Happy Monday everyone!

Good morning — here are the top stories you need to know today. Saudi Arabia has approved a landmark reform allowing non-resident foreigners to buy property using a digital ID, part of its push to attract investment ahead of the new ownership law in 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft is launching an external probe into allegations that Israel’s Unit 8200 used its Azure cloud for mass surveillance of Palestinians. And in the UAE, HR tech startup Professional.me secured $3.1M seed funding to scale its AI-driven hiring platform across global markets.

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Saudi Arabia Opens Property Market To Non-Resident Foreigners Via Digital ID

🔹 What Is It About

Saudi Arabia has approved a measure allowing non-Saudi, non-resident foreigners to buy property using a government-issued digital ID. The system, tied to the Absher platform, will require applicants to open a Saudi bank account and secure a local phone number. The initiative supports the new Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law, effective January 2026, with oversight mechanisms developed by the General Real Estate Authority and other state bodies.

🔹 Why It Matters

The reform marks a significant shift in Saudi real estate policy, making property ownership more accessible to global investors and expatriates. By integrating digital ID verification, the Kingdom aims to streamline property transactions, ensure regulatory compliance, and curb misuse. The move also reflects Riyadh’s broader strategy to diversify its economy, attract foreign capital, and boost the private sector under Vision 2030 reforms.

🔹 What’s Next

Authorities are finalising executive regulations to govern ownership and usufruct rights. A new specialised committee within the Real Estate Authority will monitor the rollout, while the restructured board—now including private-sector representatives—will oversee governance. With the law set to take effect in January 2026, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a more open and transparent real estate market for international investors.

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Microsoft Says It Will Probe Claims of Israeli Mass Surveillance on Palestinians

🔹 What Is It About

Microsoft has launched an external investigation after reports alleged that Israel’s Unit 8200 used its Azure cloud to store intercepted phone calls from Palestinians. The Guardian and partners revealed close ties between Microsoft’s Israel office and the spy unit, raising concerns that millions of calls per hour across Gaza and the West Bank were archived through a segregated Azure system. Lawyers from Covington & Burling have been appointed to lead the inquiry.

🔹 Why It Matters

The allegations suggest Microsoft’s technology may have been misused for mass surveillance and potentially to aid military targeting in Gaza. While the company insists its terms prohibit storing data from broad civilian surveillance, employee groups like No Azure for Apartheid argue Microsoft is complicit in “genocide and apartheid.” The controversy underscores wider concerns about Big Tech’s role in state surveillance and human rights violations.

🔹 What’s Next

This marks Microsoft’s second probe into its Israeli military ties, following an earlier review that found no direct violations. The new investigation, however, will expand its scope given the specific allegations. Microsoft says it will publicly release the findings. Meanwhile, internal and external pressure is mounting for the tech giant to cut all military links, as scrutiny of corporate accountability in conflict zones intensifies.

UAE-based Professional.me Raises $3.1M To Redefine AI-Driven Hiring

🔹 What Is It About

UAE-based HR tech startup Professional.me has secured $3.1M in seed funding led by Raha Beach Ventures, bringing total funding to $4.6M. Founded in 2024 by Ryan Adams, Megan Adams, and Matt Schmid, the platform replaces résumés with micro-LLMs — tailored AI models for both employers and professionals — to make hiring smarter, faster, and more contextual. Since launch, it has built 300K+ profiles, attracted 138K followers, and won global recognition at GITEX Europe and the Stevie® Awards.

🔹 Why It Matters

Professional.me addresses a major gap in recruitment: outdated résumés and shallow job descriptions. By capturing deeper structured data — from organizational goals and team dynamics for employers, to learning, mentorship, and industry engagement for professionals — it enables more accurate, human, and inclusive matches. The platform already spans 167 industries and 1.2M tasks, integrating seamlessly with ATS systems to enrich hiring workflows with real-time AI-powered insights.

🔹 What’s Next

With fresh funding, the company plans to expand its engineering team, deepen data and research partnerships, and scale its reach across Europe, MENA, and Africa. Its globally distributed, majority-female team is positioning Professional.me as a new standard in recruitment, aiming to transform how talent and opportunity connect.

👨‍💻From Smashi Business’ Desk

• Dreamers: SALT founders’ story is more than that of opening a restaurant —it’s a masterclass in building a brand, community, and culture.

• 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…

• Regional conflict dents Air Arabia earnings

• Core42 signs compute access deal with EU provider

• Real estate developers report a profit boost in Ras Al Khaimah

• From dishwasher to dealmaker: Haitham Mattar’s bold IHG expansion plan

• S&P Lifts Lebanon’s Local Currency Rating To 'CCC' On Fiscal Surpluses, Reforms Progress

🏦 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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