Good morning, wonderful people, and welcome to the first full workweek of November. It looks like we’ll have a busy week ahead, with Adipec and the UAE’s annual government meetings both kicking off today, alongside a host of other forums and events.

We have a packed issue for you to start the week, with plenty of investment news and more news of national spending on infrastructure.

PLUS- We have a must-read interview with Mashreq CFO Norman Tambach, where he walks us through how our friends at Mashreq locked in the lowest coupon rate by a bank on an AT1 issuance in three years, his outlook on business climate in the year ahead, and a lot more.

🌫️ WEATHER- Expect more humidity and some fog this morning — and for the rest of the week, according to the National Center of Meteorology’s forecast (pdf). In Dubai, the mercury is expected to peak at 34°C, before cooling to 28°C overnight. Over in Abu Dhabi, temperatures will reach 29°C and hit a low of 28°C overnight.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Emirates plans to increase air traffic to China by 40% on the back of rising demand, Chief Commercial Officer of Dubai’s flag carrier Adnan Kazim told Bloomberg. The airline currently operates five daily flights to three cities in China, totaling 35 weekly flights — two daily flights each to Shanghai and Beijing, and one to Guangzhou. It recently inked an agreement to add 14 flights per week from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, raising Emirates’ total to 49 weekly flights. Additionally, Chinese carriers will benefit from an extra 28 flights per week.

Emirates is set to reintroduce its double-decker Airbus A380 jets on flights to China, reversing a previous decision to downgrade to smaller Boeing 777 aircraft, Kazim said.

Emirates is diverging from the trend set by major airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and SAS, which have reduced or suspended services to the country. “We’re working closely with authorities in China to further ramp up flights through either new places, or adding capacity in existing points,” Kazim said.

#2- Dubai, TikTok probe training skilled content creators: The Dubai Media Council met with TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew to discuss potential collaboration focused at promoting knowledge exchange and enhancing content creation skills, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. Plans include launching training initiatives to support skilled content creators.

#3- The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) opened a tender for developing car wash and service centers in Al Dhafrah and Al Ain, Wam reports. Eligible bidders must be Emirati-owned businesses that are registered with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Firms can submit their bids between 1 November and 16 December.

#4- Russia has started importing butter from the UAE for the first time amid soaring prices in the country and slower deliveries from other countries due to Western sanctions, Interfax reports, citing a statement from agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor. The country imported 90 metric tons since 18 October.

#5- Mubadala’s asset management unit, Mubadala Capital, is reportedly mulling an investment in UK corporate debt research startup 9fin, says the Financial Times, citing unnamed sources. The transaction’s details have yet to be disclosed, with negotiations said to be in early stages. The firm is set to reach a valuation of around USD 500 mn, according to FT’s sources, with other investors such as global equity firm KKR interested in acquiring a stake.

About 9fin: Established in 2016, the startup breaks news on leveraged finance agreements and provides analysis on investment opportunities. The company raised USD 23 mn in a 2022 finance round led by US-based venture capital firm Spark Capital.

REMEMBER- Mubadala Capital raised USD 3.1 bn for its fourth private equity fund in October. The fund plans to focus on middle-market companies in various sectors, including financial and business services.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Abu Dhabi airports’ passenger traffic grew 27% y-o-y in 3Q 2024 to 7.7 mn passengers, according to a press release. Passenger flow increased 31.2% y-o-y to 21.7 mn in 9M 2024. Cargo quantities also rose 23% y-o-y in 9M 2024 to 572k tons amid heightened demand for both belly-hold capacity and freighter services.

#2- The UAE’s fintech market is expected to reach USD 3.5 bn by 2026 with an annual growth rate of 20%, Al Bayan reports, citing a study by Interregional for Strategic Analysis. Revenues from the global fintech market are expected to reach USD 1.5 tn by 2030, according to the study.

#3- Emirates NBD sees Dubai’s GDP growing 3.5% this year and 4% in 2025, backed by the government’s new budget and increased spending on infrastructure, according to Emirates NBD’s latest outlook. The new budget supports Emirates NBD’s projection “that growth will remain constructive over the coming years,” the bank said, adding that despite increased spending, the budget is expected to remain in surplus, reflecting economic expansion and diversified government revenue streams.

PSAs-

#1- Two new Salik toll gates at the Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai will be operational on 24 November, according to the Dubai Media Office. The toll gates are each expected to divert traffic away from congested roads by 15%.

#2- Takaful Emarat is set to launch its rights issue subscription on 14 November, closing on 26 November, according to the ins. firm’s subscription invitation (pdf). This rights issue will increase the firm’s share capital to AED 210.7 mn, up from AED 25.6 mn, by issuing 185 mn new shares at a nominal value of AED 1 apiece. Shareholders can subscribe at any participating FAB branch, through the FAB website or mobile banking app, or via the DFM website.

REMEMBER-The firm reduced its capital to AED 25.6 mn by canceling 124.4 mn shares last month as part of a capital restructuring plan aimed at offsetting the AED 132 mn accumulated loss the company had incurred as of 31 December 2023.

#3- The Education and Higher Education Ministries have scrapped the requirement for an Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) for university admissions, allowing each university to set its own criteria, according to a statement. Students’ science subject grades will now also be prioritized over overall percentages for medical and engineering program admissions.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar is on the second day of her official two-day visit to Abu Dhabi, Slovenian national news agency STA reports. The trip’s agenda includes meetings with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral relations, as well as visits to several Slovenian companies operating in Abu Dhabi. The president also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

#2- Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri is representing the UAE on the final day of the Gateway to the Gulf 2024 forum in Bahrain, Al Khaleej reports. The event brings together 250 senior officials and investors from major global markets to delve into critical topics like sustainable economic growth, the impact of AI on markets, and workforce preparation.

#3- The 2024 UAE Government Annual Meetings kick off today in Abu Dhabi, chaired by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to the Dubai Media Office. The two-day session brings together over 500 dignitaries, including UAE rulers, crown princes, and government officials to discuss means for enhancing the country’s government performance and competitiveness.

This year’s agenda features new organizational priorities and frameworks, with national retreats focusing on identity, family, and AI, and panel sessions to review national priorities and strategies for economy and investment, AI, education, sports, family, and community empowerment. Dedicated sessions for young government leaders are also on the roster, alongside exclusive local government meetings for Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah.

On today’s agenda: Day zero will feature cabinet meetings, as well as five federal councils and national and local committees.

#4- Adipec will kick off today and run through to Thursday at Adnec Center in Abu Dhabi. The event will bring together over 40 ministers and over 200 C-suite executives and technology leaders from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, focusing on innovation and partnerships to advance the energy transition. The event will feature three new conferences that include perspectives from finance, technology, youth, and the Global South.

Ahead of the event, over 80 leaders from the energy, technology, climate, and investment sectors gathered for the ENACT Majlis meeting yesterday at Adnec, with, Wam reports. The invite-only event convened by Industry Minister Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber was held under Chatham House rules with the theme “AI and Energy, Powering a Sustainable Future” — focusing on how advancements in AI and technology can be used to combat climate challenges.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

#1-Gulfood Manufacturing will take place between 5-7 November at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will showcase trends and solutions in global food manufacturing, with more than 2.5k companies set to attend.

#2- GulfHost will take place on 5-7 November at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will feature over 350 exhibitors showcasing innovations in hospitality and foodservice equipment, along with networking opportunities for more than 25k industry professionals.

#3- Dubai will host the World Finance Forum 2024 on 6 November at Sofitel Dubai The Palm. The event will welcome CFOs and finance directors from leading companies to discuss emerging trends, growth prospects, and potential challenges in the financial landscape.

#4- The UAE BioTech Symposium will take place on 6-8 November in Masdar City. The event will discuss the latest developments in biotechnology, with participants including researchers, entrepreneurs, government entities, and strategic investors.

MARKET WATCH-

Opec+ confirms output hike delay: Opec+ pushed back its planned 180k bpd output hike for December for another month amid persistent concerns of soft oil demand from China and a glut in supply, according to a statement. The group still intends to move forward with its plan to revive 2.2 mn bpd of idle supply over the year, it said.

REMEMBER- Opec+ initially planned to start phasing out production cuts in October, but later pushed the plans back to December as oil prices fell.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

On the eve of voting day, the international press has its attention fixed firmly on the US presidential election as both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump deliver their closing messages.

The race remains very much neck-and-neck this morning, with the New York Times / Siena College polls showing that Harris and Trump’s standings in seven key states are “within the margin of sampling error,” which means that a clear lead remains uncertain. However, Harris currently has a narrow lead in Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, while Trump is closing the gap in Pennsylvania and is in the lead in Arizona.

Who’s going to tip the scales? For Harris, it’s likely to be young women, while for Trump it’s likely to be “disaffected young men.” The elections are leading the front pages of the Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC, among others.

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