The Smashi Business Show

Episod

• SpaceX $75B IPO, Gulf Shipping & Abu Dhabi 04.06.2026 21min

  HEADLINES:• SpaceX Targets Record-Breaking $75B IPO, Set to Eclipse Aramco Listing• Berenjak Expands to Abu Dhabi Amid Regional Conflict and Gulf Hospitality Push• Greek shipping tycoon Marinakis Says Shipowners Could Accept Hormuz Transit Fees• 20,000 Seafarers Remain Stranded in Gulf Despite CeasefireNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
• UpScrolled Banned; IAEA Praises UAE; Alabbar Takes Over 03.06.2026 42min

  HEADLINES:• UpScrolled Has Just Been Banned In Saudi Arabia• IAEA Chief Says Barakah Attack Tested UAE Nuclear Safety Systems• Mohamed Alabbar Takes Direct Control Of Emaar Misr After CEO Exit
• Sky-IMI Split, IFFCO Bidding Interest, e& Cashes Out of Careem 02.06.2026 40min

  HEADLINES:• Former Sky News Arabia boss slams Guardian reporting on Sky UAE exit• Alabbar and IHC show interest in debt-hit IFFCO• e& sells 12.5% Careem stake to Uber in $100 million dealNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
• PSG's $5B Rise, SpaceX IPO Buzz, UAE AI Predicts Heatwaves 01.06.2026 21min

  HEADLINES:• PSG turns from football gamble to $5 billion global asset machine • Kingdom Holding jumps as SpaceX stake re-rates the stock ahead of IPO • UAE scientists build AI system that predicts heatwaves with 96% accuracy before they hit
• UAE Growth Surges, Dubai's Leadership Advantage & PSG's $5 Billion Business Transformation 31.05.2026 6min

  we explore the UAE’s strong 6.2% economic growth in 2025, the leadership approach that continues to make Dubai a magnet for entrepreneurs and investors, and how Qatar transformed PSG from a $100 million football club into a global sports brand worth over $5 billion.
• Iran Reconstruction Plan, Riyadh Air Expansion and Qatar Hormuz Position 30.05.2026 2min

  A proposed $300 billion reconstruction programme for Iran, Saudi Arabia push to build Riyadh Air despite regional tensions, and Qatar latest position on Strait of Hormuz transit fees. Here are the three stories shaping the region today.
• MGX Winner in Anthropic-OpenAI race; Talabat & HungerStation in Focus; Made in Saudi Drones 29.05.2026 4min

  From AI megadeals to food delivery consolidation and a new wave of defense manufacturing, today’s stories highlight how capital, technology, and power are converging across the US, Europe, and the Gulf. Anthropic’s rise above OpenAI marks a reshaping of the global AI hierarchy, but Abu Dhabi’s quiet cross-investments tell an even bigger story. Meanwhile, Uber’s push for Delivery Hero puts Talabat and HungerStation in play across the Middle East. In parallel, a US-Saudi venture to build Shahed-style drones in Riyadh signals an accelerating regional race to localize advanced military production. Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dAkTDhJ6WhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): aug.us/3BTU2MY
• Calo Retreats From Britain; Iran Reconnects After Blackout; Kalshi Funding Frenzy 28.05.2026 4min

  Calo shuts down its UK operations despite IPO ambitions, Iran reconnects after an 88 day internet blackout, and Kalshi pushes toward a $22 billion valuation as prediction markets surge across America.
• Gaza Aid Delays, Mumtalakat Earnings, UAE Trade Resilience, Mubadala’s $2B Sale 27.05.2026 5min

  On today’s episode of the Smashi Business Show, Abdul Majid Awan breaks down four major stories shaping business across the region. We look at why the Trump-backed Gaza reconstruction board remains stalled despite billions in pledges, Bahrain’s Mumtalakat reporting an 87 percent jump in earnings driven by McLaren and Alba, the UAE’s trade response to regional disruption as outlined by Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi at GLOBSEC Forum 2026, and Mubadala raising nearly $2 billion through the sale of GlobalFoundries shares. From sovereign wealth to geopolitics and global trade, here’s your essential roundup of the day’s top business headlines.  Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dAkTDhJ6WhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): aug.us/3BTU2MY
• MGX's AI Biotech Play and Saudi Capital in Italian Luxury Hotels and Syria’s New Entrepreneurship Frontier 26.05.2026 5min

  In this episode, we break down Abu Dhabi-backed MGX’s entry into Isomorphic Labs' $2.1 billion funding round to revolutionize AI-driven drug discovery. We also track the Saudi El-Khereiji family’s multi-million dollar stake in Italy's luxury hospitality group, Barletta, and analyze the strategic launch of the Syrian Youth and Entrepreneurs Council designed to economically empower a resilient new generation.
• US-Iran Deal Talks, Manchester City Reset & Gulf Food Future 25.05.2026 17min

  HEADLINES:• Oil Falls as US-Iran Talks Ease Supply Fears, but Trump Cautions Against Rushing Deal • Guardiola Exit Marks New Era for Abu Dhabi-Owned Manchester City • Pure Harvest CEO Sees Food Security as Gulf’s Next Strategic Frontier
• NEOM Delays; Abu Dhabi Sphere; Qatar Airways Fallout 24.05.2026 2min

  Saudi Arabia slows down parts of NEOM as capital shifts toward ports and AI infrastructure, Abu Dhabi doubles down on entertainment with a $1.7 billion Sphere project, and Qatar Airways faces mounting fallout from the Iran war after reportedly suspending staff bonuses. Gulf economies are increasingly being reshaped by logistics, tourism and geopolitical disruption.
• Saudi Logistics Push; Qatar IPO Revival; Dubai Mogul Lawsuit 23.05.2026 4min

  Saudi Arabia weighs creating a logistics giant to rival DP World, Qatar billionaire-backed Estithmar Holding explores a rare Doha IPO with Rothschild, and Dubai-based media mogul Richard Desmond faces a £40 million-plus legal fallout after losing a UK lottery lawsuit. Gulf business really decided subtlety was overrated this week.
• Dubai Relief Package, Saudi Spending Freeze & Noon AI Layoffs 22.05.2026 27min

  HEADLINES:• Dubai Crown Prince just approved a $408 million economic relief package • Saudi Arabia Freezes Consultancy Payments as Iran War Pressures State Spending • Alabbar Says Noon Will Cut Staff by 50% Within Three Months
• UAE Hormuz Pipeline, Microsoft Israel Exit & Saudi AI Theme Parks 21.05.2026 31min

  HEADLINES:• UAE Oil Pipeline Bypassing Strait of Hormuz Hits 50% Complete• Microsoft Israel Head to Step Down After Inquiry Into Military Surveillance Links• Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Turns to Google AI to Run Future Mega Theme ParkNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
• BlackRock Backs Dubai GymNation as Emaar Bets on Syria Again 20.05.2026 35min

  HEADLINES:• Dubai-born GymNation just secured $100m BlackRock-backed investment• Emaar Exits $500 Million Syria JV While Mohamed Alabbar Doubles Down on Damascus• Swiss bank UBS Is Losing Some of the Middle East Wealth Bankers It Hired Just Two Years AgoNewsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
• UAE Salary Crackdown, PIF & Newcastle Stadium, Dubai Holding AI Deal 19.05.2026 15min

  HEADLINES:• UAE scraps salary grace period as late-pay crackdown kicks in June 1 • PIF explores outside investors as Newcastle eyes £1bn stadium decision • Dubai Holding goes all-in on AI with Microsoft in major enterprise rollou • Syria to join G7 finance talks in Paris in sign of gradual global return
• Saudi Economy, Palantir Stock & Noon Syria Expansion 18.05.2026 19min

  HEADLINES:• Saudi emerges Gulf’s most resilient economy amid Strait fallout, IMF says • Mubadala Capital added Palantir stock to its portfolio in Q1 2026 • Alabbar's Noon plans to launch operations in Syria
• UAE Bets $5BN on India; Saudi Floats Iran Pact; Israel Threatens NYT Lawsuit 16.05.2026 3min

  UAE–India Investment PushSaudi-Iran Non-Aggression PactIsrael vs New York Times
• Abu Dhabi Sphere; Israel vs NYT; L’imad’s $30BN BlackRock Push 15.05.2026 36min

  HEADLINES:• Abu Dhabi to become home of first Sphere outside of US • Israel threatens New York Times lawsuit over Palestinian prisoner abuse report • HH Sheikh Khaled-chaired L’imad joins BlackRock and Temasek on $30 billion infrastructure push