16 Jul

Yasir Naveed Riaz — "Cybersecurity Is More Important Than AI"

Most people look at the UAE's digital transformation and assume it's about technology. Our guest says that's the wrong conclusion. Yasir Naveed Riaz has spent 20 years across multinationals, banking, fintech and private industry, the last decade inside UAE government IT. He began as a research student working on CERN-linked grid computing at NUST in Islamabad, moved into core banking systems, and now leads transformation projects at a UAE ministry — including the government's agentic AI mandate rolling out across 50 organisations. Sam and Damian talk to him about why countries approaching the UAE never ask which tools it uses, only about the process around them. Why a paperless mandate years ago is the reason agentic AI is straightforward to adopt today. What a virtual QA agent running around the clock actually delivers. The eight-pillar AI readiness framework he takes into every C-suite conversation, and why the first honest conversation is rarely the one they want to hear. And why, with respect, he disagrees that cybersecurity is as important as AI. It's more important — a point he makes with a story about a money changer in Pakistan who worked out zero trust without ever hearing the term. A rare insider perspective for founders operating in the Middle East, or thinking about it.

7 Jul

Tech Pulse - July 2026

Damian and Sam are back for their monthly run through the biggest tech, AI and e-commerce stories shaping the Middle East and beyond — recorded as the Gulf heads into its summer slowdown and the region keeps cementing itself as a serious AI player. In this episode: - Etihad Rail finally opens its passenger service — a genuine milestone for UAE infrastructure (and an excuse for a proper train tangent) - Dubai's "AI Park": the government opens landscaping and urban-planning tenders to startups and AI enthusiasts, with bids judged on how AI shaped the design - Does AI actually push prices down? The lads debate downward pricing pressure, the abundance mindset, and why government budgets get reallocated rather than cut - Dubai's new AI & Data Authority — a single body for data, AI and digital government, and why the region can move faster than the West on regulation - Guardrails vs innovation: the US stepping back, Europe over-regulating itself out of the race, and where safety meets competitiveness - The money getting silly: South Korea's $500bn data-centre push, Samsung and SK Hynix, over-leveraged markets and the AI crash everyone can feel coming - DAMAC's Hussain Sajwani commits $66bn to AI infrastructure across 13 countries — chasing the title of the world's "data king" - The death of search? Why both hosts now reach for Claude, Grok or Google's AI mode instead of a plain search box - E-commerce shifts: a growing share of searches (and shopping) moving to the LLMs, plus Stripe's new agentic-purchasing frameworks - AI and healthcare: wearables, bloodwork, 23andMe and the GitLab founder who used AI to design his own cancer treatment - Is Google finished? Record revenues, the Gemini dark horse, and Android and Chrome's grip on the market - Apple's $1bn Gemini deal to finally fix Siri — and the case for staying out of the AI arms race entirely - Bernie Sanders vs the AI giants, and what "government-backed" tech might mean Whether you're a founder operating in the region or just keeping pace with where AI is heading, this is your monthly shortcut to the headlines that matter. New episodes every month.

25 Jun

How Two Founders Actually Use AI to Run Their Businesses

Damian and Sam are back for another Gulf Founders podcast — this time getting practical about how they're actually using AI inside their businesses, not just talking about it. Damian runs Capytech, a Dubai-based e-learning company, and Sam runs a web agency. Both have rebuilt how their companies operate around AI, and in this episode they swap the real tools, workflows and DIY builds they're using day to day. You'll hear how Capytech threads AI through its e-learning products — generating content, images and voiceover, cutting animation timelines from weeks to days, and finally cracking high-quality Arabic narration for government clients. Sam shares how AI-generated websites took his agency from seven designers to three, collapsed a nine-stage approval process down to one or two, and opened the door to working with startups and Free Zones. Then it gets hands-on. Damian walks through two tools he built himself: "Cappy Watch", a Chrome extension that replaced a paid SaaS tool over two weekends, and his "AI COO" — a Claude Code setup connected to his email, CRM, ClickUp and social scheduling that he now relies on every day. They dig into the build stack, hosting, memory and portability, and have an honest chat about trust, control and the anxiety of handing autonomy to AI agents. If you're a founder trying to keep up with how fast this is all moving, this one's for you. Topics covered: AI in e-learning, AI website generation, ElevenLabs voiceover, Arabic AI narration, Adobe Firefly & Gemini, ClickUp Brain, Google Workspace & Gemini, Microsoft Copilot & SharePoint, Claude Code, building your own tools, and the AI COO.

8 Jun

Tech Pulse - June 2026

Damian and Sam are back for their monthly run through the biggest tech, AI and e-commerce stories shaping the Middle East — and this month the region keeps proving it's fast becoming a global hub for AI. In this episode: - The UAE's audacious plan to run 50% of government operations on agentic AI within two years — and what that actually means for residents and businesses - Sovereign AI takes shape: the UAE Cyber Security Council, e& and the new Open Innovation AI platform — plus why cybersecurity is about to explode as a sector - Saudi Arabia steps up: HUMAIN goes full-stack with AWS, Goldman Sachs and Accenture, and Aramco teams up with IBM - ADNOC, Presight and the healthy Gulf rivalry pushing the whole region forward - TII's cryptographic AI acquired by a Silicon Valley firm — and the looming quantum-computing threat - a16z makes its first GCC bet, plus where 2025's funding actually went - Is SaaS dead? Salesforce, Odoo and the case for and against - Why founders are vibe-coding their own tools — and where that stops - The trillion-dollar IPO wave: SpaceX, xAI, Anthropic and OpenAI - Nvidia at $4.6 trillion, the chip-making land grab, Apple's quiet AI advantage, and Nvidia's move into robotics Whether you're a founder operating in the region or just keeping pace with where AI is heading, this is your monthly shortcut to the headlines that matter.

1 Jun

Dustyn Smith from Hemodata Interview

Dustyn Smith is the co-founder of Hemodata, a Dubai- and Riyadh-based data and AI consultancy helping enterprises across the GCC turn messy data into business outcomes. In this episode, Damian and Sam dig into how a chance meeting on the karting track — and a chow chow dog Dustyn took as a sign from his late grandfather — turned into one of the region's fastest-growing data businesses. Dustyn shares his journey from Zimbabwe to the UK to Singapore to Dubai, two SaaS exits along the way, and the moment he decided he didn't want to spend his life in hotels and on airplanes. He breaks down what Hemodata actually does, why "buy AI tools" is not the same as "be AI-ready", and the real reason most enterprise data projects fail.

30 Apr

Tech Pulse - May 2026

Damian and Sam catch up for their monthly tech news wrap-up, opening with Damian's first ride in an autonomous taxi in Dubai before moving through the UAE's first air taxi vertiport at Dubai International, the newly announced Gold Line metro extension, and what the city's transport network reveals about long-term planning. They cover Dubai AI Week and the UAE's regulatory edge in attracting AI talent and investment, then dig into Anthropic's decision not to release a model that proved unusually effective at finding zero-day software vulnerabilities, including what that means for cybersecurity firms, software developers, and the wider threat landscape. They close on the UAE topping the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor rankings for the fifth year running and startup funding crossing $625 million in Q1 2026, with a look at where FinTech, AI, and SaaS sit in the investment mix.

28 Apr

All Roads Lead to Referrals: How B2B Really Grows in the Gulf

Damian and Sam dig into the real engine behind B2B growth in the Gulf: referrals, networking, and trade shows. They share what's worked (and what hasn't) over a combined two decades in the UAE and Saudi — from BNI rooms in Singapore to industry exhibitions in Riyadh. Expect honest takes on cold outreach (mostly: don't bother), how to ask for referrals without sounding cringey, why LinkedIn is now an inbound channel, and how to make trade shows pay back. Practical, lived-in advice for founders selling into the Middle East.

16 Apr

Interview with Tony Chakhtoura

In this insightful interview, Tony from Vispire shares his journey from insurance to company formation in the Middle East, offering expert advice on setting up businesses in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Discover key strategies, common pitfalls, and future trends in regional business expansion.

9 Apr

Tech Pulse April 2026

This episode covers the rapid evolution of AI and blockchain technologies in the Middle East, focusing on regional innovations like fractional property ownership, AI-driven industries, and autonomous vehicles. Experts discuss the implications for entrepreneurs, government policies, and future opportunities in these transformative sectors.

1 Apr

Gulf Founders Episode 2

In this engaging conversation, Sam and Damian explore the multifaceted journey of entrepreneurship, sharing personal anecdotes and insights from their experiences in building businesses in the Middle East. They discuss the challenges faced in the early stages, the importance of learning from mistakes, and the necessity of consistency and quality in business practices. The conversation also delves into hiring dynamics, the significance of establishing a sustainable business model, and the ethical responsibilities that come with being a business owner. Throughout, they emphasize the value of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. Takeaways - The journey of entrepreneurship is filled with challenges and learning opportunities. - Consistency and quality are crucial for business success. - Hiring the right people is essential for growth and team dynamics. - Building a sustainable business model is key to long-term success. - Action can alleviate anxiety and drive progress in business. - Continuous learning is vital for entrepreneurs to adapt and thrive. - Ethics and responsibilities play a significant role in business ownership. - Establishing a recurring revenue model can enhance business stability. - Networking and building relationships can open doors to new opportunities. - Reflecting on past experiences can provide valuable insights for future growth.

24 Mar

Gulf Founders Episode 1

In the inaugural episode of the Gulf Founders podcast, hosts Damian and Sam discuss their motivations for starting the podcast, their entrepreneurial journeys in the Gulf region, and the unique challenges faced by founders. They share insights on networking, finding initial customers, and the importance of referrals in building a business. The conversation also touches on marketing strategies, lessons learned from their experiences, and the future direction of the podcast, including interviews with other founders.

Gulf Founders

Episodes

Yasir Naveed Riaz — "Cybersecurity Is More Important Than AI"

Tech Pulse - July 2026

How Two Founders Actually Use AI to Run Their Businesses

Tech Pulse - June 2026

Dustyn Smith from Hemodata Interview

Tech Pulse - May 2026

All Roads Lead to Referrals: How B2B Really Grows in the Gulf

Interview with Tony Chakhtoura

Tech Pulse April 2026

Gulf Founders Episode 2

Gulf Founders Episode 1

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