The Smashi Business Show

Scandal-ridden Drake and Schull sees 30% surge in shares, Pepsi’s “stay thirsty” ad sparks outrage amid boycotts, the PIF’s domestic focus spooks global asset managers, the Telegraph will be biggest loser after blocked sale according to the chief of the IMI, a Riyadh employee developed a chatbot to tackle choosing lunch, and footballer Mido takes his academy global after a Shark Tank win

Tech entrepreneur who sold startup to Noon speaks out on bullying, UAE and London funds back a Dubai mortgage platform in oversubscribed funding round, Sheikh Tahnoon’s IHC is eyeing a $5bn buyback to revive its stock, and Oprah, Idris Elba and will.i.am are among celebs in Saadiyat Cultural District's new campaign

Social media users are calling for the boycott of PureGym UAE, UAE is second globally for longest working hours, 12 passengers have been injured aboard a Qatar Airways flight, Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris has offered to pay for wounded Palestinians, Dubai’s homegrown burger joint Pickl is opening 30 branches in a franchise deal, and our guest, sports agent Saif Al Rubie, talks fame, fortune...

Pavel Durov says he doesn't own any yachts, land, or real estate. Why? Listen to find out. Plus, the missing link when it comes to Emiratisation, Tabby and Rasan's rivalry, and Sarwa's crisis management after that $122,500 fine

Sarwa, a startup in the UAE that gives investment advice through robots, is being fined $390k!

Nadine Nassib Njeim launches her own beauty brand inspired by the Beirut tragic event , Saudi-based MDD secures $26.6M in a funding round, Ronaldo & Ahmed Talk Football, Fitness, and Partnership on WHOOP Podcast, Rashid Al Mulla shares insights on Frio Sparkling Water

The VP of Rotana Media says linear TV is very much alive, a UAE production firm wants to help old Emiratis rebuild homes using VR, Tamara's CEO urges entrepreneurs to ditch their Plan B, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has revealed a multi-pass subscription Service, OpenAI Pauses ChatGPT Voice After Scarlett Johansson's Legal Concerns

Shark Tank VC Elie Khouri says 2 deals fell through after the Dubai show, Maha Abouelenein says personal branding isn't just about promoting yourself, while London's SALT has been revealed to be a rip-off of he original UAE-based restaurant.

From a $6,000 investment to a billion-dollar empire, Huda Beauty remains a leader in the beauty industry.

Property Finder is mulling a $1bn listing after a preliminary roadshow, Dubai's Palazzo Versace hotel is up for sale for half of its cost price, questions have been raised around the ownership of Blinx media, an Abu Dhabi fund has sealed a $1.45bn acquisition of British media house, and a Saudi designer has accused Yasmine Sabri of sabotaging his dress

From a $6,000 investment to a billion-dollar empire, Huda Beauty remains a leader in the beauty industry.

Hala Insurance founder Walid Dib has sold his new startup CallMi, Walid Shihabi's rent now, pay later startup Keyper has secured $4M in equity & $30M in sukuk, the Egyptian government may launch its own ride-hailing service, and we give you the highlights from the Qatar Economic Forum. Plus, we talk present and future effects of lenient crypto regulations in the UAE with the CEO of AD-based cr...

The PIF is making bold moves, and reducing its holdings in US equities, while Alabbar joins a list of GCC investors banking on Egyptian land. In Dubai, a radio presenter is competing in the world of healthy snacks, and from Doha, we bring you more insights from the Qatar Economic Forum.

From the President of Poland to Trump's best friend and the Gulf's top business personalities, the Qatar Economic Forum is one of this year's most anticipated events. Listen to our insider analysis on discussions happening both on stage and behind closed doors

E& UAE sets new record with world's fastest 5G speed, Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Egyptian American tech founder's company, Emirates Group posts record $5.1BN profit, up 71% from last year, Dubai & Doha among world's top 5 luxurious airports, and influencer Hadia Ghaleb is facing backlash for her swimsuit collection

Elon Musk's Burnt Hair, Botim reveals PalmPay, for Gaza, people are blocking celebrities to stop ad-revenue, a Saudi podcast has overtaken Joe Rogan globally as most viewed, Egypt wants Apple to build a factory there, and a Saudi HR startup and an i investment fund have joined forces.

LuLu Hypermarket, part of LuLu Group International, has expanded from one Dubai store to 260+ outlets in 26 countries. With $8 billion in annual revenue and 70,000 employees worldwide, it's diversified into malls, real estate, and digital platforms.

Apple is under fire for “the worst ad ever,” while Dubai Duty Free’s legendary CEO Colm Mcloughlin is retiring, and Saudi will reveal $100bn in aviation investments. Plus, our review of the Arabian Travel Market.

Americana's Q1 net profit and revenue dropped almost 52% thanks to boycotts over the Gaza genocide, TikTok has sued the US government for threatening to ban the Chinese social app, while the US itself has stopped a bomb shipment to Israel for concerns over its military operations in Gaza.

Latest in the Gulf: GCC visa talks, Dubai parks expansion, Aramco dividends, Emirates upgrades, and Dubai's tourism boom!

World's largest casino will be in RAK, Israel raids Al Jazeera offices in 'criminal act' on freedom of press, Egyptian Shark Tank star Ahmed Tarek invests $100M in healthcare, education, and Eid Al Adha is coming but do entrepreneurs ever plug off?

UAE’s Al Habtoor is opening a channel and studio city in Lebanon, Mohamed Hadid’s company is filing for bankruptcy, real estate firm Aldar could have paid Tony Robbins $1M to give a private pep talk in Dubai, Dubizzle has acquired Drive Arabia for an alleged $8.2M and an ex-TikTok employee is being praised for his honest post about redundancy

Anghami's seeing recovery with less losses and higher subs, regional stock exchanges should support non-profitable companies, Hermes is facing backlash, Dubai is among top 5 places to work, and UAE companies have highest level of female board members in GCCWe're doing vertical cut from yesterday timestamps already sent, Ali K didn't feel well yesterday so we're doing today

Floyd Mayweather is allegedly banned from leaving Dubai until he repays outstanding debts, a new $13.6K fine for real estate brokers announced, Spinneys has become the most oversubscribed private listing in DFM history, we reveal the Nakheel chiefs who left after the CEO’s departure, “If you don’t show up, we don’t get paid,” says a salon owner on a cancellations policy, UAE insurance companies ha...

Ryan Reynolds is Yas Island's new chief island officer, Dubai-based football agent found not guilty in high profile intimidation case, RAK will welcome a $250M beachfront project with Aston Martin, Aldar's Q1 profits soared 88% and is also planning a $6.8NB beachfront project, and the co-founder of on-demand talent platform Outsized talks the gig economy