BANKING- <\/p>\n
Mashreq<\/strong>\u2019s digital push in Pakistan now fully live:<\/strong> Our friends at Mashreq launched Mashreq Neo, its digital service offering instant onboarding, no-charge remittances, and app-based money management, in Pakistan, according to a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n ICYMI- <\/strong>Mashreq rolled out full commercial operations in Pakistan in <\/span>September<\/a>, with plans to roll out Neo and NeoBiz for SMEs, backed by a USD 100 mn investment plan to build out its operations in the country this year.<\/span><\/p>\n INVESTMENT-<\/p>\n #1- Dar invests six figures in Austrian proptech Howie: <\/strong>Dar Ventures, the venture capital arm of Dar, invested a EUR six-figure sum in Vienna-based proptech Howie<\/a> to back the development of an AI platform to manage and analyze data for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, according to a press release<\/a>. <\/p>\n The next steps: <\/strong>The capital injection will support Howie\u2019s efforts to develop an AI platform that streamlines project data consolidation \u2014 including drawings and datasets \u2014 and analysis for AEC firms. It will also use the funds for expansion as it aims to roll out its services in Europe and the MENA region in 2027. The startup is set to launch a priced funding round in 1Q 2026.<\/p>\n ICYMI- <\/strong>Earlier this year, Dar Ventures invested GBP 5 mn<\/a> in Pi Labs\u2019 environmental tech fund, targeting AI-driven startups developing technologies for sustainable construction. <\/p>\n #2-<\/strong> India\u2019s Str<\/strong>ide Ventures to expand in GCC: <\/strong>India-based venture debt firm Stride Ventur<\/a>es<\/a> secured more commitments for its ADGM Fund V<\/a>, as part of a wider raise that saw it secure about USD 300 mn in institutional commitments toward its three funds in the UAE, India, and the UK, Fariha Ansari Javed, partner, GCC and global capital formation at Stride Ventures, told EnterpriseAM. The funds together have a planned global close of USD 600 mn.<\/p>\n The firm will prioritize deployment in Saudi Arabia and the UAE<\/strong>, before looking at other GCC markets, Javed said. <\/p>\n ICYMI- <\/strong>Stride recently closed its first Abu Dhabi fund<\/a>, ADGM Fund V, with a target of USD 250 mn as well as a further USD 100 mn green shoe option. At the time, the fund had already signed term sheets worth upwards of USD 50 mn and its pipeline for the rest of the year was set to come in at USD 100 mn.<\/p>\n What is driving deployment? <\/strong>\u201cThe India-GCC corridor is evolving into a two-way flow of capital and operational scale, marking a shift from unilateral investment to cross-border expansion,\u201d Javed said. Indian companies are entering the UAE and Saudi Arabia to tap into larger-ticket sizes driven by stronger unit economics and policy support. Gulf-based startups \u201care leveraging India for technology, talent, and cost-efficient scaling,\u201d while adopting India-style playbook. <\/p>\n #3-<\/strong> Adia + IDC back VC fund:<\/strong> Bengaluru-based VC firm Fireside Ventures has raised INR 22.65 bn (USD 250 mn) for its fourth fund from a mix of global and domestic investors including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Investment Corporation of Dubai, Fidelity International, and US university endowments, Reuters<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n Background:<\/strong> Founded in 2017, Fireside now manages USD 650 mn across four funds with a portfolio of over 60 consumer brands including Mamaearth, boAt, and the Sleep Company, as per the newswire.<\/p>\n DEBT- <\/p>\n Fitch <\/strong>upgrades Salik to A rating:<\/strong> Fitch Ratings has raised Salik\u2019s issuer default rating from A- to A, maintaining a stable outlook, according to a press release (pdf)<\/a>. Salik\u2019s position as Dubai\u2019s exclusive toll operator, low debt levels, robust liquidity and balance sheet, and close links to the emirate\u2019s expanding economy were cited as reasons for the upgrade. Its concession agreement<\/a> with Dubai\u2019s Roads and Transport Authority also gives Salik stable long-term cashflow visibility, Fitch said.<\/p>\n INFRASTRUCTURE- <\/p>\n Sharjah<\/strong> ruler Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi approved a AED 90 mn project to upgrade<\/strong> a five-kilometer stretch of Sharjah Ring Road near Etihad Rail Station<\/strong>, optimizing traffic flow along Mleiha Road \u2014 where traffic has recently doubled \u2014 and expanding University City Bridge., The National<\/a> reports. The plan is in its final design stages, with construction set to wrap up within a year.<\/p>\n REMEMBER- <\/strong>The emirate also announced last week<\/a> plans to build of an AED 60 mn bridge next to Martyrs' Monument to improve traffic flows from Mleiha Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and from Sheikh Khalifa Street towards Mleiha Road.<\/p>\n SPACE- <\/p>\n UAE<\/strong>, Kuwait sign MoU on space collaboration: <\/strong>Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences have inked an MoU to strengthen cooperation on space projects, state news agency Wam<\/a> reports. The agreement came during an MBRSC delegation visit to Kuwait.<\/p>\n Under the agreement<\/strong>, the two entities will collaborate on space exploration, remote sensing, applied research, and satellite development, as well as exchange scientific and technical knowledge. The MoU will also support the development of training programs and workshops for researchers, engineers, and students from both countries.<\/p>\n AVIATION- <\/p>\n Ammroc<\/strong>, Egypt\u2019s AOI partner on aircraft manufacturing + defense: <\/strong>The UAE\u2019s Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Center (Ammroc) inked three MoUs with Egypt\u2019s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) to improve cooperation across aircraft components, engine manufacturing, and helicopter system maintenance, according to a press<\/a>release<\/a>.<\/p>\n The details:<\/strong> Ammroc will collaborate with three AOI entities \u2014 the Aircraft Factory, the Engine Factory and Digital Manufacturing Center, and the Helwan Factory for Advanced Industries \u2014 to develop production capabilities and enhance systems for fixed-wing aircraft and autonomous aerial systems, manufacture and treat engine parts, and expand MRO services for helicopter platforms. The agreements also aim to establish training and knowledge transfer programs and set up new production lines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Plus: Dar invests in Austrian proptech + Adia, IDC back VC fund by Fireside Ventures<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":109972,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","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,"_primary_brand":0,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1552],"tags":[47,306,159,1391,1400,7,693,161,1342,527,288,309,532,1390,397,147,839],"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"class_list":["post-109971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-also-on-our-radar","tag-also-on-our-radar","tag-aviation","tag-banking","tag-debt","tag-defense","tag-enterpriseam-uae","tag-fitch-ratings","tag-infrastructure","tag-investment","tag-kuwait","tag-mashreq","tag-pakistan","tag-salik","tag-sharjah","tag-space","tag-startups","tag-uae-india-relations","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"46095626-fe23-4a27-b107-cdefe95e83b5","order":"13","is_powered_by":false,"story_type":"1","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/12\/145.jpg","photo_position":"above","homepage_title":"","full_issue_title":"Mashreq rolls out Mashreq Neo Pakistan","related_issue":[109948],"teaser":"Plus: Dar invests in Austrian proptech + Adia, IDC back VC fund by Fireside Ventures","voice_url":"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/12\/.03769e1a-2098-420a-b64c-5ece4817693d.mp3"},"yoast_head":"\n