Middle East

Policy & Legal Updates

Regional Tensions Fail to Slow Asset Management Growth in UAE Financial Hubs

Asset management and fund setup activity across DIFC and ADGM has rebounded strongly following the summer months despite regional tensions. According to an analysis published in Funds Global MENA by law firm Simmons & Simmons, proximity to sovereign wealth funds and engaged regulators continue to draw international asset managers. The influx spans hedge fund startups, European relocations, and new regulated fund launches.

China–UAE News

GCC Sovereign Allocators Deepen Cross-Border Investment and Trade Corridors with Asia

Sovereign wealth funds and state allocators across the GCC are shifting toward strategic cross-border partnerships with Asia, demanding alignment with local economic roadmaps. Chinese institutional investors constitute roughly 40% of Investcorp's $750 million Golden Horizon fund, actively targeting mid-market and technology ventures across the GCC and Greater China.

Industry News

FlyDubai Flight Attack Adds Fresh Risks to Dubai Economy, WSJ Reports

The Wall Street Journal reports that a cockpit attack aboard a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv has introduced new risks to Dubai's economy. The incident delivered a setback to the emirate's image as a haven insulated from regional Middle East conflict. FlyDubai has suspended services to Israel amid ongoing investigations into aviation security and crew vetting.

Industry News

COOEC Secures QatarEnergy EPIC2 Contract for Maydan Mahzam Offshore Redevelopment

China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC) has received an award notification from QatarEnergy for the MM EPIC2 project. The scope encompasses over 100 kilometers of subsea pipelines, cables, and umbilical lines for the Maydan Mahzam offshore redevelopment. The contract lifts COOEC's cumulative Middle East order intake past 50 billion yuan over three years.