Good morning, wonderful people. The news cycle is dominated by news from the Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, the first day of which has seen plenty of investments in new advanced facilities, life science R&D, and a new health cluster in Abu Dhabi.

Plus: Classifieds platform Dubizzle has made another acquisition, this time of homegrown real estate data platform Property Monitor.

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BUT FIRST- Take our 4.5-day workweek survey: It’s been over three years since the UAE adopted a 4.5-day workweek. Since then, a lot of companies have amended their hours to match those of the public sector — but how many of you are still on a five-day workweek schedule? Why have some firms stuck to the status quo? And how has the shorter workweek impacted operations for those who have adopted it?

We’re taking the pulse on the level of adoption of the 4.5-day workweek, and on how employees and employers alike feel about it — especially now that Dubai has piloted an even shorter 4-day workweek for public sector workers in the summer, and is exploring more flexible working regulations. Take a few minutes to fill out our short survey. We’ll be back with the results in a few weeks’ time.

If you have more to say on the topic, drop us a note at uae@enterpriseAM.com.

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☀️WEATHER- Are you feeling the humidity? Us too. Summer arrived early this year with intense humidity, heat, and blowing dust, but today might see temperatures cool down slightly. The mercury peaks at 36°C in Dubai today before cooling to 25°C overnight, while in Abu Dhabi, temperatures will hit a high of 29°C before cooling to 25°C.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Demand for cargo and air freight services has yet to weaken despite the recently imposed tariffs, VP at Emirates SkyCargo Badr Abbas said during a press conference at the World Cargo Symposium in Dubai, Khaleej Times reports. While industry players maintained that it’s too early to determine the full potential impact of tariffs on the industry, the general sentiment is that the industry will need to adapt and to build “systems that can withstand future shocks, whether geopolitical, economic or environmental,” Abbas explained.

Homegrown aviation services provider dnata also indicated that the situation for ground handling remains unchanged so far — although some trade flow shifts are expected — stressing that they plan to monitor the situation and adapt accordingly, said CEO Clive Sauve-Hopkins.

The general sentiment is positive: It’s still “far too early to predict” the impact of tariffs, director-general at IATA Willie Walsh said, stressing his confidence that the industry will continue to maintain a strong front through the crisis.

Fear not…? The UAE’s growing trade activity and rise in trade agreements and partnerships is set to minimize the fallout from the tariffs, Emirates NBD Research said in a research note recently.

Yes, but: The UAE — like others in the Gulf region — will face indirect risks from a potential tariff-triggered global recession or stagflation could reduce expat inflows, foreign investment, and consumption, Frontier View said in a note. S&P also warned that US tariffs could dampen growth, investment, and market sentiment, while rising borrowing costs and tighter access to funding may affect exposed sectors.

#2- Jaywan to launch credit card: Al Etihad Payment ’s new domestic payment platform Jaywan will introduce a credit card option following the rollout of its debit card service, CEO Jan Pilbauer told Gulf News. The firm is in the final stages of determining the card’s scope, he said, adding that the necessary payment infrastructure needs to be in place before the credit cards are approved.

ICYMI- Al Etihad had previously partnered with Discover, Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay to introduce co-badged debit and prepaid cards which are currently being rolled out in phases.

#3- The UAE’s Global Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Abu Dhabi is expected to attract USD 1.4 bn in foreign investment by boosting cybersecurity capabilities, state new agency Wam reports. The new center will serve as the regional headquarters of Google’s first cybersecurity academy in the Middle East, and will offer certification programs and specialized cybersecurity training. The center is expected to generate 20.3k jobs.

ICYMI- The UAE is teaming up with Google Cloud to establish the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in partnership with Mandiant, part of Google Cloud, to offer hands-on training using real-world cyberattack simulations. Google Cloud will also launch a three-month accelerator program for 25 startups from Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, offering them access to up to USD 300k in Google Cloud credits.

HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- It’s the final day of the IPS Congress at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event brings together international delegates and stakeholders from the global real estate and investment scene to showcase projects, engage in discussions, and network. This year’s edition will also cover the future of urban planning, design, and technology through IPS Future Cities, IPS Design, IPS Services, and IPS PropTech Startups.

#2- The Abu Dhabi Global Health Week is underway and will continue until Thursday at the Adnec Center in Abu Dhabi. The event will gather global and regional stakeholders to promote collaboration and investment in healthcare solutions. Key topics include health longevity, health system resilience, healthtech and AI, and life sciences.

#3- The Dubai Wood Show is also on its final day at the Dubai World Trade Center. The three-day event will welcome more than 680 international exhibitors from 132 countries, showcasing the latest trends and technologies in the global wood and woodworking machinery sector.

#4- The Solana Economic Zone is happening in Dubai. The two-week event will run until Saturday, 26 April and focus on blockchain innovation, providing a platform for founders, builders, and investors looking to set up crypto and blockchain businesses in Dubai.

#5- Al Shifaa Summit for Integrative Medicine is on its second day and will wrap up on Thursday as part of Abu Dhabi Global Health Week. The event gathers policymakers, healthcare leaders, researchers, and practitioners for discussions, knowledge exchange booths, and exhibitions focusing on medical regulation, research, education, and patient access.

#6- The FastBull Finance Summit will take place today and on Thursday at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai. The event will cover global finance, the foreign exchange market, and blockchain financial technology, with economist Jim Rogers set to deliver a keynote speech.

#7- The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum is happening today and on Thursdayat the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi. This year’s edition, under the theme Collaboration for Impact: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Business Practices, will bring together global leaders in sustainability, technology, and business for panel discussions and workshops on using AI in sustainable supply chains, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.

#8- A summit on the role of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in combating financial crimes is being held today and tomorrow in Dubai. Organised by the Economy Ministry and the Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation, the event will focus on raising awareness about customer due diligence, verification procedures, and the sector's role in preventing terrorism financing and arms proliferation.

#9- The IATA World Cargo Symposium is on its second day today and will run through to tomorrow in Dubai. The event will host sessions, specialized streams, workshops, and summits related to technology, security, customs, cargo operations, and sustainability for over 1.4k industry leaders.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

Commvault’s Shift Roadshow event will take place tomorrow at Dubai’s Museum of The Future, gathering cyber-resilience leaders, IT experts, and C-suite executives to discuss how businesses can safeguard against the growing threat of AI-driven cyber attacks. Attendees can expect keynote sessions, expert panels and insights from industry giants like Microsoft, AWS, and IDC.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

No end in sight to the ongoing trade war: US President Donald Trump has floated yet more tariffs, this time on the critical minerals supply chain, for which he ordered a probe that could lead to the introduction of tariffs down the line.

The goal? To reduce imports of critical minerals — particularly from China, which dominates the industry — and boost local production for a sector that has big implications on defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and tech ambitions.

The good news is: Tariffs on critical minerals would be separate from country-specific tariffs, which could ultimately mean…. lower tariffs. (Financial Times | Bloomberg | Reuters)

Still reeling from earlier curbs: Nvidia, which said it will take a USD 5.5 bn hit this quarter on the back of new barriers on its exports to China. Its shares fell 6% in after-hours trading, dragging Nasdaq futures down 1%. (FT | CNBC | Bloomberg)

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The IMF and World Bank’s spring meetup will kick off in six days’ time against the backdrop of mounting trade tensions and tariff escalations. The six-day 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group will bring together policymakers, central bankers, economists, private sector leaders, and more to discuss what the year ahead holds.

We’re yet to hear who will be representing the UAE at the meetings. Last year saw a delegation led by State Minister for Financial Affairs Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini attend the meetings.

You can check out the full schedule on the event’s official website.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.