Good morning, friends, and welcome to what has shaped up to be a very busy hump day.We have plenty to keep us interested this morning, from the latest on Parkin’s IPO to a very healthy February PMI reading and fresh investments in real estate.

It’s the penultimate day of the EFG Hermes One on One Conference, the largest gathering of its kind devoted to emerging and frontier equities.

Some 670 investors from 250 global institutions are meeting face-to-face with senior execs from more than 215 companies in industries through Thursday. Presenting companies are from industries ranging from food and fintech to banking and petrochemicals. Companies from 29 countries will be attending.

We have coverage of the opening session from day one of the conference, which featured an interview with our friend Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and an executive director at the International Monetary Fund. We will have more coverage from the gathering in the days ahead.

** If you’re in Dubai and want to have coffee or pitch us on an interview, hit us up on 1×1@enterprisemea.com.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS-

#1-Don’t put your umbrellas away just yet: We’re expecting clouds and rain from tomorrow through to Saturday, accompanied by thunder and lightning, according to the National Center for Meteorology’s forecast. The weather is expected to become more moderate from Sunday.

#2- You can now get from Umm Suqeim 3 to Al Wasl Road in 30 seconds: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened a new junction at Al Majasimi and Al Wasl Road, reducing travel time from Umm Suqeim 3 northward to Al Wasl Road to 30 seconds from 3 minutes, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. The improvement eases traffic congestion by allowing for left turns at the junction, eliminating the need for a right turn onto Umm Suqeim Street and a subsequent U-turn on Al Wasl Road.

#3- Call to submit your comments on DFSA’s crowdfunding regs: The Dubai Financial Services Authority is seeking feedback on its proposed updates to crowdfunding regulations (pdf). Stakeholders have until Monday 6 May to submit their comments.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1-Adnoc was able to generate an additional USD 500 mn in value in 2023, thanks to AI, Reuters reports. The Abu Dhabi oil giant already employs over 30 AI tools, integrated across various operations, while an application of AI that remotely monitors equipment helped reduce unexpected shutdowns, thus improving efficiency.

#2-Mubadala cooking up Brazil food franchise expansion: Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala is reportedly looking to acquire several struggling foreign food franchises in Brazil through its wholly-owned arm, Mubadala Capital, Bloomberg reports, citing an unnamed source in the know. The firm plans to consolidate the franchises and Brazilian food retailer Zamp — in which Mubadala holds a 38.5% stake — to create “a large group housing several foreign food franchises, with Outback Steakhouse being eyed among several potential targets” in a bid to grow its footprint in Latin America’s largest economy. Outback Steakhouse Brazil accounts for 86% of the current owners, Bloomin’ Brands ’ total international sales, according to CNBC.

ICYMI- Mubadala Capital increased its stake in Zamp to 38.5% (cc. 105.9 mn shares) last month after previously raising it to 20.4% in July 2023. The firm is currently in talks with the Starbucks Corporation to potentially operate the brand in Brazil.

#3- Microsoft is set to expand its Dubai and Abu Dhabi data centers as part of its plan to “double down” on its investments in the UAE and the Gulf, Microsoft UAE General Manager Naim Yazbeck told Edge Middle East in an interview on the sidelines of Microsoft’s AI Day tour in Dubai. The region will be “big beneficiaries” of the investments, Yazbeck said.

#4-Kuwait-based AlShaya Group intends to cut around 2k jobs within its Starbucks operationsacross the MENA region, citing the impact of the boycotts associated with Israel’s war on Gaza, Reuters reports citing people with knowledge of the matter. AlShaya did not specify the precise number of cuts or the specific countries in which they will occur. The story got ink from the foreign press: The Washington Post | SkyNews | The Independent | AP

DATA POINTS-

#1-Standalone projects — developments without a hotel component — are expected to make up 54% of Dubai’s property market and 78% of new projects over the next four years, up from a global projection of 41%, TradeArabia reports, citing property consultancy Global Branded Residences. The number of branded residences in the emirate has climbed 410% over the past decade, reaching 51 from 10 projects in 2014, and 122% in the last five years, rising from 23 projects.

Hotel brands’ market shares are expected to drop to 51% from 78% by 2028, comprising 63% of the total market by 2029, compared to 78% globally.

#2-Dubai Mall was the most visited place in the world in 2023: Emaar’s premium shopping mall welcomed 105 mn visitors in 2023, marking a 19% increase from the previous year’s 88 mn footfalls, the Dubai Media Office reports.

#3-The GCC is the top export and re-export market for firms with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, accounting for 55.6% of total exports (AED 158.1 bn), Trade Arabia reports. Non-GCC countries in the region contributed around 21.8% of the Chamber’s total exports and re-exports with a value of AED 62 bn.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- Sharjah Airport Authority will present Sharjah Airport’s expansion plans at ITB Berlin2024, which kicked off yesterday and runs until tomorrow, Wam reports. The event gathers tourism and travel industry leaders from 165 countries.

#2- The World Police Summit is underway and runs until this Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event will welcome over 20k global law enforcement and security industry professionals to explore solutions to mitigate crime.

#3- The MRO Middle East event concludes today in Dubai. The two-day event saw keydecision makers from airlines, MROs, OEMs, lessors, and suppliers spanning all aspects of the aviation industry’s supply chain.

#4- Forbes’ annual 30/50 summit is on its second day, running through Friday. Meg Ryan and Shania Twain will be among those headlining the event spotlighting the Forbes 30 Under 30 and 50 Over 50 lists, coinciding with International Women’s Day, Forbes previously reported.

#5- The Dubai Entertainment Amusement & Leisure Exhibition also opened its doors yesterday. The three-day trade show will welcome global exhibitors in entertainment and amusement, before wrapping tomorrow.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Three days of Gaza ceasefire talks fail to reach breakthrough, as negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Hamas met for a third day in Cairo yesterday to try and secure a six-week pause in time for Ramadan, the Associated Press quotes Egyptian officials as saying.

No economic slump here, says China: The Chinese government is out with an ambitious 5% GDP growth target for 2024, despite a property and debt crises coupled with a slower-than-expected post-covid recovery. But, not everyone’s so optimistic, including the IMF, that currently forecasts China’s growth slowing down from 5.2% in 2023 to 4.6% in 2024 and 3.5% by 2028. (Reuters | Bloomberg | Associated Press)

OVER IN THE US- Get ready for Super Tuesday to be the only thing the US press talks about for the next few days: Voters in 16 US states and one US territory have mostly wrapped up voting for which Republican or Democratic presidential candidate they want to be their party’s nominee. With few pundits doubting that Trump and Biden will both sail to overwhelming victories, the fourth estate is asking if Super Tuesday will be Republican challenger Nikki Hailey’s last stand. (Reuters | Associated Press | Washington Post | New York Times | Wall Street Journal | Axios)

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