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- Amira Sajwani Confident on Dubai Boom; Saudi Mega Projects Adjusted $8B; Four BCG Staff Exited Gaza Aid Project Early
Amira Sajwani Confident on Dubai Boom; Saudi Mega Projects Adjusted $8B; Four BCG Staff Exited Gaza Aid Project Early
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Friday, August 15, 2025
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The Financial Times reports that four Boston Consulting Group staff quit an Israeli-backed Gaza aid project early on, flagging concerns months before the firm shut it down and launched an internal probe. In Dubai, DAMAC managing director Amira Sajwani says she “had no doubt” the property boom would continue, with AED431 billion in H1 2025 transactions. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s PIF has adjusted the value of its mega projects by $8B, refining timelines and priorities to strengthen long-term Vision 2030 goals.
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BCG Staff Quit Gaza Aid Project Amid Early Concerns And Internal Probe: FT Report
🔹 What Is It About
Four Boston Consulting Group staff left an Israeli-backed Gaza aid project in its early stages, citing concerns over coordination with Israeli authorities and the use of private security contractors, an FT report reads. The departures predated a wider reputational crisis for BCG, which shut down the project in May and later fired two partners for bypassing approval processes and misrepresenting the project’s support.
🔹 Why It Matters
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, set up outside the UN system, has been condemned by aid groups for breaching humanitarian principles and seen as serving Israeli war aims. BCG’s involvement, including a controversial postwar Gaza economic model, has damaged trust, leading several aid organisations to suspend partnerships pending the outcome of an internal investigation by law firm WilmerHale.
🔹 What’s Next
BCG says it is tightening controls and strengthening its “speak-up culture” to prevent future breaches. The investigation will determine whether staff concerns were adequately addressed. Meanwhile, suspended partnerships and global scrutiny of the firm’s role in politically sensitive aid work could affect its ability to secure future humanitarian projects.
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Tadawul | 10,833.59 | + 0.65% |
‘I Had No Doubt’: Amira Sajwani Confident Dubai Property Boom Will Continue Into 2025
🔹 What Is It About
“I had no doubt” Dubai’s real estate market would thrive in H2 2025, says Amira Sajwani, managing director of DAMAC, as per Economy Middle East. In H1 2025, transactions surged 25% year-on-year to over AED431 billion across 125,500 deals. Nearly 95,000 investors entered the market, with 59,000 buying for the first time — up 22% from H1 2024. Sajwani says these results “speak volumes about the strength, resilience, and global appeal” of Dubai’s property sector.
🔹 Why It Matters
The strong growth reinforces Dubai’s position as a global real estate magnet, attracting fresh capital and new investors. Sajwani points to “the momentum we’ve built” as proof the market can sustain its pace. With international interest high, Dubai’s appeal lies in both returns and stability. Infrastructure investments, she says, will further boost the market’s competitive edge and support its long-term resilience.
🔹 What’s Next
Sajwani sees the 2026 launch of Etihad Rail as a “transformative moment” for property values, forecasting a 10–15% rise near stations. She says the project will enable “Transit-Oriented Development” and unlock new areas for mixed-use communities. “It will strengthen Dubai’s position as a globally competitive market and enhance long-term investor confidence,” she adds.
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Saudi Arabia Adjusts Mega Projects With $8B Shift To Strengthen Long-Term Vision 2030
🔹 What Is It About
Saudi Arabia’s huge investment fund, the PIF, has slightly lowered the value of its biggest mega projects — by about $8 billion — bringing them to $56.24 billion in 2024, a Reuters article reveals. These include massive developments like NEOM, a futuristic city on the Red Sea. The change comes as the country adjusts plans, giving itself more time and focusing on what’s most important right now.
🔹 Why It Matters
Experts say this is not bad news — it’s actually a smart move. Monica Malik from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank says focusing more closely on certain projects is better, especially since Saudi Arabia is preparing for huge global events like the 2034 World Cup. It means money and resources can be used where they will have the biggest impact.
🔹 What’s Next
By spreading out the work and budgets, Saudi Arabia hopes to make these mega projects even better when they’re finished. The updated plan should help the country reach its Vision 2030 goals of becoming less dependent on oil and attracting more tourists, investors, and big events from around the world.
👨💻From Smashi Business’ Desk
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Why did Careem mint so many founders? Saudi entrepreneur Wajd Badawi has an answer
A 7-year-old just built an AI app on Replit — and his dad, a Saudi tech CEO, had never built one himself.
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…
UAE’s Aramex facing price collusion claims in India
Dubai's economy grows 4% in first quarter on diversification boost
Saudi PIF’s assets under management rise 19% to $913bn in 2024
Aramco and DHL seek backers for Dammam logistics hub
Dubai commercial property values in 3-fold increase to an average Dh14.4 million
Dubai’s DXB vertiport on track for completion in Q1 2026, says Joby
Saudi Arabia imports 2.4 million video game consoles in 2 years, 684,489 units so far in 2025
DP World’s revenue grows 20.4 percent YoY to $11.24 billion, adjusted EBITDA rises 21.4 percent to over $3 billion
🏦 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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