{"id":114139,"date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=114139"},"modified":"2026-03-18T04:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:03:13","slug":"will-the-region-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/issues\/will-the-region-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Will the region change tactics as the war drags on?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"114141\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"114141\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING TODAY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/this-morning-dubai-oman-team-up-to-bypass-logistics-bottlenecks-ihc-signs-off-on-buyback-program-up-to-aed-5-bn\/\">\r\n                            THIS MORNING: Dubai, Oman team up to bypass logistics bottlenecks + IHC signs off on buyback program up to AED 5 bn                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a 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status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-what-were-tracking-today tag-capital-markets tag-emirates-global-aluminium tag-enterpriseam-uae tag-international-holding-company tag-logistics tag-oil-gas tag-oman tag-trade-and-logistics tag-what-were-tracking-today wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Good morning, friends, and happy early Eid Al Fitr. <\/strong>We\u2019re still waiting for confirmation tonight that Ramadan ends today, but the country is setting off for the Eid break anyway as of tomorrow for a long weekend.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>**PROGRAMMING NOTE- <\/strong>EnterpriseAM UAE will also be off for Eid Al Fitr starting tomorrow, and will be back in your inboxes at the usual time on Monday, 23 March.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Eid celebrations will likely not have the same flavor as every<\/strong><strong> year. <\/strong>Several public attractions are still closed down, and you likely won\u2019t be seeing prayer mats filling up the streets outside of mosques for Salat El Eid, with <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UAEmediaoffice\/status\/2033999897054396878\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">instructions<\/a> given to ensure prayers happen only inside mosques for safety reasons.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The country is continuing to face attacks<\/strong>, with loud interceptions heard in Dubai late last night and a public safety alert sent to our phones. Falling shrapnel from a ballistic missile interception in Abu Dhabi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bz8zml0-abu-dhabi-authorities-respond-incident-involving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">led to another civilian fatality<\/a> yesterday morning, and tankers are being hit off the coast of the UAE. The tanker, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukmto.org\/recent-incidents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hit<\/a> some 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah while anchored, resulted in minor structural damage, but no injuries. An Iranian projectile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/australia-says-iranian-projectile-hits-uae-airbase-all-personnel-safe-2026-03-18\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hit near Australia\u2019s Al Minhad Air Base<\/a> earlier today, resulting in a small fire but no injuries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Plus: Dubai International Airport continued to face severe operational bottlenecks following <\/strong><strong>strikes<\/strong>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/cc256f74-fcc2-4b25-b4ba-1c5c5b6a4d23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial Times<\/a> reports. After our airspace was temporarily shuttered Tuesday morning following an attack on a fuel tank earlier on Monday, and more reported attacks later in the night, flights restarted, though the airport continued to grapple with a backlog of cancellations and severe delays.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>D<\/strong><strong>aily <\/strong><strong>port loadi<\/strong><strong>ngs have also been taking a hit: <\/strong>Loadings in Fujairah plummeted by 66% during the week of 9 March, falling significantly from the 1.9 mn bbl \/ d seen a week prior, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lloydslist.com\/LL1156639\/Fujairah-loadings-plummet-as-drone-attacks-rock-UAE-port-prompting-tanker-rethink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lloyd\u2019s List<\/a> reports, citing data by market analytics firm Vortexa.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>As we head into the long weekend, we look at if the Gulf might respond<\/strong> <strong>\u2014 as well as how and when \u2014 to Iran\u2019s attacks in the coming weeks<\/strong>, including reports of the UAE offering up potential support of the US in securing the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>AND- As the fallout from data center disruptions following the attacks on AWS\u2019 data centers earlier in the month seemingly settles<\/strong>, we ask how foreign investors might approach investments in data centers in the region now \u2014 and what they might be looking for from governments in our neck of the woods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Happening today<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\">I<strong>t\u2019s interest rate day:<\/strong> The Fed will make its interest rate announcement later today \u2014 and tomorrow is equally big a day, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan doing the same. Central banks in China, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, and Switzerland are also meeting this week to set rates.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged<\/strong> as it takes stock of the economic fallout from the war. Policy decisions moving forward might prove tricky. The war\u2019s pressure on oil prices threatens to spike inflation, while the US labor market is also looking weak, so the case for looser vs. tighter economic policy might be much less clear than before.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>WEATHER- Temperatures are thankfully cooling slightly<\/strong><strong> from their earlier highs<\/strong>, rising to a high of 29\u00b0C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and reaching a low of 20\u00b0C overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Watch this space<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><a id=\"wwtt1\"><\/a> <strong>LOGISTICS \u2014<\/strong> <strong>Dubai + Oman<\/strong><strong> activate green corridor <\/strong><strong>to bypass<\/strong><strong> logistics bottlenecks: <\/strong>Dubai and Oman Customs have introduced a temporary joint corridor to expedite procedures for sea and air cargo, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/910.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement (pdf)<\/a>. Shipments originally bound for Dubai\u2019s Jebel Ali Port or Dubai International Airport will be rerouted through Omani ports and airports, before being transported via bonded trucks through the Hatta-Al Wajajah border crossing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>A joint push to safeguard GCC supply chains: <\/strong>Oman is leveraging its geography \u2014 located outside of Hormuz \u2014 to ensure that disrupted sea and air flows do not result in stranded cargo or empty shelves. For operators, this means diverted goods won\u2019t face the standard double-handling or administrative delays of a second country\u2019s customs. Instead, Omani authorities will verify seals and transit declarations to facilitate an easy move to Dubai.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>What\u2019s next?<\/strong> We can expect a surge in bonded trucking demand along the Oman-UAE axis. While the corridor is temporary, how long it stays operational will likely depend on how long the current regional disruptions persist.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><a id=\"wwtt4\"><\/a> <strong>And more rerouting through Oman\u2026<\/strong> <strong>Emirates<\/strong><strong> Global Aluminium (EGA) will reroute its aluminum<\/strong><strong> exports and raw <\/strong><strong>materials through Oman\u2019s port of Sohar<\/strong> in the coming days to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, three sources told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/ega-export-aluminium-via-oman-amid-gulf-disruption-sources-say-2026-03-17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>. Alumina feedstock will then be transported by truck to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi for smelting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT- <\/strong>Aluminum prices hit a four-year high at USD 3.5k per metric ton last week, climbing 12% since the war echoed concerns of global market shortages. The Gulf hosts approximately 7 mn tons of aluminum production \u2014 representing about 9% of the world\u2019s supply. EGA produces around 2.7 mtpa of primary aluminum in the UAE.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 2px;border-width: 0;color: gray;background-color: gray\" \/>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>ENERGY \u2014<\/strong> <strong>A 30-member national team<\/strong><strong> and five <\/strong><strong>technical committees will now steer a 2050 demand management plan for energy efficiency<\/strong> spanning 34 initiatives, <a href=\"https:\/\/gulfnews.com\/uae\/uae-launches-2050-energy-efficiency-plan-featuring-34-national-initiatives-1.500477319\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gulf News<\/a> reports. The Energy and Infrastructure Ministry fast-tracked 16 initiatives across buildings, transport, industry, and agriculture, shifting focus toward the execution and coordination of energy and water consumption policies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The targets: <\/strong>The plan plugs into the <a href=\"https:\/\/u.ae\/en\/about-the-uae\/strategies-initiatives-and-awards\/strategies-plans-and-visions\/environment-and-energy\/uae-energy-strategy-2050\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UAE\u2019s updated Energy Strategy 2050<\/a>, which aims to improve energy efficiency by 42-45% by 2030, triple renewable capacity, lift clean energy\u2019s share of the mix to some 30%, and mobilize AED 150-200 bn in investments.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 2px;border-width: 0;color: gray;background-color: gray\" \/>\n<p><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>CAPITAL MARKETS \u2014<\/strong> <strong>Shareholders<\/strong><strong> of ADX-listed conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC) signed off on <\/strong><strong>a fresh share buyback program worth up to AED 5 bn<\/strong>, representing roughly 0.6% of the company\u2019s total shares, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/114071.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a bourse filing (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The move comes just three months after it wrapped another <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/04\/emerging-markets-surge-on-ai-optimism-though-india-lags-behind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buyback program<\/a><\/strong> in December. Though it signaled at the time that it was done with further repurchases for the foreseeable future, the board is now looking toward a capital reduction via share cancellation if the shares aren\u2019t sold in two years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>A vote of confidence in its own shares: <\/strong>In the cold logic of capital allocation, a buyback is a company\u2019s way of signaling that its own equity offers a better ROI than any external allocation or dividend. By returning to the market soon after its previous program, IHC is signaling that it still views its current share price as a markdown to its intrinsic value.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Market reax: <\/strong>IHC\u2019s shares fell 0.2% yesterday to AED 390.2. It\u2019s down 2.4% YTD.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 2px;border-width: 0;color: gray;background-color: gray\" \/>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>BANKING<\/strong> <strong>\u2014 CBUAE readies resilience package to fortify banking sector: <\/strong>The Central Bank of the UAE has greenlit a five-pillar Financial Institutional Resilience Package to insulate the banking sector from global volatility, state news agency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bz8znmj-cbuae-board-reviews-strength-resilience-uae%E2%80%99s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wam<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Under the program<\/strong>, banks will have improved access \u2014 up to 30% \u2014 to their reserved reserves, extra loans in AED and USD, more leeway in keeping liquidity thresholds, and can more easily dip into extra capital buffers. They will also have more flexibility in postponing loan classification for clients in financial stress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The big story abroad<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Major escalations have kept the regional war on the front pages<\/strong>, chief among them was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-17\/ali-larijani-key-wartime-leader-in-iran-is-killed-at-67\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">killing of Iran\u2019s top security official<\/a> Ali Larijani by an Israeli airstrike. Larijani \u2014 a longtime architect of Iran\u2019s security policy \u2014 is the most senior regime member killed in the war after former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, to whom he was a close advisor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Israel also <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-17-2026-35d15d7cbcfa65fd7d180c28d38e7f31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">killed<\/a><\/strong><strong> General Gholam Reza Soleimani<\/strong>, the head of Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard\u2019s all-volunteer Basij \u2014 a paramilitary volunteer militia.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Meanwhile, a top US counterterrorism official <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/f3dad979-875e-4ee7-836c-264890d5df6b?syn-25a6b1a6=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">resigned<\/a><\/strong><strong> over Washington\u2019s war on the <\/strong><strong>Islamic Republic. <\/strong>Joe Kent \u2014 the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center \u2014 stepped down yesterday, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/joekent16jan19\/status\/2033897242986209689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">claiming that<\/a> \u201cIran posed no imminent threat to [the US]\u201d and attributed the operation to \u201cpressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The war has sent US gas prices beyond USD 3.75 a gallon for the first time since October <\/strong><strong>2023<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/us-gasoline-prices-soar-past-375-gallon-middle-east-war-rages-2026-03-17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a> reports, citing data by fuel price tracker GasBuddy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12 subscribe-box-panel\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div class=\"title\">\n<h4 class=\"fw-lighter mb-10\">Get <b style=\"font-weight: bold\">Enterprise<\/b> daily<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-10\">The roundup of news and trends that move your markets and shape corporate agendas delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn-green px-3 d-flex align-items-center\" href=\"\/egypt\/en\/user\/NewsLetters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Subscribe here<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\">***<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>You\u2019re reading EnterpriseAM UAE<\/strong>, your essential daily roundup of business, economics, and must-read news about the UAE, delivered straight to your inbox. We\u2019re out Monday through Friday by 7am UAE time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM UAE is available without charge <\/strong>thanks to the generous support of our friends at Mashreq and Hassan Allam Properties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? <\/strong>Reach out to us on <a href=\"mailto:UAE@enterpriseAM.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UAE@enterpriseAM.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>DID YOU KNOW that we also cover <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Egypt<\/a><\/strong><strong>, <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/ksa\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saudi Arabia<\/a><\/strong>, and the MENA <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/logistics\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">logistics<\/a> industry?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\">***<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Market watch<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>Middle East crude benchmarks are printing<\/strong><strong> at record highs: <\/strong>Dubai hit USD 153.25 \/ bbl for May loading cargoes, while Oman futures touched USD 147.79 \/ bbl, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/middle-east-oil-benchmarks-hit-record-highs-war-cuts-supply-2026-03-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a> reports, citing Platts. The premium to Dubai swaps surged to USD 56 \/ bbl from just USD 0.90 in February, with Oman showing a similar spike.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The demand side is already reacting: <\/strong>Crude flows to Asia dropped to 11.7 mn bbl \/ d in March from some 19 mn bbl \/ d in February. With Dubai pricing the bulk of Gulf crude into Asia, the spike is forcing buyers to either hunt for alternatives or simply process less. Meanwhile, the spread with Murban, sitting at USD 111.76 \/ bbl, is stretching credibility, exposing how disconnected the benchmark has become from actual tradable barrels.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The physical market is collapsing underneath the benchmark:<\/strong> Gulf crude exports <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/ar\/business\/CWITEJWWRVO4VNJXPNOQXEBKOE-2026-03-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fell<\/a> by some 60-70% this week versus February levels, with flows dropping to as low as 7.5-9.7 mn bbl \/ d from some 25-26 mn bbl \/ d. Producers are shutting in output as storage fills up \u2014 with floating storage swelling to more than 50 mn barrels from some 10 mn pre-war \u2014 forcing cuts estimated at 7-10 mn bbl \/ d across the region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0;margin: 0;line-height: 1.15;text-align: left\"><strong>The real issue sits within the benchmark itself, as a shrinking pool of trades sets <\/strong><strong>global prices. <\/strong>Platts dropped three grades tied to Hormuz flows, leaving Oman and Murban to anchor the pricing window. Traders say the Market on Close window is effectively dominated by a single buyer, with TotalEnergies lifting 24 cargoes, or 12 mn barrels this month \u2014 enough to shape the curve. Platts is now reviewing its methodology.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/capital-markets\/\">capital markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/emirates-global-aluminium\/\">Emirates Global Aluminium<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/international-holding-company\/\">International Holding Company<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/logistics\/\">logistics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/oil-gas\/\">Oil &amp; Gas<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/oman\/\">Oman<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/trade-and-logistics\/\">TRADE AND LOGISTICS<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/what-were-tracking-today\/\">WHAT WE\u2019RE TRACKING TODAY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114144\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"114144\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE BIG STORY TODAY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/\">\r\n                            What\u2019s next for the Gulf in this war?                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Can the Gulf afford to remain neutral?&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/&title=Can the Gulf afford to remain neutral?\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Can+the+Gulf+afford+to+remain+neutral%3F+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fuae%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Fcan-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/929.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114145\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/can-the-gulf-afford-to-remain-neutral\/929-jpg-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/929.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"929.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/929.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/929.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114144\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114144 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-big-story-today tag-enterpriseam-uae tag-gulf-war tag-iran tag-the-big-story-today wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Gulf states are reportedly urging Washington<\/strong><strong> to <\/strong><strong>\u201cnot stop short\u201d in its military campaign against Iran<\/strong>, fearing repeat future attacks if Tehran\u2019s offensive capabilities remain partially intact, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/gulf-states-press-us-neutralise-iran-good-hormuz-crisis-deepens-2026-03-16\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports. It remains unclear, however, what the Gulf\u2019s involvement in the war could look like, or if it will get involved at all, as Iran continues to escalate its attacks on the region. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A response from the UAE was never off the table: <\/strong>Officials including Anwar Gargash, the president\u2019s diplomatic advisor, have been warning for a while that they can \u201cno longer sit idly by,\u201d as the massive cost of defense and the risk of permanent deterrence erosion render a purely defensive reaction unsustainable. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>REMEMBER- <\/strong><strong>The cost disparity<\/strong><strong> is serious. <\/strong>As we\u2019ve reported, traditional air and missile defense systems work, but they <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/05\/iranian-drone-attacks-show-gcc-needs-to-rethink-air-defense\/\" style=\"\">cost a fortune<\/a> compared to low-cost asymmetric swarms. Already, it\u2019s been nearly three weeks of interceptions, each of which costs around USD 4 mn, Amandeep Ahuja, head of research at Confluence Consultants, tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>On top of this, significant damage and disruption have been done to key pillars of GCC economies<\/strong> \u2014 from aviation and ports to financial services, and, of course, the Strait of Hormuz disruption.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Some involvement could be coming on that front:<\/strong> Gargash separately said that the UAE could be involved in a US-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/uae-could-join-international-effort-led-by-us-secure-strait-hormuz-says-adviser-2026-03-17\/\" style=\"\">Reuters<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The dilemma remains:<\/strong> While Washington is pressing GCC countries to join the offensive, \u201cwe\u2019re seeing that Gulf states are not at the moment suggesting any inclination towards joining the war because the economic and reputational costs of it would be too immense,\u201d Ahuja said. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\"> So what are the \u201cred lines\u201d for Gulf military retaliation?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What would push Gulf states over the edge? <\/strong>The thresholds that would prompt the GCC to get actively involved are \u201cif very critical assets, like desalination plants, are under increased attack, or incidents involving civilian casualties, because Gulf states have positioned themselves as a safe haven,\u201d Ahuja said. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN CONTEXT- <\/strong>So far, eight casualties have been reported in the UAE as a result of the war, with the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/am-edition\/#114009\" style=\"\">most recent<\/a> reported in Abu Dhabi after a missile struck a Palestinian national in Al Bahyah.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Military options on the table<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Gulf countries have several different military options<\/strong>, including granting the US full access to bases and airspace, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy Hasan Alhasan wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iiss.org\/online-analysis\/online-analysis\/2026\/03\/the-gulf-states-offensive-options-against-iran\/\" style=\"\">note<\/a> for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). While the UAE has continuously rejected any participation in the war, Saudi Arabia has acknowledged providing logistical support for US air patrols.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>More active and direct retaliation is also on the table<\/strong>, Alhasan noted, adding that the GCC could deploy land-attack cruise missiles \u2014 or the UAE\u2019s equivalent Black Shaheen \u2014 allowing for deep strikes into Iranian territory without entering its airspace. They also operate air platforms with combat radii ranging up to nearly 1.9k km. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Targeting the <\/strong><strong>Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\u2019 economic, logistical, or energy infrastructure is another option<\/strong>, the report noted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>While these options exist, it is \u201cunclear whether they possess sufficient inventories of weapons and munitions <\/strong>to sustain an extended military campaign against Iran,\u201d Alhasan noted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Regional leaders are increasingly diversifying their arsenals<\/strong>, supplementing US hardware with technology from Europe, South Korea, China, Turkey, and Russia, Nicholas Heras, senior analyst and program head for the State Resilience and Fragility Program at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, tells EnterpriseAM. He suggests, however, that the Gulf will keep purchasing top-tier US military hardware, rather than making a total shift away from the West.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Ground war scenario?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>For now, GCC states will likely support through continued information sharing<\/strong>, but if the US were able to force the Iranian regime from its coast through a ground invasion, specialized UAE and Bahraini units could be deployed to occupy and secure Iran\u2019s key energy facilities to prevent further regional threats, Heras said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Ahuja maintains that the current priority of Gulf states remains domestic safety.<\/strong> \u201cUAE authorities would much rather go down the route of diplomacy and negotiations and [...] there is no real inclination to be a part of this war,\u201d she noted. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The future of US-Gulf relations<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>While at an economic level, the US-GCC relationship remains deep and mutually beneficial<\/strong>, the war could prompt strategic realignment among regional leaders when it comes to relationships with the US and Israel, Ahuja noted. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>However, Heras argues that definitive US military success in Iran \u201cwould be a soothing balm for US-Gulf relations<\/strong>,\u201d serving to reassure GCC states of Washington\u2019s reliability. <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div 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status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-_newspack_tech tag-data-centers tag-enterpriseam-uae tag-investment tag-investment-watch tag-tech wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong> Attacks on the Gulf during the war have been unprecedented in many<\/strong><strong> ways<\/strong>, hitting countries that have for years been viewed as \u201csafe havens\u201d for wealth, for industries like finance and tech, for businesses, and for people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE has so far managed the crisis effectively by hammering on the message of business continuity<\/strong>, ensuring workarounds are in place to keep shelves stocked and business moving, and managing to intercept many of the missiles and drones targeting the country. However, the question of data security has become a major concern now that data centers are being treated as legitimate military targets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Rewind to a few weeks back:<\/strong> Earlier this month, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/03\/dubais-data-center-outage-exposes-vulnerable-region-ecosystem\/\" style=\"\">drone strikes<\/a> caused \u201cstructural damage\u201d and power failures at Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in Dubai and Bahrain. These unprecedented attacks have thrown into question how the region \u2014 which has spent years cultivating its reputation as a stable, high-tech hub \u2014 will navigate the massive risks now facing its critical data center infrastructure. The attack disrupted services for dozens of regional banks and businesses \u2014 from First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank to the EnterpriseAM website.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This comes as the UAE is in the process of building infrastructure with the help of some of the biggest tech firms in the world<\/strong>, with massive projects like the 5 GW Stargate data center cluster currently under development in Abu Dhabi. Microsoft has also just recently committed to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/on-the-issues\/2025\/11\/03\/microsofts-15-2-billion-usd-investment-in-the-uae\/\" style=\"\">spending<\/a> up to USD 7.9 bn through 2029 on AI and cloud infrastructure. This is in addition to projects in the pipeline from local firms like Khazna, which plans to bring over 1 GW of additional AI-ready capacity across the UAE, Saudi, and Italy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>How the war \u2014 and the risks it has exposed within the UAE\u2019s data center infrastructure \u2014 will affect the country\u2019s image as a data center hub remains to be seen. <\/strong>\u201cIt depends on how long the war will last,\u201d renowned security professional and author Bruce Schneier tells EnterpriseAM. (Schneier is also a fellow at Harvard\u2019s Berkman Klein Center and chief of Security Architecture at Inrupt. He has been named a \u201csecurity guru\u201d by the Economist.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThere\u2019s significant uncertainty<\/strong>, so it\u2019s going to boil down to how risk-averse you are, and the risk is going up because so much is not known,\u201d Schneier said. The uncertainty in and of itself is the problem: \u201cUncertainty is expensive and risky. Business doesn\u2019t like uncertainty,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The long-term impact on the Emirates\u2019 position could be \u201csignificant, and not in a positive direction<\/strong>,\u201d cloud infrastructure and security specialist Jeff Cooper tells us. He noted how AWS has encouraged companies hosting data on their servers to migrate workloads out of the Middle East entirely and characterized the broader operating environment as unpredictable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cMultinationals could quietly pull back in the long term<\/strong>,\u201d Cooper added, noting they could pivot toward Europe.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The problem goes beyond just reputation: <\/strong>Data centers are notoriously capital-intensive, so the physical damage done by the attacks on AWS facilities won\u2019t be cheap to fix, Cooper said. Data centers cost bns of USD to build, and that\u2019s not to mention the massive economic costs associated with disruptions to companies\u2019 digital services, costing them mns of USD in revenues.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Still, the factors that made the Emirates a draw \u2014 location, energy, and connectivity \u2014 are still there<\/strong>, but at a higher risk premium, Cooper added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">So, what can be done at this point when it comes to data?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>As we\u2019ve reported earlier<\/strong>, <strong>using edge locations and avoiding highly centralized clusters of compute infrastructure is something policymakers and firms will need to think about.<\/strong> Cooper echoed this, adding that geographic redundancy in lower-risk regions is another answer, though it doesn\u2019t protect existing facilities \u2014 it \u201cchanges the calculus for future investment decisions significantly,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The downside?<\/strong> Depending on a business\u2019s needs and how much data or operational time it can afford to lose, \u201cthe engineering and operational overhead required to maintain<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">continuous synchronization between two active systems adds meaningful expense on<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">top of the hardware and hosting costs alone,\u201d Cooper explained.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The more cost-effective solution is what\u2019s called an \u201cactive-passive setup\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 as opposed to an active-active one mentioned above \u2014 which maintains a primary system and a standby that might be fully powered down to reduce costs and brought online when needed, though some downtime would be expected, he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Edge computing can allow companies to run primary compute in a lower-risk region<\/strong> such as the EU and then deliver a fast, responsive experience to Gulf users through caching and lightweight local processing, offering another viable option for those in the UAE, because \u201cif the edge location is disrupted, traffic can be routed back to the primary region with minimal impact to the end user,\u201d he noted. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Where government data is involved, the case for data embassies is now stronger than ever.<\/strong> It\u2019s \u201cnot just a good option, [it is] a prescient one\u201d that can help protect against a government becoming \u201cdigitally paralyzed\u201d if its physical, domestic infrastructure gets attacked, Cooper explained.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Estonia blueprint: <\/strong>Back in 2017, Estonia backed up its tax registry and land borders in Luxembourg in a bid to protect itself against the threat of wars, cyberattacks, and natural disasters through the concept of a digital embassy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Uh, Enterprise, is that like a physical embassy\u2026 but you get services done online? <\/strong>No. A digital embassy \u2014 or a data embassy \u2014 allows countries to host backups of their sovereign data in high-security facilities abroad while maintaining their own exclusive jurisdiction over that data. This ensures a state remains \u201cdigitally functional\u201d \u2014 capable of running its tax registry, court systems, and treasury \u2014 even if its physical territory or domestic infrastructure is compromised.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The UAE has been eyeing the concept for a while now<\/strong>, with discussions <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/01\/20\/uae-india-agreement-blitz\/\" style=\"\">with India in January<\/a> for a potential arrangement to make digital embassies feasible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The main challenge is in the timing<\/strong>, Cooper says. Digital embassy set-ups depend on bilateral agreements, which take time to hash out and ratify. Plus: The regulatory framework is still lacking in the UAE, and there are many regulatory implications associated with the concept.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Access to data is a key point:<\/strong> For a data center to provide access to a foreign subscriber\u2019s data stored in that center, there needs to be a final binding order issued by a competent court or authority in the subscriber\u2019s state, Al Tamimi & Co partner Andrew Fawcett tells us. The request would be vetted by the court or an equivalent in the hosting country, which acts as a gatekeeper function. Data can also be encrypted, giving flexibility in terms of who can access what, Cooper says. All of those details would need to be ironed out in a binding agreement \u2014 something that takes time to agree on.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>While the embassy holds government data, it protects private commerce.<\/strong> If the UAE\u2019s central bank data is backed up in a data embassy, the banking system stays \u201clive\u201d even if local servers are hit. A private bank can have the best backup in the world, but if the central clearing system is offline, it can\u2019t move a single AED.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The recovery (and protection) of physical infrastructure is the bigger problem <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cData is easy [\u2026] there\u2019s ways to protect data<\/strong>,\u201d Schneier said, but protecting physical infrastructure during wartime is a different ballgame \u2014 and it\u2019s something corporates can\u2019t be responsible for on their own, he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cIndustry has always been a legitimate target in wartime<\/strong>, but it\u2019s on governments to protect industries \u2014 companies can\u2019t fight wars and they can\u2019t bear the burden of hardening their infrastructure against wars,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Backstopping by regional governments<\/strong> is \u201cnot a stretch [\u2026] particularly given how central digital infrastructure has become to their economic diversification strategies,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cThat could take the form of government-backed ins., investment guarantees, or formal risk-sharing<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">agreements,\u201d he explained. The principle here is what matters, Cooper said \u2014 major cloud companies will need assurances from the government to continue to invest in a region where this type of risk exists, he added. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The key thing moving forward?<\/strong> <strong>Classifying data centers as the critical infrastructure they are<\/strong>, Cooper said. \u201cData centers are now built to survive a drone strike,\u201d according to Cooper. Options like structured hardening, which include underground construction, reinforced blast-resistant shells, overhead netting, and tensioned cable systems \u2014 all recommended by the Pentagon\u2019s own counter-drone guidance, issued in January, he added. <strong>These are achievable, but they are expensive<\/strong>, he noted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The second option is active defense<\/strong>, Cooper explained. That means electronic jamming, drone detection and intercept systems, kinetic countermeasures \u2014 measures often deployed at military installations. \u201cThis raises the immediate question: who authorizes them, who operates them, and under what [legislative] framework does a private company operate defensive weapons systems in a foreign country?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Ins. is another part of the problem: <\/strong>\u201cOne key limitation is that many commercial ins. policies, including cyber policies, contain exclusions for war or war-like acts,\u201d Associate Analyst at GlobalData Charlie Hutcherson told EnterpriseAM. That breeds further uncertainty, Hutcherson added, while Cooper noted that the government could need to step in one way or another. (<strong>Read:<\/strong> Today\u2019s Planet Finance, detailing the global shortage of ins. for multi-bn USD mega data center projects.) <\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/data-centers\/\">Data centers<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/investment\/\">investment<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/investment-watch\/\">INVESTMENT WATCH<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/tech\/\">tech<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114149 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"114149\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/114149\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114149\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114149 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/HassanAllamProperties\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/2\/414.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114150\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"114150\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">KUDOS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/zayed-national-museum-picks-up-a-global-stamp-of-approval-months-after-opening\/\">\r\n                            Zayed National Museum gets recognition + Forbes\u2019 100 most valuable companies are out                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/zayed-national-museum-picks-up-a-global-stamp-of-approval-months-after-opening\/\" 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class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/927.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114151\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/zayed-national-museum-picks-up-a-global-stamp-of-approval-months-after-opening\/927-jpg-8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/927.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"927.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/927.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/927.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114150\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114150 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-kudos tag-culture tag-enterpriseam-uae tag-kudos tag-tourism wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong> Abu Dhabi\u2019s Zayed National Museum has been named one of Time\u2019s World\u2019s <\/strong><strong>Greatest Places 2026<\/strong>, joining the publication\u2019s annual list of 100 destinations judged to offer standout experiences globally, according to an Abu Dhabi Media Office <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaoffice.abudhabi\/en\/arts-culture\/zayed-national-museum-named-one-of-times-worlds-greatest-places-2026-recognising-it-among-100-extraordinary-destinations-worldwide\/\" style=\"\">statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>The recognition lands less than four months after the museum opened <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/10\/17\/this-morning-mubadala-to-tap-debt-markets-again-this-month-reuters-poll-positive-on-uae-growth-this-year\/\" style=\"\">in December<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/10\/17\/this-morning-mubadala-to-tap-debt-markets-again-this-month-reuters-poll-positive-on-uae-growth-this-year\/\" style=\"\"><\/a> as the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi\u2019s cultural push on Saadiyat, giving the emirate\u2019s newest flagship cultural asset an unusually fast international endorsement. Inside, visitors find six permanent galleries spanning 300k years of history, along with headline pieces including the Abu Dhabi Pearl, the Blue Qur\u2019an, and a full-scale Magan Boat reconstruction.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Forbes\u2019 100 Most Valuable was UAE-heavy: <\/strong>UAE-listed companies led Forbes Middle East\u2019s 2026 ranking of the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbesmiddleeast.com\/lists\/100-most-valuable-companies-2026\/\" style=\"\">region\u2019s 100 most valuable companies<\/a>, with 35 firms making the list, edging past Saudi Arabia\u2019s 34. GCC companies accounted for 88% of the ranking, while UAE names claimed five spots in the top 10, led by energy, finance, and holding firms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Who made the cut at the top? <\/strong>IHC ranked second with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/ar\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9\/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA\/100-2026-yx4rz1de\" style=\"\">a market cap of USD 238.6 bn<\/a>, followed by Taqa in fourth (USD 87.9 bn), Adnoc Gas in sixth (USD 75.4 bn), First Abu Dhabi Bank in ninth (USD 56 bn), and Emirates NBD in 10th (USD 53.5 bn).<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/culture\/\">culture<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/kudos\/\">KUDOS<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/tourism\/\">tourism<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114152\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"114152\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">MOVES<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/cloudera-adds-a-regional-sales-hand-as-middle-east-ai-demand-climbs\/\">\r\n                            Cloudera adds a Gulf lead                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/cloudera-adds-a-regional-sales-hand-as-middle-east-ai-demand-climbs\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Loumakis brings two decades of experience across data, analytics, and enterprise software in EMEA, including regional sales leadership roles at Qlik and Liferay.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why now? <\/strong>Cloudera is doubling down on a region it already describes as \u201cone of the most dynamic and fast-growing markets for data and AI innovation.\u201d Group VP South-META Ahmad Shakora said the appointment should help \u201cdeepen strategic partnerships\u201d across the region, building on last year\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/07\/29\/sidf-extends-two-year-sar-80-mn-loan-to-al-jouf-agricultural-development-company\/\" style=\"\">MoU with Saudi Aramco<\/a> and the opening of a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/09\/17\/sppc-powers-up-5-3-gw-in-new-renewable-bids\/\" style=\"\">Saudi office<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\/\">artificial intelligence<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/moves\/\">MOVES<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114154\" class=\"issue-section markets\">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"114154\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">6<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">PLANET FINANCE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/\">\r\n                            The AI sector\u2019s latest challenge? Ins.                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Insuring the boom: The missing piece of the AI infrastructure puzzle&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/\">\n         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href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Insuring+the+boom%3A+The+missing+piece+of+the+AI+infrastructure+puzzle+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fuae%2F2026%2F03%2F18%2Finsuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/923.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114155\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/insuring-the-boom-the-missing-piece-of-the-ai-infrastructure-puzzle\/923-jpg-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/923.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"923.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/923.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/923.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114154\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114154 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-planet-finance tag-artificial-intelligence tag-enterpriseam-uae tag-financial-markets tag-planet-finance tag-tech wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong> Building <\/strong><strong>out the AI boom is one thing, but <\/strong><strong>insuring<\/strong><strong> it is another \u2014 and it\u2019s making lending in the sector more challenging.<\/strong> Lenders looking to fund multi-bn-USD, multi-GW AI projects are struggling to secure enough ins., the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/5ba0cf1a-0d81-4479-a58c-3c8b5b088682\" style=\"\">Financial Times<\/a> reports. Blackstone and KKR are among those opting out of taking on AI-linked debt on the grounds of a lack of comprehensive coverage, the salmon-colored paper said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The risks: <\/strong>Data centers are vulnerable to a host of events, from natural disasters to possible disruptions to water and energy supplies. A 45-minute power outage alone could wipe out half a year\u2019s revenues, Parametrix\u2019s Jonathan Hatzor said. This, coupled with a lack of ins. coverage, is positioning funding data centers at a level of exposure that many investors are wary of taking on, especially as the lack of full coverage may become an issue when construction loans are set to be refinanced.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Some developers have been trying to mitigate the risks<\/strong>, building out data centers in areas with more temperate weather patterns, but, as we\u2019re all too aware in our neck of the woods, it\u2019s hard to mitigate against geopolitical risks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hyperscalers aren\u2019t helping<\/strong>, with huge investments and large-scale projects driving up ins. costs. Megaprojects are often some of the most underinsured, Kirkland & Ellis partner Kimberly McGrath said. Meanwhile, Marsh broker Kate Fairhead noted that these projects distort the market by taking on more risk on their balance sheet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Current ins. mechanisms in place for under-construction projects are offering partial coverage.<\/strong> Meta\u2019s USD 30 bn data center campus in Louisiana has about USD 4 bn worth of coverage, Clifford Chance\u2019s Gianluca Bacchiocchi said. However, when it comes to high-profile projects with a lot of investor interest, potential backers have to accept a certain level of risk if they want to be involved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The coverage conundrum isn\u2019t the only worry plaguing the sector<\/strong>, with fears continuing to spiral around <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/10\/06\/ai-hype-intensifies-but-signs-of-a-bubble-burst-are-alarming\/\" style=\"\">a possible AI bubble<\/a>. Key AI firms have seen valuations surge, and investors have been throwing money at projects that have yet to deliver equivalent returns. Only 10% of agentic AI projects are seeing measurable returns, according to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deloitte.com\/nl\/en\/issues\/generative-ai\/ai-roi-the-paradox-of-rising-investment-and-elusive-returns.html\" style=\"\">Deloitte<\/a>. The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/10\/15\/imf-upgrades-global-growth-forecast-warns-of-tariffs-and-ai-bubble\/\" style=\"\">IMF has also recently warned<\/a> of growing AI investments, echoing the dot-com boom of the late 1990s. Despite this, Nvidia has recently posted revenues <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2026\/feb\/25\/nvidia-quarterly-earnings-report-ai\" style=\"\">that beat expectations<\/a>, assuaging doubts somewhat.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">MARKETS THIS MORNING- <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Asia-Pacific markets are mostly in the green in early trading this morning as investors await the Federal Reserve\u2019s decision later today \u2014 the central bank is widely expected to leave interest rates as they are. Similarly, US stocks are set to open in the green later today, with futures a sea of green.<\/p>\n<div class='stock-ticker-panel'>\n<table class='table stock-ticker-table markets-table'>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>ADX<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">9,556<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+1.0% (YTD: -4.4%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>DFM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">5,506<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+4.1% (YTD: -9.0%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Nasdaq Dubai UAE20<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">4,483<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+3.2% (YTD: +8.3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-none'>\n<td class='td-list-none'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>USD : AED<\/strong><strong> CBUAE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Buy 3.67<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Sell 3.67<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-down'>\n<td class='td-list-down'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets1'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets1'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>EIBOR<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">3.5% o\/n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">3.6% 1 yr<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>TASI<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">10,946<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.6% (YTD: +4.3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>EGX30 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">46,055<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+1.9% (YTD: +10.1%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>S&P 500<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">6,716<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.3% (YTD: -1.9%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>FTSE 100<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">10,404<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.8% (YTD: +4.8%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Euro Stoxx 50<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">5,769<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.5% (YTD: -0.4%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Brent crude <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 103.42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+3.2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Natural gas (Nymex) <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 3.04<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-down'>\n<td class='td-list-down'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets1'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets1'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Gold<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 5,003<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-0.1%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-down'>\n<td class='td-list-down'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets1'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets1'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>BTC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 74,189<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-0.9% (YTD: -15.3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-up'>\n<td class='td-list-up'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets11'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets11'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Chimera JP Morgan UAE Bond UCITS ETF<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">AED 3.62<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.6% (YTD: -3.6%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-none'>\n<td class='td-list-none'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">150.60<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">0.0% (YTD: -0.9%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class='tr-row-down'>\n<td class='td-list-down'>\n<p><svg class='e-icon e-TypeMarkets1'><use xlink:href='#e-TypeMarkets1'><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>VIX (Volatility Index)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">22.37<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-4.9% (YTD: +50.3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>THE CLOSING BELL-<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The ADX rose 1.0% yesterday<\/strong> on turnover of AED 1.6 bn. The index is down 4.4% YTD.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In the green: <\/strong>Two Point Zero Group (+8.5%), E7 Group (+8.3%), and AD Ports Group (+7.7%).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In the red: <\/strong>Rak Properties (-5.0%), Apex Investment (-4.9%), and Umm Al Qaiwain General Investment Co. (-4.9%). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Over on the DFM<\/strong>, the index rose 4.1% on turnover of AED 1.6 bn. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Dubai was up 3.2%.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\/\">artificial intelligence<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/financial-markets\/\">Financial markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/planet-finance\/\">PLANET FINANCE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/tag\/tech\/\">tech<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"114156\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"calendar\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2026\/03\/18\/114156\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-114156\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-114156 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-calendar wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background is-style-wide\">\n\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mt-0 has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-normal-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\">\n\t\t\t<strong> CALENDAR<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">MARCH<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">19-20 March (Thursday-Friday): Eid Al Fitr, public holiday. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>26-28 March (Thursday-Saturday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialcapital2026.com\/\" style=\"\">Social Capital Conference<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>28-29 March (Saturday-Sunday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eicalcongress.com\/\" style=\"\">Emirates International Congress on AI & Visionary Leadership in Transforming Healthcare<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>31 March - 2 April (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bkogr9j-dubai-press-club-organise-arab-media-summit-2026\" style=\"\">Arab Media Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>31 March-2 April (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/ar\/article\/bypc4bk-%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85-2026\" style=\"\">Investopia<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Abu Dhabi. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">APRIL <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">6-9 April (Monday-Thursday): Dubai AI Week, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>7-8 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/aclk?sa=L&pf=1&ai=DChsSEwj_xNitku-SAxV1GQYAHRskIjsYACICCAEQARoCd3M&co=1&ase=2&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7-rMBhCFARIsAKnLKtA9bLZLeIwN44jhxqqUeXRsZnFSdXm2r3JoQufEGLacrS6rANAc_zYaAhtHEALw_wcB&cid=CAASWuRo-yLLfYpmEqZ65V9HiHswHX3YrQocUY3lB6we4QZRNqAjQMqLZYa6wFhv2TwYJth-R-4ANxJawR31rgPxJZ4dsa3GXgyi75cz_qKxpI1BSIv6o1tvwrk6fg&cce=2&category=acrcp_v1_32&sig=AOD64_0c7xfnXMlpo9gJCGfyxkhHrSbJcg&q&nis=4&adurl=https:\/\/dubaiaifestival.com\/?utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3Dpmax%26trc%3Dpmax%26gad_source%3D1%26gad_campaignid%3D23484475333%26gbraid%3D0AAAAADncpj6FzYjdPvFoxYv-UR4qFNGGR%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiA7-rMBhCFARIsAKnLKtA9bLZLeIwN44jhxqqUeXRsZnFSdXm2r3JoQufEGLacrS6rANAc_zYaAhtHEALw_wcB&ved=2ahUKEwiruNGtku-SAxUcTKQEHZsYE3sQ0Qx6BAggEAE\" style=\"\">Dubai AI Festival<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>7-9 April (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adghw.com\/\" style=\"\">Future Health Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Adnec Center Abu Dhabi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>7-9 April (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.middleeast-energy.com\/en\/home.html\" style=\"\">Middle East Energy<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aimcongress.com\/\" style=\"\">AIM Congress<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai World Trade Center.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>13-15 April (Monday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/glass-show.com\/\" style=\"\">The International Glass Manufacturing Show<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>14-16 April: (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ips-dubai.com\/\" style=\"\">International Property Show<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>21-23 April (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uitpsummit.org\/dubai2026\/\" style=\"\">UITP Public Transport Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>28-29 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/press-release\/companies-news\/schneider-electric-to-advance-energy-technology-to-power-intelligence-at-innovation-summit-middle-east-and-africa-mii8c2t1\" style=\"\">Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Abu Dhabi. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>29 April (Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digitransformationsummit.com\/uae\/\" style=\"\">Digital Transformation Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Sofitel, Abu Dhabi. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">MAY <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>4-8 May (Wednesday-Saturday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.miite.ae\/\" style=\"\">Make It in the Emirates<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>8-24 May (Saturday-Sunday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mediaoffice.ae\/en\/news\/2026\/february\/24-02\/dubai-esports\" style=\"\">Dubai Esports and Games Festival<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>11-13 May (Monday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aieverythingglobal.com\/home\" style=\"\">AI Everything Global<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>11-15 May (Monday-Friday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dubaifuturefinanceweek.com\/\" style=\"\">Dubai Future Finance Week<\/a><\/span><span>, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">12-14 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Airport Show, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"\">19-20 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capitalmarketsummit.ae\/\" style=\"\">Capital Market Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>19-22 May (Tuesday-Friday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaoffice.abudhabi\/en\/energy\/under-the-directives-of-khaled-bin-mohamed-bin-zayed-department-of-energy-to-launch-abu-dhabi-water-power-week-in-may-2026\/\" style=\"\">Abu Dhabi Water and Energy Week<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Adnec Center, Abu Dhabi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>20-21 May (Wednesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indico.un.org\/event\/1021967\/\" style=\"\">Arab Competition Forum<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">JUNE <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">3-4 June (Wednesday-Thursday): Annual MENA Investor Conference, Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>15 June - 15 September (Monday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dubaimallathon.ae\/\" style=\"\">Dubai Mallathon<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">JULY <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>31 July (Friday):<\/span> <span>Large businesses achieving annual revenues equal to or above AED 50<\/span> <span>mn<\/span> <span>must appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">OCTOBER <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>4-10 October (Sunday-Saturday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/space.gov.ae\/en\/media-center\/events\/world-space-week\" style=\"\">World Space Week<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Abu Dhabi. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">Signposted to happen sometime in October 2026:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Abu Dhabi Space Week, Abu Dhabi.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">NOVEMBER <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>9-10 November (Monday-Tuesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bmkxm3q-mohammad-gergawi-announces-dates-next-uae\" style=\"\">Annual government meetings<\/a><\/span><span>, Abu Dhabi.     <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>10-12 November (Tuesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mediaoffice.ae\/en\/news\/2026\/february\/24-02\/rta-organises-the-inaugural-edition-of-dubai-international\" style=\"\">Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition & Conference<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Dubai World Trade Center. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">DECEMBER <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>2-4 December (Wednesday-Friday):<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unwater.org\/news\/2026-un-water-conference\" style=\"\">UN Water Conference<\/a><\/span><span>, UAE.<\/span> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">Signposted to happen in 2026: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bk8zh7y-investopia-host-inaugural-global-talks-tashkent\" style=\"\">Investopia Global Talks<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">, Tashkent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">Signposted to happen sometime in 2027:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">1 January: Deadline for large businesses to implement e-invoicing;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>1Q 2027: Completion of the first phase of <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\/news\/story\/f4e973fb-1779-41cf-b29f-f4df8c403414\/this-morning:-india%25e2%2580%2599s-kotak-receives-sca-license,-plans-retail-focused-funds-in-4q-2025-%2B-ifza-in-panama%3F\" style=\"\">Hassyan seawater desalination project<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"kix.a4534i4tbnjl\"><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>1-3 February (Monday-Wednesday): <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bymylfm-world-governments-summit-2027-set-from-february\" style=\"\">World Governments Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">31 March: Small businesses with annual revenues of less than AED 50 mn are obliged to contract with an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>31 March: Government entities<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight:400;\">are required to appoint an accredited service provider for e-invoicing implementation;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>21-22 April (Wednesday-Thursday): <\/span><span style=\"\">Token2049, Dubai. <\/span> <\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">1 July: Deadline for small businesses to implement e-invoicing;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">1 October: Deadline for governments to implement e-invoicing;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Abu Dhabi\u2019s solar and battery energy facility, combining 5.2 GW of solar capacity and 19 GWh of battery storage, is set for commissioning. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700\">Signposted to happen sometime in 2028:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/1732iqa-uae-strengthens-its-global-leadership-host-2028\" style=\"\">Artificial Intelligence Summit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">Signposted to happen sometime in 2029:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Sibos 2029 organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Dubai;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">The commissioning of the seventh phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plus: Uncertainty and risk weigh on the UAE\u2019s data hub ambitions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":114140,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114139","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"8ce4ccc4-85e0-4b09-971f-d7632fc65bec","teaser":"Plus: Uncertainty and risk weigh on the UAE\u2019s data hub ambitions","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/3\/948.jpg","box_description":"","box_image":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Will the region change tactics as the war drags on? - UAE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/issues\/will-the-region-change-tactics-as-the-war-drags-on\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Will the region change tactics as the war drags on?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plus: Uncertainty and risk weigh on the UAE\u2019s data hub ambitions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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