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The Smashi Business Show

Augustus Media
Saudi Arabia
Dubai
UAE
Gaza
United Arab Emirates
Artificial Intelligence
G42
Abu Dhabi
Syria
Vision 2030
Iran
Strait Of Hormuz
Nvidia
Middle East
Humain
Tiktok
Mubadala
Kalshi
Openai
Qatar

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes852Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsBusiness NewsBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Smashi Business Show

Latest Episodes

HEADLINES:

• UAE Charges 19 Sudanese, Including Former Intel Chief Salah Gosh, Over $13M Arms Smuggling

• PlotSaudi Arabia pulls funding from LIV Golf, WSJ reports

• Amazon: UAE Cloud Recovery Could Take Months After Iran Strikes

HEADLINES:

• Dubai Lowers Property Threshold for Two-Year Residency Visa

• UAE startup CarniStore founders discuss scaling a digital-first butcher model in a fragmented market

HEADLINES:

• UAE To Exit OPEC After Nearly 60 Years

• Gulf funds to own 38.5% of Paramount–Warner Bros as $111bn deal moves forward

• Citadel Gets Greenlight to Begin Operating in Dubai

Newsletter: aug.us/4jqModr

WhatsApp: aug.us/4... more

HEADLINES:

• Electronics prices set to rise as key Saudi plant shutdown squeezes global supply

• We want to be bold in the USā€: ADNOC eyes multi-billion gas expansion

• Amira Sajwani calls out ā€˜delusional’ media as Dubai unveils $9.3B Metro Gold Line... more

Key Facts

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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Recent Guests

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
Carlos Trevizaros
Chief Portfolio Officer at Emirates Growth Fund
Emirates Growth Fund
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
Peter White
Founder of GoHire (Bahrain-based recruitment startup)
GoHire
Episode: UAE Economy Strong | DHL $577M | Replit $9B | UAE Hiring Holds Strong
Vince McMahon
Former WWE chairman rumored to be exploring a buyback deal
WWE
Episode: 5M UpScrolled Milestone, Etihad Profit Record, McMahon WWE Update
Antonio Neves
CEO of Etihad Airways discussing the airline's growth
Etihad Airways
Episode: 5M UpScrolled Milestone, Etihad Profit Record, McMahon WWE Update
Elie Habib
Founder of Angami and creator of the intelligence dashboard World Monitor
Angami
Episode: Anthropic AI Clash, Al Habtoor Group Dispute & Elie Habib Launch
Demetrios Bradshaw
CEO of Aeras Aviation, a global asset management company specializing in aircraft engines
Aeras Aviation
Episode: Luma AI Expands to Riyadh, Clara Acquired & Aeras CEO

Hosts

Abdul Majid Awan
Host of The Smashi Business Show with a wide footprint across episodes; frequently contributes market and geopolitical context.
Ward Ahmed
Co-host and frequent commentator; appears across multiple episodes with a focus on market updates and regional business dynamics.
Wael Hossam El Din
Host with emphasis on technology, energy and regional business developments; often discusses policy impacts on markets.

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! šŸ‘šŸ½

    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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates practical takeaways tied to real-world regional events.
Shows strong regional relevance for Dubai and Gulf markets.
Guests consistently bring insights from leaders shaping the Arab tech and business landscape.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#112
Saudi Arabia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#208
United Arab Emirates/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?

A Gulf-focused business and tech briefing that covers macro and micro developments shaping the Arab region, with frequent emphasis on energy security, geopolitics, and regional market dynamics. Episodes often thread together oil and energy trends, infrastructure, fintech, and bold corporate moves, while tying these stories to investor sentiment and regional policy. Notable strengths include a steady, locally grounded perspective from multiple hosts and a tendency to pair market data with practical implications for businesses operating in or connected to the Gulf. Potential listeners should expect timely, example-driven analysis, guest conversations, and candid takes on how regional tensions ripple through markets, technology, and startup ec... more

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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. FT News Briefing
2. Bloomberg News Now
3. The Markets
4. Global News Podcast
5. Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

How many episodes of The Smashi Business Show are there?

The Smashi Business Show launched 7 years ago and published 852 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. Fickley Pothros
2. Daniel Dan Vanese
3. Carlos Trevizaros
4. Vadim Fedotov
5. Peter White
6. Vince McMahon
7. Antonio Neves
8. Elie Habib

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