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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy

Semafor Gulf

Abu Dhabi Finance Week has evolved into a marker of the city’s ascendancy

ADFW is becoming the can’t-miss finale in the global calendar of convenings.
Benson Boone in Abu Dhabi. Shayden Schoonover.

Turkish digital asset platform Paribu buys Gulf’s top homegrown crypto exchange

Paribu acquired CoinMENA, the Gulf’s biggest homegrown crypto exchange, in a deal valued at $240 million.
Paribu’s co-founders. Courtesy of Paribu.

Guggenheim eyes Gulf as it brushes off private credit fears

The New York firm is looking to open an Abu Dhabi office.
Guggenheim Partners Investment Management CIO Anne Walsh. Courtesy of the Milken Institute.

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar and Mubadala to launch $1B Gulf real estate fund

The joint venture aims to sign up sovereign wealth funds, pensions, funds of funds, insurance companies, and family offices as customers.
Mubadala’s headquarters.Courtesy of Mubadala

Global powers target Gulf AI collaborations

The UAE will attend the Pax Silica summit at the White House on Dec. 12, as the US pushes to bolster its AI supply chain.
A switching chip, manufactured by Menlo Micro, an Irvine, California-based company, and used by Nvidia to test and validate its AI chips.Stephen Nellis/Reuters

Oman joins other Gulf powers in African renewables race

Omani renewable energy specialist O-Green said it would develop up to three gigawatts of solar and wind power projects in Botswana.
A solar park in South Sudan. Thomas Mukoya/Reuters.

Saudi Arabia to open Red Sea Museum

Set to open on Dec. 6 inside the restored historic Bab Al-Bunt building in Jeddah’s old town, the museum features more than 1,000 artifacts.

UAE family office compensation lags global peers

A generational shift at UAE family offices is reshaping how much they pay staff, but compensation still lags the richest global finance hubs.

Two Omani green hydrogen projects end

The decision comes amid industry concerns about a mismatch between supply and demand for the low-emissions fuel.

Saudi sees ample room to keep borrowing to fund diversification

The government says returns on investing in its economy outweigh borrowing costs, even as it trims spending.

Abu Dhabi private equity firm BlueFive looks to consolidate Gulf insurers

The firm raised $2 billion for its first buyout fund this year with a view to later expand across Southeast Asia.

Saudi plans to double Japan investments to $27B by 2030

Japan is one of Saudi Arabia’s top trading partners, driven by the kingdom’s oil exports and purchases of Japanese cars, machinery, and electronics.

UAE National Day marks a risk that remade the Gulf

On Dec. 2, 1971, six rival sheikhs made a historic decision, forming the UAE a day after Britain pulled its military out of the region.

Saudi to reveal 2026 spending priorities amid lower oil prices

Investors and businesses are watching to see how spending and borrowing plans will impact the kingdom’s economy at a time of weaker oil prices.

Kuwait leads other Gulf nations in wealth as a percentage of GDP

A report by Global SWF also showed that the Qatar Investment Authority was the biggest spender among global sovereign funds in November.

UAE opens up to online gambling

The country quietly launched its first sports betting site and a poker, roulette, and slots platform.

Qatar plans new data cable corridor to EU to reroute internet around Red Sea

The country’s biggest telecom company will invest more than $500 million in fiber running from Oman through Iraq and Türkiye into Europe.

FIFA signs $1B deal with Saudi Arabia fund to invest in stadium construction

The deal comes amid growing scrutiny of Gulf influence over global soccer.