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ReNew Energy Global Plc is negotiating with several international banks to secure a loan of about $815 million aimed at refinancing its debt, according to sources familiar with the matter. The funds would help the renewable energy firm restructure existing liabilities and improve its financial flexibility.

The discussions involve major global lenders, though the identities of those banks have not been confirmed. The loan is expected to offer terms that reflect both ReNew’s large asset base in wind, solar and hydroelectric power, and the current pressure in credit markets driven by rising interest rates.

ReNew, founded by Sumant Sinha with operations largely in India, has been expanding aggressively across clean energy segments. The company has more than 150 projects across ten states and is developing a supply-chain business through its solar cells and modules units. The refinancing exercise appears linked to balancing growth investments while managing existing financial obligations.

Financial analysts see this move as part of ReNew’s broader strategy to optimise its debt servicing costs. Earlier fundraising rounds for ReNew include a sizeable investment by British International Investment into its solar manufacturing arm, which underscores the company’s aim to develop internal manufacturing capabilities. Cost of debt and maturity profiles of its outstanding instruments have been flagged by market watchers as challenges in the current high-rate environment.

Australia’s Reserve Bank, through Assistant Governor Brad Jones, has warned that the era of stability and integration following the Cold War has given way to a more contested strategic environment that carries elevated risk for governments, financial institutions, and markets. At a FINSIA event in Sydney on 12 September, Jones declared that “the era of the peace dividend is over,” citing geopolitical, technological and operational disruptions reshaping the global financial order.

Jones described the international security and economic system as undergoing “seismic adjustment — on a scale and speed unseen in eight decades.” He flagged multiple forces contributing to instability: rising strategic rivalry, weakening tenets of the rules-based order, frictions in globalisation, and increasing emphasis on self-insurance by nations and firms against a broader set of possible harms.

Technological advances form one front of the risk profile. Jones spoke of an expanding surface for cyber-attacks driven by digitalisation, concerns over concentration risk in cloud services, and quantum computing’s looming threat to encryption systems. Artificial intelligence, while promising productivity gains, poses risks of misinformation, fraud, and systemic instability due to herding behaviour.

Critical infrastructure exposures were cited as especially vulnerable: telecommunications networks, the electrical grid, payment systems, and market infrastructure. Jones referenced a recent example in Europe, where cascading power outages in the Iberian Peninsula disrupted both households and economic activity, pointing out that such disruptions would be far more dangerous if key financial infrastructure were affected.

To respond, the RBA is pressing for what it calls an “anti-fragile” financial system—one not simply capable of withstanding shocks but able to adapt and improve because of them. Innovation, competition, and efficiency are being positioned not as opposing goals to resilience but as complementary. Initiatives under way include work with industry to bolster payments resilience, frameworks to ensure that future payments systems embed reliability and recoverability, migration to quantum-safe encryption standards, and reforms aimed at enabling new entrants in financial market infrastructure to reduce concentration risk.

These concerns build on earlier warnings in the RBA’s Financial Stability Review, which noted that heightened geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and technological vulnerabilities could interact with existing financial system risks. The review flagged operational risks from interconnectedness and dependency on third parties for infrastructure and services.

The shift has implications for monetary policy, regulatory oversight, and business strategy. Regulators are likely to place greater emphasis on risk scenarios involving geopolitics, cyber-threats and supply-chain disruptions; financial institutions will need to review and stress-test against non-traditional threats while ensuring agility; and policy frameworks may need to evolve to address threats outside standard macroeconomic shocks.

Taraf, the real-estate arm of Yas Holding, has entered a joint venture with Masdar City to build a residential community covering 1.4 million square metres within Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s flagship sustainable innovation hub. The development will offer over 1,000 homes, including two- to six-bedroom villas and townhouses, with freehold ownership options.

Designed around a neighbourhood cluster model, the community emphasises human-centred amenities: shaded walkways, cycling routes linked to Al Masar Park, numerous parks, and extensive open spaces for wellbeing and active lifestyles. The layout will also include family-friendly infrastructure: dedicated clubs, safe environments for children, and walkable areas throughout.

Low Ping, Group CEO of Yas Holding, said that this project reflects Taraf’s strategy of building “design-led communities that inspire modern living where sustainability and innovation come together,” and that it aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy Vision for dynamic, connected growth. Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, emphasised the intention for the development to combine Taraf’s design focus with Masdar’s sustainability framework, creating a place “where people can live, work, learn, and innovate” under low-carbon principles.

This project represents a growing trend in the UAE towards full-community developments built on sustainable, low-carbon design and green infrastructure. Masdar City has already established itself as a leader in eco-innovation, hosting many businesses, research centres and incubation hubs under strict environmental standards. The inclusion of freehold ownership is relatively rare in developments of this nature in Masdar City, potentially making the homes attractive to investors and owners seeking long-term assets.

Investors and urban planners are likely to monitor how the community balances high design and sustainable living with affordability and infrastructure delivery. Ensuring that walkable, shaded and bike-friendly pathways are effectively integrated, as well as ensuring accessibility of services such as schools, healthcare and public transport, will be critical to the success of the development.

Regulatory and market conditions in Abu Dhabi have been increasingly favourable to sustainable urban development, with government policy pushing for low-carbon goals, renewable energy adoption, and integrated infrastructure. Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy Vision is central to this, aiming for economic diversification and environmental sustainability together.

Dubai Business Events secured the Association Development Award at the ICCA Middle East Summit, recognising its leadership in fortifying association capacity and fostering knowledge exchange across the region. The accolade was conferred by Fatima Bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, at Exhibition World Bahrain in partnership with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.

At the summit, attended by more than 100 destination leaders and industry stakeholders from the region, the bureau’s commitment to advancing collaboration and sustainable development in the meetings industry was spotlighted. This recognition reflects its alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and its mission to enhance the region’s global competitiveness in business events.

Dubai Business Events—part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism—participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “The Future of Destination Leadership: Unlocking Regional Potential through Innovation, Inclusivity, and Sustainability,” alongside counterparts from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan. The session highlighted how destinations across the Gulf are leveraging innovation, inclusivity and sustainable practices to shape the future of association meetings.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, hailed the accolade as evidence of their strategic foresight. He emphasised that associations—regardless of scale or sector—play a pivotal role in Dubai’s growth by facilitating knowledge exchange, industry development and economic impact.

SriLankan Airlines has suspended services to Kathmandu after authorities closed Tribhuvan International Airport amid nationwide unrest, forcing cancellations on the Colombo–Kathmandu route and disrupting onward travel plans.

Airport officials said flight operations at Kathmandu would remain shut until the evening as security forces moved to stabilise the capital, while armoured patrols and curfews kept streets largely empty following two days of violent demonstrations. Airline pauses Kathmandu services amid escalating unrest.

Protests that began over corruption and economic grievances have turned deadly, with soldiers guarding parliament and key government buildings after arson attacks and clashes. Reuters reported at least 19 fatalities over 48 hours and said the turmoil prompted a nationwide shutdown affecting aviation, retail and public services.

Knock-on effects spread across regional air corridors. Multiple Kathmandu-bound flights were diverted to India, including four routed to Lucknow as the closure took effect, while IndiGo extended a temporary halt of services to and from Kathmandu to the early evening. Other carriers announced cancellations through the day as they assessed security and operational risks.

SriLankan confirmed the cancellation of flights UL181 and UL182 on Wednesday and advised ticketed passengers to contact their booking channels. Local news outlets in Colombo said the airline’s suspension would remain until further notice, aligning with guidance to monitor official updates as authorities reviewed conditions at the airport.

Regional governments urged caution for travellers. India advised its citizens to defer trips to Nepal and for those already in the country to remain indoors, as curfews and transport disruptions left tourists and business travellers stranded across Kathmandu Valley and beyond.

Live updates from Kathmandu indicated authorities were weighing phased resumptions of essential services alongside crowd-control measures. Airports and transport links were prioritised for restoration once security agencies deemed conditions manageable, with the army coordinating road clearance and fire response in affected districts.

Airlines across South Asia adjusted schedules through the afternoon, with Indian and regional carriers cancelling or retiming Kathmandu rotations while offering waivers. Public statements from operators noted the situation remained fluid and that customer notifications would follow as airspace and airport status changed.

SriLankan’s decision underscores how quickly a single-airport closure can ripple through a network heavily reliant on narrow time buffers and daylight slots into high-altitude hubs. For passengers booked to or through Kathmandu, carriers advised monitoring flight status pages and staying in contact with travel agents as curfew orders and airport operating hours evolve.

Abu Dhabi Global Market recorded more than 11,000 active licences and a striking 42 per cent rise in assets under management in the first half of 2025, underpinning its emergence as the Middle East and North Africa region’s leading international financial centre. ADGM Exceeds 11,000 Licences, AUM Surges 42 %.

The expansion sees ADGM surpass AED 500 billion in market capitalisation of its listed entities on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, reflecting its pivotal role in strengthening the emirate’s non-oil economy, which grew to 9.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2025.

More than 2,970 firms—comprising 308 financial and 2,664 non-financial entities—are now operating from ADGM, marking a 42 per cent year-on-year increase. The centre issued 1,869 new licences during the period, the highest ever in a half-year span, up by 47 per cent from the previous year.

Asset management continued to thrive: ADGM is now home to 154 fund and asset managers overseeing 209 funds, driving AUM up by 42 per cent over the year to June 2025.

Powerful global partnerships fuelled the centre’s momentum. Fortress Investment Group set up an office in ADGM and joined a US$1 billion co-investment venture with Mubadala. Kimmeridge opened its ADGM branch and inked an MoU with Mubadala Energy to develop natural gas and LNG projects. Meanwhile, IHC, BlackRock and ADGM-based Lunate launched an AI-native reinsurance platform worth over US$1 billion. A private credit joint venture between Mubadala and Alpha Dhabi scaled to US$2.5 billion—all anchored at ADGM.

ADGM’s increasing workforce reflects its expanding influence: by end-June 2025, nearly 36,000 professionals were working across Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.

ADGM’s achievements are underpinned by enhanced regulatory frameworks. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority issued 52 In-Principle Approvals and 45 new Financial Services Permissions. The Registration Authority implemented improvements such as the AccessRP digital platform for property interest verification, Commercial Permit Regulations to support non-financial businesses, and revised fees to simplify market entry. Mutual recognition of digital platforms with Astana International Financial Centre and a 223 per cent increase in supervision assessments further underscore ADGM’s commitment to governance and global alignment.

International engagement has also grown: ADGM participated in CityWeek 2025 in London, held roadshows in China and Japan, and concluded MoUs with regulators in Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Hong Kong and Sweden. These moves have promoted cross-border regulatory collaboration, innovation in capital markets, and sustainable finance initiatives.