China companies expand in the Middle East
Aito enters the UAE market
On February 6, Aito announced that it has reached a partnership with UAE-based Abu Dhabi Motors to enter the UAE market, marking what it described as a key step in its global expansion.
The collaboration will bring Aito’s smart electric vehicle technology to international consumers and further extend its overseas footprint.
WeRide, Uber to deploy over 1,200 robotaxis in the Middle East
WeRide and Uber have announced an upgraded partnership to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh by 2027. All vehicles will operate via the Uber platform and serve the public, with the project set to become the largest commercial robotaxi deployment in the Middle East and North Africa.
The companies have already launched fully driverless commercial services in Abu Dhabi and are operating public services in Dubai and Riyadh, with more than 200 vehicles currently active in the region. Uber may expand the fleet further pending regulatory approvals and milestone completion.
FAW Jiefang signs agreement with Saudi distributor
On February 10, FAW Jiefang signed a dealership agreement with a Saudi automotive distributor, alongside a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering an initial order of 500 vehicles.
The two sides aim to jointly promote high-quality commercial vehicle products and services in Saudi Arabia and neighboring markets. During the signing ceremony, executives discussed commercial vehicle industry trends in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East, evolving customer demand structures, and the direction of industrial upgrading in the region.
Apollo Go and Uber to launch fully driverless service in Dubai
Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous mobility arm, has announced an expanded partnership with Uber. The two companies plan to launch a fully driverless ride-hailing service in Dubai in the first quarter of 2026.
The initiative would mark Dubai’s first fully driverless commercial deployment and the first mass rollout of Chinese autonomous driving technology in a tightly regulated international market. Apollo Go began fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi in January through the AutoGo platform.
Milkground partners SADAFCO to expand children’s cheese snacks in Saudi Arabia
On February 10, Milkground announced that it has signed an MoU with Saudi dairy and food company SADAFCO to jointly explore and develop opportunities for children’s cheese snacks in Saudi Arabia.
Leveraging their respective strengths in product R&D, branding, and distribution channels, the two companies plan to expand the local cheese category. Milkground said the cooperation aligns with its strategy of focusing on its core business while expanding overseas through partnerships and acquisitions.
Economic and policy developments
Aldar posts strong revenue growth as overseas buyers lift sales
Abu Dhabi-based developer Aldar delivered robust results in 2025, with revenue rising nearly 50% year-on-year, AGBI reported.
Group sales reached AED 41 billion (USD 11.2 billion), up 21% from a year earlier. The UAE market contributed AED 36 billion (USD 9.8 billion), with overseas and expatriate buyers accounting for 75% of total sales.
Last year, Aldar awarded AED 66 billion (USD 18 billion) in development contracts within the UAE. It maintained strong liquidity and financing capacity. The board has proposed dividends of AED 1.6 billion (USD 435.2 million), up 11% year-on-year.
DXB sets passenger record in 2025
Dubai Airports has announced that Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025, up 3.1% year-on-year, setting a new annual record, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The figure represents the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded globally for an airport. Traffic volumes reached record levels on daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual bases.
India, Saudi Arabia, and the UK were the top three source markets, while passenger traffic from China rose 16.6%. By the end of 2025, DXB connected to 291 destinations across 110 countries, further consolidating its role as a global aviation hub.
MGX joins Anthropic’s latest funding round
MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, has participated in the Series G funding round of US artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The round is reported at USD 30 billion, valuing the company at USD 380 billion post-money.
Anthropic, developer of the Claude large language model and AI assistant, is among the world’s leading large model companies.
MGX was established in 2024 by G42 and Mubadala Investment Company, focusing on AI and frontier technology investments. It already holds stakes in OpenAI and xAI.
UAE central bank approves AED-backed stablecoin
The Central Bank of the UAE has approved the official launch of DDSC, an AED-backed stablecoin developed by the International Holding Company (IHC), Sirius International Holding, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Emirates News Agency reported.
DDSC operates on the ADI blockchain developed by the ADI Foundation. It is designed primarily for institutional and government-led use cases, covering payments and settlements, treasury management, trade supply chains, and programmable finance.
Stakeholders said the launch will help modernize payment and clearing systems, promote integration between traditional finance and digital assets, and reinforce the UAE’s leadership in regulated digital finance.
Robo.ai forms joint venture to build AI data center in the UAE
Robo.ai has signed a final joint venture agreement with Silicon Valley-based DaBoss.AI to establish an embodied intelligence data collection and labeling center in the UAE, according to Investing.com.
Robo.ai will hold a 51% stake and consolidate the joint venture’s financials. The center will collect multimodal embodied and non-embodied data, addressing scale, cost, and compliance challenges in training large AI models for physical environments.
The two sides plan to complete initial network deployment within 90 days and begin commercial operations, aiming to build a globally collaborative data collection network with standardized compliance frameworks.
Tasaru to establish supplier hub in Saudi Arabia
Tasaru, the automotive tech company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced partnerships with five global tier-one car suppliers, according to Arab News.
The collaboration aims to localize advanced component manufacturing in Saudi Arabia. Tasaru plans to establish a “supplier park” within the automotive cluster in King Abdullah Economic City.
The five partners, spanning metal stamping, exterior plastics, chassis and hot-formed steel, and interior systems, will each set up manufacturing bases in Saudi Arabia. Production is expected to begin within 18–24 months, supporting industrial localization and upgrading.
Saudi Arabia to update 2030 strategy
Saudi Arabia is preparing to announce an updated strategy for its USD 2 trillion economic diversification plan leading up to 2030. The revised focus will emphasize tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and technology, while optimizing spending to address fiscal deficits.
Finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said the government will strengthen strategic communication over the next five years and intensify efforts to attract private capital and foreign investment. Major projects, including venues for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, are being recalibrated.
Ceer signs agreements to boost localization
According to AGBI, Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first domestic electric vehicle manufacturer, has signed 16 commercial agreements totaling more than SAR 3.7 billion (USD 987 million).
The agreements aim to accelerate supply chain development and achieve a 45% localization rate for parts and materials by 2034. The new deals secure key components, including specialty chemical materials and heavy body equipment, supporting plans to launch seven models over the next five years.
Ceer said it will use local raw materials and empower domestic enterprises to advance automotive diversification and sustainable development goals under Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi tourism fund partners Palladium Hotel Group
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund has signed an MoU with Spain-based Palladium Hotel Group to assess and advance new resort projects in Jeddah and Yanbu, per Arab News.
The initial focus will be on Jeddah and Yanbu. The partnership aims to attract international capital and expertise to upgrade tourism infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia has already reached its original target of attracting 100 million visitors ahead of schedule, and has raised the goal to 150 million.
Luma AI opens Riyadh office in expansion push
Luma AI, a US-based AI company, has opened an office in Riyadh’s Al Majdoul Tower in collaboration with PIF-backed Humain, according to AGBI.
The company has also secured agreements with multiple Saudi clients across finance, media, real estate, and gaming, offering AI-generated content solutions.
Saudi Aramco, Microsoft deepen industrial AI cooperation
Saudi Aramco and Microsoft have expanded their partnership to accelerate deployment of industrial AI technologies in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector, according to Arab News.
The collaboration will integrate advanced AI, cloud computing, and data analytics into Aramco’s upstream and downstream operations to enhance efficiency, predictive maintenance, operational safety, and environmental performance.
Under the framework, Microsoft will provide AI capabilities through its Azure cloud platform, enabling real-time processing of massive operational datasets and supporting intelligent asset monitoring, automated drilling optimization, and smart supply chain management.
Qatar Central Bank launches bilingual virtual assistant
According to Gulf Times, the Qatar Central Bank has introduced a bilingual virtual assistant in Arabic and English on its website to help the public quickly access financial data, policy information, and official reports.
The service uses advanced technologies and international standards, integrating AI and digital tools. It aligns with Qatar’s 2030 goal of building a knowledge-based economy and enhancing the efficiency and transparency of government and financial services.
Qatar Chamber partners UNIDO to establish entrepreneurship center
Qatar Chamber signed a letter of intent with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization during the sixth World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum to establish an entrepreneurship and innovation center, Gulf Times reported.
The initiative aims to promote social entrepreneurship and sustainable development, strengthening the role of the social economy under Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar Chamber plans to support responsible entrepreneurship, empower socially impactful small and medium enterprises, and build collaboration platforms.
Qatar invests in robotics firm Apptronik
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has joined Apptronik’s USD 520 million Series A round alongside AT&T Ventures and John Deere, The Peninsula reported.
The new capital will accelerate mass production of its Apollo humanoid robot, expand global commercial deployment networks, and invest in robotics training and data collection facilities. Apollo is designed to collaborate with humans in logistics and manufacturing environments, with future expansion planned for retail, healthcare, and home scenarios.
QIA said the investment aligns with its strategy of partnering with leading technology companies, supporting transformative enterprises, and deploying capital into real-world applications with long-term value.
QIA and Franklin Templeton launch Qatar equity fund
QIA and global asset manager Franklin Templeton have launched a USD 200 million equity fund. It will adopt a daily subscription and redemption mutual fund structure for local and international institutional investors. It will invest in equities listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, offering active management.
As a cornerstone investor, QIA is contributing capital in both cash and shares. The partners said the launch represents progress under QIA’s active asset management initiative and deepens their long-term cooperation across multiple asset classes, further advancing Qatar’s financial market development.
This article was adapted based on a feature originally written and published by Al Shasia. KrASIA is authorized to translate, adapt, and publish its contents.