Jonathan Ferziger

At a time that Microsoft is investing $1.5 billion with the UAE’s G42 artificial intelligence firm and Nvidia is consulting on new computer chip development, the Gulf state is turning into a regional research hub for commercial applications of AI technology. Leading much of the UAE’s international collaboration is Dr. Hakim Hacid, Chief Researcher at... Read More

👋 Hello from the Middle East! In the Weekly Circuit today, we’re looking at the UAE leaders who traveled to Azerbaijan for COP29, the Qatar Investment Authority new chief executive, Mubadala’s credit partnership with Apollo Asset Management and ADQ’s acquisition of stakes in three Egyptian oil companies. But first, NEOM’s longtime CEO is out the door. Saudi... Read More

Saudi Arabia’s banner NEOM project is getting a management shake-up. The Public Investment Fund-owned company running the kingdom’s $500 billion development along the Red Sea coast announced the departure on Tuesday of CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr. The move follows months of reports on rising costs and delays for the megaproject, which aims to build a 110-mile linear city called... Read More

After electrifying investors across the Gulf who wrestled to buy its shares, mega-grocery chain Lulu Retail Holdings’ IPO landed today with a thud. Touted as the UAE’s biggest initial stock sale this year, priced at the top of its marketed range and oversubscribed within an hour of its offering, Lulu fell as much as 2.5% in trading... Read More

Deep in the Abu Dhabi desert this weekend, foreign ministers, senior government officials and an array of policy experts are gathering behind closed doors for one of the world’s most exclusive diplomatic get-togethers. The three-day Sir Bani Yas Forum, hosted by UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, opened Friday with speeches, panel talks and high-level shmoozing... Read More

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, sat with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk in ringside seats at the United Fighting Championship’s UFC 309 event on Saturday night in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Al-Rumayyan, who is also Chairman of Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, as well as... Read More

Qatar and the UAE are making new efforts to strengthen commercial ties with shared interest in shifting their economies away from dependence on oil and gas. Khalid Al-Mana, Qatar Development Bank’s Vice President of Enterprise Development, brought executives from 25 companies – including Doha Cables, Delta Corp., Dderve, Q Ceramic and Doha Plastic – on... Read More

👋 Hello from the Middle East! In the Weekly Circuit today, we’re looking at Talabat’s oversubscribed food delivery IPO, Rothschild & Co.’s new wealth management office in Dubai, the Kuwait Investment Authority’s new chief and Qatar’s effort to strengthen business connections with the UAE. But first, the Keir Starmer has his sights set on the Gulf.... Read More

👋 Hello from the Middle East In The Daily Circuit today, we’re looking at Saudi Aramco’s plans to sell more bonds, Egypt’s negotiations to procure long-term LNG supplies, Bill Gates visiting the UAE and Spike Lee’s appointment as Jury President for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival next month. But first, getting exponential in Abu... Read More

Bill Gates crisscrossed Abu Dhabi this week as an evangelist for the many applications of AI technology. The Microsoft founder and philanthropist came to the UAE’s capital to participate in an event showcasing the benefits artificial intelligence can offer farmers and agricultural industries, particularly in Africa. Together with Mariam Almheiri, head of International Affairs at... Read More