Happy Tuesday everyone!

U.S. President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated Gulf itinerary is confirmed, with crucial meetings in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi next week, and a $100 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia on the horizon. In other news, Cairo-based fintech MoneyFellows raises $13 million to accelerate regional growth, and DAMAC Properties seals a high-profile partnership with Chelsea FC for a major front-of-shirt sponsorship deal. From diplomacy to investment and sports, let's dive into these game-changing developments across the region.

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Trump’s Gulf Itinerary Revealed: Riyadh May 13, Doha May 14, Abu Dhabi May 15

📰 What Is It About:

• U.S. President Donald Trump will arrive in Riyadh on May 13, attend a summit with Gulf leaders on May 14, then travel to Doha the same day, before concluding his Middle East visit in Abu Dhabi on May 15, according to Axios.

• The visit comes as the U.S. prepares a $100 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, announced just ahead of Trump’s regional tour.

• The trip also coincides with the Saudi-US Investment Forum on May 13 — an invite-only gathering where officials and executives will explore deals reportedly worth trillions.

🔍 Why It Matters:

• The tour reflects the ongoing efforts to solidify Gulf-U.S. business and defense ties.

• Saudi Arabia has pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments over the next four years, while the UAE plans to channel $1.4 trillion over the next decade.

• Key sectors in focus include energy, minerals, financial services, AI, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.

🔮 What’s Next:

• Watch for major investment and defense announcements emerging from Riyadh during the Forum.

• Trump’s visit — and the accompanying mega deals — may shape the future of U.S.-Gulf economic cooperation and serve as a platform for his global diplomacy narrative.

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

MoneyFellows Raises $13M to Take Its Group Savings App Beyond Egypt

📰 What It’s About:

• MoneyFellows, a Cairo-based fintech startup, has raised $13 million in a pre-Series C round to fuel its regional expansion.

• The funding round was led by Al Mada Ventures and Nclude by DPI, with participation from Partech Africa and CommerzVentures, bringing its total funding to over $60 million.

• The startup digitizes the age-old ROSCA model (Rotating Savings and Credit Association) — a system where groups of people contribute a fixed amount monthly, and one member takes the total pot each cycle.

• Instead of lending from its own balance sheet, MoneyFellows uses technology to match borrowers and savers within each “circle.” If a circle is short by one or two members, it temporarily fills in the gap — keeping its capital exposure under 10%.

🔍 Why It Matters:

• In a continent where many fintechs are debt-reliant, MoneyFellows has found a low-risk path to scale — and it’s already profitable in Egypt.

• ROSCAs are deeply rooted in culture across emerging markets:
  📌 Example: In a 10-person group, each member contributes $1,000/month. Every month, one person receives the full $10,000 until everyone has taken a turn.

• Founder and CEO Ahmed Wadi told TechCrunch, “We have managed to crack this model and reach profitability… while lending billions without relying on working capital at all.”

• The platform has grown to 8.5 million users, with the average payout per user nearly doubling in two years.

🌍 What’s Next:

• Morocco is next, where MoneyFellows has already secured key regulatory approvals and partnerships. The country’s strong savings culture (“daret”) and low banking penetration make it a natural next market.

• The fintech is also exploring other African and South Asian markets with similar dynamics.

• Beyond ROSCAs, the company plans to offer investment, insurance, payroll, and remittance services, positioning itself as a super-app for financial services in emerging markets.

• A larger Series C round is planned for 2026, as the company ramps up growth and infrastructure.

Chelsea FC Signs DAMAC Properties as Front-of-Shirt Sponsor – A Game-Changing Partnership

📰 What is it about?

• DAMAC Properties, the renowned Dubai-based real estate developer, has secured a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC for the final stretch of the 2024/25 season.

• DAMAC’s branding will feature on Chelsea’s shirts during their last four Premier League matches and the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals (and possibly the final).

• The deal comes after Chelsea’s previous shirt sponsor, Infinite Athlete, expired in May 2024, leaving the club without a sponsor for the majority of the season.

• The sponsorship agreement marks a much-needed commercial boost for Chelsea, especially with their absence from the Champions League.

💡 Why it matters?

• DAMAC Properties is not only a leader in the UAE real estate market but is also actively expanding its international presence through strategic investments.

• DAMAC and Chelsea FC have already teamed up on a £1 billion project to create “Chelsea Residences by DAMAC,” a football-themed luxury residential development in Dubai Maritime City, merging the club’s identity with DAMAC’s luxury real estate brand.

• Beyond football, DAMAC has made notable foreign investments, including a $20 billion commitment to build data centers across the U.S. This follows Hussain Sajwani’s ongoing partnership with former President Donald Trump, including projects like the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai (2017).

• Sajwani’s overseas investment strategy highlights DAMAC’s growing international reach, positioning the company as a key player in the global real estate and tech sectors.

🔮 What's next?

• Chelsea will look to solidify their commercial partnerships as they aim to secure a long-term shirt sponsor and strengthen their brand visibility worldwide.

• The “Chelsea Residences by DAMAC” project in Dubai Maritime City is poised to be a landmark development, combining luxury living with the club’s legacy and a unique fan experience.

• DAMAC’s $20 billion investment in U.S. data centers signals a major shift into the tech sector, diversifying their portfolio and setting the stage for future international expansions in real estate and technology.

🔍From Smashi Business’ Desk

• Emirati founders of SALT, Deem AlBassam and Amal AlMarri, launch “Kumo” a bold new Japanese-Inspired dining concept in Dubai.

• Home Bakery founder Hind Al Mulla thanks Harvard Arabian Gulf Student Association for the recent invitation to the US.

• Dubai manager thinks “MENA’s biggest companies will be built in the next 5 years.”

🔍In other news…

• Saudis Warn of More Supply Unless OPEC+ Cheats Fall in Line.

• Saudi Hospital Operator SMC to Sell 30% Stake in Local IPO.

• Syria to sign deal to import electricity from Turkey, minister says.

• Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 in Dubai hosted 55,000 attendees, with 16 percent YoY growth.

• RTA posts 16% rise in digital revenues in 2024, reaching AED4.4 billion.

• New $3B Buddha-Bar Hotel on Dubai World Islands targets European travellers.

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