Multiply Group hosts event on future investment landscape
Multiply Group, the Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company (IHC), on Friday convened a diverse group of leading public and private sector investment-related stakeholders at the 'Converting change into opportunities: the future of investment and business in an uncertain world' in Abu Dhabi, programmed by Economist Impact.
The event sought to explore the forces immediately relevant to global business and investment.
Samia Bouazza, Group CEO of Multiply Group provided the opening remarks where she highlighted the Group's investment strategy which is geared towards exploring opportunities arising in high-potential sectors.
She described Multiply Group as 'antifragile' in the words of Nassim Nicholas Taleb-an organisation that grows stronger through volatility and disruption.
Samia Bouazza said, 'Around the world, leaders are navigating shifts across economic, technological and geopolitical landscapes. At Multiply Group, we've grown through every phase of disruption.
Today, we see value in disciplined investing, building a portfolio which is resilient to these shifts by working closely with our partners and businesses.'
She added, 'Rooted in Abu Dhabi, we operate with the clarity and confidence of a system that rewards foresight. At this event, we've partnered with The Economist and esteemed panelists to answer important questions: What trends must we pre-empt? How should we revisit the way we construct our portfolio accordingly? What impact will these shifts have on global expansion and our 10-year plans? And how is AI transforming the way each of our businesses operates?'
The agenda featured several high-level discussions, including a keynote interview on 'The GCC's evolving role, strategies and opportunities in a new era of global complexity' with Safaa El-Kogali, Country Director of GCC countries at the World Bank.
This was followed by a panel discussion, titled, 'Private V Public markets: where is the next big opportunity for investors?' and a fireside chat on 'Navigating geopolitical shifts, Trump 2.0 and America's evolving landscape.'
The event also held a keynote interview, titled: 'A new investment playbook', followed by a panel discussion on 'Transitioning to a new economic model: the GCC's evolution into a global innovation and growth hub.'
This was preceded by a fireside chat 'Reshaping the consumer sector: adapting to shifting behaviours, tight supply chains and economic pressures — with the concluding engagement a panel discussion, titled: 'From boom to balance': AI's role in reshaping industries and global investment strategies.'
Alongside delegates from Multiply Group, the Ministry of Economy, and the World Bank, the event was attended by representatives from International Finance Corporation, Brookings Institution, Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, Public Investment Fund (PIF), Visa, Presight AI, Moody's Ratings, amongst others.
The event closely follows the reporting of Multiply Group's Q1, 2025 financial results where the Group achieved an annual revenue increase of 50 per cent YoY to Dhs585 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
UAE tourism set for major expansion amid regional travel boom
4 June 2025 00:21 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) The UAE's tourism industry is poised to see unprecedented growth, with new data from the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 predicting robust gains across key areas, including luxury travel, business tourism, and regional sports-driven segments. Released this week in Dubai, the report presents a rosy outlook for the nation's travel sector, backed by strategic investments, rising visitor numbers, and an expanding international in partnership with Tourism Economics, the report forecasts that tourism spending across the Middle East will reach $350 billion by 2030, a 50% increase from 2024 levels. The UAE, home to two of the region's most dynamic tourism hubs, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is expected to play a central role in this surge.'The report's findings confirm that travel growth in the Middle East is incredibly strong, with annual growth averaging more than 7% through 2030. Bold national visions, game-changing developments, and enhanced connectivity are some of the key factors driving this momentum,' said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. Total tourism nights in the UAE are expected to grow by 10% in 2025 and an annualised rate of 6% to 2030, with Dubai alone projected to see a 14% increase, the report said. While Abu Dhabi's tourism nights dipped by 1% in 2024, the capital is still investing heavily in infrastructure, experiences, and luxury properties to reverse the travel to the UAE is on a strong trajectory, growing by 11% annually, while outbound travel is also rising, particularly to the UK, Thailand, and report found that visitors to the UAE are increasingly drawn by leisure (35%) and business (25%) travel, supported by improved connectivity and bold national visions. The country is also embracing travel technology: 60% of UAE travellers now trust AI to plan their trips, compared to a global average of 48%. Top Choice for Wealthy Visitors Tourism Economics found that luxury tourism remains a core driver of the UAE's appeal. The report reveals that nearly 100 out of the Middle East's over 170 luxury hotels are located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with 22 more currently under development. Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, for example, was highlighted as an emerging key destination for affluent travellers. The rise of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth visitors to the UAE is set to fuel a broader shift in regional hospitality. The Middle East, and the UAE in particular, is attracting travellers who are not only spending more but also seeking immersive, curated experiences.'Travellers drawn to the Middle East tend to spend more on travel overall, nearly 60% habitually spending on luxury experiences while travelling compared to under 40% among travellers who favour other destinations,' added Curtis. 'Bleisure' and Sports Business travel is also booming in the UAE, with the report expecting the segment to grow 1.5 times faster than the global average through 2030. The nation's central location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, coupled with state-of-the-art infrastructure, is positioning it as a global hub for business events and has led to the emergence of the 'bleisure' trend where business trips are extended to include leisure time — especially in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where shopping, entertainment, and beach resorts offer seamless transitions between work and relaxation, the report said. Moreover, with Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the entire Gulf region — including the UAE — is expected to benefit from a 63% surge in sports tourism. Golf, motorsports, football, cycling, and esports are all gaining traction across the UAE, bolstered by new venues and global tournaments. This influx is driving demand for hotels, air travel, and on-ground services, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the forefront of event-driven tourism.
Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
UAE companies highly confident about trade prospects despite global disruption: Survey
4 June 2025 00:23 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Companies in the UAE are among the most confident globally about their trade prospects despite ongoing geopolitical and supply chain turbulence, according to HSBC's 2025 Global Trade Pulse report – which surveyed more than 5,700 international firms across 13 countries – found that 94% of UAE-based businesses believe their operations will benefit from the shift in trade dynamics in the long surpasses the global average of 89%, putting the UAE just behind India (96%) in terms of optimism, and ahead of the US (93%).This sentiment comes amid a wider reshuffle in global trade patterns, as many companies grapple with increased costs and revenue pressures due to tariffs and supply chain UAE's positive outlook contrasts with a growing sense of caution in Western markets. For example, 51% of US firms surveyed expect supply chain disruptions to reduce their revenue by 25% or more. 'As trade policies continue to fluctuate, businesses are compelled to rethink their long-term strategies. The current landscape demands agility and foresight, with companies prioritising domestic markets and exploring new regions to mitigate risks,' the report stated.'These strategic shifts are crucial to maintaining competitiveness and ensuring business continuity in an unpredictable global economy.'The HSBC survey highlights a global trend of 'reshoring' and 'nearshoring', with 83% of companies planning to bring production closer to their customer bases. Companies in the US have been the most active in reshoring to date (44%), while companies in China are the most likely to be planning similar steps in the future (48%).'In parallel with these shifts in production strategy, the majority of businesses globally (nearly 90%) are also planning to diversify their supplier base – expanding across multiple regions to further reduce their exposure to tariffs and ongoing trade uncertainty,' the report said. While the financial impact of ongoing trade disruption is expected to be substantial and long-lasting, the HSBC survey highlights strong signs of resilience and of corporate all surveyed markets, 77% of companies say the uncertainty has prompted them to evolve and seek new is emerging as a core response strategy, according to the report. Nearly 9 in 10 businesses globally report they have already invested in or are planning to invest in tools to enhance supply chain visibility, adopt automation in production and logistics, or improve their use of data analytics. The same proportion of respondents are expanding into new markets, developing new products, adopting technology, or adjusting cost structures to respond to shifting trade dynamics. Nearly 60% of all respondents have already adopted a new technology or digital platform, while 56% improved internal efficiency or altered their cost base and 51% have developed new products or services.
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
AI defence expo: Palestine protesters interrupt former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Navy secretary
A prominent AI conference in Washington focusing on US defence technology was interrupted by Palestine protesters for a second day on Tuesday. Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt was speaking before hundreds of people at the AI+ Expo when demonstrators stood up and shouted at the technology tycoon: 'Shame on you! Your AI is being used in genocide!" Mr Schmidt told the moderator, not directly acknowledging the several protesters: 'Let's just wait until the audience can hear us." Mr Schmidt is also the chairman of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), which is the main organiser of the AI+ Expo. SCSP describes itself as an organisation that 'seeks to recapture the competitive mindset and unifying national mission from past eras, and then adapt them to the age of AI and 21st-century strategic rivalry'. Alphabet-owned Google, like several other US-based tech firms, has come under intense criticism for its AI-military defence contracts with Israel. On Monday, protesters interrupted US Navy Secretary John Phelan as he spoke at the conference. 'AI should not be used in genocide,' several people yelled. In both instances, demonstrators tried to unfurl Palestinian flags as people shouted allegations that AI is being used unfairly and disproportionately against Gazans. For Mr Phelan, the protesters also displayed a banner that specifically accused the AI-tech firm Palantir. 'Palantir kills in Gaza,' read the sign, which was ripped away from the protesters. The moderator of the discussion, Mike Gallagher, who is also head of defence at Palantir, decided to address the protests. 'How wonderful to live in a country where people are allowed to speak their minds and ask questions of their governments,' he said. 'Because the adversaries we're up against, whether they're genocidal communists in Beijing or Islamic jihadists in the Middle East, do not.' Demonstrators are increasingly targeting the booming AI sector. Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google and Microsoft - which sent representatives to the event - have faced criticism from pro-Gaza protesters. In recent months, Microsoft has had its company events interrupted by demonstrators and former employees who say the company's AI tools are being used by the Israeli military in its assault on Gaza. In responding to the claims, the company recently announced an internal review had found 'no evidence' its products have been used to harm people in Gaza. That review, however, according to demonstrators, left more questions than answers. In May, Palantir's chief executive Alex Karp spent more than 10 minutes sparring with a protester over the company's AI technology being used in the Israel-Gaza war. 'Your AI technology kills Palestinians,' the protester shouted. Mr Karp quickly responded: 'Mostly terrorists, that's true.' The anger related to AI being used in military operations has shown no sign of slowing. Among those speaking at this week's AI conference is Alexandr Wang, chief executive of the increasingly powerful tech firm Scale AI. It too, has come in for criticism for its revenue generated from defence contracts. In a recent interview, Mr Wang defended his company's business model. 'We're at the brink of this incredibly powerful new technology, and the applications for national security are obvious,' Mr Wang said during a discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. 'It's going to be imperative for the US to stay ahead.' Israel's punishing campaign in Gaza – which followed the 2023 attacks by Hamas-led fighters on Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of 240 hostages – has killed at least 54,100 people and injured at least 123,208. The war has prompted heightened Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in the US.
