Dubai Works Business Podcast

The Smashi Business Show breaks down four transformative stories reshaping the Arab business world in real time. First, investment giant Blackstone defies geopolitical uncertainty with a $250 million commitment to UAE gaming infrastructure—a bold signal that major capital still sees the Middle East as a long-term opportunity despite the Iran conflict. Second, UAE fintech Alaan launches a stunning AED 3 million initiative supporting 1,000 SMEs, proving companies can lead with purpose while building ecosystem loyalty. Third, Saudi Arabia's Neom mega-project cancels a $5 billion dam contract, signaling a critical pivot in Vision 2030 as execution costs, supply chain chaos, and lower oil revenues force a reckoning on spending. Finally, personalized nutrition startup Bioniq—backed by Cristiano Ronaldo—gets acquired by Herbalife for up to $150 million, demonstrating how data-driven health tech scales globally. Host Abdul Majid Awan unpacks what these stories reveal about capital flows, SME resilience, government st