Data leak at Abu Dhabi finance summit exposes global figures, FT reports

The data was accessible to anybody using a simple web browser. Getty
Short Url
Updated 18 February 2026
Follow

Data leak at Abu Dhabi finance summit exposes global figures, FT reports

LONDON: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron and hedge fund billionaire ​Alan Howard were among the hundreds whose passports and other identification papers were leaked online after they attended an Abu Dhabi conference, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

The FT, citing documents, said scans of more than 700 passports and ‌state identity ‌cards were discovered ​on ‌an ⁠unprotected ​cloud storage server ⁠associated with the Abu Dhabi Finance Week, a state-sponsored event that hosted more than 35,000 people in December.

US investor and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci was also among those whose ⁠identity documents were exposed, the FT ‌said.

Howard declined to ‌comment, while Cameron and ​Scaramucci did not immediately ‌respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. ADFW, ‌in a statement to Reuters, said, “a vulnerability in a third-party vendor-managed storage environment relating to a limited subset of ADFW 2025 attendees.”

“The environment ‌was secured immediately upon identification, and our initial review indicates that ⁠access ⁠activity was limited to the researcher who identified the issue,” ADFW added.

The data was accessible to anybody using a simple web browser, the FT reported, citing freelance security researcher and consultant Roni Suchowski, who discovered it.

The server was made secure after the FT approached ADFW about the leak on Monday, the ​report added. 


PIF-backed AviLease achieves revenue of $664m and 19% growth in 2025

Updated 27 February 2026
Follow

PIF-backed AviLease achieves revenue of $664m and 19% growth in 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed AviLease achieved exceptional performance and sustainable business growth during 2025, supported by the strategic expansion of its global platform.

According to its financial results for 2025, AviLease recorded total revenues of $664 million, an annual increase of 19 percent, driven by disciplined growth in its asset portfolio and strong performance in aircraft remarketing amid sustained global demand for modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Profit before tax doubled compared to the previous year, reaching $122 million. The year witnessed an expansion in AviLease’s portfolio, reaching 202 owned and managed aircraft, leased to over 50 airline companies in more than 30 countries. 

The total value of the company’s assets stabilized at $9.3 billion. AviLease maintained a 100 percent fleet utilization rate, reflecting the resilience of its business model, the efficiency of its asset management, and the strength of its strategic relationships with airlines around the world.

AviLease concluded purchase agreements for aircraft from Airbus, including the A320neo family and A350F, and Boeing 737 aircraft, aiming to enhance its future asset portfolio with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. This step will contribute to supporting future growth and meeting increasing customer demand for the latest aircraft, aligning with the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a leading global aviation hub.

AviLease strengthened its prestigious credit standing by obtaining a strong Baa2 credit ratings from Moody’s and BBB from Fitch, reflecting its financial solidity, managerial discipline, and efficiency in managing leverage. The company also successfully issued senior unsecured bonds worth $850 million last November under Regulation 144A/RegS. This issuance contributed to diversifying its funding sources and enhancing its financial flexibility.

Commenting on the results, AviLease CEO Edward O’Byrne said: “This exceptional performance reflects the quality of the company’s investment portfolio, the strength of its partnerships with airlines, and its strategic focus on responsibly deploying capital into highly sought-after, efficient, modern aircraft assets.”

He added: “As aviation markets continue to grow, AviLease is strategically positioned to continue its expansion plans and deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders, contributing to the Kingdom’s ambitions.”

Throughout 2025, AviLease continued to play a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s growing aviation sector and contributed directly to the launch and scaling of the new national carrier, Riyadh Air, by completing a sale and leaseback transaction for a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which thereby became the first aircraft to join the airline’s fleet.

AviLease also established a strategic partnership with Hassana Investment Co. This partnership aims to provide an opportunity for local and international investors to enter the aircraft financing asset class and benefit from AviLease’s technical expertise and operational capabilities to support partnership growth and enhance performance. 

Hassana Investment Co. has agreed to acquire an initial portfolio of 10 modern aircraft from AviLease.