Happy Friday everyone!

Fuel delivery startup Cafu is exploring its first-ever stake sale to raise fresh capital, marking a shift in its growth strategy. Meanwhile, PayPal has opened its Middle East and Africa headquarters in Dubai Internet City, aiming to supercharge cross-border commerce for regional businesses. And in real estate, DAMAC Properties is reaping the rewards of AI, with a $54.4M monthly boost in collections and improveed customer satisfaction. As tech, real estate, and fintech collide, Dubai is proving to be the epicenter of innovation in the region. Let’s dive in!

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Cafu Explores First-Ever Stake Sale As It Looks To Raise Fresh Capital: Bloomberg

📰 What is it about?

• Dubai-based fuel delivery startup Cafu is exploring its first stake sale in a bid to raise fresh capital, as per Bloomberg sources.

• The company has appointed Lazard Ltd. to advise on the transaction, according to people familiar with the matter.

• Discussions are said to be in the early stages, with no final decisions made.

• Founded in 2018, Cafu is best known for its on-demand fuel delivery service using its recognizable blue-green trucks across the UAE.

• The company has since expanded its offerings to include mobile car washes, battery replacements, and EV charging, and operates in Canada as well.

💡 Why it matters?

• The move marks a strategic shift for Cafu, which has largely avoided equity fundraising until now.

• A note to customers this week announced a new delivery fee for fuel — a major shift from its previous free model — indicating pressure to strengthen its revenue base.

• The company is owned by Rashid Al Ghurair, part of one of the UAE’s most prominent business families, but financials remain undisclosed.

• For Lazard, winning this mandate is significant as it ramps up efforts in the Gulf following the opening of its Abu Dhabi office, challenging established rivals like Rothschild and Moelis.

🔜 What’s next?

• Stake sale talks could determine Cafu’s future valuation and appetite from regional or global investors.

• Investors will closely watch how the company navigates profitability while introducing new charges for its services.

• Any eventual deal could provide insights into the future of mobility and logistics startups in the Middle East.

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

PayPal Opens Middle East & Africa HQ In Dubai Internet City To Boost Cross-Border Commerce

📰 What is it about?

• PayPal has inaugurated its first-ever regional headquarters for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in Dubai Internet City, signaling a major strategic move in the region.

• The new hub will focus on enabling cross-border commerce for both large corporations and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs).

• PayPal’s Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets, highlighted the company’s intent to connect regional businesses with its 430+ million global customers.

💡 Why it matters?

• The move solidifies Dubai’s position as a rising tech and innovation hub for global companies in MEA.

• PayPal already serves major regional enterprises across aviation, tourism, digital goods, and retail — the HQ aims to scale this impact, especially for SMBs.

• With 45% global market share in payments and $1.68 trillion in payment volume in 2024, PayPal’s expansion boosts regional access to the global digital economy.

• This follows a wave of merchant and partner deals in MEA, showing strong market interest in PayPal’s offerings.

🔜 What’s next?

• Expect expanded partnerships with local banks, fintechs, telcos, and commerce platforms to unlock more digital trade routes.

• Watch for PayPal’s AI-powered innovations, such as smart wallets and agentic commerce tools, to hit the region soon.

• The new HQ will likely play a role in shaping how consumers in MEA shop internationally and how regional merchants grow globally.

AI Boosts DAMAC’s Monthly Revenues By $54.4M, Fuels Global Expansion

What is happening?

• DAMAC Properties has increased its monthly financial collections by $54.4 million (AED 200M) through the implementation of AI-powered solutions, MD Ali Sajwani was quoted by saying by Forbes Middle East.

• Speaking at the Dubai Artificial Intelligence Festival, Sajwani revealed AI is now deeply integrated across DAMAC’s operations—from collections and customer service to sales, pricing, design, and marketing.

• AI technologies allowed the company to analyze 100% of customer data and transactions, a dramatic upgrade from the 5–10% manually reviewed before.

Why it matters:

• The use of AI has led to a customer satisfaction boost—rising from 3.5 to 4.5 out of 5 in just a few months.

• DAMAC is using AI to optimize its digital ad spend of $2M–$3M per month, now adjusting campaigns daily instead of biweekly.

• The success shows how AI is transforming real estate, evolving from a back-end tech tool to a strategic enabler in decision-making and profitability.

What’s next?

• DAMAC’s global ambitions are accelerating: its $20B investment in U.S. data centers through EDGNEX aims for a 2,000 MW capacity by 2029.

• Target markets include Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Midwestern states like Ohio and Illinois.

• The U.S. expansion is being funded by a mix of internal cash and bank loans, with financing covering up to 80% of costs.

• Sajwani, ranked #3 on Forbes’ Richest Arabs list, continues to position DAMAC as a tech-forward real estate gianton the global stage.

🔍In other news…

• Saudi Arabia's Non-Oil Exports Jump 14.3%.

• Ruya becomes first Islamic bank globally to offer virtual asset investments including Bitcoin.

• Lebanon receives $250 million World Bank loan to ease power problems.

• RAK sets out $272m plan for ‘our version of Central Park’.

• Virgin Atlantic flight from London, airline’s first to Saudi Arabia, touches down in Riyadh.

• Dubai logistics firm Aramex CEO Othman AlJeda resigns after takeover by ADQ Group’s Q Logistics.

• Dubai startup launches AI-powered cloud gaming platform.

• Lebanon's economy minister asks for patience in implementing reforms, while talking to The National.

• “DAMAC looks forward to President Trump’s Visit to the Middle East Next Month,” Founder Hussain Sajwani says.

• A robot delivery system in Dubai will soon be expanding operations to other areas after the success of Yango Technology's pilot.

• Dubai property ads: Land Department gets AI to correct listings.

• Ramadan travel to UAE up 6%, says Visa.

• Museum of the Future debuts upgraded AI-enabled humanoid robot ‘Ameca’.

• Bitcoin Flips Google, Becomes 5th Largest Global Asset.

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