Industry News

US Security Concerns Complicate China’s J-35 Fighter Exports to Key Partner Nations

China's push to export its J-35 stealth fighter faces complex technical and security hurdles due to buyers' existing defense ties with the US, according to a South China Morning Post analysis. While Pakistan is the primary prospective buyer, Middle Eastern partners like the UAE also face delicate balances between Chinese hardware and US security frameworks. The UAE already operates Chinese L-15 trainer aircraft and shelved an American F-35 deal in 2021 over similar technology-safeguard tensions.

China–UAE News

China Expands Water Desalination and Purification Tech Exports to the Middle East

Chinese manufacturers are scaling up exports of desalination membranes, filtration machinery, and engineering services to countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. China exported more than $2 billion worth of water filtering and purifying equipment in 2025, driven by heavy domestic investment in water security. Gulf utilities are increasingly sourcing components from Chinese suppliers, with Saudi developer ACWA Power buying roughly 70 percent of its global water equipment from China.

Policy & Legal Updates

Thomson Reuters and SpendConsole Launch E-Invoicing Solution for UAE and GCC

Thomson Reuters has launched ONESOURCE Pagero E-Invoicing in partnership with SpendConsole to serve enterprises across the UAE and GCC. The integrated platform connects accounts payable workflows and automated tax compliance under sovereign cloud deployment. The move aligns with the UAE Ministry of Finance's regulatory framework for electronic invoicing and Corporate Tax.

Industry News

Samsung Chairman Lee Inspects UAE Power Plant as Group Eyes AI Infrastructure

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the Al Dhafra gas-fired power plant construction site in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to review construction progress and safety measures. The project is being constructed by Samsung C&T in partnership with local contractor Trojan General Contracting to help meet rising electricity demand from industrial expansion and AI data centers. During the trip, Lee met executives from Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A to discuss regional business conditions and expansion into new Middle East projects.