Dubai opens registration for world's first school esports championship in 2027

03

Sci-Tech 03.11.2026

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy signs MoU with Alibaba Cloud to advance adoption of Agentic AI

DUBAI, 3rd November, 2026 (WAM) -- Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") with Alibaba Cloud, a leading global provider of AI infrastructure and the intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation to support the adoption of Agentic AI technologies by Dubai's private sector through capability building and training, startup incubation and support, and enterprise adoption.The MoU was signed during the Dubai Business Forum - China, which was organised recently by Dubai Chambers in Shenzhen, by Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and Dr. Feifei Li, Chief Technology Officer and President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.The MoU supports the objectives of the initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to accelerate the private sector's transition towards Agentic AI. The programme is overseen by Dubai Chambers.Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, commented: "We are committed to strengthening international partnerships in Agentic AI as an important enabler for knowledge exchange and broader access to specialised technologies and expertise. By deepening cooperation with partners from around the world, we are working to empower Dubai-based companies to develop their capabilities and leverage these technologies to enhance their operations and create innovative solutions and new business models. This will contribute to the growth of the digital economy and further strengthen Dubai's position as a global hub for advanced technology."Eric Wan, General Manager of Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said: "Agentic AI is moving from experimentation to everyday business use, and the companies that move first will set the pace for Dubai's digital economy. Having served customers in the UAE since 2016, we are pleased to bring our technology, training and startup programmes to the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy's community - helping local businesses build the skills and confidence to put AI agents to work in their own operations."The MoU focuses on three areas of cooperation, covering the development of Agentic AI skills through the Dubai Chambers Academy, support for the establishment and acceleration of startups, and enabling enterprises to test and deploy solutions.In the area of training and capability building, the cooperation includes access to training content, certifications, technical workshops, and expert-led sessions, as well as train-the-trainer programmes and educational resources for company employees.The MoU also provides support to startups through technical mentorship, technology credits, compute resources, and software licences, in addition to connecting selected startups with Alibaba Cloud programmes and its network.The third area of cooperation will explore ways to support enterprise pilots and production deployments, provide technical and implementation expertise, and showcase proven solutions through Alibaba Cloud Marketplace.Alibaba Cloud has been a leading provider of cloud services to local private companies and public institutions in the UAE and the wider Middle East region since 2016 with two data centres launched. Alibaba Cloud Marketplace is an online platform that connects cloud users with independent software vendors, enabling them to discover, test, purchase, deploy, and manage third-party applications, data, and services.The two parties will also collaborate on the development of case studies assessing business impact and commercial value.

04

Business 03.11.2026

XRG agrees to acquire Shell's interest in Australia's North West Shelf project

ABU DHABI, 3rd November, 2026 (WAM) -- XRG today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Shell's interest in the North West Shelf project in Western Australia, for $1.45 billion, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.The acquisition represents XRG's first investment in Australian LNG and a significant milestone in the company's international gas growth strategy. It would establish a strategic position for XRG in close proximity to demand growth in the Asia-Pacific region, providing access to world-scale LNG infrastructure and equity LNG supply from one of the industry's most established energy projects.For more than four decades, the North West Shelf Project has played a defining role in Australia's economic development as the country's first LNG project. The asset has supported domestic energy supply, jobs, international trade, and Australia's emergence as a leading global energy exporter.Mohamed Al Aryani, President of XRG International Gas, said, "The North West Shelf investment created Australia's LNG industry and continues to contribute to the nation's economy, energy security, and prosperity. We recognize its importance and are committed to its long-term success. This investment advances XRG's strategy to build a leading international gas business serving growing demand across Asia-Pacific. The North West Shelf combines immediate production, strategic infrastructure, and future upstream development opportunities, making it a strong fit with our long-term ambitions."He added, "XRG understands the importance of balancing export success with local energy needs. We believe continued investment in the North West Shelf can help sustain domestic gas supply, support regional energy security, create jobs, and deliver lasting economic benefits for Australia."

05

Markets 03.11.2026

ADX expands foreign capital access as UBS joins remote trading member network

ABU DHABI, 3rd November, 2026 (WAM) -- The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) today announced that UBS Investment Bank will join the exchange as its second international remote trading member on 3 November 2026.This development enables UBS to provide its clients with direct access to Abu Dhabi's capital market and ADX-listed securities, optimizing execution decisions and supporting more efficient trading and settlement for their global market participants.As global demand for exposure to the UAE's capital markets continues to grow, the addition of UBS reinforces ADX's ongoing efforts to widen market access, deepen its diverse investor base and add more dynamism to its market activities.Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group, said: "We are pleased to welcome UBS as ADX's second international remote trading member in 2026. Despite macroeconomic volatility, global institutional demand for ADX-listed companies keeps growing. UBS shares our belief in collaboration and global connectivity. As a multi-asset exchange, ADX will keep strengthening its market infrastructure to attract global capital, support capital raising, and advance Abu Dhabi's vision of a diversified, long-term economy."Ahmed Badr, Managing Director, Head of Global Markets Execution Services - MENA at UBS Investment Bank, said: "Joining the ADX as a remote trading member enables us to provide our clients with access to Abu Dhabi's investment opportunities. This move complements the capital market products we offer across our global franchise and expands the execution capabilities available to our clients throughout the trade lifecycle."Institutional participation remained a defining feature of market activity, with institutions accounting for 78% of the total trading value.Foreign investors accounted for 47% of gross trade value during the first ten months of 2026.

06

Business 03.11.2026

Food manufacturing leaders gather in Dubai for Gulfood Manufacturing 2026

DUBAI, 3rd November, 2026 (WAM) -- Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, the region's leading food and beverage manufacturing exhibition, was officially inaugurated today by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, bringing together leading international manufacturers, technology providers, ingredient specialists and industry decision-makers for three days of business and international trade.H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum toured the exhibition floor, visiting leading exhibitors and exploring developments across food processing, packaging, ingredients, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies.Running from 3-5 November under the theme 'Powering Food Security Through Manufacturing Innovation', the 12th edition brings together an extensive international manufacturing ecosystem at a time when food security, domestic production and supply chain resilience are increasingly central to national and industrial strategies.Held alongside ISM Middle East, GulfHost and Private Label Middle East, this year's four-show platform spans 21 halls and brings together 2,500 exhibitors from 79 countries, including five new participating countries: Argentina, Mauritania, the Philippines, San Marino and Slovakia.Leading multinational companies including ADM International, Bühler Group, Bunge, Cargill, Chocolate Lake Co, Döhler, dsm-firmenich, GEA, Givaudan, Heat and Control, Husky, IFM Electronic, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), Ishida Middle East, Kerry, Krones,MULTIVAC, Novonesis, Sidel, SIG Group, Symrise, Tetra Pak and ULMA are among the major international names exhibiting this year, reflecting the breadth of international expertise converging in Dubai.Gulfood Manufacturing continues to serve as a launchpad for new technologies, equipment and product developments, with international manufacturers using the exhibition to demonstrate solutions addressing some of the industry's most pressing operational and commercial priorities.Bunge, a global leader in edible oils and specialty fats, is highlighting two award-winning innovations in specialty fats. CBT Gold offers manufacturers a cost-effective alternative to real chocolate, reducing costs by up to 70 per cent across bar, coating and panning applications. Its bakery innovation, FlexiBetter, replicates butter's sensory and processing properties while reducing CO₂ emissions by 82 per cent compared with dairy butter, offering bakers a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative.Ishida Middle East is exhibiting the 'Ishida QX-500', a next-generation tray sealer designed to improve production efficiency and packaging flexibility. With a 46 per cent smaller footprint and 50 per cent lower energy consumption than previous-generation models, the system supports a range of sustainable packaging materials while integrating into existing production lines.SACMI is demonstrating advances in beverage manufacturing through its CCM80SB and IPS500 platforms. Its high-speed CCM80SB compression moulding technology produces up to 240,000 caps per hour, with lower processing temperatures helping reduce energy consumption, material waste and polymer stress. The IPS500 preform production platform combines high-capacity output with precision process control, integrated vision systems and automated robotic quality inspection.A major highlight of the opening day was the Global Leaders Series roundtable, 'The Food Sovereignty Agenda: Capital and the Intelligent Factory', organised by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and inD Events.Moderated by Massimo Marioni, former senior editor at Fortune and CNN journalist, the high-level discussion brought together three influential international voices: Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever; John Elkington, Executive Chairman of Volans and creator of the triple bottom line concept; and Ken Goldberg, pioneering expert in robotics and AI, Professor at UC Berkeley and Chief Scientist at Ambi Robotics.The discussion examined the role of purpose-led business models, long-term investment and advanced technologies in restructuring conventional food manufacturing approaches, while addressing the key questions: Who will finance the next generation of factories, how nations can build domestic production capabilities and how the Gulf can lead the next phase of industrial transformation.The FoodTech Summit moved the conversation from global strategy to industry implementation, bringing together policymakers and business leaders to examine the practical priorities shaping regional food production.A key focus was the opportunity to localise the UAE's food supply chain, featuring insights from H.E. Khalifa Al Hajeri, CEO of Emirates Growth Fund, alongside leading industry voices including Dr. Arif Kalantar of ADAFSA, Gilles Tisserand of Tetra Pak, Reinier Weerman of Flora Food Group, Ashvin Subramanyam of Orkla and Walid Bakr of Bühler Group.The summit also addressed the impact of regional disruptions on cross-border logistics, highlighting the importance of diversified sourcing and infrastructure investment from representatives of Maersk, Mars, DHL Global Forwarding and DP World, including Morten Berg Thomsen, Khaled Ahmed, Viktoria Lebedeva and Ebtesam Al Kaabi.Extending the platform beyond food manufacturing, the co-location of Gulfood Manufacturing, GulfHost, ISM Middle East and Private Label Middle East brings four complementary industries together across 21 exhibition halls, connecting the businesses, technologies and brands driving the wider food, retail and hospitality sectors.The four shows feature an impressive roster of international names. ISM Middle East welcomes confectionery and snacks leaders including Anabtawi Food Industries, Batook Chewing Gum, BloomingFoods, Bogutti, Casa Del Doce, Delaviuda Confectionery Group, Gumlink Confectionery Company, Lambertz Group, Powermints, Trolli GmbH and Yupi Indo Jelly, alongside many more exhibitors fromPoland, Brazil, Spain, Türkiye, China, Italy, Germany, the UAE and beyond. GulfHost brings together leading foodservice equipment and solutions providers such as Ali Group, Bravilor Bonamat, ETS Nord, Henny Penny, Mabrook, Middleby, SALVA, Tecnoeka and UNOX. Meanwhile, Private Label Middle East showcases brands and suppliers including Al Ameera, Dawn Foods, Emirates Steel Wool, EPSON, Finlays, Intercare, International Food Industries (IFI), LIFCO, Rasna and V-Label, reflecting the breadth of products and solutions serving private label and retail markets.Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 continues tomorrow with further opportunities to discover new technologies, engage with international manufacturers and explore developments across processing, packaging, ingredients and smart manufacturing.The FoodTech Summit will turn its attention to evolving consumer preferences and their implications for the food industry, bringing together leaders from Ferrero, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Symrise and Talabat, alongside health professionals, to examine emerging trends in snacking, confectionery, flavour science, product formulation and packaging. Discussions will explore how demand is evolving around value, health and sustainability, and how manufacturers can respond through product development and innovation.

07

Markets 03.11.2026

Dubai gold price loses Dh5 as 24K trades at Dh473 per gram

Gold fell in Dubai on Tuesday morning as spot gold dropped below $4,000 an ounce; a Julius Baer analyst warned that a further break could add selling pressure.

08

Business 03.11.2026

Dubai's IPO pipeline 'looking good' across multiple sectors, says DFM CEO

Hamed Ali, CEO of the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, told the Dubai Fintech Summit that the pipeline is strong even though only one offering has reached the market so far this year.