Dubai is synonymous with gold. Known globally as the "City of Gold," the emirate is a critical trading hub connecting African producers, Middle Eastern refiners, and Asian and European buyers. But the sector’s fast growth has exposed it to risks, smuggling, fraud, and the trade of conflict gold.

Global commodity markets are undergoing one of their most significant structural shifts in over a decade. Long-held assumptions around energy dominance, safe-haven assets and inflation hedging are being challenged as investors respond to oversupply in oil, a resurgence in industrial and precious metals, regulatory reforms and the growing influence of data-driven trading.

Private equity (PE) lending has become a cornerstone of modern finance, bridging the gap between traditional bank financing and institutional capital markets. While multi-billion-dollar transactions often dominate headlines, a less visible but equally critical segment lies in the smaller to mid-market capital raise range of $5 million to $100 million. These transactions present complexities that differ markedly from large-scale deals, particularly in terms of structuring, investor appetite, compliance and execution.

In a world increasingly driven by technology, sustainability and geopolitical shifts, commodities are undergoing a seismic transformation. No longer just the backbone of traditional industries, high-value resources like lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are now central to powering electric vehicles, enabling clean energy technologies, and shaping the digital economy. But as nations race to secure strategic materials and companies pivot toward sustainable supply chains, one question remains: Which commodity will lead the next wave of growth?