Abu Dhabi offers opportunities for global family offices to invest in businesses and build long-term partnerships across industry, infrastructure and other sectors, supported by economic stability and growth, Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Abu Dhabi Chamber), said.

Al Marzooqi identified supply chains, clean energy, digital transformation, tourism and real estate among the promising areas for long-term capital.

He cited ADNOC’s plans to award Dhs200bn in new projects between 2026 and 2028, a pipeline of 24 public-private partnership projects worth Dhs55bn, and Abu Dhabi’s Dhs13bn Digital Strategy.

The opportunities extend beyond the headline investment values to contracts for suppliers and manufacturers, partnerships between local and international businesses, and the transfer of expertise and technology, he said.

“Investment families think in generations, not financial quarters. Abu Dhabi offers what that outlook demands: stability, real growth and partners with whom they can build,” Al Marzooqi said.

From investment interest to business opportunities
Al Marzooqi made the remarks during a roundtable titled “Abu Dhabi: From Capital to Investment Opportunities” at the fourth Global Owners and Family Office Congress.

The congress, organised by Campden Wealth with the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council as a main partner, runs from October 19 to 22 in Abu Dhabi. The council is an affiliate of the chamber.

The roundtable brought together representatives of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, ADGM and KEZAD Group to discuss the emirate’s investment environment.

Al Marzooqi said establishing a company was the beginning of an investment journey, with business success dependent on access to customers, partners, contracts and markets.

“The chamber’s role begins where investment interest turns into a practical need to connect with the private sector and build business,” he said.

More than 1,000 chamber members have participated in its business matchmaking programmes since 2025, according to the chamber.

Its Procurement Connect initiative helps businesses identify procurement opportunities with government entities and major corporations, while Global Tenders provides access to tenders across more than 170 countries.

The chamber also offers 14 services through the TAMM government platform, alongside legal advice, contract reviews, commercial mediation and advocacy on behalf of businesses.

Growing business membership
Chamber membership has risen to approximately 174,000 companies, from 131,000 in 2021, Al Marzooqi said.

Total membership grew 10.4 per cent in 2025, while new member registrations increased 27 per cent.

Non-oil activities accounted for 54 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s GDP in the third quarter of 2025, according to official preliminary estimates.

At the national level, the UAE attracted $48.3bn in foreign direct investment in 2025, ranking ninth globally, according to the Ministry of Investment.

Al Marzooqi said Abu Dhabi’s combination of stability, economic growth and an established business community gave family investors the confidence to plan over longer periods.

He highlighted the role of local family businesses across trade, industry, energy, real estate, healthcare, education and hospitality as potential partners for international investors entering the emirate.

Partnerships across generations
The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council provides a platform for stronger governance, succession planning, next-generation leadership development and dialogue among business-owning families, Al Marzooqi said.

The chamber’s international network includes 87 agreements across 47 countries. It also reported 32 incoming business delegations and 10 outbound missions during 2025 and 2026.

Al Marzooqi urged global investors and family offices to view Abu Dhabi as a place to create economic value through investment and partnerships, alongside managing capital.

He said the chamber was ready to serve as their first point of connection to the emirate’s private sector.

Abu Dhabi showcases strengths overseas
In other news, Abu Dhabi’s economic agencies met British and international investors during a three-day London visit from October 13 to 15, culminating in the third Abu Dhabi Investment Forum.

The delegation included ADDED, ADIO, Abu Dhabi Chamber, ADGM and Abu Dhabi Customs. Mubadala, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC and KEZAD Group participated in the forum, which explored opportunities across finance, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and logistics.

ADDED chairman Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said the priority was translating investment interest into commercial partnerships and sustained growth.

The chamber’s Global Executive Connect programme linked Abu Dhabi companies with executives from 44 British and international organisations, arranging 56 targeted meetings. The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council also held parallel meetings.

Separately, Abu Dhabi Customs received the Border Innovation Award at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s 2026 awards for TradeChain, its blockchain-based information-exchange platform.

Saudi Arabia’s economy remains resilient despite the Middle East conflict, supported by financial buffers, a well-capitalised banking system and economic reforms, Saudi Central Bank governor Ayman Al-Sayari said, while warning that the war’s effects were spreading beyond energy markets.

In Saudi Arabia’s recent statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee during the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Al-Sayari said disruptions were affecting trade, transportation, inflation and financial conditions amid elevated debt and limited room for policymakers to respond.

Separately, Saudi Aramco president and chief executive Amin Nasser said the kingdom’s systems were coping with the crisis, although prolonged disruption was putting increasing pressure on global energy supplies.

“While the kingdom is capable and confident, and its systems are coping, no country should face this alone,” Nasser told the Energy Intelligence Forum in London on October 5.

Al-Sayari said Saudi banks remained well-capitalised and liquid, supported by forward-looking macroprudential policies. Vision 2030 reforms had strengthened economic fundamentals through the expansion of non-oil activity, greater private-sector participation and improved institutional capacity, he said.

The kingdom would continue diversifying its economy, deepening financial markets, developing human capital and raising productivity, he added.

Nasser pointed to Aramco’s overseas storage, spare production capacity, domestic gas storage, tanker fleet and local supply chain as elements of its ability to withstand disruption.

The company was studying additional crude export routes and exploring more overseas storage to help manage short-term interruptions, he said.

But Nasser warned that the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz had caused the most serious energy supply shock of his career. Rebuilding inventories while meeting demand could take up to two years after the waterway fully reopened and confidence returned, he said.

The IMF has also highlighted the limits of the measures cushioning the region’s economies.

Jihad Azour, director of the fund’s Middle East and Central Asia department, told reporters on October 15 that alternative shipping routes, inventory drawdowns, and demand adjustments had helped contain the energy shock, Reuters reported.

Those buffers were finite, however, and renewed disruption could trigger much larger price adjustments. The outlook depended on how quickly energy production and trade normalised and whether countries could preserve macroeconomic stability, he said.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said earlier in October that investments in energy and logistics infrastructure, alongside government measures to ease shipping bottlenecks and support businesses and banks, had helped limit the wider economic fallout.

Nevertheless, the fund expected the GCC economy to contract in 2026, with a 2027 recovery conditional on shipping gradually returning to normal.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan also stressed the need to manage available buffers efficiently during prolonged shocks while retaining the capacity to respond to future challenges, according to a finance ministry account of the Bangkok meetings.

He identified diversification, energy and food security, and resilient supply chains as priorities for strengthening economies against further disruption.

Policybazaar.ae and Alliance Insurance have launched a term life insurance product in the UAE that offers policyholders a way to recover 100 per cent of their base premiums through a one-time exit option, adding a refund feature to conventional term protection.

The Smart Return Term Plan provides a lump-sum death benefit to beneficiaries if the life assured dies during the policy term. Eligible policyholders can also choose to leave the plan at a designated point before maturity and receive a refund of the base premiums paid.

The launch addresses a common concern associated with term insurance: policyholders generally pay premiums for financial protection but do not receive those payments back if the policy ends without a claim. The new product gives eligible customers the option to recover their base premiums while retaining the choice to continue their cover.

Smart exit option comes with conditions

The plan’s main differentiator is its Smart Exit feature, available to policyholders who select a term of at least 30 years. The option can be exercised once during a one-year window that opens six years before the policy’s scheduled end date.

Customers who exercise the option receive a refund equivalent to 100 per cent of the base premiums paid. The refund provision applies to base premiums, and the product’s terms and conditions will determine how the option operates in individual cases.

For example, a customer who purchases a 30-year policy at age 30 could use the exit option during the designated window at age 54. At that stage, the policyholder could assess whether life cover remains a priority or whether recovering the premiums better suits their financial circumstances.

Customers who do not exercise the option retain their life cover until the end of the policy term, subject to the policy conditions. The feature therefore offers a choice between continuing protection and taking the eligible premium refund at the specified point.

Insurers target concerns over term cover

Neeraj Gupta, CEO of Policybazaar.ae, said the perceived loss of premiums when a term policy ends without a claim can discourage people from purchasing cover.

“Term insurance is the most important financial decision a breadwinner can make, and the one most often postponed. In the UAE, many families rely on one income for school fees, rent and home loans, yet term cover remains badly underpenetrated. The barrier is not awareness. It is the belief that decades of premiums vanish. Until now, no term plan in this market offered a way to get that money back. The Smart Return Term Plan changes the equation: full protection when it matters most, and a clear path to recover every dollar of base premium. With Alliance Insurance, we are setting a new standard for life cover in the UAE.”

Gupta said the partnership aims to provide families with life protection while addressing concerns about the treatment of premiums when no claim is made.

Rami Al Mughrabi, CEO of Alliance Insurance, said the product combines term insurance with additional flexibility for customers.

“For more than five decades, Alliance Insurance has focused on building products that fit the real lives of people in the UAE. The Smart Return Term Plan reflects that. It keeps the simplicity and affordability of term insurance, and adds the flexibility people have been asking for. Our partnership with Policybazaar.ae lets us put this plan in front of customers in a way that is transparent, easy to compare and easy to buy. We see it as an important step in widening access to life protection across the country.”

Eligibility, premiums and additional benefits

The plan is available to individuals aged 20 to 65, with coverage extending up to age 85. Policy terms start at five years, although the Smart Exit feature is limited to policies with terms of 30 years or longer.

Premiums are payable in US dollars throughout the policy term. Customers can choose monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments, and the product carries no policy fee, according to the companies.

The death benefit is paid as a lump sum equal to the policy’s Sum Assured. The plan also includes built-in cover for Passive War and Passive Terrorism, capped at $1m per life.

Customers who select a policy term of less than 30 years and a Sum Assured of at least $500,000 are eligible for a 20 per cent premium discount. These shorter-term policies do not qualify for the Smart Exit premium-refund option.

Product available through Policybazaar.ae

The Smart Return Term Plan is available through Policybazaar.ae, where prospective customers can compare options, obtain quotes and consult licensed advisers.

The product’s appeal will depend on how customers assess the cost of coverage against the potential premium refund, the length of protection required and the conditions governing the exit option. For policyholders considering long-term cover, the designated exit window provides a decision point before the policy’s scheduled end date, while those who retain their policies continue to receive protection under the applicable terms.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has launched Qafila 2026, a regional initiative offering a total of $1m in USDC rewards to eligible users across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, as new company data highlights growing participation by younger investors.

The initiative will allow eligible users to participate in activities involving trading, Simple Earn and community referrals, with rewards and participation requirements varying by market.

The launch comes as Binance reported that users aged 18–29 account for 50 per cent of its user base across MENA and Pakistan, rising to 54 per cent in Pakistan.

The figures highlight the growing role of Generation Z in the company’s regional customer base and its broader digital financial services ecosystem.

UAE leads regional adoption of Binance products

According to Binance’s internal data as of October 2026, 52.9 per cent of verified users across MENA and Pakistan have used at least two products within its ecosystem.

The UAE recorded the highest multi-product adoption rate at 69.3 per cent, followed by Bahrain at 57.2 per cent and Pakistan at 52.6 per cent.

The analysis covered 12 product categories, including Spot, Convert, Futures, Margin, Earn, Equities, bStocks, Alpha, Binance Square, Binance Academy, Binance Pay and peer-to-peer (P2P) services.

Binance clarified that the figures reflect historical product usage rather than necessarily indicating simultaneous or ongoing activity.

The company said the findings demonstrate growing engagement beyond cryptocurrency trading, with customers accessing savings-related products, payments, financial education and other services.

MENA stablecoin activity records growth

Binance also reported an increase in stablecoin activity across the region.

According to previous Binance Research findings, MENA’s share of global stablecoin balances held through Binance Earn increased from 5.53 per cent to 9.21 per cent, making it the fastest-growing region by this measure.

The region’s share of global stablecoin trading volume on Binance also increased from 7 per cent in 2023 to 11 per cent in 2026.

Within MENA, the UAE accounted for the largest stablecoin holdings on the platform.

Globally, Binance said 77 per cent of its users are based in emerging markets, compared with 49 per cent in 2020.

The company’s research also found that Gen Z users represent 44 per cent of Binance Direct Stocks and bStocks users.

Their share of new traditional finance (TradFi) users increased from 41 per cent in January to 47 per cent in July 2026.

Binance introduces Qafila 2026 rewards initiative

The Qafila campaign forms part of Binance’s wider strategy to bring digital assets, traditional financial markets, payments and educational services together under its All Finance on Binance vision.

Tarik Erk, Head of MENAT and Senior Executive Officer at Binance, said: “MENA and Pakistan are priority markets for Binance, where growing digital adoption is changing what users expect from financial services.”

“Our focus is to evolve alongside our community, bringing greater choice, practical utility and education into one ecosystem through our vision of All Finance on Binance. Qafila celebrates that community and the different ambitions driving its financial journey.”

The name Qafila is derived from the concept of a caravan, reflecting the campaign’s focus on shared participation among users across Arabic- and Urdu-speaking markets.

Eligible participants can access campaign activities involving trading, Simple Earn and referrals, with a combined reward pool of $1m in USDC.

However, Binance said participation and rewards are subject to local regulations, market availability and individual eligibility criteria.

Rewards are not guaranteed for every participant, and certain products or services may not be available in all markets.

Further details and participation requirements are available through the official Binance Qafila campaign page.

Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risks, including the potential loss of the full amount invested.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restored and restarted half of the reduction cells at its Al Taweelah smelter in Abu Dhabi, marking a major milestone in the facility’s recovery following an Iranian attack in March.

The company said 631 of the smelter’s 1,262 reduction cells have now been restarted, with restoration work progressing simultaneously across its three potlines.

The Al Taweelah smelter entered an emergency shutdown on March 28 after an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi prompted the full evacuation of the site.

EGA restarted the first restored reduction cell on May 26 and has since accelerated efforts to bring the facility back into operation.

The company expects the smelter to return to full production during the first quarter of 2027.

EGA targets full production by Q1 2027

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “With our sustained good progress, we continue to expect that we will reach full production at Al Taweelah smelter during Q1 2027. The restoration of Al Taweelah is the biggest challenge we have ever faced as a company. Thousands of dedicated colleagues are working around the clock to bring back Al Taweelah, and EGA, stronger than ever before.”

Following the emergency shutdown, molten aluminium solidified inside every reduction cell, leaving metal pads weighing up to 45 tonnes that had to be removed before operations could resume.

EGA said almost 80 per cent of the cells can be restarted following removal of the solidified metal.

The remaining cells require additional repairs, including demolition and replacement of their internal linings, depending on their operating condition before the shutdown.

To accelerate the restoration, EGA has more than tripled its capacity to repair and restart reduction cells compared with its normal maintenance programme.

The company achieved this by optimising workflows, deploying additional equipment, strengthening workforce capabilities and introducing new industrial processes.

Once restarted, each reduction cell typically requires about a week to stabilise and reach full production.

Some of the molten aluminium produced is used to restart additional cells, while the remainder is transferred to EGA’s Casthouse for processing into finished aluminium products.

EGA accelerates E40 technology upgrades

EGA is also using the restoration period to accelerate the deployment of its E40 technology pilot at Al Taweelah.

The project involves upgrading 13 reduction cells operating with DX technology to test the performance of the new system before a potential wider rollout.

The pilot would otherwise have required operating cells to be shut down during construction.

If successfully deployed across all 808 DX technology reduction cells at Al Taweelah, EGA estimates that E40 technology could increase annual molten aluminium production by 67,000 tonnes.

The company said the pilot will help establish the technology’s performance before a decision on industrial-scale implementation.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery operates at 50% capacity

Meanwhile, EGA confirmed that its Al Taweelah alumina refinery continues to operate at approximately 50 per cent capacity.

Although the refinery is technically ready to increase production, EGA said the timing of any further ramp-up would depend on supply chain conditions and the optimisation of its alumina sourcing strategy.

The restoration of the smelter remains a key operational priority for EGA, which is working to progressively recover production capacity while undertaking equipment repairs and technology upgrades.

The company has maintained its target of returning the Al Taweelah smelter to full production in Q1 2027.