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Artwork for The Smashi Business Show

The Smashi Business Show

Augustus Media
Saudi Arabia
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
UAE
Abu Dhabi
Iran
Strait Of Hormuz
Artificial Intelligence
Kalshi
G42
Openai
Middle East
Gaza
United States
Warner Bros. Discovery
Nvidia
NEOM
Netflix
Vision 2030
Spacex

The Smashi Business Show tells AI, tech, startup and business stories from the Arab world. For the driven, the dreamers and the doers. Hosted by Abdul Majid Awan, Ward Ahmed, and Wael Hossam El Din.

PublishesDailyEpisodes906Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Business NewsNewsBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Smashi Business Show

Latest Episodes

HEADLINES:

• Royal Backed Burjeel Just Raised $500 Million in the First UAE Sukuk Since the Iran War

• Uber Egypt Was Just Ordered to Pay EGP 10 Million to the Family of Habiba El Shamaa

• BREAKING: Iraq Just Threatened to Leave OPEC Unless It Gets a... more

HEADLINES:

• GEMS Education to Invest $30 Million Expanding Across India

• UAE's Al-Futtaim Overhauls Saudi Retail Giant After Corruption Probe

• UAE Oil Exports Recover to 85% of Pre War Levels, IEA Says

Newsletter: aug.us/4jqModr

WhatsApp... more

HEADLINES:

• MGX Led by HH Sheikh Tahnoon Just Raised $50 Billion as Abu Dhabi Courts Global Investors

• Saudi Foodtech Giant Foodics Acquires Greek AI Startup Norma

• Dubai launches ‘Flexi Rents’ initiative to ease tenant payment burden

Newsletter:... more

HEADLINES:

• US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions as peace talks gain momentum

• Saudi Central Bank Said to Pull Money From at Least Two Managers

• Leaked documents show Israel asked Meta to censor Iran war content and Meta complied

Newsletter: htt... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Mohammad Alabbar
Co-founder of Noon (E-commerce platform)
Noon
Episode: Saudi Economy, Palantir Stock & Noon Syria Expansion
Evgeny Ratskevich
Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Capital Real Estate
Metropolitan Capital Real Estate
Episode: Abu Dhabi Real Estate Boom & Alabbar’s Syria Push
Carlos Trevizaros
Chief Portfolio Officer at Emirates Growth Fund
Emirates Growth Fund
Episode: UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Fickley Pothros
CarniStore co-founder
CarniStore
Episode: UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Daniel Dan Vanese
CarniStore co-founder
CarniStore
Episode: UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Vadim Fedotov
CEO of Bioniq
Bioniq
Episode: Blackstone's $250M UAE Bet; Alaan's SME Lifeline; Bioniq's $150M Exit
Amjad Masad
Jordanian-American founder of Replit
Replit
Episode: UAE Economy Strong | DHL $577M | Replit $9B | UAE Hiring Holds Strong
Peter White
Founder of GoHire (Bahrain-based recruitment startup)
GoHire
Episode: UAE Economy Strong | DHL $577M | Replit $9B | UAE Hiring Holds Strong
Antonio Neves
CEO of Etihad Airways discussing the airline's growth
Etihad Airways
Episode: 5M UpScrolled Milestone, Etihad Profit Record, McMahon WWE Update

Hosts

Abdul Majid Awan
Host of The Smashi Business Show; central figure across episodes discussing Gulf-scale business, tech, and investment moves.
Ward Ahmed
Co-host offering regional business and market commentary with a focus on Middle East corporate strategy and leadership.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Inspiring

    Lovin’ your podcasts Richard. Just listened to you engaging with Laura manning as I walked Jumeira Beach this morning. Inspiring content for those of us running our own small businesses - especially in Dubai.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dubai_Gerry
    United Arab Emirates4 years ago
  • Great Listen

    So many insights to pick up when listening to the business leaders of Dubai

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mayweezy88
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • A Good listen!

    Very interesting to here about how business minded people build their brand in a city like dubai.

    Got some great insights! 👍🏽

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chai2491
    United Arab Emirates5 years ago
  • Worth the listen!

    Really enjoying this podcast - super interesting, and loads of great guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amy123Jones
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Always a good listen

    Enjoyable

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Parham.Rz
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics widely mentioned as high-quality and thought-provoking.
Audiences praise practical insights on Dubai and regional leaders.
The show is seen as timely and informative for business decisions in the region.
Listeners value guests who explain Gulf investments clearly.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#74
Saudi Arabia/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Q: Where do you see CarniStore in the next decade and does EGF share that vision?
The vision is for CarniStore to become a homegrown UAE success story expanding regionally, with a focus on UAE growth first and then GCC/Arab world and beyond, aligned with EGF's mandate to support sustainable, long-term value creation.
UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Q: What does value creation beyond capital mean in practice for CarniStore and similar SMEs?
Value creation goes beyond money; it includes facilitating government connections, regulatory navigation, access to industrial zones, talent, and governance support, and actively helping the founders grow from point A to point B while keeping founders in control.
UAE property shifts & CarniStore scaling retail
Q: Sir, would you like to tell us the story of why did you guys invest in CarniStore, and how you found them and how easy was it?
The Emirates Growth Fund describes CarniStore as a compelling 'missing middle' case, with a strong local brand, viable unit economics, and a localization/planned manufacturing agenda that aligns with UAE resilience and supply-chain goals; the fund emphasizes the founders' vision, maturity, and potential to become a national champion, not just a high-growth VC play.
Blackstone's $250M UAE Bet; Alaan's SME Lifeline; Bioniq's $150M Exit
Q: How did you end up moving into the Middle East, and why Dubai as a hub?
The region is energetic, dynamic, and health-focused, with a strong appetite for innovation. Moving here with my family and establishing a Dubai hub allows rapid regional growth and a base to serve GCC markets.
Blackstone's $250M UAE Bet; Alaan's SME Lifeline; Bioniq's $150M Exit
Q: Vadim, can you summarize what Bioniq does now and how your product has evolved since you started?
We started with a nurse-delivered blood test and personalized supplements, evolving into a two-product model with Bionic Pro (blood-test based) and Bionic Go (AI/ questionnaire driven) that predicts needs and can be used without a blood test, enabling rapid global scale.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Smashi Business Show

What is The Smashi Business Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, the show centers on business, tech, and startup stories in the Arab world, with a strong emphasis on Gulf markets, sovereign wealth fund activity, and regional tech investments. Conversations frequently hinge on mega-capital moves, regional leadership and policy, and how global tech trends intersect with Middle Eastern growth, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. Notable moments include discussions of SpaceX IPO chatter, large-scale Middle East investments, and the region's rapid execution mindset that attracts founders and executives. The format tends to be opinionated, fast-paced, and rooted in current events, making it helpful for listeners who want quick-read insights and a pulse on regional business dynamics and AI/te... more

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How many listeners does The Smashi Business Show get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Smashi Business Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Smashi Business Show:

1. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
2. WSJ Your Money Briefing
3. The Take
4. All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
5. Bloomberg Businessweek

How many episodes of The Smashi Business Show are there?

The Smashi Business Show launched 7 years ago and published 906 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Smashi Business Show?

Recent guests on The Smashi Business Show include:

1. Mohammad Alabbar
2. Evgeny Ratskevich
3. Carlos Trevizaros
4. Fickley Pothros
5. Daniel Dan Vanese
6. Vadim Fedotov
7. Amjad Masad
8. Peter White

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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