ANALYSIS

UAE and Saudi Arabia set the benchmark for GCC IPO: report

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the clear leaders of the GCC IPO market, setting the benchmark for scale, sophistication, and investor expectations across the region, according to a new Viewpoint by Arthur D Little.

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GATEWAY TO OTHER REGIONS

AirAsia X selects Bahrain as strategic hub for global expansion

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

AirAsia X (AAX) Berhad is positioning Bahrain at the heart of its next phase of global expansion, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s ambition to strengthen its role as a regional aviation hub.

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32m sq m MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

Saudi Arabia launches $26bn waterfront city project in Dammam

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Saudi Arabia has launched a massive SR98 billion ($26 billion) seaside residential and mixed-use project in Dammam, covering an area of approximately 32 million sq m, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

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DISTRICT COOLING FOCUS

DEWA stake in Empower jumps to 80% after $1.41bn deal with EPI

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has increased its shareholding in Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) to 80% following the transfer of the entire shares of Emirates Power Investment (EPI) in Empower to DEWA.

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SPOTLIGHT

Construction costs set to increase in Saudi Arabia, UAE

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Construction costs are expected to rise in the Middle East this year, increasing by around 4% in Saudi Arabia and 3% in the UAE. Across key sectors, demand remains strong, but delivery conditions are becoming more complex, says a new report.

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Top This Week

Abu Dhabi economy grows 7.7% Q3 2025

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Abu Dhabi’s economy expanded by 7.7 percent in the third quarter of 2025 (July to September) compared to the same period in 2024, reaching its highest quarterly value on record at AED325.7 billion ($88.69 billion).

UAE industrial exports top $71m in 2025, up 25%

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

The UAE’s industrial exports reached a record value of AED262 billion ($71.34 billion) in 2025 for the first time, recording 25% growth compared to 2024 and more than doubling since the establishment of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in 2020.

Mideast private market AUM set to double by 2030

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

With continued policy evolution, deepening financial services ecosystems and expanding pools of investable capital, the Middle East’s private market AUM is forecast to double within the next five years, according to a new report.

EoI sought for developing international airport in Qassim

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Saudi Arabia's Matarat Holding, in collaboration with the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), has issued request for expression of interest (EOI) for the development of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport Public Private Partnership Project in Qassim.

Saudi EV brand CEER signs $987m local supply chain deals

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle (EV) brand and original equipment manufacturer (OEM), has announced a significant expansion of its domestic supply chain at the 4th PIF Private Sector Forum.

Binghatti Holding successfully prices $500 million sukuk

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Binghatti Holding, one of the UAE’s fastest-growing real estate developers, has successfully priced a long five-year $500 million benchmark sukuk under its $1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme, in a transaction that was 4.4 times oversubscribed.

Dubai residential sales hit $15bn in January, nearly 16,000 transactions

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Dubai’s residential property market entered 2026 with rising transaction volumes and renewed buyer activity. The trend was underpinned by sustained demand for mid-market homes and continued investor participation, according to January data from betterhomes.

Emsteel reports strong FY 2025, net profit up 23% to $131m

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Emsteel, one of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, delivered strong financial results in 2025 with its net profit reaching AED481 million ($131 million), up 23% compared to the same period last year.

ROSHN, Agility unit in deal to develop Grade A logistics park facility

Mon, 09 Feb 2026

ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia's leading multi-asset class real estate developer powered by sovereign wealth fund PIF, has signed the Heads of Terms to form a joint venture with Agility Logistics Parks to develop a Grade A facility over a 1 million sq m area in the kingdom.

RAK Properties unveils brand-new residential destination in Al Marjan

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

RAK Properties has launched The Strand, a brand-new residential destination within the masterplan of Marjan Beach in Ras Al Khaimah. A mixed-use project, it features 540,000 sq m GFA allocated across well-crafted homes, retail hubs and an expansive network of green spaces and community-focused districts.

Adnoc L&S revenue hits $5bn in 2025

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Adnoc Logistics & Services (Adnoc L&S) posted strong Q4 2025 and record full-year results, with $5.016 billion revenue—a 41 per cent increase—driven by market demand and operations. Over 60 per cent of combined revenue with AW Shipping comes from long-term, recurring contracts, boosting earnings visibility and market resilience.

GCC tourism growth boosts Asian presence at ATM 2026

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 4-7 May, is projecting a significant increase in exhibitors from Asia-Pacific countries, underpinned by a strong 13.95% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in participation from Asian exhibitors over the 2024–2026 period.

Fertiglobe delivers $1bn EBITDA in 2025, revenues up 41%

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Fertiglobe, the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and net ammonia combined, reported a 41% Y-o-Y increase in revenues to $2.82 billion in 2025, while adjusted EBITDA rose 57% Y-o-Y to $1.02 billion.

UAE and Saudi Arabia set the benchmark for GCC IPO: report

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the clear leaders of the GCC IPO market, setting the benchmark for scale, sophistication, and investor expectations across the region, according to a new Viewpoint by Arthur D Little.

Bahrain Family Leisure Company signs deal to acquire DGC’s Truffle Hospitality

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Dividend Gate Capital (DGC) and Bahrain Family Leisure Company (BFLC) have signed a definitive agreement for BFLC’s share-swap acquisition of Truffle Hospitality Holding, the food and beverage subsidiary of DGC.

AAW opens new-look Nolte Express Kitchen showroom in Kuwait

Mon, 09 Feb 2026

Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa (AAW), the exclusive distributor of Nolte Kitchen in Kuwait, has relaunched its Express Kitchen showroom, thus introducing the brand’s new visual identity in the country. The renovated space features the German brand's latest innovative kitchen solutions.

DEWA stake in Empower jumps to 80% after $1.41bn deal with EPI

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has increased its shareholding in Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) to 80% following the transfer of the entire shares of Emirates Power Investment (EPI) in Empower to DEWA.

WAM Saudi to cement global advanced manufacturing hub status

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

Global technology leaders from over 20 countries will be at the World Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics (WAM) 2026 to explore and understand the technologies powering the Saudi industrial transformation, especially in advanced manufacturing, AI, smart logistics, materials innovation and GenNext mobility.

Uber, Baidu to launch driverless ride-hailing service in Dubai next month

Wed, 11 Feb 2026

Baidu and Uber Technologies will roll out the Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai as early as next month, as part of their partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Egis completes key consultancy role in Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum

Mon, 09 Feb 2026

Egis has announced that it had played a major role as lead design consultant and construction supervisor for the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, one of the most technically complex cultural institutions in the Middle East, which officially opened its doors late last year.

EU may ease travel visas for certain professionals

Fri, 06 Feb 2026

The European Commission has announced it will look into allowing certain non-EU professionals to stay in the EU beyond the current 90/180-day rule, as part of a future overhaul of its visa system, a report said.

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