Happy Tuesday everyone!

Good morning, here’s your business briefing. Abu Dhabi’s AI sector surged 61% year-on-year to 673 firms, adding 150 companies in H1 2025 and cementing its position as MENA’s fastest-growing hub. MBC Group posted a 41% profit jump in the first half on strong segment gains, though Q2 earnings slipped due to seasonal effects. Meanwhile, Gulf business leaders have condemned Israel’s killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, joining global calls for accountability.

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Abu Dhabi’s AI Sector Grows 61% To Lead MENA, Adds 150 Firms In H1 2025

🔹 What Is It About

Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence sector expanded 61% between June 2023 and June 2024, reaching 673 companies, according to Abu Dhabi Chamber data. The emirate added 150 AI firms in the first half of 2025, making it the fastest-growing AI ecosystem in the MENA region.

🔹 Why It Matters

With over 58% of AI businesses focused on innovation, research, and consultancy, Abu Dhabi is developing a mature, research-driven market. Growth is being fueled by strategic investments, advanced infrastructure, and adoption across healthcare, logistics, finance, and education, supported by leading institutions driving open-source and global collaboration.

🔹 What’s Next

Under its 2025–2028 roadmap, the Abu Dhabi Chamber will work to streamline business operations, enhance policy advocacy, and connect the emirate’s AI community to international markets — aiming to cement Abu Dhabi’s role as a global AI hub.

Markets

MBC Group First-Half Profit Jumps 41% On Strong Segment Growth Despite Q2 Decline

🔹 What Is It About

Saudi media giant MBC Group posted a 41.1% year-on-year surge in first-half 2025 net profit to $89.4 million, with revenues climbing nearly 39% to $807.9 million. Growth was fueled by strong gains in its Broadcasting and Other Commercial Activities, SHAHID streaming, and Media & Entertainment Initiatives segments. Shareholders’ equity rose 12.2% to $1.2 billion, and profit per share hit $0.25.

🔹 Why It Matters

The results highlight MBC’s broad-based growth, driven by advertising, broadcasting, and content services, amid ongoing expansion of its digital and entertainment platforms. However, a sharp Q2 profit drop — down 38.3% year-on-year — underscores seasonal volatility tied to Ramadan scheduling, which boosted Q2 2024 but fell entirely in Q1 this year.

🔹 What’s Next

MBC is navigating a leadership transition, with Mike Sneesby taking over as Group CEO on May 1, 2025. The company will look to sustain momentum across segments while managing seasonal revenue swings, with investors watching for continued growth in its streaming and media initiatives in the second half of the year.

Gulf Business Leaders Condemn Israeli Killing Of Al Jazeera’s Anas Al-Sharif In Gaza

🔹 What Is It About

Prominent Gulf entrepreneurs, including SWVL founder Mostafa Kandil and Aramex founder Fadi Ghandour, have condemned the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza. Israel’s military admitted to a targeted strike that killed al-Sharif, fellow journalist Mohammed Qreiqeh, two cameramen, and an assistant. Al Jazeera called the attack a “desperate attempt to silence voices” exposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

🔹 Why It Matters

Since October 2023, more than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza, making it the deadliest conflict ever for reporters. Press freedom groups, the UN, and global media organizations have condemned the killings as deliberate assaults on journalism. Gulf business leaders’ statements reflect a broader regional outrage over the targeting of media workers, seen as part of a wider strategy to suppress independent coverage as Israel carries out a genocide in Gaza.

🔹 What’s Next

Al-Sharif’s final message, written in April and published posthumously, urged the world not to forget Gaza, entrusted his family’s care to supporters, and reaffirmed his commitment to truth. Advocacy groups are calling for international investigations and accountability for the killings, while pressure grows on governments and global media bodies to protect journalists in conflict zones and prevent further targeted attacks.

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• A robot greeted Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed — and it wasn’t science fiction.

• Dubai-based CEO Alex Bendiouis has reimagined one of the city’s most iconic archival images into an AI video.

🔍In other news…

• Flynas attributes large quarterly loss to IPO costs

• Gold remains a safe haven for UAE investors despite record price

• UAE authority seizes over 17.6 million of illegal goods in first half of 2025

• Will Naia Island have Dubai's priciest waterfront homes?

🏦 Crypto Corner

• Michael Saylor — Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy and one of Bitcoin’s most vocal corporate advocates — will make his first-ever appearance in the UAE at Bitcoin MENA in Abu Dhabi.

• Hut 8, part of a American BTC which is partially owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Gets Approval to Operate in Dubai Financial Hub.

• Abu Dhabi Judicial Department now accept AE Coin.

We are launching a Smashi Crypto newsletter in September 2025! Subscribe to it here to get the weekly updates from the world of digital assets.

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