AB Espresso: UAE, Saudi markets eye fresh wave of blockbuster IPOs

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In today’s newsletter:

Discover the latest stories from Arabian Business, compiled by our editorial team. Here's what you missed on Thursday:

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are gearing up for another strong year of IPOs in 2025. Saudi Arabia listed 57 companies in 2024, while the UAE raised $6 billion from seven IPOs. The UAE’s IPO pipeline may include Etihad Airways, Dubizzle, Five Holdings, and Alpha Data, although no official announcements have been made regarding their listing plans.

In other major news, Dubai’s first commercial vertiport near DXB Airport has received technical design approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Skyports Infrastructure will develop the facility, with commercial air taxi operations planned to commence in 2026.

On the real estate front, Dubai’s real estate sector recorded 180,987 transactions worth AED522.5 billion in 2024, marking a 36.5 percent increase in volume and 27.2 percent growth in value compared to 2023. Off-plan sales accounted for 60.5 percent of total transactions, up from 43.6 percent in the previous year.

Aside from this, Dubai’s private schools saw a 6 percent increase in student enrolment for the 2024-25 academic year, reaching 387,441 students across 227 schools, according to KHDA. Ten new private schools opened, aligning with the emirate’s Education Strategy E33, which aims to establish 100 new private schools by 2033.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has introduced updated Employment Regulations 2024, reflecting changes in global workplace practices. The regulations aim to provide clarity on employer and employee rights and obligations, support remote working, and align visa guidelines with evolving employment needs.

Until next time, Sharon Benjamin for Arabian Business

THE LONGER READ:

The sector is expected to see players increasingly shifting their business models to embrace multi-verticality

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