The Next

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Gary Blowers, CEO of Tribe, and Sebastian Agren, COO, to break down how real estate tokenization actually works in practice, beyond the hype. Breaking down the concept of how property ownership can be digitized and fractionalized *LEGALLY*, who manages these tokenized properties, how rental income is distributed, and why regulation is a...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Sean McHugh, Head of Assurance at VARA (Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority), to unpack what it really takes to build a trusted regulatory framework in the fast-moving world of crypto, Web3, and digital assets. LISTEN IN TO: ⁠How the UAE is positioning itself as a leader in responsible innovation ⁠⁠Why regulation should be seen...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Marc Massad, former pro athlete and founder of Sportsify+, to explore how biohacking, mindset, and going “back to basics” are reshaping modern wellness. Marc shares how elite performers (from athletes to executives) can extend their healthspan through personalized routines, gut health, fasting, and discipline. From the science of stress...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Jehanzeb Awan, founder of J. Awan & Partners, to explore the intersection of finance, governance, and public policy in the UAE. From navigating regulatory pressures in a fast-moving region to the disconnect between government spending and public infrastructure, Jehanzeb offers a candid perspective on how things really work behind th...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Phil McKenzie - Co-Founder of Myco, Goldfinch, and First Flights - to explore how technology is reshaping the entertainment and media landscape, from film financing to global distribution. Phil breaks down why traditional film and TV funding remains opaque and siloed, how blockchain and tokenization can solve long-standing problems arou...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Michael Chan, CEO of Zand, to unpack how digital banking, tokenization, and virtual assets are reshaping modern finance, and why the UAE has become a global leader in this transformation. Michael breaks down the real adoption happening across the industry, from corporates and asset managers stepping into crypto to family offices treatin...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Leon Surynt, founder of Nightjar, to explore how Dubai’s coffee and hospitality scene is evolving, from specialty blends and brand storytelling to the realities of rising costs and consolidation. Leon explains why the post-2020 coffee boom is giving way to cleaner, owner-operator models, how tech like blockchain can improve traceability...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail and co-host Ryan Rivera sit down with Saed Ereiqat, Director of Hadron Founders Club, to discuss the evolution of Web3 communities, the lessons learned from the NFT boom, and how Dubai continues to lead in crypto and innovation. From buying Dogecoin in 2018 to building real-world founder spaces in Alserkal, Saed shares how community remains the heart...

In this episode of The Next, host Ahmed Ismail sits down with Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center, to explore the future of AI, blockchain, and Web3. From building Arabic chatbots in the 1980s to leading Dubai’s blockchain ecosystem today, Dr. Marwan shares how curiosity and first-principles thinking shaped his journey. He explains why crypto adoption mirrors the early intern...

In the first episode of The Next , hosted by Ahmed Ismail , Co-Founder of Daman Virtual, the conversation focuses on how technology is reshaping one of the world’s most powerful industries: mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Ahmed is joined by Rob Cant , Co-Founder & CEO of Single Source Technologies, and guest co-host Ryan Rivera. Together, they explore how M&A (an industry worth over $3...