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Why Pyypl power will accelerate MENA fintech growth

The founder and CEO of Pyypl tells AGBI about ambitious expansion plans for the UAE-based company Already one of the fastest-growing fintechs in the Middle East and Africa region, UAE-based Pyypl is planning to “inject more petrol into the tank” in a new phase of expansion. Antti Arponen, founder and CEO, told AGBI that the […]

Damian Lewis, Salman Rushdie and Rio Ferdinand among UK honours list

Actor Damian Lewis, author Ian Rankin and former Northern Ireland first minister Arlene Foster were among more than 1,100 people recognised by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her annual birthday honours. The list, which is issued to mark the 96-year-old monarch’s official birthday, honours recipients for their “outstanding” contributions; most awards recognise public service or community […]

Ecclestone denies arrest for carrying illegal gun

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone today denied he had been arrested in Brazil and said an illegal gun found in his luggage before boarding a flight was never used and had no ammunition. The 91-year-old Briton, now in Portugal, said a “silly, tiny little incident” had caused a lot of aggravation as he and […]

Smize Cream: ADIO initiative is helping US companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs expand in emirate

Supermodel Tyra Banks to launch ice cream brand in Abu Dhabi

Californian supermodel Tyra Banks has picked Abu Dhabi as the first international market outside the US to launch her global ice cream brand, Smize Cream, as part of a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The 48-year-old entrepreneur made the announcement at the Access Granted talk series on Thursday, adding that she was […]

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UK $350m venture capital fund sees Dubai on the Horizon

Founder of London-based Digital Horizon targets investment potential in UAE startups  London-based venture capital fund Digital Horizon is targeting the UAE for growth, with investments in its first Dubai-based startups expected to be completed later this year. Alan Vaksman, founder and general partner of Digital Horizon, which has $350 million of assets under its management, […]

Face, Person, Human
  • How I got to the top

Ayham Gorani, co-founder and CEO, Pemo

What does your company do?Pemo empowers businesses across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan by offering them a fast, transparent, and simplified way to manage their company spend. We’ve built a platform that addresses the day-to-day spend management challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. Our offering includes smart corporate […]

Elie Habib's Anghami generates close to one billion streams a month with a catalogue of more than 72 million Arabic and international tracks

Make some noise for Anghami’s Elie Habib

The Lebanese music streaming mogul talks to AGBI about the meteoric rise of his Nasdaq-listed company, its battles with music pirates, relocation to Abu Dhabi and his ambition to launch Arab music stars Elie Habib fell in love with coding early. He started selling software at the age of 17 and launched several companies in […]

Biden sends all-star team to UAE to repair frayed ties

President Joe Biden is sending an all-star US delegation to the United Arab Emirates on Monday to offer condolences after the death of its ruler, in an apparent bid to step up efforts to repair frayed ties with Gulf Arab allies. Washington’s desire to improve ties with Gulf monarchies has gained renewed urgency following Russia’s […]

Abu Dhabi's new ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan
  • Analysis

MbZ: the man, the leader and the economic vision

The new president of the UAE is set to continue to build on the progress he has made as de facto leader in recent years  The UAE is expected to “unswervingly continue” to implement its vision to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy for generations to come under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed […]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of many world leaders to express their condolences

Messages of sympathy pour in from around the globe

Leaders from the Gulf, the wider Middle East and around the world have offered their heartfelt condolences after the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi. Here are some of the messages of sympathy The UN offices in the UAE said: “In this […]

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan with President George W Bush in 2008

A modernising leader who moved UAE closer to US

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who died today, was a pro-Western moderniser whose low-key approach helped steer the United Arab Emirates through a tense era in regional politics by aligning the Gulf oil producer with Washington and its allies, including Israel. Khalifa, who was born in 1948, had been ruler of the richest emirate, Abu […]

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan attending the opening ceremony of the Arab summit in Riyadh March 28, 2007. Arab leaders officially began a two-day summit in Saudi Arabia that relaunched an Arab initiative for peace with Israel

A lifetime of service by the President of the UAE

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, was elected President of the United Arab Emirates in November 2004, to succeed his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President from 1971 to 2004. Sheikh Khalifa presided over a major restructuring of both the Federal Government and the government of […]

United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed has passed away

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second President of the United Arab Emirates and 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, died today aged 73. In a statement published by Wam, The Ministry of Presidential Affairs expressed its deepest condolences to the people of the UAE, Arab and Islamic nations and the world. The Ministry of Presidential […]

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Why London-Dubai tech tie-up hits investment ‘sweet spot’

The London Technology Club (LTC), a community in Europe for investment opportunities in the technology sector, has announced the launch of LTC Dubai, its first international investment hub. The hub is supported by Global Ventures, the international venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging market founders. Konstantin Sidorov, founder, CEO and general partner of […]

Person, Human, Audience

Who is Konstantin Sidorov?

Konstantin Sidorov is an international entrepreneur and investor with over 25 years’ experience in building, developing and restructuring businesses within the tech sector.  He has successfully built and sold several IT businesses. In 2016 he sold the Eastern European division of RRC Group to a leading US-listed distributor Ingram Micro. In 2020, he sold his […]

Amr Nosseir used to be managing director, chairman and head of Middle East Business Development at CVC Capital Partners

CD&R hires Amr Nosseir, CVC’s top Mideast dealmaker

Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) has hired CVC Capital Partners’ top dealmaker for the Middle East as it seeks to bolster its presence and expand relationships with investors in the region. CD&R said yesterday it had appointed Amr Nosseir as senior advisor to the firm. Nosseir previously served as managing director, chairman […]

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Chiara Ferragni reveals investor interest in fashion brand

Chiara Ferragni has received various expressions of interest from potential investors in her brand, the Italian Instagram star said in an interview with Milano Finanza. Ferragni, 35, is Italy’s top fashion influencer with 27 million followers on Instagram. In January she mandated BNP Paribas to find an investor to help expand her fashion brand internationally. […]

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Who is Lord Udny-Lister?

Edward Julian Udny-Lister is a special adviser to the UK government, a political strategist and former politician.  One of Boris Johnson’s closest aides, Udny-Lister served as Downing Street chief of staff from 2019 to 2021, primarily advising on strategy. He was the deputy mayor of London for policy and planning between 2011 and 2016 – […]

UK-Gulf deal will be ‘tough nut to crack,’ says top Johnson ally

The co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and former chief strategic adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the upcoming UK-Gulf trade agreements could be delayed but bilateral opportunities remain immense Lord Udny-Lister, co-chairman of the UAE-UK Business Council and one of Boris Johnson’s closest political allies, cuts a distinguished figure amid the sumptuous surroundings […]

Willie Walsh is confident that passenger travel will be back to pre-pandemic levels next year. Picture: Creative Commons

Air travel makes quick recovery from Covid-19

The head of the world’s biggest airline trade body said today passenger traffic was recovering faster than expected and that, on average, the industry could now see those figures return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, a year earlier than expected. The easing of coronavirus related restrictions around the world has released demand pent up over […]