The Smashi Business Show

HEADLINES: • Gulf-Backed Paramount Emerges as Frontrunner in $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover  • Al Nassr Star Cristiano Ronaldo Enters Club Ownership With 25% Stake in Saudi-Owned Almeria  • DoorDash Exits Qatar and Three Other Markets in Global Profitability Push    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihlt...

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 of economic transformation. Abu Dhabi's G42 is pioneering an AI chip monitoring system so impressive that Washington is calling it a model for the world. And Saudi Arabia is channeling billions into data centers as the kingdom positions itse...

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 profit in 2025  • Former WWE head Vince McMahon is NOT trying a buyback with Saudi backing    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/...

HEADLINES: • Gulf-Backed Anthropic Accuses Chinese Rivals of Mass AI Capability Extraction  • Al Habtoor Group Moves Toward Washington Arbitration Against Lebanon Over Investment Dispute  • Elie Habib Launches Free Global Intelligence Dashboard After Building Anghami   Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https...

HEADLINES: • UAE Thwarts AI-Powered “Terrorist” Cyber Attacks Targeting Critical Infrastructure  • Saudi Arabia Eases Regional HQ Rule, Reopens Government Projects to Foreign Firms  • Regional Outrage After Mike Huckabee Remarks, Tech Founder Amjad Masad Speaks Out   Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https:/...

This episode traces the rise of Jordanian-Emirati entrepreneur Abdallah Abu-Sheikh — from hustling at 17 under family pressure to building billion-dollar platforms before 30.We unpack his journey from renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa to launching Rizek in the UAE, scaling electric mobility with Barq, and architecting Astra Tech’s ultra-platform strategy through PayBy and Botim. Instead of bu...

In today’s Smashi Business Show, Gulf-backed Anthropic triggers a cybersecurity selloff, Lakshmi Mittal expands ArcelorMittal in Sharjah, and the Trump administration advances a proposed civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia.

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 health tech company, stock jumps  • Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Arrives in New Delhi for India AI Impact Summit    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tikto...

HEADLINES: • Gulf-Backed OpenAI Targets $850 Billion Valuation in Historic $100 Billion Funding Push  • Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala doubles investment in Bitcoin ETF to $630mln  • Saudi's Humain invested $3 billion in xAI's Series E funding round   

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 Real Estate Investing  • Prince Alwaleed’s Combined Stake in Elon Musk Companies Reaches $9.2 Billion

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 Business Show Guest: Demetrios Bradshaw - CEO Of Aeras Aviation

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 App Focused on Lasting Relationships  • UK and Canadian Funds Resume DP World Investments After Leadership Shake-Up

Smashi Business Show Live with Foodics Founder Ahmad AlZaini from STEP Dubai 2026

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 minister • Naguib Sawiris Backs UAE Digital School Plan to Train 100,000 Egyptian Youth 

 Live From Step Dubai Day 2 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP 

 Live From Step Dubai Day 1 Smashi Business Proud Media Partner At STEP 

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 Arabia's PIF Lifts Year-Long Ban on PwC Advisory Services • Saudi Arabia Plans to Expand Premium Residency Program to Ultra-Wealthy Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: htt...

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 Lebanese founder Tarek's Kalshi as Shareholder  • Step Dubai 2026 Appoints Augustus Media as Official Media Partner

HEADLINES: • Middle East Markets Hold Firm as Wall Street Crumbles  • Boeing and Airbus in Talks With Saudia for Potential Record Jet Order  • Inside ADNOC Distribution’s Financial Results with Ali Siddiqi, Chief Financial Officer

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 Arabia to Announce Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Package for Syria

HEADLINES: • Dubai Begins Construction of $680m Underground Transport Loop with Elon Musk • Aldar and Mubadala Launch $2.72bn Retail Platform • Ronaldo Misses Al-Nassr Match Amid Reports of Strike Over Lack of Transfer Activity 

Smashi Business Show live from Web Summi Qatar 2026 - Day 2

HEADLINES: • Upscroll Surges Past One Million Users As Alternative Social Platform Goes Viral • ADQ Chief Steps Down To Join Lunate As Abu Dhabi Targets Rapid Asset Growth • Gulf Stocks Slide As Wall Street Weakens On Fed Uncertainty And Tech Turmoil • Saudi-Backed LIV Golf Moves To Sell Team Stakes At Up To $300 Million Valuation

HEADLINES: • PwC Returns to Pitch for Saudi Arabia’s $1 Trillion Wealth Fund After Year-Long Ban • Al Habtoor Group to Shut Down Lebanon Operations and Fire All Employees • Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda Says TikTok Permanently Banned Her Account   Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Bus...

HEADLINES: • Mubadala Joins Property Finder’s $170 Million Fundraise • Al Habtoor Group Flags $1.7 Billion Lebanon Losses, Prepares Legal Action • Palestinian-Owned App UpScrolled Surges to the Top of App Store Charts Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us...