BOARDING CALL ✈

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the Departure Brief

If you’re reading this in the cab to the airport, in the lounge, or halfway through boarding EK819, you’re exactly where we imagined you’d be.

Departure Brief was built for consultants in the Middle East who want to start their week a little sharper, without digging through the noise of the countless news sources out there. Every Monday, we’ll bring you a fast, focused update on what actually matters for you, plus a few tools and insights that will make you look good in front of your client and manager, director, partner… whoever’s reviewing your slides. And if you’ve had enough of airplanes, we’ve got you covered with the latest exit opportunities.

Highlights this week:

A new AI curriculum for UAE students, a healthy growth in M&A transactions, a new “sports tower” in Riyadh, a deep dive on a weaker dollar, and a few lessons about coffee.

Enjoy your read!

SECTOR SCAN 🔭

Your weekly rundown of the most relevant business news in the region - for the sectors that matter to you

Public Sector & Government

• Saudi Arabia is rolling out smart tourism across its flagship destinations (NEOM, the Red Sea, etc.) using AI, AR, and VR to elevate visitor experiences - a move towards a new term “cognitive tourism”, where advanced technologies help deliver highly personalised services to travelers (Full story)

• The UAE is rolling out massive education reforms for the 2025-2026 academic year; main highlights are more Arabic and Arabic-language teachings, less exams, and whole new AI curriculum - AI, AI , AI everywhere (Full story)

• PIF launched its ‘azm’ workforce development program to train technically skilled Saudis tailored to its expanding portfolio - … and probably need fewer consultants (Full story)

Energy

• Kuwait is moving ahead with its long-term plan to restructure and consolidate its oil sector to boost output and reduce operating costs by merging KNPC with KIPIC and other state entities (Full story)

Technology, Media & Telecommunication

• Lenovo, in partnership with PIF’s ALAT, is building a massive advanced manufacturing facility and setting up its regional HQs in Riyadh and set to produce the first “Saudi Made” devices in 2026 - I’m assuming everyone reading (the consultants at least) are using Lenovo? (Full story)

Financial Services

• M&A transactions in MENA grew by 19% in value in H1 2025 compared to same the period last year with total deals worth $58.7Bn according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights Report (Full story)

• Qatar’s Financial Center (QFC) saw a 64% YoY rise in company registrations in H1 2025 and saw a 19% boost in assets under management (AUM) thanks to a number of pro-business reforms - world cup fans soon to be replaced by finance bros? (Full story)

Transport & Logistics

• Dubai’s RTA deployed the AI-powered ARIIS tool to reduce costs, increase safety, and cut the time needed for maintenance checks; the automated system uses sensors, lasers, and 3D cameras to inspect rail tracks and other critical infrastructure without disrupting metro operations - another very cool tool before robots take over the world (Full story)

• Starlink is reportedly in talks with Emirates, FlyDubai, and Saudia to install their WiFi across their fleet - this would be HUGE! Qatar airways was the first one to roll it out and you can now literally take a video call from the plane (video) (Full story)

• A consortium of six foreign companies was formed to rehabilitate, expand, and operate Baghdad International Airport under a PPP agreement; total cost estimated $400 - $600m - lots of developments from Iraq since I started Departure Brief… (Full story)

Consumer Products & Retail

• Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com opened its first direct UAE asset, a 10,000 sqm AI-powered smart warehouse in JAFZA, part of big ambitions to expand in the region (Full story)

Other

• Construction: Saudi Arabia launched a tender for the world’s tallest “sports tower” - sounds super cool but can’t describe it, check out pictures (Full story)

• Defense: Saudi defense firm SAMI signed a deal with US’s Amentum to strengthen the Kingdom’s locally-produced land defense systems, improve maintenance, and localize spare parts; in line with Vision 2030’s goal of localizing 50% of defense spend (Full story)

THE EXIT ROW 💼

Your bosses might not like this section, but that’s alright. Every week, we’ll provide you with a list of curated job openings for any of you that are tired of the travel routine and looking to have a life again after 7 PM - includes opportunities for all levels

FREELANCING

There is a bunch of freelancing opportunities I’ve been made aware of. If you’re interested, please register your profile on Ultra (“join Ultra”) - a top EMEA freelancing platform that connects you with an extensive portfolio of clients in the region for freelance consulting projects. You can also book a call with Valentin Reyx, co-founder, to learn more.

UAE

• Idealz Holding | Sr. Strategy Analyst | Dubai (Apply here)

• Cartlow | Business Development & Strategy Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Hedge & Sachs Financials | Strategy Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Mastercard | Managing Consultant, Advisory & Consulting Services, Strategy & Transformation | Dubai (Apply here)

• Johnson Control | Strategy Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• Revolut | Strategy & Operations Manager | (Apply here)

• Careem | Commercial & Strategy Leader | (Apply here)

• Dubai Holding | Senior Manager - Strategy & Product Development | Dubai (Apply here)

• Talabat | Sr. Specialist Strategy | Dubai (Apply here)

• Checkout.com | RevOps & Commercial Strategy Partner | Dubai (Apply here)

• Bel | Middle East Commercial Strategy Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• NymCard | Corporate Development Analyst/Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Amazon | Sr. Program Manager, Last Mile, Strategy & Performance | Dubai (Apply here)

• Keeta | Senior Strategy Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Al Futtaim Automotive | Transformation Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• AD Ports Group | Manager, Strategy & Performance | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Bilfinger | Senior Consultant Strategy & Operations | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Multiply Group | Strategy Analyst | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Multiply Group | Strategy Manager | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Tendem Search | Senior Manager - HR transformation | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Imkan Properties | Senior Manager Investment & Strategy | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

KSA

• Masdr | Director Strategy - Growth & Innovation | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Careem | Commercial & Strategy Leaders | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Ajlan & Bros Holding | Strategy Manager | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Amazon | Head of Marketplace Strategy | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Keeta | Sales Operations Strategy | Riyadh (Apply here)

• QSAS | Strategy & Venture Leader | Riyadh (Apply here)

CABIN DEEP DIVE 🔎

Every week, we give a focused look on a topic, news, trend that is shaping the region; no fluff, just the insights you need.

THE DOLLAR IS GETTING WEAKER - WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

If you’ve been reading a bit of economic news this last year, you would have at least heard that the dollar has gotten weaker since the Donald started his trade war. YTD, it lost 11% against the euro, trading at 1.17 today (a four-year low). It also lost 7% against the British pound and 6% against the Japanese yen. For the next few months, we’re expecting it to continue falling as the US Federal Reserve will most probably cut interest rates starting September (you cut rates, you make deposits in your country less attractive, you have less demand for your currency). Now, because our currencies in the GCC are pegged to the dollar (meaning the exchange rate is fixed), it means that our currencies are also getting weaker.

So is this good, or bad for us in the GCC? Well… it’s both.

The good:

• More tourism: the region becomes less expensive for tourists from our typical source markets (Europeans, Russians, Indians, etc.), so it’s more attrative for them to come

• More exports: if you have a business that exports goods, you automatically become more competitive if your currency is weaker

• More domestic spending: at -11% it’s still way more attractive to shop at Zara in Spain rather than MOE… but if it gets to -25%, you’d might want to stick to do your shopping here (this also applies to Hermes and LV for the rich among you)

• Growth in real estate: in a country like the UAE where a lot of real estate is driven by foreigners, cheaper currency means cheaper (and more attractive) houses. So that’s good for you if you bought a house or apartment

The bad:

• Imports inflation: well yes, it’s good for exports but imports get more expensive. In countries that are still highly reliant on imports, prices at the grocery store will shoot up. Companies with imported raw material will also see margins get eroded unless they pass on price increases to the consumer.

• Pricier vacations: if you travelled this summer (especially to Europe) you might have noticed that the damage to the wallet was bit bigger than previous years; well that’s because of the weaker dollar

• Foreign debt burden: if you bought a house back home (or elsewhere) under mortgage, you’ll see your monthly payments get more and more expensive

So if this convinced you that the dollar will continue to get weaker in the next few months, you might want to open a EUR or GBP account, you could make some decent returns by the end of the year and have a more affordable Christmas break.

THIS IS NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE, I AM NOT QUALIFIED, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.

LIFE UPGRADE PICK 💎

In this section, we pick one product or service that would make your life easier, or better; and we review it for you.

COFFEE - FIVE MYTHS YOU NEED TO STOP BELIEVING

“Sorry Sir we don’t have decaf but we have a light roast if you want”. I heard this so many times at coffee shops, it makes my blood boil. A lighter roast does not equate to less caffeine. If anything, it’s the opposite. That’s one of the many myths about coffee that are common today. Today, the life upgrade pick this week is about debunking five of those myths so that it can hopefully help you make better coffee choices in the future.

1. Light roast = less caffeine; dark roast = more caffeine

   Roast level has nothing to do with the “strength” of the coffee. It’s all about taste. A lighter roast keeps more of the bean’s original flavor (often fruity, floral, acidity). A darker roast tastes smokier, bolder, more bitter. It’s all about preferences. If anything, light roasts can have more caffeine than dark roasts because caffeine can get burnt off during roasting. But the difference is minimal.

2. Single origin coffee is better

   “You can pick between Indonesia, Brazil, or Colombia”. If you hear that, know that you’re about to fall for a marketing gimmick to pay more for less work from the coffee maker. Great roasters actually blend beans from multiple origins to create a unique flavor, and they have to tweak that blend every season to keep that flavor (because weather and other factor change the crop every season). Now, lazy coffee makers just put the name of a country and charge you more for less work. Don’t fall for that.

3. Espresso has more caffeine than filtered coffee

   “Espresso” sounds like something that’s gonna really wake you up right? Well no. The espresso is more concentrated, but because its serving is small (a real one should be 30ml), the caffeine content is still much larger in a filtered (or drip) cup of coffee

4. Coffee dehydrates you

   That’s nonsense. Coffee is mostly water. While coffee does have a bit of a diuretic effect (makes you pee more), consuming a moderate amountt of it actually counts towards your daily hydration

5. Freshly roasted coffee is the best

   That’s another marketing scam I hope you stop falling for. A lot of so called “specialty coffee shops” mention their “freshly roasted” coffee to charge you a premium. Well, coffee actually needs time to rest and degas for optimal brewing and flavor development. Just look it up.

There you have it, five myths debunked which I hope will help you make better coffee decisions in the future.

And that’s a wrap…

Thank you for being on board the Departure Brief this week.

Let us know how we did!

Have a safe flight, an amazing week, and see you next Monday!