The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has granted Al Fardan Exchange the naming rights for the Al Khail Metro Station.

Read-RTA planning new Dubai Metro Gold Line

According to a WAM report, the station will now be renamed Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station, providing the company with ample branding opportunities by leveraging Dubai Metro’s prime locations to enhance brand visibility and enable direct engagement with a diverse commuter base.

How will the agreement benefit Al Fardan Exchange?

As part of the agreement, Al Fardan Exchange will also receive exclusive brand representation, along with a suite of advanced technologies and smart solutions. This will help enhance the entity’s brand visibility and create a seamless, interactive experience, fostering meaningful engagement between brands and consumers as they commute to or through the metro station.

“We are proud to partner with the RTA to secure the naming rights for a key station in Dubai’s Metro system. As a company with deep roots in Emirati heritage and a forward-looking vision for the future, we see this partnership as a perfect reflection of our values. Public transportation is the lifeline of any modern city, and Dubai’s metro system is a testament to the emirate’s innovative approach to urban mobility,” stated Hasan Fardan Al Fardan, CEO of Al Fardan Exchange.

Through this exclusive agreement, Al Fardan Exchange will be able to leverage one of the most strategic locations on the Dubai Metro. Not only will the company maximize brand exposure and elevate consumer engagement, but commuters will also benefit from a comprehensive range of cutting-edge smart solutions seamlessly integrated within the Dubai Metro’s advanced network.

Abdul Muhsen Kalbat, CEO of the Rail Agency at the RTA, described the signing of the agreement as a pivotal step toward establishing a long-term, mutually beneficial economic partnership between the RTA and Al Fardan Exchange.

“The metro station naming rights initiative is a cornerstone of public-private partnerships, with the RTA representing the public sector and Al Fardan Exchange the private sector. Our visionary government strongly advocates such collaborations to drive national economic growth and promote diversification, which also paves the way for the private sector to align with the government’s vision,” Kalbat said, expressing his delight at the signing of the agreement.

RTA to rename several metro stations in Dubai

Dubai’s RTA will update and rename the station names on both the external and indoor directional signage for all metro stations, from April to June 2025. The new names will be updated on the digital smart systems and RTA’s public transport apps, along with onboard audio announcements prior to and upon arrival at the stations.

Citigroup paid top executives smaller bonuses last year tied to results of the bank’s turnaround and risk management fixes required by regulators, the bank’s proxy filing on Tuesday showed.

Read-Citi secures licence for regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia

The bonuses went to executive management committee members and 250 senior managers considered critical to execute changes required in 2020 by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the filing said. The group excludes CEO Jane Fraser.

In 2024 the committee paid 68 per cent of the maximum bonus amount, which was not disclosed by the bank, lower than in the previous two years.

The percentage of completion of the milestones last year was 53 per cent, below the 80 per cent achieved in 2023 and the 94 per cent rate achieved in 2022. The bank paid 68 per cent in the third tranche because it added the total shareholder return of 15 per cent in the three-year period.

The Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) has announced a significant partnership with Microsoft and Core42, a subsidiary of G42, to implement a cutting-edge sovereign cloud system aimed at enhancing the efficiency and innovation of government services.

The multi-year agreement was formally signed by Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, chairman of DGE – Abu Dhabi, Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, and Peng Xiao, group CEO of G42.

The new collaboration will create a high-performance sovereign cloud computing environment designed to process over 11 million daily digital interactions across Abu Dhabi government entities, businesses, citizens, and residents.

“This partnership is a critical milestone in our digital transformation,” said Al Kuttab. “By combining Microsoft’s cloud technologies, G42’s AI expertise, and the Government’s strategic vision, we are helping to enable a powerful platform that will redefine government services.”

Abu Dhabi aims to be a fully AI-native government by 2027

Abu Dhabi’s ambitious goal is to become the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. The initiative will enhance government services by increasing efficiency, improving accessibility for citizens and residents, creating greater transparency for businesses and investors, and fostering a more resilient and innovative public sector workforce.

Microsoft, Core42 supporting AI adoption in public sector

Nadella emphasised the role of AI in transforming government operations: “AI will transform how governments operate and serve their citizens everywhere, and Abu Dhabi is leading the way. Through our partnership with the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi and G42, we are setting a standard for AI adoption in the public sector.”

The agreement also aligns with the Abu Dhabi government’s commitment to digital infrastructure, with a significant Dhs13bn ($3.54bn) investment under the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027.

The strategy includes the deployment of over 200 AI-driven solutions aimed at improving public service delivery, boosting productivity, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Among the initiatives already underway is TAMM 3.0, Abu Dhabi’s one-stop government services app, which has reduced offline customer visits by 90 per cent and enabled over 73 per cent of transactions to be processed instantly.

Peng Xiao, group CEO of G42, noted the transformative nature of the partnership: “This agreement marks a pivotal step in G42’s commitment to supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government.

“Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud, powered by Azure and enhanced by our sovereign controls platform, Insight, enables government entities to maintain data sovereignty while harnessing hyperscale innovation.”

This collaboration reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision of building a resilient, future-ready digital infrastructure, positioning AI modernisation as a key element of its strategy to provide efficient, people-centric services while adhering to the highest global standards of innovation.

Read: Microsoft invests $1.5bn in UAE’s G42 to power AI adoption

The landscape of global supply chains is poised for transformative change in 2025. With the lessons learned from recent disruptions, including the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the resilience and adaptability of supply chains have never been more critical.

As a CEO in Europe, Middle East and Africa, I have witnessed firsthand the evolution of our industry, shaped by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviours, and increasing sustainability demands.

This is a significant focus for the GCC as the UAE is projected to invest $31bn into the logistics sector by 2026.

Saudi Arabia has also made clear its plan to become a main global trading hub with projects such as the Red Sea Global Port and an investment of $267bn into the industry.

Looking ahead, we must embrace a future where agility and innovation are paramount. The integration of artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics will redefine operational efficiencies, while the commitment to sustainability will drive us to rethink traditional models.

Let’s deep dive into the key trends and challenges that will shape supply chains in 2025. While also emphasising the need for supply chain diversification through collaboration, transparency, and a proactive approach to risk management.

The future is not just about surviving the next disruption; it’s about thriving in a dynamic environment that demands constant evolution.

The macro trends that are shaping supply chains

Global connectedness: Global connectedness reached a record high in 2022, and has remained at almost the same level, despite political and economic turbulence.

The predicted trend towards regionalisation, and away from globalisation, has not materialised, domestic trade retains its importance and far exceeds international trade. Despite the growth of domestic trade, globalisation continues to play a crucial role in shaping global economic strategies.

In light of this, Saudi Arabia has made no secret of its plan to attract significant international investment as part of its Vision 2030 goals. Its well-situated geographical location between three of the world’s largest continents provides a unique advantage when developing new trade routes.

Instability: The ongoing geopolitical crises in Ukraine, the Middle East and other territories continue to cause wide-reaching instability. Despite this, there is no split in evidence of trade becoming more concentrated within rival blocs of allied countries. The uncertainty stemming from factors like these all contribute to high inflation, interest rates and fuel prices.

Diversifying away from China: China will remain a major player in world trade, due to its large-scale production and labour capabilities.

Despite some companies intending to diversify their sourcing and production in the face of instability, the China-GCC Summit in 2022 strengthened political and economic alliances between the two regions. In addition to the energy sector, the non-oil trade grew eight hundred times by 2024 between the UAE and China.

Supply chain diversification: Companies are bringing their source materials and stock closer to their production points and sales markets. There is a move to spread sourcing and production beyond China to other markets in Asia Pacific, particularly Vietnam, India and Indonesia, and also to Latin America, particularly Mexico and Central America.

This trend of investing in multiple source points closer to the larger sales market helps industry customers to build more resilient, robust and flexible supply chains. Hence, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top to benefit in the Middle East due to its location and connectivity with other continents.

First-time outsourcing: In 2025, the decision to outsource contract logistics is not merely a strategic option but a necessity for companies aiming to thrive in an increasingly complex supply chain landscape. Outsourcing allows businesses to leverage specialized expertise, enhance operational efficiency, and adapt swiftly to market fluctuations.

By partnering with experienced contract logistics providers, companies can focus on their core competencies while benefiting from advanced technologies and scalable solutions that drive innovation. In a time when consumer expectations are soaring and sustainability pressures are mounting, outsourcing logistics enables firms to remain agile, reduce costs, and improve service levels, ultimately securing a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Sustainability: The demand for sustainability across all industries is increasing, and it comes from multiple touchpoints – from the shareholders on one hand, to the end consumer on the other.

In Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 manifesto, the kingdom lays out its intention to rely less on oil and gas and more on renewable energy. Saudi Arabia has already started to entice investors with climate-friendly alternatives such as solar and wind.

The industry leaders must focus on accelerating sustainable growth which in turn provides a clear focus on key drivers of optimization. Building on our strong foundation of expertise, global reach and automation, we will continue to shape the future for our customers.

The writer is the CEO, DHL Supply Chain Europe Middle East and Africa.

Less than a year after Google’s plans to acquire Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz fell apart, executives were able to ink a deal in a flurry of negotiations after US President Donald Trump was sworn into office just eight weeks ago.

Read-Amazon, Google sign pledge to support tripling of nuclear energy capacity by 2050

Google sweetened its original offer for $23bn in July to $32bn, making it one of the largest tech deals ever, and dramatically upped the breakup fee to more than $3.2bn, people familiar with the agreement said. But the real closer for Wiz and Google executives was the change at the White House that brought with it the prospect of a friendlier antitrust review under Trump, these people said.

Google made another pass last fall while Wiz considered a potential IPO, these people said. While negotiations continued sporadically over several months, executives started meeting regularly to hammer out details of a deal after Trump’s January 20 inauguration and appointment of key antitrust officials in his administration, these people said.

Fazal Merchant also joined Wiz as its new Chief Financial Officer in January, while the company was still weighing a potential initial public offering. Merchant played a major role in shaping the deal, along with CEO Assaf Rappaport, helping to get it across the finish line, one of the people said. Google’s cloud chief Thomas Kurian was also a key architect of the agreement, two people said.

Sweetened Deal

Wiz executives found it hard to turn down Google’s revised offer, which valued the cybersecurity startup 39 per cent higher than the earlier bid, and also included a higher reverse breakup fee of more than $3.2bn, or over 10 per cent of the deal value, payable to Wiz if the deal falls through, the sources said.

Google sees the premium as justified given Wiz’s 70 per cent annual revenue growth and over $700m in annualized revenue, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

Reverse termination fees

Reverse termination fees, more commonly referred to as breakup fees, are paid by buyers to compensate target companies when deals fall apart due to regulatory reasons.

Such a high breakup fee is not common in corporate dealmaking in the United States, even though such fees have been on the rise in recent years as regulatory threats to large deals have increased globally. According to a study by law firm Fenwick & West, which reviewed deals worth at least $1 billion that were signed in 2023, breakup fees on an average ranged between 4 per cent and 7 per cent of the overall transaction value.

It is not clear if Google and Wiz approached US antitrust authorities prior to the signing of the deal.

Some companies have preemptively briefed US antitrust watchdogs to warm them up before signing a deal. For instance, in 2023, Tempur Sealy sought the blessing of the US Federal Trade Commission before signing a $4bn deal to acquire Mattress Firm.

Wiz executives were wary after seeing Adobe’s attempted $20bn takeover of Figma fall apart due to antitrust scrutiny in late 2023, two people said. Google is also currently battling two US Department of Justice lawsuits over its domination of online search and another about ad technology.

Google’s offer of breakup fee

Google had offered to pay Wiz a breakup fee of about $2 billion at the time – a sum that Wiz felt was not high enough for them to undertake the risk of signing the deal, the sources said.

Some of Wiz’s largest venture-capital backers were worried that then-Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan would tank the deal, the sources said.

Trump’s appointment of Andrew Ferguson to chair the FTC and Gail Slater to helm antitrust reviews at Justice also gave executives at both companies more confidence in a smoother regulatory review, people familiar with the deal said.

Google, Wiz, the White House, and Justice officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bank of America advised Google on the deal, while Goldman Sachs advised Wiz.