AB Majlis Arabian Business

In this episode, Senior Reporter at Arabian Business and Podcast Producer Tala Michel Issa sits down with 2 Partners in Financial Services at Kearney Middle East, Zeeshan Khwaja and Naman Sharma, to discuss the pivotal role SMEs must play in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and overall Gulf economic diversification plans. Khwaja and Sharma also weigh in on the massive SME funding gap, why banks have underserved this segment, and how leveraging data, AI, and strategic partnerships can transform SME financing and support.

In this episode of AB Majlis, Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Chainalysis' VP Southern EMEA, Nicola Buonanno, and Policy Lead for Middle East & Africa, Arushi Goel, to discuss the current state of crypto crime.
They discuss the alarming rise in romance scams and trends in ransomware attacks, as well as the steady decline of illicit activity on the blockchain. The experts also provide insights into regaining public trust after events like FTX's collapse, regulation's role in combating crypto crime, and how blockchain analytics help identify and disrupt illicit activity. They highlight that while crypto remains a small portion of overall economic activity, the industry must continue educating and building guardrails as adoption grows.

SPONSORED - In this episode, experts from Microsoft and M42 provided a glimpse into their groundbreaking collaboration aimed at using AI to transform drug discovery, clinical research, and precision medicine delivery.
Arabian Business Editorial Director Matthew Amlot sits down with Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer at M42, and Elena Bonfiglioli, Global Business Leader for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Microsoft, to get an exclusive look into the work the two companies are doing together in the UAE and how it fits in the country's wider AI strategy.

SPONSORED - This episode explores how AI is revolutionising the UAE with Dina Al Mansoori, Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e& Group, and Maitha Al Suwaidi, Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft UAE. They discuss the country's visionary leadership and investments transforming it into a global AI powerhouse.
Through examples like healthcare advances saving lives and sustainable battery discoveries, they illustrate AI's potential to solve humanity's greatest challenges. As entrepreneurs launch startups applying these technologies, the experts emphasise the need for widespread digital skills and lifelong learning.
Most inspiring is their work ensuring all citizens can navigate the AI-driven future, from pioneering graduate programs to partnerships spreading AI education nationwide. Under their guidance, the UAE is realising its full potential to establish a knowledge economy and digital society through innovative applications of artificial intelligence.

Truffles have long been revered as one of the most decadent and expensive ingredients in haute cuisine. But what exactly are these mysterious fungi and why do they command such astronomical prices?
In this episode, Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa goes in depth with Mihai Florescu, co-founder of Truffle House Dubai, to uncover the fascinating world of truffles. We learn how Truffle House got its start as a specialty retail store before expanding into supplying high-end restaurants across the UAE.
Florescu gives us a peek behind the curtain into the global truffle trade, explaining why certain truffles like the elusive white Alba truffle from Italy can cost thousands of dollars per pound. He shares insider tips on how to spot high-quality truffles and avoid inferior products.
The truffle industry is also shrouded in secrecy, and Mihai opens up about the ethical issues like dog poisonings that have given it a bad name. With demand for truffles only increasing globally, he discusses the future of the supply chain and where Truffle House is looking to expand next.

In this episode, Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with EastNets CEO Hazem Mulhim to discuss the shadowy $2 trillion underground economy of financial crime. They delve into how criminals exploit technologies to move dirty money undetected, the UAE's recent removal from the FATF's gray list, and what it will take to stay ahead of money launderers. Hazem provides an inside look at the latest artificial intelligence innovations combatting financial terrorism and predicts the next frontiers bad actors will target globally.