better diversify 401k funds, especially with the Magnificent 7 making up a large portion of many retirees' invested savings. “We basically have leveraged the retirement system of the country to Nvidia,” said Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan.

Private equity is understandably eager to access the retirement plan market given its size, especially with assets held under 401k plans tripling since 2007 to a current USD 9 tn.

But critics allege that the decision will open up US pension holders to new risks — that many may not be fully aware of. “Retail investors are going to be exposed to a completely different type of asset without necessarily realizing,” Better Markets Director of Securities Policy Benjamin Schiffrin told Financial Times.

Alternative assets also come with higher fees and significantly less transparency. Unlike 401k plans today that are invested in stocks and bonds that are easy to value and sell, alternative assets are often less liquid and harder-to-sell assets. Fees could also rise significantly — from the current 0.3-0.5% for most 401ks to as much as 0.8% — raising questions about whether savers will be willing to pay more for the chance of higher returns.

The order also ties in with Trump’s push to loosen rules on digital assets, which one White House advisor told the paper was a key reason the order was passed. However, private equity groups remain cautious about being linked to crypto volatility, but accepted the risk for access to retirement savings, insiders told the salmon-colored paper.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed this morning, as traders await confirmation on whether the US and China will extend their temporary tariff truce due to expire on August 12. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is up 0.1% and Korea’s Kospi is flat, while the Shanghai Composite is inching down in the red and Japanese markets are closed for a public holiday. Meanwhile, Wall Street futures are muted following strong gains last week.

ADX	10,312	-0.1% (YTD: +9.5%)
DFM	6,149	-0.3% (YTD: +19.2%)
Nasdaq Dubai UAE20	5,091	-0.2% (YTD: +22.2%)
USD : AED CBUAE	Buy 3.67	Sell 3.67
EIBOR	4.3% o/n	4.1% 1 yr
TASI	10,899	-0.3% (YTD: -9.5%)
EGX30	3,650	+10.0% (YTD: +18.3%)
S&P 500	6,389	+0.8% (YTD: +8.6%)
FTSE 100	9,096	-0.1% (YTD: +11.3%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,348	+0.3% (YTD: +9.2%)
Brent crude	USD 66.59	+0.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.99	-2.5%
Gold	USD 3491.30	+1.1%
BTC	USD 118,211	+1.5% (YTD: +26.4%)
Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF	AED 3.59	0.0% (YTD: +3.1%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	147.74	-0.1% (YTD: +5.6%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	15.15	8.6% (YTD: -12.7%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The ADX fell 0.1% yesterday on turnover of AED 905.6 mn. The index is up 9.5% YTD.

In the green: Rapco Investment (+11.6%), Union Ins. (+5%) and Apex Investment (+4.3%).

In the red: Oman & Emirates Investment Holding (-5.3%), Alef Education (-4.5%) and United Arab Bank (-4%).

Over on the DFM, the index fell 0.3% on a turnover of AED 599 mn. The index is up 19.2% YTD. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was down 0.2%.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

8-15 August (Friday-Friday): Expected trading window for Al Mal Capital REIT’s new units on the DFM.

9-12 August (Saturday-Tuesday):The Annual International Dragon Awards Conference, Adnec.

SEPTEMBER

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

7 September (Sunday) Opec+ meet to discuss production policy for October.

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

8-10 September (Monday-Wednesday): WHX-Tech Expo, Dubai World Trade Center.

8-19 September (Monday-Friday): Universal Postal Congress, Dubai World Trade Center.

8-18 September (Monday-Thursday): BHM Capital Financial Services’s AED 200 mn rights issue will be open for subscriptions.

10-11 September (Wednesday-Thursday): MENA Public-Private Partnership Forum, Dubai.

10-20 September (Wednesday-Saturday): IFMA Youth World Muay Thai Championship, Abu Dhabi.

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.

23-24 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): MENA EV Show, The Agenda, Dubai Media City.

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.

25-27 September (Thursday-Saturday): International Congress of Medical Excellence in Dermatology and Aesthetic Med, Dubai World Trade Centre.

30 September (Tuesday): Africa Debate Conference, Dubai.

30 September (Tuesday): Dubai Podfest, Dubai.

OCTOBER

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

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

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.

12–15 October (Sunday-Wednesday): Expand North Star, Dubai Harbor.

14-16 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Global Future Councils, Dubai.

15-18 October (Wednesday-Saturday): Middle East Electric Vehicle Show, Expo Center Sharjah.

20 October (Monday): Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

22-24 October (Wednesday-Friday): World Investment Conference, Expo Center 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

1-2 November (Saturday-Sunday): Women's Empowerment Convention (WE Convention), Atlantis The Royal, Dubai.

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

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.

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.

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.

8-9 December (Monday-Tuesday): Global AI Show 2025, Abu Dhabi.

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

8-11 December (Monday-Thursday): Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Abu Dhabi's International Financial Center.

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.

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 2025) 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.

28-29 January (Wednesday-Thursday): IBA Arbitration Day Conference, Abu Dhabi.

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.

Signposted to happen in 2026:

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

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:

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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