Exclusive Markets Presight to use IPO as springboard to global expansion Big data and analytics company Presight is targetting international expansion once they have listed later this month. The firm, part of Abu Dhabi’s G42, plans to raise $495 million from its floating on the ADX. The subscription period for the initial public offering (IPO), which was 136 times oversubscribed, closed on Friday with a total […] March 17, 2023
Banking & Finance Gulf edges closer to its first homegrown tech unicorn The Gulf region is two years away from realising its first tech unicorn, according to Mohammad Alblooshi, head of Dubai International Financial Centre’s Fintech Hive. Becoming a unicorn – a company with a valuation over $1 billion before being listed on the stock exchange – is the dream of many tech startups. In the fintech […] March 14, 2023
Exclusive Travel & Hospitality Chef Jason Atherton sees Dubai as hotspot for restaurant openings When British restaurateur and celebrity chef Jason Atherton was searching for the location of his latest business venture, Dubai was a no-brainer. He met and married his wife Irha in the emirate and is quick to describe Dubai as “like a second home to me”. The launch of City Social, which opened its doors earlier […] February 20, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Entertainment UAE’s centre stage in Bollywood blockbusters The UAE is set to become a major post-production and financing hub for the Bollywood film industry. Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur told AGBI: “Infrastructure for filmmaking is coming up in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and more Indian filmmakers will come to the UAE to make their films. There are very good studio facilities in Dubai […] February 13, 2023
Exclusive Travel & Hospitality ‘Constantly evolving’ Mena key to Hyatt growth plan, says new VP Hyatt Hotels, the US-based hospitality giant, is placing emphasis on the Middle East and Africa for its global growth strategy. Stuart Deeson, newly appointed vice president of operations for the region at Hyatt, told AGBI that Saudi Arabia in particular was witnessing a “significant point in history”. He also believes Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco offer […] February 1, 2023
Exclusive Manufacturing Cars, property and superjets: Pagani plots future with PIF Horacio Pagani, founder of the supercar that bears his name, is open to further partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as his company expands into luxury real estate and private jet design. PIF acquired a 30 percent stake in the Italian business in 2021. Pagani, who acts as its CEO and chief design officer, […] January 29, 2023
Exclusive Logistics Cashless economy is at the door, says food delivery boss A cashless economy in the UAE is no longer just an ambition, according to Tatiana Rahal, managing director of food delivery giant Talabat UAE. “The future in the UAE is digital and we see cashless payments as the primary currency,” said Rahal, the company’s first MD who has previously worked on data analytics for brands […] January 23, 2023
Travel & Hospitality Success brewing for UAE’s speciality coffee culture Three years after the Covid pandemic broke many businesses, a new landscape is brewing that could fundamentally change the UAE’s coffee culture. Coffee shops were among the first to shut their doors in 2020 and bear the brunt of prolonged lockdowns. But the pandemic has changed customer behaviour and palettes, and the country’s independent operators […] January 1, 2023
How I got to the top Lifestyle Kemal Yazici, founder, Bedia Gallery Kemal Yazici is founder of Bedia Gallery, an art gallery and studio located in Al Khayat Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. What does your company do? Currently Bedia Gallery is exhibiting my artworks. However, in the very near future we will work together with Turkish and German artists and curators. Also, in the long term we […] December 23, 2022
How I got to the top Lifestyle Katie Wachsberger, co-founder, Dana Global Dana Global is an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder for women-led startups in desert technology: agtech, foodtech, water solutions, circular economy, and renewable energy specifically geared for the unique desert climate of the Middle East. What does your company do? We work closely with our portfolio companies – early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs – to guide them […] December 16, 2022
How I got to the top Lifestyle Caroline Ralston, founder, Proposal Boutique Proposal Boutique is a Dubai-based luxury marriage proposal planning company, helping couples enjoy an unforgettable “will you marry me?” experience. What does your company do? We work closely with men from all over the world to help them deliver the most romantic and unforgettable proposal. We source the venue, flowers, decorations, musicians, fireworks, and much […] December 9, 2022
Exclusive Retail Cenomi in bid to shake up kingdom’s online retail industry The retail behemoth previously known as Fawaz Alhokair Group is overhauling its operations from being predominantly bricks and mortar-based to one of the region’s biggest online marketplaces. “Over the past three decades, we’ve done a fantastic job at making the business what it is today, but we know there is a lot more to be […] December 9, 2022
Exclusive Entertainment MassiveMusic is making some noise with Middle East move “Sonic branding” is not a term many people outside the marketing industry are familiar with, especially in the Gulf region. But they may become more so, as companies increasingly adopt music strategies to reach their customers. “We know the effect that successful music can have on communication, and it is fast becoming a point of […] November 25, 2022
Exclusive Development Cherie Blair ‘optimistic’ for Middle East entrepreneurial equality Nearly 20 years ago, Cherie Blair CBE, leading King’s Counsel and committed campaigner for women’s rights, predicted that the UAE would lead the Middle East’s drive on gender equality. Her first visit to the GCC region – during her husband Tony’s 10-year stint as British Prime Minister – was promptly followed by the appointment of […] November 14, 2022
Exclusive Real Estate Six Senses sells 75% of branded Dubai units ahead of 2024 debut The first Six Senses Residences in Dubai is planned for 2024 as the CEO of the global luxury hospitality brand reports demand from affluent and existing UAE residents. Neil Jacobs said the progressing construction of Six Senses Residences The Palm, alongside a 61-room hotel, represents a “new milestone for the brand”. “The property price growth […] October 23, 2022
Exclusive Education ‘The metaverse can change the way we school our children’ Some schools still rely on more traditional teaching methods but an Emirati entrepreneur believes the metaverse has the potential to extend the physical classroom experience. Using blended learning options such as augmented and virtual reality technologies, Amin Al Zarouni, CEO of UAE-based Web3 company Bedu, is aiming to give the Gulf’s education system an overhaul. […] October 23, 2022
Exclusive Lifestyle UAE hybrid working leads to 90% rise in demand for home cleaners The rise of hybrid working during the coronavirus pandemic has seen Gulf residents spending more time at home, leading to a surge in demand for domestic cleaning services. This has spurred growth in the wider on-demand home services industry, but investments in technology and manpower and rising business costs in the UAE has resulted in […] October 16, 2022
Exclusive Health Altibbi plans healthcare expansion in North Africa and Pakistan Altibbi, the largest AI-based digital health provider in the Arab world, is looking to expand into North Africa and Pakistan after “turbocharging” growth in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, its CEO has told AGBI. Jalill Allabadi said the proceeds from Altibbi’s latest funding round of $44 million – the largest ever single financing round for a […] September 19, 2022
How I got to the top Lifestyle Medhat Karam, ArpuPlus Medhat Karam is CEO and managing director of ArpuPlus, a telecommunications service which provides entertainment and communication solutions across the Middle East and North Africa. ArpuPlus was set up in 2003 and is a subsidiary of A15, a Cairo-based venture capital firm. What does your company do? Entertainment-wise, we specialise in affordable music, video, gaming, […] September 16, 2022
How I got to the top Fernando Trocca, Masterchef Argentinian-born restaurateur Fernando Trocca is masterchef at Sucre, an international restaurant chain. Known for its open-fire cooking, the Latino eatery has repeatedly made its way onto the world’s 50 Best Latin American restaurants. A second location opened in London in 2021, and its newest dining space has just launched in Dubai International Financial Centre. What do you […] September 9, 2022
How I got to the top Retail Hamish Harding, chairman of Action Aviation Hamish Harding is the founder of Action Aviation, a UAE-based international aircraft brokerage company. He is also chair of the Middle East chapter of The Explorers Club, an international organisation dedicated to advancing field exploration and scientific enquiry – and has just been into space on Jeff Bezos’s rocket… What do you look for when hiring […] September 2, 2022
How I got to the top Manufacturing Sara Chemmaa, founder, Citron Founded in 2018, Dubai-based Citron creates sustainable lifestyle products for toddlers, children and adults. What do you look for when hiring talent? Having built Citron from the ground up, I know just how important it is to surround yourself with the right “village” to help things progress. My first priority when hiring is to find people […] August 12, 2022
