Today’s episode covers Dubai’s Al Habtoor launching a $1.7bn legal battle with Lebanon, billionaire Nassef Sawiris exiting the UK as wealth shifts to the UAE, and Saudi Arabia pulling back a $200m Met Opera deal while reprioritising domestic spending.

HEADLINES:

• UAE President and Elon Musk Discuss AI, Space in Phone Call

• Brazilian legend Ronaldo named brand ambassador for Abu Dhabi developer Aldar

• PIF backs Saudi ETF launch by $4tn asset manager State Street

HEADLINES:
• UAE to run 50% of government on agentic AI within two years
• Israel eyes control of $40bn Qana gas field

• Investcorp invests $200m in US residential real estate portfolio

Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModr
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Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

HEADLINES:
• UAE ambassador dismisses external funding claims, cites Dh7.34 trillion in assets
• Trump’s Board of Peace holds Gaza reconstruction talks with UAE’s DP World
• Gulf-backed SpaceX secures $60bn option to acquire AI startup Cursor

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:
• John Ternus to Succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO, Facing AI and Product Innovation Push

• Dubai-HQed and Egypt-born Swvl is not Delisting from Nasdaq

• MBZUAI Retains 80% of Graduates as UAE Bets on Talent and Stability

• UK Job Cuts Surge as Iran War Hits Home After Gulf Warnings
• UK Universities Paid Private Intelligence Firm to Monitor Student Protest Activity, AJ Investigation

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:

• IEA warns Middle East oil output recovery could take two years amid war damage and Hormuz disruption

• stc group and Netflix expand partnership to bundle streaming services in Saudi Arabia via stc tv

• Tabby secures UAE central bank licence to launch full financial services platform across the Gulf

• Abu Dhabi’s EIIC buys stake in Joe & The Juice at $1.8bn valuation in continued Gulf dealmaking push

In this episode, we break down Dubai’s resilient real estate market as it records AED 11.7 billion in a single week. We also explore Tabby’s major shift into digital banking services following its new Central Bank license, and highlight UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov’s $70 million entry into Dubai’s premium property development scene.

In this episode, we break down Abu Dhabi’s plan to consolidate its Chinese investment strategy under a new powerhouse entity. We also explore the high-stakes "cash-for-uranium" negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad and analyze Axight’s billion-dollar entry into the Australian financial market through its latest acquisition.