The Smashi Business Show

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>Lulu IPO Closes Flat on AED2.04 on stock Debut After Raising Record AED6.32 billion<br><strong>- </strong>Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Raises $1.03 Billion in Record Telecom Offering<br><strong>- </strong>Dubai-based Chatbots Startup ‘Popcorn AI’ raises $500,000 in Pre-Seed Funding</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- UAE AI Minister Congratulates Musk, Ramaswamy on Leading U.S. Efficiency Department<br>- Landmark Group to Invest $1 Billion in Retail Expansion Across Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia<br>- Mohammed bin Rashid Launches AED 2 Billion Dubai Police Projects to Enhance Security and Community Wellbeing</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Middle East Markets Surge as Global Stocks Rally Following Trump’s Presidential Win<br>- Majid Al Futtaim Suspends Carrefour Operations in Jordan, Replaces it with New Brand Hypermax<br>- Mush Social Raises $1.2M Pre-Seed Round, Targeting User-Owned Virtual Assets and Global Expansion<br>- MrBeast is now one of only eight people to have climbed the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>MBC GROUP’s Revenue Surge Reflects Regional Media Dominance</p><p><strong>- </strong>Sheikh Hamdan Sees Strong Leadership as Key to Dubai’s 3.3% GDP Growth in Q2<br><strong>-</strong> Delivery Hero to List Talabat in Dubai, Plans $100M Dividend in 2025</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Bella Hadid Puts Dubai's Tonton Bakery in the Spotlight<br>- CNN FAST Launches on STARZ ON in MENA<br>- Saudi arabia is reportedly launching a $100B AI initiative <br> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Middle East Markets Surge as Global Stocks Rally Following Trump’s Presidential Win<br>- Majid Al Futtaim Suspends Carrefour Operations in Jordan, Replaces it with New Brand Hypermax<br>- Mush Social Raises $1.2M Pre-Seed Round, Targeting User-Owned Virtual Assets and Global Expansion</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- ADNOC, Masdar, and Microsoft Team Up to Drive AI and Low-Carbon Innovations<br>- Big Influx of Foreign Talent has Pushed Down Starting Salaries in the UAE<br>- Saudi Arabia Ranks 12th Globally in International Tourist Spending, Hitting $36 Billion Milestone</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- ADNOC and AIQ Launch ENERGYai: A First-of-Its-Kind Agentic AI for Global Energy Transformation<br>- Russia Begins Importing Butter from UAE and Turkey to Control Price Surge<br>- PIF and Hong Kong Monetary Authority Establish $1 Billion Fund, Announce Multiple Partnerships<br>- Insider Plans AED 462 Million Investment in the UAE Following USD 500 Million Series E Round</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Crown Prince of Dubai directs RTA to study trackless trams<br>- Saudi’s PIF Takes Major Stake in MBC GROUP<br>- Elon Musk Eyes Middle East Funds to Scale xAI- Rony Hage<br>- Founder and CEO of Founder Connects</p>

<p>Headline: <br><br>- Middle East and Muslim-Countries’ Boycotts Contributing to McDonald’s Global Sales Decline<br>- TikTok’s Plans for Riyadh Headquarters in Early 2025<br>- PIF and Google Cloud Launch AI Hub in Saudi Arabia: Projected $71 Billion GDP Boost</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings to Acquire McLaren’s Automotive Business<br>- Saudi Arabia Stays Committed to Oil, Expands Focus on Clean Energy<br>- Localization of Insulin Production in Saudi Arabia</p>

<p>-Noon Planning to Venture into Physical Retail, with Pilot Project in Dubai</p><p>-PIF’s Shift Toward Domestic Investment and AI Development</p><p>-Saudi Arabia’s Transformation Toward a Cashless Society with 98% Contactless Payments</p><p>-Meet Leon Kolflaath, Project Director at QUBE Development, as he introduces the launch of Arisha Terraces</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Davos in the Desert’ FII8 Launches Today in Riyadh where Pre-Summit Spotlight was on Africa<br>- Sindalah: Neom's First Luxury Tourism Island Now Open<br>- Lulu Retail Holdings PLC Begins Subscription for IPO on ADX</p>

<p><strong>Headline:</strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>UAE Ascends as a ‘Startup Nation’ in Digital Assets: Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah<br><strong>- </strong>Saudi Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures Allocates $100M to AI Start-Ups<br><strong>- </strong>Abu Dhabi Film Rebate Increases to 35% Amid Regional Competition<br> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- YouTube Dominates Viewer Preference in Saudi Arabia and UAE<br>- STARZPLAY CEO Applauds Dubai Police for Crackdown on IPTV Piracy<br>- Dubai Unveils ‘Ignyte’ to Empower 100,000 Startups</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Cristiano Ronaldo Invests in Dubai-based HealthTech Startup Bioniq, Boosting Valuation to $82M<br>- Qatar Airways Partners with Elon Musk’s Starlink to Bring High-Speed Wi-Fi to Entire Fleet by 2025<br>- NIO EL8 Launches in the UAE, Redefining Electric Mobility</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- BRICS Summit Kicks Off in Kazan, Russia<br>- UAE’s Non-Oil Economy to Surge by 4% in 2025, Driven by Investment and Real Estate Boom<br>- Best Kept Shared Acquires Bazaara, Revolutionizing Dubai's P2P Fashion Rental Marketplace</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong></p><p> </p><p>- Saudi Tadawul Group Reports Strong Q3 Earnings: Net Income Surges 37.2%</p><p>- Saudi Cinema Booms: Record Ticket Sales & Rise in Local Productions</p><p>- Abu Dhabi's first Mandarin Oriental Residences to be built in partnership with Aldar</p><p>- Dubai-based Platform Dubizzle Announces New Bank to Handle 2025 IPO: IFR</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong> <br><br>- Dubai Unveils Dh390 Million Plan to Transform Rural Areas into World-Class Tourism and Living Destinations<br>- Swvl Holdings Corp Establishes Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia, Secures $2.6 Million in New Contract<br>- UAE Minister Warns AI Will 'Get Out of Hand' Without Global Boundaries</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Saudi Venture Capital Invests $15M in Saqr Fund II to Support Early-Stage Startups<br>- Fade Fit Launches 10X Protein Bars: Fueling Growth & Healthy Lifestyles<br>- Rabbit Mobility Raises $1.3M to Power Expansion Across Egypt & North Africa</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Abu Dhabi in Limelight with Multiple Initiatives Coming out of the UAE Capital<br>- Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 57 Minutes: Etihad Rail's High-Speed Passenger Service<br>- Bolt Teams Up with Dubai Taxi for E-Hailing Revolution in the UAE!<br>- Meet Michael Hunter and Arran Summerhill: Founders of Holo - Middle East's First Digital Mortgage Platform</p>

<p>Abu Dhabi to Become the Next ‘Sphere’ Entertainment Hub</p>

<p>GITEX GLOBAL 2024: A Record-Breaking Start</p>

<p>-Golden Opportunity: UK Mogul Richard Desmond Moves to Dubai</p><p>-Majid Al Futtaim Donates $1 Million to Aid Lebanon</p><p>-Tamkeen HR’s IPO Targets Up to $106 Million</p>

<p>Headlines:<br><br>- Wynn Al Marjan Island: Transforming RAK’s Tourism and Economy<br>- Dubai’s Real Estate Breaks Records: Q3 2024 Surge<br>- NEOM’s Concrete Plans Cement Progress on THE LINE</p>

<p>-Abu Dhabi Surpasses Oslo as the Global SWF Capital</p><p>-Saudi PIF Acquires 40% Stake in Selfridges</p><p>-Ejari Raises $14.65M to Scale Up Saudi Arabia’s Rent Now, Pay Later Market</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- DMCC & Cointelegraph Partner to Boost Dubai’s Crypto Hub<br>- Almajed Oud’s Stock Soars: Hits 50% Increase Post-IPO on Tadawul<br>- UAE’s ADIA Launches Operations in India’s GIFT City</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- UAE and Jordan Sign Historic Trade Pact: Aiming to Boost Bilateral Trade to $8 Billion!<br>- Saudi Startups Lead MENA Funding in September, Surpassing $165M<br>- State Street Expands in the Middle East: Eyeing $9 Trillion Wealth Boom by 2027</p>

<p><strong>Headline:</strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>Saudi Arabia’s PIF Eyes Bigger Stake in Nintendo: Strategic Move or Gaming Power Play?<br><strong>- </strong>ADQ Taps Modon for $110 Billion Ras El Hekma Megaproject in Egypt</p><p><strong>- </strong>Anisha Oberoi, CEO of Secret Skin, talks recovery from breast cancer to build a clean beauty brand in Dubai</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines: </strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>Construction of World’s Tallest Skyscraper Jeddah Tower Resumes<br><strong>- </strong>Saudi Arabia's AUM to Reach $300 Billion by 2026</p><p><strong>- </strong>Dalio and G42 Shelve Abu Dhabi Investment Venture Plans<br><strong>- </strong>Talabat May be Valued More than its Parent Company Delivery Hero<br><strong>- </strong>Laura Krajewski, Owner of Flash Facial</p><p> </p>

<p>MGX Contributes as OpenAI Raises $6.6B, Souqalmal and Yabi Founder Ambareen Musa Joins Revolut as UAE CEO, Saudi Arabia Unemployment Falls to 3.3% in Q2, Lulu Group Likely to Drop Tadawul Leg of IPO for Abu Dhabi-Only Listing.</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- GCC Sovereign Wealth Funds Deploy $55B in Global Investments<br>- HealthStay.io Raises Seed Funding to Revolutionize Medical Tourism in Dubai<br>- MENA Business Community Send Prayers, Messages of Solidarity for Lebanon</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Podeo Secures $5.4M to Expand Beyond the Arab World<br>- Richard Attias Envisions Global Demand for Las Vegas Sphere Experience<br>- Reality TV Star Ryan Serhant Joins Dubai Real Estate Scene</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- UAE Extends Corporate Tax Filing Deadline for New Businesses<br>- Google Opens New Riyadh HQ, Boosting Saudi Vision 2030<br>- Suez Canal Revenues Drop Amid Regional Escalations</p>

<p>Headlines:<br><br>- UAE & New Zealand Seal Trade Deal to Boost Economic Ties<br>- Middle Eastern Investors Pump $9 Billion Into China While Others Retreat</p><p>- Meta Unveils Orion AR Glasses as the Future of Augmented Reality</p><p>- Ahmed Adeeb, Former Vice President and Tourism Minister of Maldives<br> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Richest African Aliko Dangote to Establish Family Office in Dubai Amid Rising UAE Appeal<br>- Telegram Reverses Privacy Policy, Agrees to Share Data for Criminal Investigations<br>- WeRide and Uber Partner to Bring Autonomous Vehicles to UAE Roads</p>

<p>-UAE Recognized as Major Defense Partner by the U.S</p><p>-UAE Airlines Cancel Flights to Beirut Amid Rising Israel-Hezbollah Tensions</p><p>-General Atlantic to Open Abu Dhabi Office as Global Asset Managers Flock to ADGM</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Dubai Approves AED10 Billion Expansion for Expo City’s Dubai Exhibition Centre<br>- Chip Giants Eye UAE for $100B Megafactories<br>- Saudi Arabia Beats UAE to No. 1 Spot in Arab World Global AI Index 2024</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong> <br><br>- Israeli Forces Shut Down Al Jazeera's Ramallah Office for 45 Days<br>- M&A Activity Lost Momentum in MEA Region in First Eight Months of 2024 With 10.4% Dip<br>- Saudi Tourism Surges: 73% More Visitors, 207% Revenue Boost<br>- Iranian Immigrant Joins Elite Billionaire Club After Biotech Stock Boom</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- UAE and Japan Begin Talks on Comprehensive Trade Deal to Boost Economic Growth<br>- Botim Revolutionizes Payments with 'Send Now, Pay Later' (SNPL) Service<br>- Centi-Millionaire Population in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh to More Than Double by 2040</p>

<p><strong>Headline:</strong><br><br>- Microsoft & UAE’s G42 to Establish AI Centers in Abu Dhabi: A Step Towards "Responsible AI"<br>- Saudi PIF’s SURJ Sports Eyes €1 Billion Stake in EuroLeague Basketball<br>- Lebanese Blasts Linked to BAC Consulting’s Pagers, Taiwanese Gold Apollo Distances Itself from Production</p>

<p>Headlines: <br><br>- UAE and Australia Finalize Landmark Trade Deal: CEPA Agreement<br>- Groq Teams Up with Aramco to Power AI in Saudi Arabia</p><p>- Saudi Arabia's PIF to Invest $5 Billion in Egypt: First Stage</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br><strong>- </strong>Umar Kamani and Naomi Campbell Launch KC Global Partnerships in Dubai<br><strong>-</strong> UAE Media Council Issues 230 Licenses to Social Media Creators, Boosts Media Sector</p><p><strong>- </strong>LuLu Group Plans IPO by November, Dual Listing on ADX and Tadawul<br><strong>- </strong>Dubai Launches Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative<br><strong>- </strong>Marcelo Piva, Regional Sustainability Director of Middle East and Africa at Tetra Pak</p><p> </p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong> <br><br>- Dubai's FIX Dessert Chocolatier Creates Exclusive Chocolate for Sheikh Hamdan<br>- Al Jazeera Launches Arabic-Only Streaming Platform "Al Jazeera 360"<br>- Nawy Shares: A Game-Changer in Egypt's Real Estate Market</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong> <br><br>- Dubai's Hala Taxi Introduces WhatsApp Booking<br>- Abu Dhabi-Based Hub71 Welcomes 21 Startups, Bringing the Total Number to 243<br>- Majid Al Futtaim's New Aaouda Programme to Help Emirati Women Return to Work After a Long Break<br>- Etihad Airways Eyes IPO by 2025: A Strategic Move for Abu Dhabi’s Growth</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong><br><br>- Huda Beauty Considers Sale of Fragrance Division Kayali<br>- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism Partners with Noon to Boost SME Growth<br>- ADNOC Poised for $15.9 Billion Takeover of Covestro<br>- Founder of Web3 Streaming Platform Myco Umair Masoom Usmani </p>

<p><strong>Headline:</strong> </p><p> </p><p>- Dubai’s Apparel Group partners with French retail giant Carrefour to re-enter Indian market.</p><p>- Leon Black Chooses Abu Dhabi for First International Family Office<br>- ADNOC to Supply Indian Oil with LNG for 15 Years</p>

<p><strong>Headlines:</strong> <br><br>- Apple Reveals New iPhone with AI Features<br>- Majid Al Futtaim & Tabby Unveil SHAREPay Integration: A Game-Changer for Shopping<br>- FlapKap Raises $34M to Boost SME Financing Across MENA</p>

<p><strong>Headlines: </strong><br><br>- Dubai and Abu Dhabi Tourism Thrives with $27.2 Billion Investment Goal and $64.3 Billion GDP Boost<br>- Saudi Startup Reachware Gains $3M Funding Boost for Expansion and Innovation<br>- Saudi Fintech Assets Set to Hit $64Bn by 2024, Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Headline:</strong><br><br>- Local Sodas Rise as Coke and Pepsi Face Boycotts Over Gaza Conflict<br>- Saudi Central Bank Partners with Samsung to Launch “Samsung Pay” in the Kingdom<br>- 24 Fintech Attracts Nearly 37,000 Visitors, Making History as Largest Fintech Event Debut</p><p><br> </p>