Happy Saturday everyone!

A $1 billion reinsurance venture is taking shape in Abu Dhabi, as IHC teams up with U.S. investment powerhouse BlackRock and alternative asset manager Lunate to launch an AI-native platform headquartered in ADGM. Meanwhile in Dubai, fitness creator Mike Thurston and Bioniq CEO Vadim Fedotov have unveiled Hack You Media, a health-focused platform with $1.5 million in backing. And in Abu Dhabi, Miral has been tapped to fully develop and finance Disneyland Abu Dhabi—Disney’s first new theme park in 15 years.

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Abu Dhabi’s IHC and BlackRock Launch $1 Billion Reinsurance Venture at ADGM

📌 What It’s About:

• Abu Dhabi-based IHC has partnered with US investment giant BlackRock to launch a new reinsurance platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

• The initiative has initial equity commitments exceeding $1 billion, with additional hybrid and debt financing in the works.

• The venture will include Lunate, the Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment manager, marking its first entry into the reinsurance sector.

• The platform is AI-native and will offer underwriting capabilities across Property & Casualty (P&C), Life, and specialised insurance lines.

• Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, will chair the venture, while Mark Wilson, former CEO of Aviva and AIA Group, will lead operations.

📌 Why It Matters:

• This move marks BlackRock’s growing strategic footprint in the Gulf, particularly in the insurance and asset management space.

• The platform is set to redefine capital efficiency and analytics in the reinsurance industry by leveraging AI and BlackRock’s Aladdin technology.

• The buy-and-build strategy aims to back initial liabilities exceeding $10 billion, signalling scale and ambition from the start.

• With major regional backing and international expertise, the venture reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a global financial and insurance hub.

📌 What’s Next:

• The platform’s name is yet to be revealed, and final legal agreements are expected soon.

• BlackRock will make a minority investment commitment once the deal is formally signed.

• The venture will begin by building its underwriting and analytics infrastructure, targeting expansion in global reinsurance markets.

ODEUM – A Cutting-Edge Content Studio for All Your Production and Social Media Management Needs

📰 What is it about?

• Odeum, the content studio built for modern media consumption, partnering with brands to deliver tailored content services while also creating original productions under the Augustus Media network.

💡 Why Choose ODEUM?

At ODEUM, we provide end-to-end media solutions to elevate your brand across multiple platforms.

• Video: Distribution, post-production, production, live streaming, series and show creation, animation, branded content, AI-powered video creation, CGI video creation.

• Social Media: Account takeovers, strategic posts, tactical competitions.

• Copywriting: Branded content hubs, sponsored articles.

• Events: Media partnerships, co-branding, guest list curation, ticket commerce.

• Audio: Podcast production, hosting, voiceovers, audio ads.

• Online Advertising: Programmatic, display, paid social, affiliate marketing.

🔜What’s next?

• Have a project in mind? Let's make it happen!

• Book a studio or discuss your next big idea with us today.

Follow ODEUM on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

Markets

Dubai’s Hack You Media Launches with $1.5M to Redefine Health and Performance Content

📌 What It’s About:

• Hack You Media, a new health and performance-focused media platform, has launched in Dubai with an initial $1.5 million investment.

• The company is co-founded by Vadim Fedotov, CEO of health tech firm Bioniq, and Mike Thurston, fitness entrepreneur and host of the podcast First Things THRST.

• It will open a state-of-the-art production hub in May 2025, including advanced podcast and video studios, aimed at producing science-backed, high-performance content.

• Hack You Media will take over production and distribution of First Things THRST, ranked among the UK’s top 10 entrepreneurship podcasts, featuring guests like Dave Asprey and Chris Williamson.

• The flagship show, co-hosted by Fedotov and Thurston, will explore themes around biohacking, cognitive performance, medical innovation, and entrepreneurial resilience.

📌 Why It Matters:

• With the global biohacking market projected to reach $25B by 2030, the platform taps into a booming space with increasing investor and audience interest.

• The company promises credible, science-driven content at a time when misinformation in health media is widespread.

• Dubai’s rising reputation as a media and wellness hub offers fertile ground for this type of venture, supported by a creator-friendly infrastructure.

• Hack You Media aims to bridge science and storytelling, delivering deep, actionable insights for entrepreneurs, athletes, and executives.

• The venture joins a growing wave of health-related business momentum, such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s investment in Bioniq.

📌 What’s Next:

• The studio will go live in May 2025, with more global collaborations, content development, and talent acquisition planned.

• Hack You Media intends to build a creator ecosystem, welcoming other experts and content creators in the health optimization space.

• With Dubai as its base, the company aims to become a global authority in performance media, targeting an international, high-performance audience.

Miral to Fully Develop and Finance Disneyland Abu Dhabi —Disney’s First New Theme Park in 15 Years

📌 What It’s About:

• Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations, will fully develop and finance Disneyland Abu Dhabi, announced this week by The Walt Disney Company as its seventh global theme park.

• The park will be Disney’s first new theme park in 15 years, with Disney earning royalties once the park opens.

• The landmark project will take shape in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, joining a portfolio of world-class attractions like Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World.

📌 Why It Matters:

• It strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leisure and cultural hub, drawing more visitors, investments, and international recognition.

• Miral’s leadership team, including Chairman H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, has already helped Yas Island attract 38 million visits in 2024 and deliver a 20% rise in theme park attendance.

• Abu Dhabi’s tourism economy is projected to reach $16.9 billion (AED 62B) in 2025, with Miral’s portfolio playing a central role in that growth.

📌 What’s Next:

• Design work will begin immediately, with construction expected to follow within two years.

• The upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, also developed by Miral, will further anchor Abu Dhabi as a global destination for culture, science, and tourism.

• As the city prepares for record-breaking tourist arrivals, Disneyland Abu Dhabi is poised to be a flagship attraction driving long-term growth and global attention.

🔍From Smashi Business’ Desk

• R. Madhavan and Rannvijay Singha Reveal the Real Dubai—Beyond the Malls and Skyscrapers.

• Khalaf Al Habtoor Holds Off on Syria Investment — But Plans Visit to Gauge Opportunities.

🔍In other news…

• Aramco to post lower profit and may slash dividend.

• Wynn says UAE casino on track despite delays to US projects.

• Turkey keen to cash in on rare earth potential.

• Infrastructure investor Stonepeak launches Riyadh office.

• India committed to expanding ‘footprint’ in the Middle East.

• Dubai 24-carat gold prices fall AED11.75: Is this the right time to buy?

• Sheikh Khaled greenlights $22.5 billion for 14 new Abu Dhabi housing projects.

• Egypt’s non-oil business activity weakens in April; Lebanon’s PMI ticks higher.

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