Good morning, friends, and happy hump day. It’s another more or less busy day here at home, with the dominant themes driving the news being renewables and AI.

The only major piece of news beyond those two themes is First Abu Dhabi Bank’s play for Turkey’s Yapi Kredi, which seems to be advancing amid negotiations over valuation and pricing. The bank is set to snap up a 61.2% stake for some USD 8 bn if the transaction goes through.

Plus: Emirates Islamic has taken its debut USD 750 mn green sukuk issuance to market, and Fitch has upgraded Ras Al Khaimah’s issuer default rating

WEATHER- It’s another hot and humid day in the UAE, with the mercury hitting 37°C in Abu Dhabi and 36°C in Dubai, with overnight lows between 26-28°C.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT-

No more styrofoam cups in Abu Dhabi from 1 June: Abu Dhabi has pulled the brakes on single-use styrofoam products made of polystyrene — including cups, lids, plates, and takeaway containers — with a resolution taking effect at the beginning of June, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development will conduct field inspections on sales outlets and industrial establishments from 1 June to ensure compliance, after notifying over 50k commercial establishments and 80 industrial facilities about the ban.

The ban is part of Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency’s single-use plastic policy, introduced in 2020 to reduce microplastics and facilitate the shift to reusable solutions. The authority previously rolled out a single-use plastic bags ban in June 2022, which saw some 310 mn bags removed from circulation.

REMEMBER- Dubai will also ban single-use plastic bags as of 1 June, as part of a phased rollout aiming to ban single-use plastics by 2026.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ) has established an infrastructure investment fund company in Jordan, Petra reports. The fund aims to pour some USD 5 bn into an array of infrastructure and development projects across the country. ADQ will spearhead investment projects in Jordan including the operation and management of a port facility in Aqaba, the establishment of a railway network connecting Aqaba port to mining zones, and the development of a waste-to-energy conversion station, Petra said. Each project will be carried out through a dedicated subsidiary.

#2- UMPC to kick off lithium production in Argentina next year: Dubai-based United Mining Projects plans to kick off lithium production for batteries in Argentina next year, targeting an output of 5k tons by 2027 with plans to double it by 2028, CEO Bradley Pielsticker said in an interview with CNBC Arabia. The company is currently mulling extraction methods, including direct extraction and evaporation ponds, he said.

REMEMBER-UMPC is investing USD 550 mn in a lithium project in Argentina ’s Catamarca province through its subsidiary, Marhen Lithium. The project also aims to develop the lithium into value-added products, with the funds set to be disbursed over a four-year period.

#3-Ajman Bank is looking to reduce the number of non-performing loans (NPLs) to align with regulatory standards by year-end, and expects a significant decrease in its NPLs — which currently make up 14% of the bank’s total loan portfolio — by 2Q 2024, the lender’s CEO Mustafa Al Khalafawi told CNBC Arabia. The bank is also exploring the possibility of launching a digital bank. While no concrete timeline has been provided, this initiative is under consideration for the coming months or years.

ICYMI- Ajman Bank’s bottom line more than doubled to a record AED 107.4 mn, up 118% y-o-y in 1Q 2024. The growth was driven by a 7% y-o-y increase in its net operating income to AED 400 mn, as well as the bank’s focus on “customer base, enhancing the credit quality, risk management and focus on recoveries.”

#4- ADQ-owned F&B firm Agthia’s income is poised to climb between 10-12% y-o-y in 2024, the company’s CFO Sherif Elfaham told CNBC Arabia (watch, runtime, 6:36). Agthia is planning to increase its exports to Egypt 40% y-o-y to AED 100 mn this year, up from AED 70 mn recorded in 2023.

ICYMI- Agthia is looking to make Egypt an export hub by setting up an export facility in Egypt to serve markets in the Gulf and North Africa, as part of a wider expansion strategy for Agthia to grow its foothold in large consumer markets such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Agthia anticipates booking AED 40-45 mn in sales from its recently launched Nabil protein manufacturing facility in Jeddah, Elfaham said, announcing that operations commenced at the AED 84 mn facility earlier this month.

A look at Agthia’s 1Q performance: Agthia Group’s net income rose 32% y-o-y to AED 127.6 mn in 1Q 2024. The company logged AED 1.45 bn in revenues, up 22.6% y-o-y.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Dubai International Airport (DXB) logged its busiest quarter in 1Q 2024, with 23 mn passengers passing through its terminals, up 8.4% y-o-y, according to the Dubai Media Office. Robust performance came on the back of network expansions by Emirates and Flydubai, with the airport expecting to host some 91 mn guests this year. DXB currently grids Dubai to 256 destinations across 102 countries. London attracted the highest number of passengers (961k) during 1Q, followed by Riyadh (795k), Jeddah (669k), and Mumbai (637k).

#2- The UAE ranked 18th globally and first in the Middle East region in the World Economic Forum’s latest Travel & Tourism Development Index (pdf), improving its score by 4.4% and climbing seven places from its previous 35th global ranking in the last report issued in 2021. The index, covering 119 economies, analyzes factors and policies adopted by the countries to develop their travel and tourism sector.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- The Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference is on its final day in Dubai. Hosted by the Emirates National Oil Company and organized by the S&P Global Commodity Insights, the theme of the conference is “Evolving Core Energy Markets within a Sustainable Landscape.”

#2- The International Exhibition of National Security and Resilience 2024 Conference is on its second and final day at Adnec Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the International Exhibition of National Security and Resilience, Wam reports. The conference is set to gather top CEOs, leaders, and experts from different fields to discuss security challenges and promote strategic partnerships.

#3-The Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit is on its final day in Abu Dhabi. The three-day event welcomes over 300 delegates — including the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry — and 200 exhibiting brands to spotlight the future of electric vehicles in advancing sustainable mobility.

#4-CABSAT is on its second day at the Dubai World Trade Centre, before wrapping tomorrow. The three-day event will welcome over 18k industry professionals and media markets to explore business prospects across content, broadcast, satellite, media, and entertainment.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s a mixed bag on global front pages this morning with no single story captivating the attention of the business press.

#1- Iran will hold presidential elections on 28 June as the country looks to elect a new president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will serve as interim president in the meantime.

#2- US stocks hit another record high: The S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite both hit fresh highs yesterday. US stocks have been closing in the green for the past couple of sessions following promising inflation data that reignited trader optimism that the Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates this year.

#3- Pixar is laying off 14% of its workforce as the company adopts a quality over quantity mindset, a Disney spokesman told CNBC.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Make it in the Emirates Forum is set to take place from 27-28 May at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center. The forum, which is organized by the Industry and Advanced Technology Ministry, brings together local and international decision-makers, government officials, private companies, investors, and financing institutions to support industrial growth and investment.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

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