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 ShowTrump Meets al-Sharaa, Dubai's Top School Opens, Microsoft Wins UAE Chip
HEADLINES:♦ Trump Hosts Syrian President al-Sharaa at White House as U.S. Suspends Caesar Act Sanctions ♦ Dubai’s Most Expensive School Has Finally Opened…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Tops New York; Ms Rachel vs NYT; Bella Hadid in Dubai
HEADLINES:♦ Dubai Surpasses New York as Top Destination for the Global Elite ♦ YouTube Star Ms Rachel Drops New York Times Amid Middle East Leadership Shake-Up…
The Smashi Business ShowEmirates' Profit Surge, Varkey's $400M, Qatar's $3.5B Project
HEADLINES:♦ Emirates Reports Record First-Half Profit As Premium Travel Demand Surges♦ Dubai’s Varkey Group In Talks To Raise $400 Million In Debt Financing♦…
The Smashi Business ShowAbu Dhabi boosts UK investment, Saudi F-35 deal, and ADNOC’s smart energy partnership.
HEADLINES:♦ Abu Dhabi Doubles UK Investment Despite Strained Ties♦ Saudi F-35 Jet Deal Moves Forward Ahead of Crown Prince’s U.S. Visit♦ Volkswagen Qatar…
The Smashi Business ShowAbu Dhabi Media Shuts ADtv, Aramco Beats Expectations, Emirates Deals
HEADLINES:♦ Abu Dhabi Media is shutting down ADtv app and moving Content to e& and ADQ-owned STARZPLAY♦ Oil Pressures Ease as Aramco Beats Expectations in 3Q♦…
The Smashi Business ShowMENA Capital, Sequoia Scrutiny, and Sultan Al Jaber's $4T Energy Call
HEADLINES:♦ MAGNiTT’s Philip Bahoshy Calls for ‘Constructive Candor’ in MENA’s Private Capital Ecosystem ♦ Sequoia Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Shaun Maguire’s…
The Smashi Business ShowGrand Egyptian Museum Opens, AI Surge Warning & UK Vet Moves to Dubai
HEADLINES:♦ $1 Billion Grand Egyptian Museum Opens, Poised to Boost Egypt’s Economy and Tourism♦ Lebanese-French Entrepreneur Elie Khouri Has Cautioned Against…
The Smashi Business ShowFII Finale, PIF Fund Shift, and IOC Esports Games Canceled in Riyadh
HEADLINES: ♦ FII9 Concludes in Riyadh with Syria’s Market Comeback and Saudi Policy Shifts ♦ Saudi Arabia and IOC cancel 12-year deal to host Olympic Esports…
The Smashi Business ShowFII9 Day 2: WHOOP Expands in Gulf, Al-Futtaim’s $2.7B Saudi Investment
HEADLINES:♦ Highlights of Day 2 of FII9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia♦ WHOOP Expands Across the Gulf With New Lab, Health Partnerships, and Fitness Initiatives♦…
The Smashi Business ShowFII9 Day 1: PIF & Aramco’s AI Deal, Tabby’s $4.5B, PSG’s Loss
HEADLINES:♦ Highlights of Day 1 of FII9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia♦ PIF and Aramco to Partner in HUMAIN, Strengthening Saudi Arabia’s AI Ambitions♦ Tabby Valued…
The Smashi Business ShowSnapchat Opens in Doha, Saudi AI Win, Goldman’s $10B Kuwait Investment
HEADLINES:♦ HH Sheikh hamdan Tells Apparel Group Founder to Double 2,400-Store Empire♦ ASnapchat Opens New Doha Office to Strengthen Ties with Qatar and the…
The Smashi Business ShowQatari Founder Backs Mamdani, G42 Denies Claims, UAE Opens Bond Market
HEADLINES:♦ Snoonu Founder Backs Mamdani After Criticism for Eating with Hands♦ Abu Dhabi-Based G42 Denies US Claims of Links to Chinese Missiles ♦ UAE Opens…
The Smashi Business ShowProperty Finder Invests, Saudi ATP 1000, Sequoia Controversy
HEADLINES:♦ Property Finder Invests in Stake to Boost MENA’s Real Estate Tech Ecosystem♦ Saudi Arabia to Host New ATP Masters 1000 Tournament in Landmark…
The Smashi Business ShowMBS Meets Trump as Dubizzle Halts IPO, UAE Talks Gaza, AttiasEyes Riyadh
HEADLINES:• Dubizzle has Halted its dubai IPO just a Day Before Bookbuilding was due to start• Reuters NEXT Gulf Debut: UAE Leaders Tackle Gaza, Global…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Airports IPO; Amazon enters UAE Q-Commerce; UK's Alphageek in Dubai
HEADLINES:♦ Dubai Airports CEO Says Potential IPO Would Attract Global Investors♦ Amazon Launches 15-Minute “Amazon Now” Delivery Service Across UAE♦ UK’s…
The Smashi Business ShowPrince Khaled Slams Meta; AWS Outage; Salary Negotiations in UAE
HEADLINES:♦ Gulf Users Were also Affected by AWS Outage with Many Big Services Shut Down ♦ Saudi Prince Khaled Slams Meta for Prioritising Sales over Security…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Bans Compound Interest, Sharjah Property Hits AED 44B, Sinner Wins $6M
HEADLINES:♦ UAE Supreme Court Rules Against Compound Interest on Loans♦ Sharjah Property Market Hits Record AED 44.3 Billion in 2025 ♦ Sinner Clinches $6m Six…
The Smashi Business ShowCareem Exclusive, G42 Stargate Update, King Salman Gate Project
HEADLINES:• Dubai’s FIX Dessert Chocolatier Ditches Deliveroo for Exclusive Partnership With Careem• G42 Speeds Up Work on Stargate UAE AI Cluster• Crown…
The Smashi Business ShowNorth Star 2025 & GITEX; MGX+BlackRock $40B Deal; ALEC IPO Records
HEADLINES:♦ I2025 Expand North Star Concludes and GITEX Global Continues Strong in Dubai♦ MGX and BlackRock Strike Record $40 Billion Texas Data Center Deal♦…
The Smashi Business ShowLive from Day 4 of Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai
Live from Day 4 of Expand North Star 2025 in DubaiNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok…
The Smashi Business ShowLive from Day 3 of Expand North Star in Dubai
Live from Day 3 of Expand North Star in Dubai
The Smashi Business ShowLive From Expand North Star 2025
Live From Expand North Star 2025Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok…
The Smashi Business ShowMan United Takeover, Free Internet Warning, UAE Finance Index Ray Dalio
HEADLINES:♦ Is Manchester United being sold? Turki AlShikh says Yes, Sources Say No!♦ Telegram Founder Durov Warns of ‘Death of the Free Internet’ on 41st…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Secures Nvidia Chips, Multiply Acquires Stake, Riyadh Air's Flight
HEADLINES:♦ UAE Secures First Batch of US Nvidia Chips in Major AI Partnership♦ Multiply Group Acquires Majority 60.8% Stake in Gucci Packaging Partner ISEM♦…
The Smashi Business ShowRevolut CEO Moves to UAE | Saudi Boom Slows | No Israel at Dubai Airshow
HEADLINES: ♦ Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky Leaves London for UAE as Tax Changes Trigger Billionaire Exodus♦ Saudi Consultancy Hiring Boom Eases as Vision 2030…
The Smashi Business ShowSam Altman’s Middle East Tour; Netflix Backlash; Diriyah Probe
HEADLINES:♦ OpenAI’s Sam Altman Tours the Middle East to Raise Funds for AI Expansion♦ Saudis Join Elon Musk’s Netflix Boycott Over Arabic-Dubbed Kids Show♦…
The Smashi Business ShowIFFCO Debt Restructuring, Sawiris Gaza Plan, DoorDash-Deliveroo Deal
HEADLINES:♦ London Dairy Owner IFFCO Hires Rothschild for $2 Billion Debt Restructuring♦ Naguib Sawiris Named in Tony Blair–Linked Postwar Gaza Governance…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Property Sales Hit AED500B; ADIA’s Deal; $50M Fund for MENA
HEADLINES:♦ Dubai Property Market Hits Record AED500B in Nine Months♦ ADIA and Goldman Sachs Lead $4.23B Investment in Häagen-Dazs Maker Froneri♦ Saudi Sukna…
The Smashi Business ShowSpotify Pays $3.5M to Saudis, First Saudi in Time100, Mubadala's $17.4B
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi Artists’ Spotify Royalties Surge to $3.5 Million in 2024♦ Jomana R. Alrashid Named to TIME100 Next List, First Saudi Honored♦ Saudi Arabia…
The Smashi Business ShowSpeak up for Gaza: Masad; Careem Backs Swapp; Gems Eyes Saudi Schools
HEADLINES:♦ Replit Founder Urges Tech Industry to Speak Out on Gaza♦ Careem Invests in UAE Car Rental Platform Swapp♦ Gems Education Bids for Saudi School…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump Plaza Jeddah, EA $55B Deal, Jordan Investor Citizenship
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi’s Dar Global to Launch $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah’s ‘Manhattan’♦ Saudi-Led Consortium to Acquire Gaming Giant Electronic Arts for $55B♦…
The Smashi Business ShowFrance Pressures Telegram, Altman Meets UAE President, SQUATWOLF in Qatar
HEADLINES:♦ France Pressured Telegram to Remove Moldovan Channels, Durov Says♦ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Meets UAE President to Strengthen AI Collaboration♦…
The Smashi Business ShowRiyadh Rent Freeze, TikTok US Deal, UAE Cracks Down on AI Misinformation
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi Crown Prince Orders Five-Year Freeze on Riyadh Rent Hikes♦ Abu Dhabi’s MGX Joins Oracle, Silver Lake in TikTok U.S. Stake♦ UAE Warns Against…
The Smashi Business ShowSaudi Stocks Jump, Foreign Buyers Target Giga-Projects, UAE DC Mansion
HEADLINES:• Saudi Stocks Surge on Hopes of Foreign Ownership Reforms• Foreign Buyers Snap Up Saudi Giga-Project Homes Ahead of New Ownership Law• UAE Buys…
The Smashi Business ShowAbu Dhabi AI Fund; Indians Move Production; Trifid Media Australia
HEADLINES:♦ Abu Dhabi Launches $100M AI Fund to Attract Global Start-Ups♦ Indians Shift Production to UAE Free Zones to Dodge US Tariffs♦ Israel’s continued…
The Smashi Business ShowSawiris $50B U.S. Infrastructure, Mubadala Exits Getir, Alwaleed Raises Snap
HEADLINES:♦ Egyptian Billionaire Nassef Sawiris Eyes $50B U.S. Infrastructure Push via Abu Dhabi♦ Mubadala Considers Full Exit from Getir as Buyers Circle♦…
The Smashi Business ShowAl Habtoor on Palestine, PwC Cuts 1,500 Jobs, xAI $10B Raise
HEADLINES:♦ Al Habtoor Hails Four Major Western Nations’ Recognition of Palestinian State♦ PwC Cuts 60 Partners and 1,500 Staff in Middle East Following Saudi…
The Smashi Business ShowPIF Takes MBC, Al Habtoor’s $2.7M Syria Aid, Red Sea Luxury, No Alcohol
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi PIF Becomes Largest Shareholder in MBC in SAR 7.47 Billion Deal♦ Khalaf Al Habtoor Pledges $2.7M for Umayyad Mosque and Syrian Community♦ Red…
The Smashi Business ShowCarrefour’s UAE Exit, Adnoc’s $18.7B Bid Withdrawal & Dubai Media’s Shift
HEADLINES:♦ Will Carrefour leave UAE too after Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan exits?♦ Adnoc-Led Consortium Withdraws $18.7 Billion Santos Bid♦ Dubai Media…
The Smashi Business ShowNEOM Backlash, Al-Habtoor Reversal, HALA Surge, Flag Football
HEADLINES:♦ Morning Brew Satire on Saudi NEOM Sparks Backlash for Misrepresentation♦ UAE Billionaire Khalaf Al-Habtoor Reverses Decision on Beirut Hotel♦ Saudi…
The Smashi Business ShowQatar Boeing Deal, Talabat Reopens, Replit $250M Raise
HEADLINES:♦ Fact Check: Qatar Did Not Threaten to Cancel Boeing Deal Over U.S.-Israel Tensions♦ Talabat Reopens in Qatar After One-Week Suspension♦ Replit…
The Smashi Business ShowIsrael’s Qatar Strike, UAE AI Leap, Revolut UAE Launch
HEADLINES:♦ Israel’s Airstrike on Hamas in Doha Draws Global Outrage from Business Leaders♦ UAE Unveils K2 Think, AI Model to Rival OpenAI and DeepSeek♦…
The Smashi Business ShowSpain Bans Arms to Israel; Mubadala $920M Du Sale; Wynn’s 2nd UAE Casino
HEADLINES:♦ Spain PM Sanchez has imposed arms embargo on Israel to ‘stop Gaza genocide’♦ Mubadala Seeks Up To $920 Million In Du Stake Sale Amid Rising…
The Smashi Business ShowEmaar Misr $19B Red Sea; Internet Slowdowns; HUMAIN AI Academy
HEADLINES:♦ Emaar Misr Signs $19 Billion Red Sea Tourism Deal♦ Undersea Cable Cuts in Red Sea Slow Internet Across UAE and Region♦ Saudi AI Firm HUMAIN…
The Smashi Business ShowG42 AI Stake; Saudi-UK £360M Deals; Alabbar’s F&B Empire
HEADLINES:♦ G42 to Sell 2% Presight AI Stake to Boost Global Investor Base♦ Saudi Shawarmer to Fund Fired Employee Majed Al-Omari’s New Venture After Boycott♦…
The Smashi Business ShowLush UK Shutdown, Sphere Qatar Move, Qatar Backs Anthropic
HEADLINES:♦ Lush Shuts All UK Stores in Solidarity with Gaza♦ Sphere Secures Qatar Trademarks, Paving Way for Doha Venue♦ Rothschild & Co Expands UAE Wealth…
The Smashi Business ShowAmericana Diversifies, G42 Expands AI, Syria Exports Oil
HEADLINES:♦ Middle East Fast-Food Giant Americana Looks to Local Brands After Gaza Boycott♦ Abu Dhabi’s G42 Explores Chip Suppliers Beyond Nvidia for UAE–US AI…
The Smashi Business ShowGaza ‘GREAT Trust’ Plan; Munify $3M Funding; Hamburgini Bankruptcy
HEADLINES:♦ Trump Administration Considers ‘GREAT Trust’ Plan for Gaza Redevelopment♦ YC-Backed Munify Raises $3M to Make Sending Money Home Easier for…
The Smashi Business ShowAbu Sabah’s Jail Term, Riyadh Monorail Launch, Qatar Transparency Law
HEADLINES:♦ Dubai Court Cuts Abu Sabah’s Jail Term to Four Years♦ Brands Are Cashing In on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Engagement♦ Saudi Arabia to launch…
The Smashi Business ShowMubadala UK Investment; HUMAIN AI Data Hub; Qatar Backs Zimbabwe Gas
HEADLINES:♦ Mubadala Invests $55 Million in UK’s Paragraf to Scale Graphene Chip Production♦ PIF’s AI Unit HUMAIN Sells Out Data Center Capacity♦ Microsoft…
The Smashi Business ShowNaguib Sawiris Egypt’s Richest; Humain AI; Holo’s $22M GCC Expansion
HEADLINES:♦ Prince Al-Waleed Reportedly Files to Acquire 100% of Al-Hilal♦ Humain Officially Launches Arabic AI Chatbot Incorporating Islamic Values♦ Naguib…
The Smashi Business ShowLunate $2B Deal; Kuwait Shuts Al Sabah; Norway Dumps Caterpillar
HEADLINES:♦ Lunate to Set Up $2B Joint Investment Platform with Brevan Howard at ADGM♦ Kuwait Revokes Al Sabah Newspaper and TV Licences♦ Norway Fund Dumps…
The Smashi Business ShowSpinneys Kuwait, HSBC Cuts Middle Eastern Clients, Syria Pound Revaluation
HEADLINES:♦ Spinneys Enters Kuwait Through Joint Venture with Alshaya Group♦ HSBC Cuts Wealthy Middle Eastern Clients as Lombard Odier Exits Abu Dhabi♦ Syria…
The Smashi Business ShowAbu Dhabi Finance Boom, Manchester United Sale, MBC Bundesliga
HEADLINES:♦ Wall Street Firms Flock to Abu Dhabi for Proximity to Sovereign Wealth♦ Qatari Consortium Steps Back from Manchester United, Prince Al-Waleed Eyes…
The Smashi Business ShowPaul Graham on Gaza; Gathern $72M Funding; Humain Hiring
HEADLINES:♦ Y Combinator Co-Founder Paul Graham Weighs In On Gaza♦ Gathern Raises $72M Series B, Eyes Tadawul IPO♦ PIF-Backed Humain Seeks Data Centre Chief to…
The Smashi Business ShowSajwani Meets Mittal; Qatar Airways JFK Lounge; Lenovo Saudi HQ
HEADLINES:♦ Hussain Sajwani Meets Steel Magnate Lakshmi Mittal in London♦ Qatar Airways To Open First Exclusive US Lounge At JFK♦ Lenovo to Establish Regional…
The Smashi Business ShowNorway Wealth Fund, Saudia Starlink, Google Syria, Sarwa & Robinhood
HEADLINES:♦ Norway Wealth Fund to Divest Six Firms Linked to West Bank, Gaza♦ Saudia in Talks With SpaceX to Bring Starlink Wi-Fi Across Fleet♦ Google Lifts…
The Smashi Business ShowPIF Cuts $2B, Shark Tank Lebanon, Microsoft, Robinhood Dubai
HEADLINES:• Saudi PIF Cuts $2 Billion From US Stock Holdings• Shark Tank Lebanon Reveals Its Investor Panel• Microsoft Launches Inquiry Into Israeli Military…
The Smashi Business ShowHUMAIN AI Launch, Sudan Tycoon Daoud, US $500M Rocket Sale to Bahrain
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN to Launch AI Chat Platform in August 2025♦ Osama Daoud Abdellatif: The Tycoon Behind Sudan’s Largest Conglomerate♦ US…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE-Kenya Rail Deal, Kingdom Holding Profit Decline, Coraly.ai $2M Raise
HEADLINES:♦ ADQ-Backed Etihad Rail in Talks for Kenya Freight Operations♦ Kingdom Holding Reports Sharp Q2 Profit Decline♦ Lulu’s Half-Year Earnings Rise on…