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 Tower Resales, Sarwa Salaries & Syria Prints Currency
HEADLINES:• Sarwa Enforces No-Negotiation Pay Policy to Ensure Fair Salaries for New Hires• Trump Tower Dubai Launch Sparks Investor Frenzy with Promises of…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump–UAE Deals; UAE–Jordan CEPA; Emirates–SpaceX Talks
HEADLINES:♦ US and UAE Sign Partnership to Build Largest Data Center Complex Outside of the US♦ Emirates in Talks With SpaceX to Bring Starlink Wi-Fi Onboard…
The Smashi Business ShowJordan's Tariq Amin Leads Saudi AI; Trump Deals in Qatar; Starlink Expands
HEADLINES:♦ Qatar Signs $200 Billion Deal to Buy Jets from Boeing During Trump Visit♦ Trump Meets Syria’s Interim Leader, Lifts Sanctions in Push to Rebuild…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump's Day 1 in Gulf; Wallstreet Titans in Saudi; Kilow Secures $2.5M
HEADLINES:♦ Trump Lands in Riyadh to Grand Welcome, Crown Prince Meets Global Tech and Business Titans♦ Trump Announces Major Policy Shift: U.S. to Lift…
The Smashi Business ShowMusk Joins Trump in Gulf, MBS Unveils AI Giant, Hubpay CEO on Fintech Future
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Launches HUMAIN to Power Nation’s Bold AI Push♦ Elon Musk Set to Join Trump Delegation at Saudi-U.S. Forum as Gulf Tour…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump Jet, Syria Oil, Saudi IPO, Dubai Media, Gold Soars to $3,500
HEADLINES:♦ Trump May Receive Luxury Jet from Qatar Amid Air Force One Delays: ABC News♦ Syria Seeks Meeting With President Trump, Offering Oil Access and…
The Smashi Business ShowEmirates Declares Itself World’s Most Profitable Airline
HEADLINES:♦ U.S. Backs Qatar's $87M Syria Salary Plan, Easing Sanctions Post-Assad ♦ Abu Dhabi’s XRG Eyes Billions in U.S. Investments with Trump Support ♦…
The Smashi Business ShowDisneyland Is Coming to Abu Dhabi: The Middle East’s First Ever Disney Theme Park
HEADLINES:- Disney to Open First Middle East Theme Park in Abu Dhabi- Qatar Airways lines up Boeing order for Trump visit- Meta Wins $168 Million Verdict…
The Smashi Business Show"UAE Islamic Finance Strategy, Trump’s Gulf Visit with Wall Street Titans, WHOOP Founder Reveals First Prototype "
HEADLINES:- UAE Unveils Ambitious Islamic Finance and Tourism Strategy- Wall Street Leaders to Join Trump in Riyadh Ahead of US-GCC Power Talks-…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump’s Gulf Visit, Shark Tank Dubai Launch, Cairo’s MoneyFellows Raises $13M
HEADLINES:- Trump’s Gulf Itinerary Revealed: Riyadh May 13, Doha May 14, Abu Dhabi May 15- Shark Tank Dubai Season 3 Launches with Star Investors and Bold…
The Smashi Business ShowSmashi Business Show: UAE: AI as core subject, Emiratis Can Now Travel to Lebanon; G42, e& go to US
HEADLINES:- UAE to have AI as core subject in government institutions - UAE lifts ban on Emiratis to travel to Lebanon, starting May 7- Abu Dhabi's AI…
The Smashi Business ShowMrBeast's Riyadh Deal; UAE, Trump & AI Chips; Dubai Property Strong Q1
HEADLINES:- MrBeast Signs Riyadh Season Deal- Saudi CEO Warns Against Misleading Digital Consultants- Dubai Real Estate Market Starts Strong in 1Q 2025- US May…
The Smashi Business ShowDon't Fire Teams Yet for AI; Dubai Races Ahead; Abu Dhabi's Big Deal
HEADLINES:- TWG Global and Mubadala Capital to Enter Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Alliance- Pakistani startup MedIQ Raises $6 Million for Expansion into…
The Smashi Business ShowThe Smashi Business Show : Trump Hotel in Dubai; Meta AI App; AI Inclusivity; "GCC Retail Changing"
HEADLINES:- Mark Zuckerberg Has Launched the Standalone App for Meta AI- UAE Entrepreneur Raises Inclusivity Questions about AI- Dubai's Skyline Gets a New…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai is Certified Autism Destination; Zest Raises Funds; Calo Expands to UK
HEADLINES:- Dubai has become the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere- UAE-based Zest Has Raised $4.3 Million in Pre-Series A Funding-…
The Smashi Business ShowPIF Targets $2.7T; KSA, Qatar to pay Syria's debt; Trump Wants 'Free' Ride in Suez
HEADLINES :- Saudi Arabia's PIF has raised its target for assets under management by 2030 to $2.67 - trillion- Saudi Arabia and Qatar to pay back Syria's debt…
The Smashi Business ShowCafu mulls stake sale; Damac, AI, $54M; Paypal in Dubai; Dubai AI Week
HEADLINES : - Highlights of Day 4 of Dubai AI Week- Cafu exploring first-ever 'stake sale': Bloomberg- Damac used AI to boost monthly financial collections by…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai AI Week, OSN-WB Deal, Emaar Boost, UAE Hiring Slows
HEADLINES:- Highlights of Day 3 of Dubai AI Week- Celebration of OSN's $57 Million with Warner Bros Discovery in Dubai - Emaar waives 4-month rent for F&B…
The Smashi Business ShowUS President Donald Trump's Middle East visit dates confirmed
HEADLINES:- US President Donald Trump's Middle East visit dates confirmed- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes Saudi Arabia visit- Highlights of Day…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai AI Week; Aramco x BYD; PepsiCo's Saudi Office; Dubai Chocolate craze
HEADLINES:- Highlights of Day 1 of the Inaugural Dubai AI Week- Aramco and BYD partner for EV Technology- PepsiCo Opens regional HQ in Riyadh; will invest…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE uses AI for laws; B'Laban returns; Dubai rolls out self-driving taxis
HEADLINES:- UAE set to use AI to write laws in world first- Adnoc on shortlist to buy Shell South Africa fuel stations- B'Laban’s Facebook Account Announces…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Trade Rises; Abu Dhabi Invests in UK; €2B Russia-Qatar Deal
HEADLINES:- UAE has become the 11th largest merchandise exporter in the world- Abu Dhabi investors are stepping up their presence in the UK market-…
The Smashi Business ShowB’laban Closures in Egypt; Chinese Traders on TikTok; New Red Sea Island
HEADLINES:- UAE Tops Saudi Arabia’s Arab Export Markets in Q4 2024, Trade Surplus Soars 37%- B’laban Denies Poison Rumors as Giza Closes 12 Dessert Shop in…
The Smashi Business ShowMOE Expansion; Dubizzle Buys Property Monitor; Saudi F1 Team?
HEADLINES:- Majid Al Futtaim has announced a AED5 billion investment to transform Mall of the Emirates- Dubizzle Group buys UAE's Property Monitor portal…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Tax Review; Saudi Covers Syria Debt; Dubai & Trump Tariffs
HEADLINES:- HH Sheikh Mohammed reviews UAE tax and launches AI efficiency drive at Cabinet meeting- Dubai tops list of world's busiest international airports…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Traffic Plan; AED1.4B Drainage Plan for Dubai; More Women in AI in KSA
HEADLINES:- Dubai's RTA Reveals Roads and Transport Plan 2030- DP World has officially begun development on Bharat Mart- Dubai Municipality has Awarded AED1.4B…
The Smashi Business ShowHH Sheikh Hamdan's India Trip; Prada Buys Versace; Tesla's KSA Launch
HEADLINES :- HH Sheikh Hamdan and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry witness signing of 8 agreements- Prada is buying Versace for $1.38B — its biggest…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump Tariff Pause; Sheikh Hamdan at BSE; Tesla Eyes KSA; UAE Retirement
HEADLINES:- Trump Pauses Reciprocal Tariffs but 10% Blanket Tariffs Still in Place- Elon Musk's Tesla is Launching Today in Saudi Arabia- HH Sheikh Hamdan…
The Smashi Business ShowHH Sheikh Hamdan in India; MENA Stocks Rebound; MBC Has New CEO
HEADLINES:- His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Visits India As UAE-India Trade Booms Under CEPA- Middle Eastern Stock Markets Returned Back to Green on Tuesday- Aquila…
The Smashi Business ShowGulf Markets Slide, Dubai IPOs Surge, PGA Says No to $15.B from Saudi PIF
HEADLINES : - Middle Eastern and Global Markets Plunge Further Over Tariffs and Oil Prices- DFM Chief “very optimistic” about continued IPO momentum in 2025-…
The Smashi Business ShowMideast Markets Fall, Jordan Hit by Tariffs, Dubai's Mega Bridge
HEADLINES:- Aramco loses $90B as Middle Eastern Markets crash, Asian Markets Open Red on Monday- Jordan risks sharp economic hit as the Middle East's most…
The Smashi Business ShowMENA, Global Markets Crash; B Laban, Crisis Management, McLaren
HEADLINES:- All Red in UAE, Saudi, Egypt, as Markets Come Crashing Down- B Laban's case and the Importance of Crisis Management- Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump hits Middle East with tariffs; Sajwani reaches $10B; Dubai taxis ready
HEADLINES:- Trump Imposes Reciprocal Tariffs on UAE, Saudi Arabia, the Middle East & World- Founder of Damac Group Hussain Sajwani’s Wealth Doubles to $10.2…
The Smashi Business ShowTrump confirms Gulf visit; B Laban closure in Saudi; Flynas IPO approved
HEADLINES:- Trump confirms Saudi Arabia visit in May, adds UAE and Qatar to itinerary- Saudi Arabia Reportedly Closes Egyptian Dessert Chain ‘B Laban’ Amid…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Central Bank Unveils New Dirham Symbol
HEADLINES:- UAE Central Bank Unveils New Dirham Symbol- UAE’s Sukuk Top in the World as Emaar and Aldar Lead Global Rally- e& Sells, MGX and Silver Lake Buy…
The Smashi Business ShowPokemon Go, but PIF-backed Scopely wants more; Tesla in Saudi; Masdar's IPO Talks
Headlines:- Saudi PIF-backed Scopely is Eyeing Acquisition of More Hit Titles- Tesla to Launch in Saudi Arabia on April 10- UAE Renewables Giant Masdar’s IPO…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE Hawala Crack Down 'Working'; BlackRock x Emirates NBD; Gulf's CEO Retention Policy
Headlines : - UAE's Crackdown on Illegal Money Transfers, Hawala, is 'working'- UAE and Saudi companies use long-term salary bonuses to attract CEO talent-…
The Smashi Business ShowSaudi PIF Cuts 20%; Warner Bros. Invests in OSN; Temasek Expands in Abu Dhabi
HEADLINES:- Saudi PIF Orders Deep Spending Cuts Across Over 100 Companies: AGBI- Temasek’s $54 Billion Asset Management Unit Opens Abu Dhabi Office- Warner…
The Smashi Business ShowUAE to Invest $1.4T in US; FIX Founder Meets HH Sheikh Mohammed in Dubai
HEADLINES:- UAE Pledges $1.4 Trillion Investment in U.S. Over 10 Years- Viral Dubai Chocolate FIX Founder Sara Hamouda meets HH Sheikh Mohammed- Dubai’s Luxury…
The Smashi Business ShowMubadala Weighs Du Stake Sale, ADQ’s $25B Deal, Adani Eyes $1.4B Emaar Buyout
HEADLINES:- Mubadala Weighs Selling Part of $1 Billion Stake in Du- ADQ, Energy Capital Partners Announce $25B+ Data Center Energy Deal- Adani in Advanced…
The Smashi Business ShowBen & Jerry’s Sues Unilever; xAI Joins $30B Plan; Sheikh Tahnoon Meets Musk
HEADLINES:- Ben & Jerry’s Accuses Unilever of Silencing Support for Gaza- Musk's xAI is joining MGX, Microsoft, Blackrock for their $30B AI Plan- HH Sheikh…
The Smashi Business ShowGoogle to Pay $32B for Wiz; Sheikh Tahnoon Meets Trump; Suez Losses $800M
HEADLINES:- Google acquires Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for record $32 billion- HH Sheikh Tahnoon meets President Donald Trump on US visit- Egypt Suez…
The Smashi Business ShowAD Property Prices Rise; Arab GDP Grows; US Interferes in Lebanon
HEADLINES:- Residential rents grew 20 percent in 2024, while sales prices climbed by 11 percent in Abu Dhabi: report- Arab Region’s GDP Hits $3.6 Trillion in…
The Smashi Business ShowSheikh Tahnoon’s US Visit, Durov Leaves France, Binghatti Wins AED 35M Plate Bid
HEADLINES:- HH Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed’s Official Visit to the US Starts Today- Telegram Founder Durov Allowed to Temporarily Leave France: AFP Reports-…
The Smashi Business ShowWeekend Edition: Qatar’s Gas Deal, DP World’s Growth, Tesla in Israel
– Qatar supplies gas via Jordan to aid Syria’s electricity crisis, marking a major policy shift.– Record revenue of $20 billion, strategic investments, and…
The Smashi Business ShowChina’s Auto Surge in UAE, More on PwC’s PIF Fallout, and Saudi Football’s Spending Shift
HEADLINES:- Chinese Automakers Gain Ground in UAE as Ramadan Competition Heats Up- PwC’s Consulting Ban From PIF Has Deloitte, EV and others Hunting for Work…
The Smashi Business ShowMGX's $2B in Binance; Pokemon Go's New Home; Leos Founder Interview
HEADLINES:- Abu Dhabi's MGX Invests $2 Billion in World's Biggest Crypto Exchange Binance- Saudi-Owned Scopely has Acquired Pokémon Go in $3.5 Billion Gaming…
The Smashi Business ShowAramex Surges with ADQ Takeover; UAE Women Entrepreneurs Go Digital
HEADLINES:- Aramex Shares Climb as ADQ Secures Majority 58% Stake- Egyptians are Leading the Growth Rate of Foreign Buyers in Dubai’s Property Market with a…
The Smashi Business ShowPIF Launches Duty-Free Retail; Sheikh Tahnoon Eyes $1B Cooling Sale
HEADLINES:- Sheikh Tahnoon’s Multiply Group Targets $1B Cooling Unit Sale- PIF Unveils Saudi Arabia’s First Duty-Free Retail Venture- Adnoc Set to Expand with…
The Smashi Business ShowWomen’s Tennis Players Eligible for Maternity Leave Funded by Saudi Arabia
HEADLINES:-WTA Introduces Paid Maternity Leave with Saudi PIF Backing-Trump Plans Saudi Arabia Visit Amid Military Deals and Diplomatic Talks-Europe Backs $53…
The Smashi Business ShowWeekend Edition: PwC vs. PIF Clash, Saudi’s 2km Tower, and Qatar Airways’ Future Strategy
Description:In this weekend edition of the Smashi Business Show, Abdul Majid Awan breaks down three major business stories. We dive into the fallout between…
The Smashi Business ShowTalabat Acquires InstaShop; Starbucks Closes in Jordan; New Boxing League
HEADLINES:- UAE-Based Talabat Acquires InstaShop From Delivery Hero in $32 Million Deal- Starbucks Closes Four Branches in Jordan as Boycott Pressure…
The Smashi Business ShowKhaleej Times Editor-in-Chief Fired; New Saudi Marketing Investment Authority; Aviation Updates
HEADLINES:- Saudi Arabia Launches Investment Marketing Authority to Boost FDI- UAE's Khaleej Times Editor-in-Chief Fired After 16 Months in Charge- Aviation…
The Smashi Business Show$53B Gaza Reconstruction, BlackRock GIP in Qatar, Saudi Ninja IPO
HEADLINES:- Arab Leaders Approve $53 Billion Gaza Reconstruction Plan, Rejecting 'Trump Gaza'- BlackRock’s GIP Expands to Qatar as Global Investment Firms…
The Smashi Business ShowDubai Job Market, EU Resumes Syria Trade, and HH Sheikh Tahnoon Updates
HEADLINES:- Dubai’s Expat Boom Reshapes Job Market, Salaries & Lifestyles, Reports Bloomberg- EU Reopens Trade with Syria: Strategic Aid or Economic…
The Smashi Business ShowSaudi PIF Bans PwC; Microsoft Opposes Gulf Chip Ban; $4B Aid to Israel
HEADLINES:- Saudi Wealth Fund Suspends PwC from Advisory Work for a Year- Microsoft Pushes for AI Export Rule Changes to Gulf Allies- US Secretary of State…
The Smashi Business ShowWeekend Edition: PwC’s Saudi Ban, Soaring Rental Yields, and Arada’s IPO Ambitions Shape Gulf Markets
Top stories: PwC’s One-Year Ban from Saudi PIF ContractsSaudi Rental Yields Lead the Gulf Amid Demand SurgeArada’s Future IPO Plans After Record-Shattering…
The Smashi Business ShowMarkets Slip in Saudi, FBI Ties North Korea to $1.5B Crypto Hack
HEADLINES:- Saudi Stocks Extend Losses on Weak Earnings; Emirates NBD Lifts Dubai- FBI Confirms North Korea’s Lazarus Group Behind $1.5B Bybit Hack- Australia…
The Smashi Business ShowSmashi Business Show: PIF’s Lucid Shake-Up, UAE IPO Boom & e& Stock Surge
HEADLINES:Majority-owned by PIF, Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson Steps DownUAE’s IPO Pipeline Heats Up With Major Listings on the Horizon"e& Shares Jump After…
The Smashi Business ShowWeb Summit Qatar, Saudi Firm Sells OpenAI Stake, IHC $1B Investment
HEADLINES:- Web Summit Qatar 2025- Saudi IT Firm Nets $3.4M After Selling OpenAI Stake- IHC, Led by Sheikh Tahnoon, to Invest $1B in Low- & Middle-Income…