The Smashi Business Show

HEADLINES: • Telegram's Durov Slams WhatsApp Security as "Braindead" • 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: https://...

HEADLINES: • Palestinian App Climbs the Apple App Store  • Saudi Arabia Plans to Expand Premium Residency Program  • Saudi Arabia Delays 2029 Asian Winter Games at NEOM   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/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES: • DAMAC Secures $12bn in US AI Data Centre Projects  • ‘There Is No Plan B’: Jared Kushner’s Gaza Master Plan Draws Backlash in Davos • Altman Courts Middle East for $50bn OpenAI Funding Round 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/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES: • Qatar’s $580bn Wealth Fund Plans Major Portfolio Split • Netflix Goes All-Cash in $30bn Battle for Warner Bros. • NBA Courts Gulf Sovereign Wealth for European League Pus • HP's Peter Oganesean: How AI and Hybrid Work Are Redefining Productivity in 2025

HEADLINES: • UAE Joins Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as Gaza Plan Anchors New Initiative • First Phase of Stargate UAE to Come Online Within Months • Saudi Banks Turn Overseas for Funding 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/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES: • World Economic Forum Day 1: Who said What?  • MENA Media & Entertainment Market Seen Hitting $76.8bn by 2031  • Trump Invites Putin to Join Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ as Global Scrutiny Grows  • Abu Dhabi Plans Dedicated Power Tariff to Support AI Data Centres    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihlt...

HEADLINES: • Qatar to Hold Proceeds of First US-Run Venezuelan Oil Sale • Hacking Campaign Targeted High-Profile Gmail and WhatsApp Users Across the Middle East • Sela Emerges as PIF Weighs Fresh IPO Push • Today on the Show: Clint Khan, Director at Y-Axis Middle East DMCC Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4...

HEADLINES: • IHC Partners With US Investment Arm in Deal Aligned With US Foreign Policy • PwC Names Laura Hinton as Middle East Senior Partner After Saudi Advisory Ban  • HSBC and Presight Sign Strategic AI Partnership    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Business Show (Mon-Frid...

HEADLINES: • UAE is Worried About 25% Tariff Imposed by Trump on Countries trading with Iran  • DP World CEO says ready to Enter Venezuela in 24 hours if cargo opportunities arise  • UAE Becomes Ninth Member Of US-Led Pax Silica  •  Emaar's Alabbar Says He's in A Hurry, so Pardon his Mistakes     Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Inst...

HEADLINES: • Dr Sultan Al Jaber opened ADSW 2026 and hailed UAE as 'corridor to future • Meta has appointed Egypt-born Dina Powell McCormick as its new president and vice chairman • Former botim CEO has just raised $230 million to build Mal, an AI-native Islamic digital bank • On Smashi Business Show today: Amr Henna, Managing Partner and Co-founder of fan engagement at Dsquares Newsletter: https:...

HEADLINES: • Dubai Real Estate Hits Record AED 917 Billion in Historic 2025 Performance • Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Named Chairman of L'IMAD Holding as Sovereign Fund Expands Global Reach • MCG Talent Completes Seven-Figure Management Buy-Out, Names Charlie Bowsher CEO Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8...

HEADLINES: • 1 Billion Followers Summit concludes • Alabbar’s Symphony Global signs exclusive 20-year joint venture to develop future Armani Hotels & Resorts • Dar Global to develop $10bn Trump-branded projects in Riyadh and Jeddah Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Business Show (Mon-Frida...

Updates from day 3 of the 1 Billion Followers Summit Prypco and Amira Sajwani gauge interest for tokenization in Pakistan Kris Fade and Sarah Omolewu launched KS Konnect to bring global talent, sports, and entertainment to the Middle East Newsletter: aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): aug.us/3BTU2MY

 Day 1 of the 1 Billion Summit

HEADLINES: • Abdulla Al Hamed Appointed Chairman of UAE National Media Authority  • MGX, QIA Deepen Backing as xAI Raises $20bn in Oversubscribed Series E  • Dubai Residential Property Transactions Hit AED 541bn in 2025, Up 27% Year-on-Year    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Sma...

HEADLINES: • Saudi Arabia Opens Stock Market to All Foreign Investors in Bid to Boost Capital Inflows • Dubai Basketball Takes Long-Term View in EuroLeague Debut, Rejects Big-Spending Model • Kayali Launches “Kayali Cares” With $250,000 Donation for Sudan Relief   Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0...

HEADLINES: • Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2026 starting today in Las Vegas  • Revolut Launches Major Hiring Drive as UAE Launch Approaches  • Dubai chocolate helps propel Dubai Duty Free to record AED 8.68 billion sales in 2025    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi Busines...

HEADLINES: • Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth hits $1.7tn, rivaling Norway and China • Saudi Arabia launches 480MW Hexagon Data Center in Riyadh  • Saudi marcom expert warns MBC–Shahid rebrand could dilute brand value   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:...

HEADLINES: • Dubai Court Cancels Dh150 Million Fine in Abu Sabah Money Laundering Case  • Warner Bros Discovery Poised to Reject $108 Billion Paramount Skydance Bid • Saudi AI Firm Humain Receives First Shipment of Nvidia’s Advanced AI Chips    Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr WhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLU Instagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQ Tiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8 Smashi...

What would you do if someone offered you $1 billion for your six-person startup? Jordanian-American founder Amjad Masad said no—and today, Replit is worth $3 billion. In this episode, we break down his gutsy decision and Marc Andreessen's game-changing advice. Plus: dealmaker Amanda Staveley reveals why Gulf sovereign funds won't be buying more Premier League clubs (and what they're doing instead)...

2025 Recap: The Driven, Dreamers and Doers of the Year   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/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES: • Syria Just Introduced New Post-Assad Banknotes, Drops Portraits • Pentagon Awards Boeing $8.6 Billion F-15 Fighter Jet Contract for Israel • Presight Wins Multi-Year Albania Smart Nation AI Contract 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/3BTU2...

HEADLINES: • Leaked Memo Shows TikTok’s New US Owners Won’t Run Core Business • Manchester City Owner CFG Exits Mumbai City FC • Crypto Billionaire CZ Named Richest Expat in the UAE by Forbes   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/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES: • Huda Kattan Sparks Influencer Backlash Over Kim Kardashian Store Opening • Prince Alwaleed Nears $400 Million Al Hilal Deal, Semafor Reports • Nvidia Agrees to Acquire Saudi-Backed AI Chip Startup Groq 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/3B...

HEADLINES: • Boucheron and Al Tayer Group Form Joint Venture for UAE Operations • BinDawood Acquires Majority Stake in UAE's Wonder Bakery • Emaar Founder Alabbar Invests in Paytm's Arab Payments Unit • Saudi AI Firm Humain Awards Mega Data Center Contract to MIS