Shows / The Smashi Business Show
The Smashi Business Show
The Smashi Business Show tells AI, tech, startup and business stories from the Arab world. For the driven, the dreamers and the doers. Hosted by Abdul Majid Awan, Ward Ahmed, and Wael Hossam El Din.
Episodes
The Smashi Business ShowGulf defense US delays Ukraine drones Apple Maps SWF USD25B move
HEADLINES:• Gulf Allies Rethink Defense as U.S. Supply Delays Mount• Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian Systems Downed Iranian Drones in Gulf • Mytheresa CEO Bets on…
The Smashi Business ShowHormuz Blockade, Oil Surge, UAE Teens, Pistachio Prices
HEADLINES:• Oil, Gas Surge as US Moves to Blockade Strait of Hormuz After Failed Iran Talks • Social Media Bank on 16 Year Olds in UAE? A UAE Entrepreneur has…
The Smashi Business ShowMajor Hospitality Acquisitions and Hormuz Deadlock and the UAEs Unity Under One Flag
In this episode, we cover the billion-pound acquisition by IHC’s Diafa of the iconic British hospitality empire "The Ivy." We also break down the stalemate in…
The Smashi Business ShowIrans Hormuz Tolls, Abu Dhabis IMF Win, and TruKKers Logistics Surge
This episode analyzes Iran’s dual strategy of asset negotiation and cryptocurrency transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. We also cover Abu Dhabi’s successful…
The Smashi Business ShowHormuz Reopens Saudi Fund Exit Mubadala USD385bn
HEADLINES:• Al Jaber: Hormuz must be reopened without restriction • Saudi Arabia's $100 billion electronics fund removes CEO • FMubadala assets under…
The Smashi Business ShowQatar LNG Restart -G42 Expansion -Fox Kalshi Deal
HEADLINES:• Qatar Moves to Restart LNG Production as Ceasefire Reopens Path Through Hormuz• UAE AI Firm G42 Pushes Ahead With Expansion Despite War Risks• Fox…
The Smashi Business ShowOil Drops - Abu Dhabi - Nubank Expands
HEADLINES:• Oil Prices Plunge After Trump Announces Two-Week Iran Ceasefire Deal• BlackRock and State Street Stay Bullish on Abu Dhabi Despite Tensions• HH…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Tourism, Abu Dhabi Studio & MENA Streaming
HEADLINES:• UAE Prepares Major Tourism Relief Package as Regional Tensions Bite• Abu Dhabi-Backed Redbird IMI Aims to Be World’s Largest Independent Studio•…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Top Exporters, Dubai Property Boom, Semafor Gulf Expansion
HEADLINES:• UAE breaks into global top 10 exporters for first time, as per WTO• Dubai property sales hit AED176.7bn in Q1 as prices hold firm • American…
The Smashi Business ShowFires at Borouge Facility, Telegram Use Surges in Iran, Abu Dhabi Takes Stake in Insight Partners
Today’s episode covers fires at Abu Dhabi’s Borouge facility, Pavel Durov’s claim that millions in Iran still use Telegram despite a ban, and Abu Dhabi’s quiet…
The Smashi Business ShowDebris from intercepted Iranian missile hits Oracle Dubai office
Today’s episode covers rising regional tensions impacting tech infrastructure in the UAE, Khalaf Al Habtoor’s response to Jeffrey Sachs’ warning on Dubai, and…
The Smashi Business ShowOracle Attack, Fake Musk Saudi Talks, Dubai Property Surge
HEADLINES:• The Oracle Attack in Dubai Is Fake News • SpaceX in Talks With Saudi PIF for $5 Billion IPO Investment • Dubai Property Market Defies War Jitters…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE SMEs, Iran Travel Curbs, Newcastle Profit
HEADLINES:• Majid Al Futtaim Opens Malls to UAE SMEs• UAE Airlines Restrict Iranian Travel• Saudi-Backed Newcastle Reports ProfitNewsletter…
The Smashi Business ShowWhoop Funding, IHC India Deal, Bezos AI Push
HEADLINES:• Gulf Sovereign Funds Invest in Whoop• Abu Dhabi’s IHC Is Investing Nearly $1 Billion in an Indian Finance Company• Jeff Bezos Recently Visited the…
The Smashi Business ShowIran Drone Attack Dubai Trump War Funding Gulf Billions
HEADLINES:• DUBAI APPROVES AED 1 BILLION ECONOMIC BOOST PACKAGE • TRUMP EYES GULF CASH TO FUND IRAN WAR • US DEFENSE SECRETARY'S BROKER SOUGHT DEFENSE STOCK…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Resilient, Iran Attacks, Gulf Growth, FII Miami, Aluminium Risk
HEADLINES:• UAE Remains Open And Resilient Despite Attacks, Minister Says • Big Money Speaks: $16B Cain CEO Sees Gulf Winning Long-Term • FII Priority Summit…
The Smashi Business ShowMubadala Signals Strength, Ninja Eyes IPO, Saudi Oil Reroutes Amid Hormuz Disruption
Today’s episode covers major developments shaping global markets—from Mubadala’s strategy amid regional tensions to Saudi startup Ninja’s IPO ambitions, and…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump Headlines Saudi FII Miami Conference
Today’s episode covers major developments shaping the region and global markets, from Trump’s $14 billion Oracle investment in Saudi Arabia to Al Habtoor…
The Smashi Business ShowBlackstone's $250M UAE Bet; Alaan's SME Lifeline; Bioniq's $150M Exit
The Smashi Business Show breaks down four transformative stories reshaping the Arab business world in real time. First, investment giant Blackstone defies…
The Smashi Business ShowQIA Golden Goose Stake
HEADLINES:• Emaar ‘Not Worried’ by Iran War Impact• OpenAI Eyes $10bn Raise Backed by MGX• QIA Eyes 10% Stake in Golden GooseNewsletter…
The Smashi Business ShowHormuz Fees; AWS Bahrain Disruption; Saudi IPO
HEADLINES:• Iran Charges Some Ships Hormuz Transit Fees for Safe Passage• Amazon Cloud Disrupted in Bahrain After Alleged Drone Activity• Saudi Startup Ninja…
The Smashi Business ShowADNOC Energy, Trump Iran, Dubai Property
HEADLINES:• ADNOC CEO: Energy Security Means Light on or Light Off• Primark Has No Plans to Postpone Opening in Dubai Mall• US President Trump Privately…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Pledges $1.4T to US, Lush Celebrates Eid in UAE, and Saudi’s Savvy Games Acquires Moonton for $6B+
In this episode of Smashi Business, Wael Hossam covers the UAE’s $1.4 trillion US investment pledge, Lush’s Eid collaboration with Emirati brand Home Bakery…
The Smashi Business ShowIMI Rejects Sky Split Claims, Adnoc Warns of ‘Economic Warfare’, Kalshi Hits $22B Valuation
Today’s Smashi Business Show covers three major global developments shaping media, energy, and finance. From IMI’s response to Sky News Arabia reports, to…
The Smashi Business ShowIran Strikes Hit QatarEnergy, UAE Response, Saudi Real Estate Boom
Iran Strikes Hit QatarEnergy, UAE Response, Saudi Real Estate Boom
The Smashi Business ShowStarlink UAE | Hormuz | Banks | NEOM
HEADLINES:• STARLINK LAUNCHES IN UAE WITH PLANS STARTING AT DH230 PER MONTH• UAE MAY JOIN US-LED EFFORTS TO SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO UAE…
The Smashi Business ShowPakistan Ship | Dubai Praise | Ukraine Help
HEADLINES:• Paistani ship passes Strait of Hormuz• Praise for Dubai• Ukraine President Offers Help to Middle EastNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Gold Flow| MBC Profits| Meta Cable Pause
HEADLINES:• Dubai Gold Shipments Resume Slowly As Flight Disruptions Keep Trade Below Normal• TikTok US Deal, Backed by UAE's MGX, Could Deliver $10 Billion To…
The Smashi Business ShowStarlink’s Kuwait Launch, Fujairah Port Resilience, and the Controversy of War Wagering
In today’s episode, we discuss the official arrival of Starlink in Kuwait through a strategic local partnership. We also look at the rapid recovery of oil…
The Smashi Business ShowTalabat’s Buyback, Yalla’s Growth & Market Shifts
This episode covers Talabat’s share buyback on the DFM, Yalla Group’s record revenue, and why global banks are rescheduling major UAE events. All the essential…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Economy Strong | DHL $577M | Replit $9B | UAE Hiring Holds Strong
HEADLINES:• UAE Economic Momentum Challenges Goldman Sachs’ 5% Contraction Warning • DHL Pushes $577M Middle East Investment Despite Iran Attacks•…
The Smashi Business ShowIran Drone Strike Oman Port | Oil Hits $100 | Gulf Banks Go Remote Update
HEADLINES:• Iranian Drones Strike Oman's Strategic Port; Oil Markets Surge Past $100 • Middle East War Costs Tourism Industry $600 Million a Day • Major…
The Smashi Business ShowAramco Oil Warning, Ruwais Refinery Fire, Saudi Drone Talks, Azizi Hotels
HEADLINES:• Saudi Aramco CEO warns of “catastrophic” fallout if oil disruption persists• Abu Dhabi's Ruwais oil refinery complex shut down after fire breaks…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf Energy Disruption, Aramco Buyback & Sovereign Wealth Expansion
HEADLINES:• Saudi Aramco Announces $3B Share Buyback Despite Profit Dip • Kuwait and Bahrain Declare Force Majeure as Conflict Disrupts Gulf Energy Supply •…
The Smashi Business ShowOil Prices Skyrocketing; ADNOC Continuing Ops; Businesses Buying Insurance
HEADLINES:• Oil is rising as everything else is falling everywhere • ADNOC says its operations continue despite disruptions to shipping through the Strait of…
The Smashi Business ShowMiddle East Finance Update | Gulf Investments | UAE Iran Assets | CNN Deal
HEADLINES:• Gulf States Review Global Investments as War Strains Budgets: FT Report • UAE Weighs Freezing Iranian Assets as Conflict With Tehran Escalates •…
The Smashi Business ShowIran Strikes, Qatar LNG Halt, UK Evacuation Debate, Banijay-All3Media Deal
HEADLINES:• UK Media Divided Over Who Should Pay to Evacuate Britons From Middle East • Abu Dhabi-Backed RedBird IMI to Merge All 3 Media With Banijay in €4.4B…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf-Backed Paramount Deal; Brits in UAE; Thaura AI Says No
As geopolitical tensions grip the Middle East, markets swing violently and evacuation flights scramble to extract 300,000 British expats from the UAE. But back…
The Smashi Business ShowDrones Strike Saudi Aramco & Qatar LNG | AWS Data Centres Hit Across the Gulf | UAE Dirham Gets Its Own Keyboard Symbol
In today's Smashi Business Show, we cover three major stories shaking the region. Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery — processing 550,000 barrels a day — has…
The Smashi Business Show"Dubai is still Safer," Pavel; DFM & ADX Closed; AWS in Dubai Hit by "Objects"
In today's episode of the Smashi Business Show, we break down three stories defining the Gulf crisis in real time. Telegram founder Pavel Durov calls Iranian…
The Smashi Business ShowParamount Wins WB; Ronaldo Buys Club; Deliveroo Exits Qatar
HEADLINES:• Gulf-Backed Paramount Emerges as Frontrunner in $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover • Al Nassr Star Cristiano Ronaldo Enters Club…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Exits Emerging Markets, G42 Wins Washington's Trust & Saudi Arabia Bets Big on AI
Three stories today, all pointing in the same direction. The UAE is too wealthy to stay on JPMorgan's emerging market list — a milestone that reflects decades…
The Smashi Business Show5M UpScrolled Milestone, Etihad Profit Record, McMahon WWE Update
HEADLINES:• UpScrolled Hits 5 Million Users Amid Growth, Controversy and a Brief Google Play Ban • Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has reported a record annual…
The Smashi Business ShowAnthropic AI Clash, Al Habtoor Group Dispute & Elie Habib Launch
HEADLINES:• Gulf-Backed Anthropic Accuses Chinese Rivals of Mass AI Capability Extraction • Al Habtoor Group Moves Toward Washington Arbitration Against…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Blocks AI Attacks, Saudi Opens Projects & Huckabee Causes Outrage
HEADLINES:• UAE Thwarts AI-Powered “Terrorist” Cyber Attacks Targeting Critical Infrastructure • Saudi Arabia Eases Regional HQ Rule, Reopens Government…
The Smashi Business ShowThe Rise of Abdallah Abu-Sheikh: From Astra Tech and Botim to Islamic AI Finance
This episode traces the rise of Jordanian-Emirati entrepreneur Abdallah Abu-Sheikh — from hustling at 17 under family pressure to building billion-dollar…
The Smashi Business ShowUS–Saudi Nuclear Pact Advances; Anthropic Jolts Cyber Stocks; ArcelorMittal Expands in Sharjah
In today’s Smashi Business Show, Gulf-backed Anthropic triggers a cybersecurity selloff, Lakshmi Mittal expands ArcelorMittal in Sharjah, and the Trump…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf Gaza Billions, Ronaldo Investment Surge, UAE–India AI Summit
HEADLINES:• Gulf States Commit Over $4 Billion to Gaza Reconstruction at Trump’s Board of Peace Meeting • Cristiano Ronaldo invests $7.5 million in Herbalife…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf Backs OpenAI $850B Bid, Mubadala Bitcoin & xAI $3B Deal
HEADLINES:• Gulf-Backed OpenAI Targets $850 Billion Valuation in Historic $100 Billion Funding Push • Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala doubles investment in Bitcoin ETF to…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf Sovereign Funds, Warner Bros Bidding War & $9.2B Alwaleed Elon Stake
HEADLINES:• Gulf Sovereign Funds Back in Play as Warner Bros. Reopens Paramount Talks • Stake Secures $31 Million Series B Led By Emirates NBD To Scale Global…
The Smashi Business ShowLuma AI Expands to Riyadh, Clara Acquired & Aeras CEO
HEADLINES:• US AI firm Luma AI opens Riyadh hub to advance Arabic-native AI with HUMAIN• UAE legaltech pioneer Clara acquired by Singapore’s Ascentium• Smashi…
The Smashi Business ShowMGX Backs OpenAI & xAI | Mo Gawdat AI Dating App | DP World Returns
HEADLINES:• Abu Dhabi’s MGX Builds Stakes in OpenAI, xAI, and Anthropic, Cementing Role in Global AI Race • Ex-Google X Executive Mo Gawdat Launches AI Dating…
The Smashi Business ShowSmashi Business Show Live with Foodics Founder Ahmad AlZaini from STEP Dubai 2026
Smashi Business Show Live with Foodics Founder Ahmad AlZaini from STEP Dubai 2026
The Smashi Business ShowEmaar Earnings Surge; Saudi Investment Shakeup; Sawiris Youth Jobs Push
HEADLINES:• Emaar Posts Record 2025 Results as Revenue Jumps 44% With Highest-Ever Sales • Saudi Arabia names PIF head Fahad Al-Saif as new investment…
The Smashi Business ShowLive From Step Dubai Day 2 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP
Live From Step Dubai Day 2 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP
The Smashi Business ShowLive From Step Dubai Day 1 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP
Live From Step Dubai Day 1 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP
The Smashi Business ShowVision 2030 Shift, Americana Deal & Mubadala Exit
HEADLINES:• Smashi Business Show live from Web Summi Qatar 2026 - Day 2• Disney CEO Bob Iger just revealed the location of Disneyland Abu Dhabi.• Saudi…
The Smashi Business ShowEmirates $10B Loss, G42 AI Vietnam, Giannis Backs Kalshi
HEADLINES:• Emirates Misses $10 Billion in Revenue Due to Aircraft Delays• Abu Dhabi’s G42 to Build AI Data Centers in Vietnam • Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins…
The Smashi Business ShowADNOC Distribution’s Record Results and What Comes Next
HEADLINES:• Middle East Markets Hold Firm as Wall Street Crumbles • Boeing and Airbus in Talks With Saudia for Potential Record Jet Order • Inside ADNOC…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump Crypto Gulf Deal, New Disney CEO & Saudi Syria Investments
HEADLINES:• HH Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Acquires Major Stake in Trump Family Crypto Company• Miral CEO Congratulates Disney’s New CEO Josh D’Amaro• Saudi…