AGP Executive Report

UAE–Korea Tech Deals: Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s Seoul forum (ADIF Seoul 2026) secured MOUs spanning digital assets, autonomous driving and gaming, with UAE and Korean firms including Hanwha Life and Kakao Mobility. Cybersecurity: Ransomware in the Middle East surged fast, with CloudSEK tracking a jump from 17 incidents (Apr 2025) to 357 (Jun 2026), as attackers increasingly target Gulf internet-facing systems. Aviation Connectivity: Emirates keeps expanding Starlink across its fleet, reaching 53 aircraft connected and aiming for 232 total. Digital Identity on Avalanche: UAE moves its national digital identity vault onto Avalanche blockchain, while ADX also partners with DFNS for digital-asset wallet and tokenisation capabilities. Energy Tech Push: ADIPEC 2026 (2–5 Nov) will focus on resilient, intelligent energy systems, scaling AI and accelerating investment. Payments & AI Travel: JETT debuts at ATM Dubai to help AI assistants check visa eligibility correctly, addressing real-world chatbot visa mistakes. Cloud Disruption: AWS says it can’t restore Bahrain and parts of UAE services after Iranian strikes damaged multiple zones.

Cybersecurity: UAE cyber chief Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti says a hacker demanded over $5m after breaching a private company, with stolen data circulated online—while the UAE reports hundreds of thousands of daily attacks. Cloud Resilience: AWS says it can’t restore access to a UAE hosting zone and Bahrain network after Iranian strikes, pushing customers to migrate. AI Infrastructure: Khazna Data Centres and Siemens sign an MoU to ready next-gen AI data-centre power and engineering, including digital-twin work. Energy Tech Push: UAE launches an energy-tech accelerator with Schneider Electric to mentor startups and connect them to customers. Space & Connectivity: Masdar and Taaleri inaugurate Serbia’s 154MW Cibuk 2 wind farm (312MW hub total), while Space42 pitches a UAE-led direct-to-device satellite connectivity plan. Digital Identity/Payments: UAE moves its national digital identity vault onto Avalanche; India’s RBI introduces MDR fees on large-value UPI merchant payments. Events in Dubai: GISEC Global opens tomorrow, positioning Dubai as a cyber resilience hub. Youth Online Safety: UAE schools prepare for under-15 social media restrictions.

UAE Nuclear Milestone: The UAE marked 50 years with the IAEA, with FANR signing new regulatory cooperation deals in Vienna and pushing safe radioactive waste and spent fuel management. AI Funding & Data Moves: Intrepid launched a $525m AI-focused growth fund with UAE Investment Council among backers, while Citi moved regional wealth data into one cloud to unlock AI use. Industrial Tech Push: MoIAT launched Factory Forward UAE to help 700+ factories adopt advanced tech, and IER MRO awarded AMANA a contract for an AI-enabled engine MRO facility in Dubai South. Quantum & Cybersecurity: Dubai will host the Quantum Innovation Summit (Sept 28-30) to connect quantum computing, secure comms and post-quantum security with AI and critical infrastructure. Space & Satellites: Space42 signed a $1bn satellite communications venture deal with a US firm, and Iceye expanded sovereign SAR presence including UAE leadership. Energy Infrastructure: Schneider Electric says electrification and digitalisation are converging as the region builds grids, data centres and transport at scale. Tourism Tech at ATM: ATM 2026 in Dubai spotlighted “Travel 2040” with AI and digital transformation themes, plus UAE hospitality shifting toward experience-led stays.

UAE Industry Push: MoIAT launched Factory Forward UAE, a single platform to speed up adoption of advanced tech in manufacturing, including AI, with 620+ factories already assessed via the Industrial Technology Transformation Index. Energy & Climate Tech: ZAKH opened a 600MW solar panel and 500,000 sq m BIPV manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah, targeting UAE, GCC and export demand for desert-ready photovoltaic solutions. Digital Identity Upgrade: The UAE is moving UAEPASS blockchain infrastructure onto Avalanche, supporting 12.5m users and thousands of government/private services. AI Governance Debate: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for AI labs to slow down frontier research amid safety concerns, sparking renewed discussion on how to manage rapid model progress. Cybersecurity Spotlight: ZEX PR WIRE will bring “CyberSec Talks by WhyScripted” to GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai, aiming to connect security leaders with practical AI-era defenses. Tourism Tech Showcase: Arabian Travel Market 2026 opened in Dubai with a strong tech focus, including AI-driven trip planning and a dedicated Travel Tech segment. UAE-Azerbaijan Ties: Abu Dhabi’s Tahnoon bin Zayed met Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, agreeing to expand cooperation in energy, infrastructure, technology and natural resources.

AI Infrastructure & Data Centres: Submer and Edgecore Networks signed an MoU to accelerate AI-ready data centre infrastructure across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, pairing Submer’s design, power and thermal expertise with Edgecore’s open AI/ML networking. Cybersecurity: AmiViz returns to GISEC Global 2026 with an architecture-first, sovereign security push for the AI era, focusing on zero-trust and OT/IT resilience. Energy Transition Deals: Masdar and Luxcara plan to invest over €5bn in Germany across battery storage and offshore wind as part of the UAE’s broader clean-energy push. Space Connectivity: UAE’s Space42 and Viasat signed a binding agreement to co-found Equatys, aiming to build shared space and ground infrastructure for direct-to-device MSS connectivity. Health Tech Research: SAKINA (PureHealth) and PeakLogic will explore personalised repetitive TMS for neuropsychiatric conditions using spectral EEG analysis. Smart Mobility: Dubai RTA issued 119,188 driving licences in H1 2026 and is upgrading driver training with smart tech and AI. UAE Tech & Policy at Scale: BRICS’ New Delhi Declaration spotlights AI and advanced analytics for smart grids, energy storage and renewable integration, linking digital tech to energy resilience.

UAE in BRICS: Foreign Trade Minister Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi says UAE non-oil trade with BRICS topped $312bn last year, up 28.5%, as the New Delhi Declaration and summit agenda covered economic, technological and social priorities. India-UAE Tech & Trade Push: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone says bilateral trade is on track for $200bn by 2032, with cooperation expanding into tourism, technology and emerging areas. Space & Deep Tech Deal: IHC plans to buy an 80% stake in Abu Dhabi space firm Marlan Holding, aiming to accelerate satellite infrastructure and advanced computing. AI for Safety in Nepal: Khalifa University researchers with Oxford are working on early-warning research for landslide and glacier-flood hazards across Nepal river systems. Mobility & Licensing: Dubai RTA issued 119,188 driving licences in H1 2026, citing smart training systems using AI to improve road safety. Aviation Engineering: GE9X progress at Boeing 777X includes a redesigned turbine seal after a crack was found in testing. Education Tech: Tommy Fleetwood launches a UAE school-linked golf academy using simulator tech and structured pathways for ages 3–18. BRICS Governance: Leaders backed global governance reform and warned against sanctions and protectionism disrupting trade and development.

UAE–Germany Energy & Tech Push: Masdar and partners signed deals in Germany covering offshore wind and battery storage, with UAE–Germany agreements potentially topping €5.8bn, alongside a new investment council to speed projects. BRICS Tech & Trade Signals: BRICS adopted the New Delhi Declaration after tough talks, stressing restraint in West Asia, UN-sanctioned approaches to sanctions, and deeper cooperation on AI, digital public infrastructure, fintech, science and research—while rejecting any BRICS common currency. India–UAE Strategic Talks: PM Modi met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled on BRICS sidelines, highlighting defence, AI, space, critical minerals, energy and connectivity, with investment plans including a major Odisha push. Aviation Supply Chain Automation: Starlinks picked Swisslog for Saudi MRO warehouse automation using AutoStore and pallet systems, aiming to streamline spare-parts logistics across the region. Dubai Airport Faster Immigration: Dubai Airports rolled out more biometric-based passport control options, including Smart Gates and “Click and Travel” style queue-skipping services. UAE in Space/AI: Egypt highlighted BRICS cooperation for space tech, while UAE-linked satellite and AI initiatives continue to expand across the bloc’s innovation agenda.

UAE Search & Rescue: UAE teams located 10 more missing people in Nepal after the floods, bringing the total found to 18, using drones, aerial surveys and 3D mapping while a fifth UAE aid aircraft delivered rescue boats, drones and power equipment. BRICS & Global Tech/Policy: At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, leaders including Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled backed the New Delhi Declaration after a last-minute compromise involving UAE-Iran language on West Asia, with the pact covering UN reform, trade, energy, emerging technologies and terrorism. UAE–Germany Innovation Push: Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Bayer signed a strategic MoU to explore health, life sciences and food security collaboration, including desert crop field trials and healthcare innovation. Dubai Security Foresight: Dubai Police’s Future Foresight Centre released its 3rd Future Opportunities Report, mapping 100 emerging opportunities to improve future readiness, policing and quality of life. Travel Tech at Scale: GDRFA Dubai showcased biometric “Red Carpet” and “Click and Travel” mobile processing at Arabian Travel Market 2026, aiming to speed up the visitor journey from arrival to completion. AI Safety Watch: Anthropic published details on how bad actors used Claude for surveillance, propaganda and weapon-related work, underscoring growing AI misuse risks. Cybersecurity Alert: Revolut confirmed a data exposure tied to fraudulent requests sent using a legitimate government email domain, potentially impacting identity documents and verification data for a limited number of customers.

UAE-India Tech & Energy Diplomacy: PM Modi met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Hyderabad House on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, with both sides pushing deeper India-UAE trade and energy security ties—while the UAE’s BRICS membership continues to support wider investment and trade corridors. UAE-Germany Energy Tech Deals: ADNOC, XRG and Masdar signed agreements with German firms (including RWE and SEFE) covering LNG, renewables, advanced materials and technology, potentially unlocking over €5bn in investment, as the UAE also pledged €40bn for Germany. UAE Humanitarian Tech in Action: The UAE Search and Rescue Team in Nepal used drones, aerial surveys and 3D mapping to locate 10 missing people (18 total since the mission began), supported by a fifth aid aircraft carrying rescue and technical equipment. Cyber/AI & Consumer Tech Watch: Apple’s iOS 27 rollout is set for Sept 14 in the UAE, promising faster app launches and new Siri AI features—while pre-orders for iPhone 18 Pro models begin today with UAE timing listed as 4 p.m. GST. Security at BRICS Venue: Delhi Police tightened security at Bharat Mandapam with dog squads and large deployments as the summit runs Sept 12-13.

UAE–Germany Economic Push: Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi and Germany’s Katherina Reiche co-chaired the 12th UAE-Germany Joint Economic Committee in Munich, agreeing practical steps across energy, renewables, advanced tech and AI, industry, logistics, healthcare, finance, education and research. Big Investment Signal: Germany’s Friedrich Merz called the UAE’s €40bn pledge a “powerful signal,” with focus areas including AI, data centres, digital infrastructure and energy (plus €10bn for Bavaria). Energy Deals: RWE and Masdar discussed offshore wind participation, while ADNOC and partners signed intent letters for future LNG supply and deeper gas/LNG collaboration with SEFE. BRICS Tech & Trade Angle: UAE leaders arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit as Modi urged secure sea lanes and safer supply chains, with talks expected to cover trade, energy and defence. UAE AI in Healthcare: Emirati students won at AI Builders Summit 2026 with tools to triage patients, route them to the right specialists, and reduce empty operating rooms. Maritime Industry Growth: DP World’s Tartus port modernization adds new mobile harbor cranes under an $800m program, while Drydocks World and Cochin Shipyard formed a JV to expand India’s ship repair capacity. Cyber & AI Security: Anthropic said state-linked actors tried to misuse Claude for cyber intrusions and weapons design, prompting safety interventions. Northern Sea Route Test: China completed its first regular cargo run along the Northern Sea Route, using a Dubai Tower voyage to cut transit time and bypass Middle East chokepoints. Odisha Outreach via UAE: Odisha secured Rs 2.43 lakh crore in investment proposals during its UAE roadshow, including AI data centres, LNG storage, green energy and ship repair.

UAE–Germany Investment Push: The UAE says it will invest €40bn ($46.8bn) in Germany, targeting industry, advanced tech, AI, digital infrastructure and energy, with €10bn earmarked for Bavaria—announced alongside President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s state visit. UAE–Africa Connectivity: Agility Beyond Space and Sonema extend a long-term satellite capacity deal to boost resilient enterprise connectivity across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. UAE Space/Utilities Leadership: Tabreed appoints Dr Yousif Al Hammadi as CEO, aiming to scale sustainable district cooling. UAE Business & Tech Talent: Dubai Police ramps up AI for workforce planning and service efficiency, while KHDA launches a new academic and career guidance framework. BRICS Tech & Payments: India’s Piyush Goyal urges BRICS to link digital payments and open services markets to cut trade friction and speed cross-border innovation. UAE in Global Finance: Mubadala backs Luckin Coffee with a ~$1bn minority investment, highlighting Luckin’s tech-enabled operations.

UAE–Germany Tech & AI Push: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, with both sides backing a new Strategic Dialogue and a raft of agreements spanning advanced technology, AI, digital infrastructure, energy, defence/security and data centres. UAE Investment in Germany: The UAE announced plans to invest €40bn in Germany, including €10bn for Bavaria, aiming to deepen industrial and innovation partnerships. Apple’s Foldable Arrival in UAE: Apple officially launched the iPhone Duo (foldable) with pre-orders from Oct 16 and sales from Oct 23 in 70+ markets, including the UAE—signalling tougher competition in foldables. Dubai Media Tech Spotlight: Dubai’s Arab Media Summit 2026 will feature dedicated Films and Games forums, putting AI and new content models at the centre of the regional media economy conversation. Healthcare Workforce Upgrade: SEHA graduated its first genetics and geriatric cohorts, expanding specialist training to match UAE healthcare needs. UAE–Mongolia Energy Cooperation: Mongolia and the UAE signed an MoU to collaborate on renewables, green hydrogen, grid networks and energy storage, plus data-centre energy cooperation. Mediclinic Hospital Expansion: Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai will receive AED 420m to expand oncology, paediatrics and other specialised services. UAE–Syria Water Roadmap: Acwa and Fichtner (with WTCO) signed a technical services deal to assess Syria’s water resources and build a desalination and transmission investment roadmap. Dubai Airport Faster Checks: Dubai launched “Click & Travel” mobile passport control to speed up airport processing, targeting smoother smart travel flows.

UAE–Germany Tech Push: During President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s Germany visit, both sides flagged AI, renewable energy, hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing as the next growth engine beyond trade. Space & AI: Marlan Space and Loft Orbital backed a $1bn France project, Altair-Next Gen, aiming for 50 AI-enabled satellites that deliver alerts in seconds. UAE Aviation & Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo said it moved 153,000+ tonnes of Indian exports in FY25/26 and added freighter capacity to Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad via Dubai. Cybersecurity Spotlight: Spire Solutions will showcase AI-and-quantum era security offerings at GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai. Fintech & Fraud Tech: Intent HQ and Seed Group discussed how UAE banks can meet CBUAE’s device-level fraud detection push. Infrastructure Betting: The Boring Company raised $3bn in a round led by UAE-linked investors to expand underground transport, including the Dubai Loop. Business Investment: Mubadala agreed a $1bn minority stake in Luckin Coffee as China’s coffee market grows. Trade & Construction Learning: Dubai Municipality studied Singapore’s construction methods, including modular builds, AI, automation and digital twins.

Government Execution Push: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid met his teams for the annual “New Government Season Meeting 2026-2027,” urging faster delivery, tighter integration across entities, and more agile, results-focused work models. Labour Compliance Tech: MoHRE says private-sector labour law violations fell 15% in H1 2026, helped by a smart inspection system using AI, data analytics, and risk indicators, with 212,000 visits and fewer cases referred to prosecution. Higher Ed Rules: MoHESR clarifies that university licensing doesn’t automatically mean programmes are accredited, under a new national framework for university classification. UAE-Germany Tech & AI Deals: President Sheikh Mohamed arrived in Berlin for a state visit, with expected agreements in AI, energy and investment, and plans to expand drone defence cooperation. Cybersecurity Snapshot: Proofpoint’s Voice of the CISO report finds UAE material data loss dropped from 77% to 50% year-on-year, with GenAI and Microsoft 365 flagged as top risk areas. Space & Knowledge: UAE’s first Knowledge Forum in Abu Dhabi explored how AI is reshaping libraries and archives, including an AI Lab initiative. Aquaculture Breakthrough: Researchers published the first organ-by-organ cellular atlas for Arabian Gulf rabbitfish, enabling better aquaculture disease detection. Consumer Tech (UAE): Apple’s AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12/Ultra 4 land in the UAE with new noise-cancelling, health sensing, and “readiness” features.

UAE Space & Deeptech: IHC is set to acquire an 80% stake in Marlan Holding, backing Marlan Space and its Orbitworks satellite infrastructure and AI-enabled Earth observation work from Abu Dhabi. AI & Enterprise: Paytm plans to expand into enterprise AI with “Paytm Intelligence (Pi),” selling AI agents to banks and insurers in India and the UAE for sales, customer service and operations. Industrial Tech Export: Emirates Global Aluminium’s DX+ Ultra smelting tech is headed to India, with Nalco using it to expand its Angul smelter in Odisha. Cybersecurity in the UAE: Penta Security will showcase application and data security at GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai. Airport Tech: Dubai’s GDRFA launched “Click & Travel,” a mobile passport control service to speed entry/exit during peak times using biometric checks. UAE Mobility Milestone: Dubai Metro turns 17, highlighting its driverless network and passenger growth. Regional Security Tech: US sanctions target Iran’s aviation sector, including airlines and UAE-linked intermediaries, raising compliance and operational risks for regional partners.

UAE Tech & Policy: The US escalated pressure on Iran’s aviation sector with sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines plus 36 aviation-related targets, including foreign intermediaries and firms in Turkey and the UAE accused of helping procure US-origin aircraft parts and sensitive tech under “Operation Economic Outcast.” Gulf Security Tech: The Hili Forum 2026 wrapped in Abu Dhabi with 1,600+ attendees, spotlighting how data, drones and digital tools are reshaping regional security and economic resilience. Education & Skills: UAE students again stood out in PISA 2025, with Dubai ranking highest in science and maths among emirates, reinforcing momentum in school performance. Health Tech: Abu Dhabi dermatologists welcomed the UAE’s first licensed oral treatment for non-segmental vitiligo requiring systemic therapy, a potential shift for patients with widespread disease. Finance Hub: ADGM reported 54% year-on-year growth in assets under management and nearly 14,000 active licences, underlining Abu Dhabi’s pull for global capital. AI Strategy (Regional): Egypt began work on a national AI strategy with OECD support, aiming to set standards for responsible tech use and secure data exchange.