Dubai Works Business Podcast

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY 

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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), and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority places a $65M bet on Chinese AI startup MiniMax—despite it losing half a billion dollars a year. From billion-dollar rejections to shifting investment strategies, here's everything happening in Arab business and tech. Newsletter: aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): aug.us/3BTU2MY

2025 Recap: The Driven, Dreamers and Doers of the Year Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi 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 ContractNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi 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 GroqNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

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

HEADLINES:• Christmas spending is getting bigger in the MENA region• We Are Still Dramatically Undershooting Our Potential, Careem CEO• So FAST: The Future of Streaming with LG ChannelsNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Kalshi Adds Binance’s BNB for Deposits and Withdrawals• Ronaldo, Georgina Rodríguez buy luxury villas at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea destination• US Watchdog Reviews Ethics Probe Request Into Trump Officials Over Chip Export Deal• The Future of Trading in the UAE: A Conversation with Traders Hub’s Hafez BakerNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Elon Musk was in the UAE and met the UAE President and HH Sheikh Hamdan• Sequoia Capital Partner Condemned for False Accusation Against Palestinian Student• Abu Dhabi's MGX Secures 15 Percent Stake in TikTok US as ByteDance Relinquishes ControlNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

Today on the Smashi Business Show, we're discussing three major developments reshaping the Gulf business landscape. First, Ken Griffin's Citadel—the world's largest hedge fund—is finally opening a Dubai office, cementing the emirate's status as a global finance hub. Second, the UAE Government has established a new National Media Authority that consolidates all federal media entities under one powerful organization. And third, Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ have launched the region's first unified streaming bundle, revolutionizing how GCC audiences access entertainment. Plus, we cover Ares Management's landmark deal with Patrimium, Adnoc's massive gas financing, and the India-Oman free trade agreement. Instagram: aug.us/4ihltzQNewsletter: aug.us/48vHaL5WhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLUTiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8

HEADLINES:• Binghatti And Mercedes-Benz Unveil $8.2 Billion Dubai Megaproject • Qatar Airways Leads Gulf Region With 120,000 Flights, Outpacing Emirates Through High-Frequency Strategy• CloudKitchens Shelves Middle East IPO Plans Amid Market Slowdown Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Middle East dominates Bloomberg's World's Wealthiest Families list• RTA deploys drones to clean Dubai traffic signals• Jared Kushner's Affinity exits Paramount's bid for Warner Bros. takeover• Wio Wednesdays - Episode 4In this week’s episode of Wio Wednesdays, we examine how investing is shifting across the UAE and how Wio Invest is helping redefine wealth building through simplified, regulated access to stocks, ETFs and digital assets inside the Wio Personal app.Wio Securities LLC is approved by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority for dealing in investment (License No: 20200000165).If you run a business, you can also unlock 6 months free on Wio Business with the code WIOSMASHI when you sign up.Check out their website: wio.io. Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Reportedly Set to Buy Barcelona for €10 Billion• Jared Kushner Pulls Out of Trump Tower Belgrade Project With Alabbar’s Eagle Hills• Abu Dhabi–Based IHC Increases Stake in Invictus, Firm Backed by Sudan’s Richest FamilyNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Saudi Billionaire Al-Waleed Bin Talal in Final Talks to Buy Al-Hilal for $2 Billion• Noon Raises $500 Million from PIF and Alabbar in New Round• Israel Used Palantir Systems in Deadly 2024 Lebanon Pager Explosions, New Book Says• Lebanese-Founded Podeo Signs YouTube’s Most-Viewed Podcast Guest, Yasser Al-HuzaimiNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:• Construction Begins on 350-Metre Trump Tower Dubai• OSN Says Warner Bros. Deal Unaffected by Netflix–Paramount Bidding War• Paul Pogba Takes Stake in Saudi Camel Racing Team Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY