Podcast appearances and mentions of mena region

HEADLINES:MONIIFY's Multi-Million-Dollar Gamble: Where Were the Red Flags?LEAP 2025 in Riyadh Poised to Transform the Tech LandscapeSaudi Arabia's IPOs Lead the MENA Region by Outshining UAE and Egypt in 2024

Today's HeadlinesIranian pastor faces deportation from TurkiyeNew president, new rules for Syria, yet the Good News remainsCCBT forum accelerates Bible translation

“I would like to invite impact investors to look at the region as an opportunity for revival” After 20 years of leading effective capacity building across social enterprises in the MENA regional through venture philanthropy, Alfanar are now launching the first regional impact investment fund for the Arab world, aimed for investing in scalable enterprises matching purpose with profit. Richard Mullane caught up with Alfanar Country Director for Lebanon Maya Rahal at the Impact Europe Bilbao conference to find out how Alfanar have managed to support so many brilliant start-ups, delivering critical social and environmental solutions, often under extreme circumstances, including: - Stories from flourishing regional Social enterprises across edtech, circular fashion and culture- What it takes to stay working towards positive solutions in zones devastated by conflict - How Alfanar select enterprises and help them transform from being reliant on philanthropy to being self-sustaining- Lessons learned from 20 years on the ground for other global venture philanthropists - How Maya made the journey from being a journalist and communications expert to an Impact leader- Why the relationships between funds and enterprises can be like a marriage, the social ingredients that make Lebanon such a special place to live, tips for staying grounded and healthy - and more! “It's rare for you to be in a job when you can actually see the results in people's faces” Alfanar Venture PhilanthropyAlfanar: Tabshoura: Digitising education across Lebanon and the region Alfanar: Fabricaid - Socially and environmentally conscious value chain for the apparel industry: optimizing the collection, sorting, up-cycling, and resale of secondhand clothesd Alfanar: Inaash - dedicated to improving the lives of women in the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon, while preserving the embroidery culture and traditionThe Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of LivingThe Lighthouse PodcastBerrytechBeat Podcast“If you are born every day with one seed in your hand, then you have to plant it”#venturephilanthropy #socialenterprise #menaimpactfundInvesting for PurposeSocial Value InternationalImpact EuropeImpact FrontiersGlobal Impact Investing NetworkSDG Goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Uri Yudewitz steps into the studio to discuss the importance of finding commonalities in communities, how kindness shows up in his career, and why being a connector of people is necessary to bridge divides. Uri Yudewitz serves as the Vice President of Business Development for CH Group, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. With a dynamic background in strategic partnerships, market expansion, and revenue growth, Uri plays a pivotal role in driving the company's success and fostering key relationships, bridging the gap between Western business and Islamic culture. In his capacity, Uri spearheads initiatives to identify new business opportunities, forge strategic alliances, and cultivate partnerships. His keen understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior allows him to develop innovative strategies that align with CH Group's overarching goals and objectives, including in each of CH Group's focus areas (distribution, partnership, financing, certification and non-profit endeavors). This podcast is one of the many ways we live out our organization's mission to educate and inspire people to choose kindness. Visit our site kindness.org and sign up to become a part of our global community which spans more than 100 countries. It's free to join and when you do you'll be the first to get access to our latest research, tools, and even episodes of this podcast. Let's build a kinder world, together. Contact us at podcast@kindness.org or on social at @kindnessorg. Important links from this week's episode:kindness.orgCreditsHost: Jaclyn LindseyGuest: Uri YudewitzProducer: Melissa MaloneMusic Composition: Chris ChristianaDesign: Ben Gibson, Christine Do, Smithfield StudioTranscript available at this link. https://why-kindness.simplecast.com/episodes/david-kirschner/transcript

Blockchain DXB & Society X - LinkedIn Live Unfiltered Chat Show NotesEvent Date & Time: October 31st, 2024, 10:00 am GST Hosts: RA George, Founder of Blockchain DXB Markose Chentittha, Society X Special Guest: Gregg Davis, Managing Director, Bitcoin Inc, MENA Region Bitcoin's Surge: Bitcoin's dominance is at 58.84%, setting the stage for a major upward trajectory. Memecoin Market: Less activity in memecoins as Bitcoin garners more attention. Gold Prices: Surging alongside Bitcoin, hinting at a shift in macro investment trends. US Election Impact & Upcoming FOMC Meeting (Nov 7): The post-election market could impact Fed policies and crypto sentiment. Bitcoin Rights Bill in Pennsylvania: House Bill 2481 proposes protections for self-custody, payment use, and tax guidance for Bitcoin. Awaiting decision by Governor Josh Shapiro, facing potential veto. Stablecoin Clarity: Paxos recently sent letters to US political figures (Donald Trump & Kamala Harris) pushing for stablecoin regulations. Tether Updates: Tether continues to work with law enforcement to prevent misuse of USDt, recently blocking USDT transactions in Venezuela. Chainlink CCIP: Collaborations with SWIFT and integration with Bitcoin highlight Chainlink's position in 2024. Spiderchain: A new Bitcoin layer-2 solution designed to enhance interoperability with Ethereum, allowing Ethereum-based applications to deploy on Bitcoin. Chainlink Runtime Environment: Announced at the SmartCon event in Hong Kong, featuring modularity, privacy for institutions, and chain-agnostic design. Chainlink's integration with HBAR boosts data quality and decentralization, supporting secure data for high-quality decentralized applications. Director, Bitcoin Inc., MENA Region Introduction to Gregg Davis: Insights on how he got into Bitcoin and his journey. Bitcoin MENA Event in Abu Dhabi: Upcoming on Nov 9-10, with a headline speaker, Eric Trump, and various prominent figures. Gregg shared why Abu Dhabi was chosen and how the event supports Bitcoin education in the region. Bitcoin for Family Offices: Thoughts on the Dubai Family Office Investment Summit, where UHNWIs show increasing interest in Bitcoin as a wealth asset. Bitcoin vs. ESG Concerns: Discussed Bitcoin mining's environmental impact and the importance of energy transparency. Recommendations for Bitcoin Resources: Stephan Livera Podcast, Saifedean Ammous, Peter McCormack, and Swan Bitcoin for in-depth knowledge on Bitcoin. Blockchain for AI: Explored limited blockchain use cases, noting that decentralized applications (DApps) remain niche, with stablecoins and memecoins not leveraging blockchain technology fully. AI for Blockchain: While AI could aid in raising capital via tokens, concerns persist about centralization, especially with governance tokens. Oort Foundation: Updates on DePIN show challenges with blockchain scalability, with 1 million transactions per second potentially insufficient for extensive DePIN projects. Exploring how blockchain mechanisms work, including SHA256, Keccak 256, Merkle Tree, and blockchain applications in supply chain transparency.

In this episode, Arjun sits down with Roger Rouhana, CEO of Alpheya, to explore the future of wealth management in the MENA region.Their conversation delves into global wealth and asset management trends, highlighting the growing demand for innovative digital solutions and the crucial role of robo-advisors in making wealth management more accessible.They also discuss Alpheya's mission and foundation, the evolving landscape of wealth management in the GCC region, and the impact of trading apps on the wealth tech industry. Don't miss our insightful discussion on how technology is reshaping the world of wealth management. Tune in now!Our website

For today's discussion, we were pleased to host Julia Weller, Principal at Energy Law International. Julia has worked in electricity and natural gas regulation and transactions for over 30 years. She served at both Hunton & Williams and Pierce Atwood before starting Energy Law International in 2017. Energy Law International advises governments, private investors, international finance institutions and electricity transmission system operators across Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the MENA Region and Sub-Saharan Africa on energy market reforms and provides support to institutions seeking to invest in emerging energy markets. We were thrilled to visit with Julia and gain valuable insights into the international energy law landscape. We first became connected with Julia after she recently published a very interesting article on 2024 power deregulation in Israel that caught our eye (linked here). In our conversation, Julia first shares how she started her career helping countries with energy reforms after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the beginning of US/Western efforts to wean those countries from their dependence on Russian energy. Sound familiar? We discuss the missed opportunity in integrating the then struggling Russia into the global community, Energy Law International's work to help countries improve legal systems for safer investments and introduce capitalist concepts, the increasing significance of climate change in legal/regulatory reforms and emerging markets, energy market reforms in Israel, and the stability and structure of Israel's power market. We explore some of the key topics from Julia's recent article on Israel, Israel's historical need for self-reliance broadly, lessons from European countries focusing on renewable energy ahead of reliability and affordability, introducing competition in energy markets, and examples of market reform success. We ended by asking Julia for her vision of the energy world in ten years and her response was “a complete course correction.” It was a fascinating discussion. Julia's answer to the 10-year question was quite direct and is linked here. Mike Bradley kicked us off by highlighting that prior to this week, U.S. equity markets could best be summed up in one word: “rotation” (out of S&P 500/Big Tech and into the Russell 2000). Global markets so far this week could be best defined as “volatility.” Over the last year, the S&P Volatility Index (VIX) had traded in a very tight range, but on Monday, it spiked to a 4-year intra-day high (2020 Covid Pandemic levels) before closing Tuesday at levels just above its recent trading range. So far this week, there's been a substantial spike in the VIX, a plunge in Bitcoin, a temporary blowout in the Yen Carry trade, and a historical % plunge in the Nikkei Index. On the bond market front, the 10-year U.S. bond yield easily blew through 4.0% (~3.7%). Some were calling for the FED to implement an emergency interest rate cut which would be extremely counterproductive as in Mike's view it would signal that the FED was behind the curve (and really worried) and could easily lead to an equity market plunge. On the crude oil front, WTI price continued to be pressured because of lack of technical trading support (under 50/100/200 moving averages) and growing global demand fears. Crude oil contract length over the last few weeks has gone from “net long” to neutral, and traders could push it to “net short,” but that's largely dependent on the magnitude of Iranian retaliation against Israel in the near future. Mike ended by noting that this type of volatility is why energy companies need to continue pursuing pristine balance sheets which will allow them to be oppor

Episode 185: Food Crisis, the International Food Regime, and Endless Agrarian Modernization in the MENA Regio The agrarian and food crisis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have re-emerged vigorously to the attention of global development agencies and governments in coincidence with the Russia-Ukraine war. The food crisis has  been interpreted through a number of tropes, including Malthusian, environmentally determinist, security and development economics approaches. Within the dominant mainstream discourse, the MENA region is often depicted as a homogenous geographical area characterized by dryness, infertile lands and poor water resources. How did imperialism, colonialism and the Cold War influence the MENA food systems? What were the effects of agrarian modernizations, trade liberalization and neoliberalism on the agricultural systems in the region? These are some questions that this presentation tries to answer using a geographical and historical-comparative analysis, through a food regimes lens. Understanding contemporary social relations dynamics cannot be limited to the recent period. Agriculture and food in the MENA region are anchored in the history of power relations ruled by flows of capital and the shaping of ecological transformations during the longue durée of capitalism and its corresponding modes of control and regulation. Giuliano Martiniello is Associate Professor of Political Science and Political Economy at the Faculy of Law, Political and Social Sciences, Université Internationale de Rabat and Adjunct Associate Professor at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut. Prior to joining UIR, he was Assistant Professor at the American University of Beirut (2015-2020), Research Fellow at the Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University (2011-2015), and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2012-2013). He got his PhD in Politics at the School of Politics and International Studies of the University of Leeds (2011). He is broadly interested in the political economy, political sociology and political ecology of agrarian and environmental change. His research interests include land regimes, food and farming systems, large-scale land enclosures and contract farming, conservation and deforestation, rural social conflicts and agrarian movements in Africa and the Middle East. He has published articles in a number of top-ranking international journals such as World Development, Journal of Peasant Studies, Journal of Agrarian Change, Geoforum, Land Use Policy, Food Secuirty, Globalizations, Agrarian South: a Journal of Political Economy; Third World Quarterly, Review of African Political Economy, among others. He is Contributing Editor of the Review of African Political Economy and Associate Editor of Agrarian South: A Journal of Political Economy. He is co-editor of the book Uganda: The Dynamics of Neoliberal Transformation, London, Zed Books (2018).  This episode is part of the CAORC and Carnegie Corporation of New York program "The Maghrib From the Peripheries: Property, Natural Resources and Social Actors in the Maghrib". It was recorded via zoom on the 19th of October, 2023 by the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS). Edited by Hayet Yebbous Bensaid, Librarian, Outreach Coordinator, Content Curator (CEMA).  

Today's HeadlinesNetanyahu to address Congress as Gaza despair mountsIranian regime plots regional domination; Iranian people seek meaning“Games Talk” brings the gospel to the Paris Olympics

Episode Name: Balancing Innovation and Regulation: The Future of Crypto with Andrew Whitworth Guest: Andrew Whitworth, Former Policy Director, EMEA at Ripple.  Co-Founder of ICDEF Research Current Role - Advisor & Researcher - Crypto, FinTech, Tech Policy - IPE of Digital Finance - http://globalpolicyltd.com Co-founder & Director - ICDEF A book written by Andrew - Regulating Banks: The Politics of Instability Available via Amazon USA here http://tiny.cc/rn97zz Host: RA George, Blockchain DXB Andrew Whitworth email: andrew.whitworth@eui.eu LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwhitworth/ Twitter (X) - @AA_Whitworth Summary of the conversation Introduction to Andrew Whitworth Andrew introduced his extensive background, highlighting his academic achievements and vast experience in the fintech and cryptocurrency sectors. He shared insights into his role in the payment industry and his journey within the payment space. Andrew emphasized his transition from traditional banking regulation to the cryptocurrency space, sharing his insights and experiences from his tenure as Policy Director at Ripple. He recounted some of his most notable experiences while working at Ripple and the valuable lessons he learned. Separation of Money and State: We explored the possibility of separating money from the state, with Andrew providing a unique perspective on the matter. Role of Regulations: Andrew discussed how regulations should foster innovation and growth within the industry. He also shared how perceptions regarding cryptocurrency have evolved throughout his career with institutions like the Bank of England and Ripple. Political Influence: We delved into the impact of politics on regulations, with Andrew comparing the regulatory approaches of Europe, the USA, and the UAE. Stablecoins: Andrew provided a detailed comparison between stablecoins and fiat currencies, explaining why he believes stablecoins may be superior. MENA Region and MiCA Regulations: We discussed how the MENA region can learn from MiCA regulations and vice versa, as well as Dubai Customs' recent announcement of a blockchain use case. Advising Companies: Andrew explained how he helps companies navigate regulations and develop effective policies, expressing that regulations can indeed drive industry growth. UK and US Politics: We talked about how the UK's new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and influential figures like Nigel Farage might impact cryptocurrency and blockchain regulations. Andrew also shared his thoughts on how the upcoming US elections could affect cryptocurrency prices and regulations. UAE Central Bank's Payment Token Regulations: Andrew mentioned that the UAE's regulatory environment is more supportive of innovation compared to other regions. Books and Publications: We discussed Andrew's book, Regulating Banks: The Politics of Instability, and its relevance to the current financial landscape. ICDEF: Andrew shared information about ICDEF, where he is a co-founder and director, highlighting how companies can benefit from this organization. Global Policy Ltd: He also discussed his new endeavor, Global Policy Ltd, and its mission. Tokenization and KYC/AML Challenges: Andrew shared his views on tokenization, KYC, and AML hurdles in the context of open blockchain technology. Personal Interests: Outside of his professional life, Andrew enjoys playing the guitar, and sharing his passion for music. This episode is packed with valuable insights from one of the industry's leading experts, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the intersection between fintech, cryptocurrency, and regulation. Transition to CryptocurrencyDiscussion HighlightsCurrent Events and PredictionsAndrew's Publications and ProjectsPersonal Insights

Last week you heard an incredible testimony from the Middle East / North Africa region. This week Charlie and Nathan share 5 more! You won't regret listening to these powerful stories!

What are the latest advancements in Renewable Energy programs across the MENA region. What trends and innovations in solar energy and storage technology are being applied in Lebanon? Laury Haytayan, Energy Expert in the Middle East and North Africa hosts Angela Leon Melkonian, Business and Project Development Director in Renewable Energy in the MENA Region. At Energy Espresso, our commitment lies in exploring and presenting sustainable solutions to Lebanon's environmental, social, and economic challenges. We aim to equip our audience with the knowledge and inspiration to actively contribute to positive change.

Join us on the latest FHS Podcast where Matthew Weihs, Commercial Director at The Bench, speaks with Nicolas Nasra, Head of Hotel Advisory, Hospitality & Tourism at Colliers, about the evolving landscape of branded residences in Saudi Arabia. Learn how collaborations with luxury and lifestyle brands are reshaping real estate, attracting younger demographics, and delivering strong returns on investment in alignment with Vision 2030. Tune in to the full podcast for an insightful discussion. #FutureHospitalitySummit #FHSSaudiArabia #FHSPodcast

Episode 5 of Season 3 is live now featuring Mounir Nakhla, Founder and CEO of MNT-Halan. Join us as we delve into the journey of MNT-Halan and the Egyptian fintech landscape. From ride-hailing to a financial super app, we cover it all in this insightful episode! Tune in for a glimpse into the world of fintech innovation!#Fintech #MNTHalan #StartupJourney #couchonomics #tech #innovation #newepisodeCouchonomics with Arjun Season 3 is brought to you by our partners:Adyen https://www.adyen.com/ToYou https://toyou.io/arMastercard https://mastercard.com/Geidea https://geidea.net/M2P https://m2pfintech.com/Find us on our social media platforms:Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Couchonomics LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomicsSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6ETimestamps: 00:00 - Episode Highlights 00:43 - Introduction 02:00 - MNT-Halan's story 05:23 - Creating a financial super app 08:12 - What makes MNT-Halan great 12:00 - Opportunities in the Egyptian market 15:55 - Microloans and consumer loans 18:58 - MNT-Halan's Impact on the Banking Sector 21:35 - Fintech Ecosystem in Egypt 24:36 - Impact of investors on startup direction 26:13 - Regulatory landscape in Egypt28:02 - Egyptian companies going across the borders 32:02 - Opportunities of the Egyptian market for international fintech 37:32 - Future plans and strategies for MNT-Halan40:49 - Talent scarcity and AI 42:00 - Closing wordsOur website

Please listen to and watch our latest episode of The Lebanese Physicians' Podcast with Dr. Lina Daouk-Oyri, Associate Professor at the Department of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the BI Norwegian Business School and Adjunct Associate Professor at the American University of Beirut. In this episode, we discuss her involvement in the SAWI project during her time in Lebanon and currently. We discuss gender gap in Lebanon and the MENA region and the role of the SAWI project in data collection and documentation, and its role in helping employers and governments bridge the gender gap. We also discuss Dr. Daouk-Oyri's role in improving communication and streamlining processes specifically at AUBMC and in other hospital in Lebanon through the Adilla project. An episode not to be missed. #Lebanon #genderequality #gendergap #mena   This episode can also be found on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Anghami   Also on YouTube https://youtu.be/LOqFYZH3FTA

Waleed Abdel-Fattah, President of the MENA Region at Hill International, joins The 966 to talk about Saudi Arabia's building boom and Hill's traction in KSA since entering the market to help build out what is now known as KAFD. Hill has 100 offices across 42 countries, and its main geographical areas are the US, Europe and the North Africa/Middle East region.Hill has worked on developments like King Salman Park, Jabal Omar development in Makkah, the Riyadh Metro, and others.

The Last Trade: a weekly, bitcoin native, interactive podcast covering where Bitcoin and traditional finance meet on a macro scale. Hosted by Marty Bent, Jesse Myers (Croesus), Michael Tanguma, and a special weekly guest host. Join us as we dive into what Bitcoin means for how individuals & institutions save, invest, and propagate their purchasing power through time. It's not just another asset - in the digital age, it's the Last Trade that investors will ever need to make. 0:00 - Introduction to Talal 3:20 - CoinMENA's founding & mission 6:06 - Improving on-ramp & off-ramp services 12:00 - Regulatory landscape in the MENA region 21:30 - Bitcoin's potential in the MENA region 28:00 - MENA as a bitcoin mining powerhouse 30:50 - Competition for residency & trust in Dubai 36:37 - A message from Onramp 36:54 - Bitcoin education & building trust 42:30 - Regulatory innovation in Dubai 47:20 - CoinMENA's partnership with Onramp 52:04 - Bitcoin & Sharia compliance 57:05 - Debt-based vs equity-based systems 1:01:35 - Bitcoin Oasis Conference 1:08:45 - CoinMENA's goals & wrapping up Accelerating Bitcoin Education & Investment in the MENA Region https://onrampbitcoin.com/accelerating-bitcoin-education-investment-in-the-mena-region/ Schedule time with the link below if you would ever like to learn more about Onramp and please sign up for weekly Research and Analysis to get access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ https://onrampbitcoin.com/category/onramp-media/

New Episode Alert: Navigating the AI Startup Landscape in the MENA Region with Ibrahim Seksek

This week on Babel, you will hear excerpts from Jon Alterman's recent discussion with Chatham House experts Renad Mansour and Farea al-Muslimi, alongside the CSIS Middle East Program's Natasha Hall. They discuss a recent Chatham House report, which argues that although political settlements have been resolving more conflicts in the region, these elite bargains are actually prioritizing stability over accountability, leaving citizens to pay the costs. Then, Jon, Natasha, Renad, and Farea discuss how this phenomenon has played out in Iraq, Lebanon, and Libya, and the potential way forward. Transcript, "Renad Mansour and Farea Al-Muslimi: The Cost of Political Settlements in the MENA Region," CSIS, November 28, 2023. Renad Mansour, Tim Eaton, and Lina Khatib, "Rethinking Political Settlements in the Middle East and North Africa," Chatham House, September 20, 2023.

Public debt across the Middle East and North Africa — or MENA — region is soaring. While debt vulnerability is a global phenomenon, recent data shows four MENA economies — Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Jordan — are among the emerging markets most vulnerable to a debt crisis. In a special podcast episode, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar is joined by Niranjan Sarangi, a senior economic affairs officer in the shared economic prosperity cluster at the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and Sarah Saadoun, a senior researcher working on poverty and inequality at Human Rights Watch, for an in-depth discussion on the politics of economic reform in the MENA region. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, they discuss what's behind the current debt situation, how it's affecting ordinary people's lives, the impact of IFI programs on the expansion of social protection systems, and the region's evolving climate finance needs. This episode of This Week in Global Development is sponsored by Open Society Foundations.

Maschinen aus Deutschland haben einen guten Ruf in Ägypten. Sie gelten als hochwertig und langlebig, sind allerdings meist auch teurer als chinesische Konkurrenzprodukte. In dem Land lernt man jedoch gerade, dass nicht immer der günstigste Preis den Ausschlag geben sollte - das jedenfalls berichtet Radmila Labus, die als Ägypten-Beauftragte des BVMW-Bundesverbands deutsche Mittelständler mit ägyptischen Unternehmern vernetzt.Zwar ist China mit großem Abstand wichtigstes Importland für Ägypten. Geht man aber ins Detail, sammeln deutsche Unternehmen immer öfter wichtige Punkte im Rennen um den ägyptischen Markt. Das zeigt sich etwa im Bereich Wasserwirtschaft, einem Sektor, dem angesichts knapper werdender Ressourcen höchste Priorität zukommt. Im Podcast "Wirtschaft Welt & Weit" berichtet Labus von Ausfällen chinesischer Technik, die die Stilllegung ganzer Produktionsanlagen zur Folge hatte: "Sie finden niemanden, der das reparieren kann."Derartige Folgekosten würden inzwischen immer öfter beim Kauf mitgedacht, bestätigt auch Leonard Klaßen, Ägypten-Experte der IHK München: Gerade in Schlüsselbranchen und strategisch wichtigen Betrieben "wird auf Qualität geachtet", sagt er in der neuen Podcast-Folge. Deutsche Unternehmen spielen somit den Vorteil aus, dass sie den Servicegedanken von vornherein abdecken und auch nach dem Kauf weiterhin Betreuung bieten.Wie viel Potenzial bietet das Land am Nil deutschen Unternehmen? Können gut ausgebildete Fachkräfte aus Ägypten womöglich sogar den Fachkräftemangel in Deutschland sichern? Oder überwiegen beim Blick nach Ägypten vielleicht doch die Risiken? Wie sehr hat etwa die Wirtschaft die angespannte Menschenrechtslage vor Ort im Blick? Über diese und viele weitere Themen spricht Host Mary Abdelaziz-Ditzow in der neuen Podcast-Folge mit Radmila Labus und Leonard Klaßen: Labus reist als Ägypten-Beauftragte des BVMW-Bundesverbands viel von Berlin und Kairo und liefert Eindrücke direkt aus dem Land. Leonard Klaßen ist als Länderreferent der IHK München zuständig für die MENA-Region, also für den Mittleren Osten und Nordafrika. Kürzlich erst war er auf einer Delegationsreise zum Thema Wasserwirtschaft in Ägypten vor Ort.Schreiben Sie Ihre Fragen, Kritik und Anmerkungen gern an podcasts@ntv.de.Unsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://datenschutz.ad-alliance.de/podcast.html Unsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://art19.com/privacy. Die Datenschutzrichtlinien für Kalifornien sind unter https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info abrufbar.

Elise Evans is a Women's Rights Activist. She has been called the Katniss Everdeen of Saudi Arabia. Her passion and work highlight the draconian laws which keep women in a system that declares them minors until they die. Raised by a Saudi stepdad as a Saudi included molestation, prolonged confinement, physical & mental abuse, and more. She was subjected to the Male Guardianship Law, which stripped her of every right that she was born with as an American Citizen.She works diligently to highlight the current situation on the ground in Saudi Arabia not just because she has three younger Saudi sisters and many Saudi friends but because she personally suffered many injustices until finally finding freedom in the United States at the age of thirty.She has spoken internationally and locally, raising awareness about the Male Guardianship Law, Sports-Washing, Arbitrary Arrests, Torture, Victim Shaming, Forced Disappearances, Honor Killings, Sham Trials, Executions, and other Human Rights Violations happening on a day-to-day basis in Saudi Arabia.She interned for the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Riyadh, and was the head of HR for the MENA Region for The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. She worked as the Executive Assistant to the group Publisher at D Magazine in Dallas, TX and is currently a successful CEO. Her Autobiography an American Princess in Saudi Arabia is due to be released in late 2024. She resides in the United States, the land of the free.Follow her on Twitter/X for daily updates: @EliseMEvans“I will never be silent again” - Elise Evans

Insights into the development of management education, practices, with the challenges and opportunities faced in the region. Welcome to Emerald Podcast Series. Join our hosts as they talk to experts using their research to create real impact in society. In each episode we explore the role research plays in our modern world, and ask how it can contribute to solving the complex environmental, economic, social and political challenges facing our planet.

Cody Combs gives a round-up of today's trends.

#fadyismaeel #themaximizer #thefounder "Explore H1 2023's investment landscape in African, Arab, Turkish, and Pakistani startup ecosystems. Join me in this episode as we dissect the trends, challenges, and triumphs shaping these regions. Gain insights into the dynamic world of startup investments across diverse cultures and markets." لنعرف سويا ماذا حدث في الاستثمارات في شركات الناشئة في أفريقيا، العالم العربي، تركيا، وباكستان. للنصف الأول من عام 2023 انضموا إلي في هذه الحلقة حيث سنقوم بتحليل الاتجاهات، والتحديات، والانتصارات التي تشكل هذه المناطق. احصلوا على نظرة مفصلة في عالم الاستثمارات في مجال الشركات الناشئة وتوقعات النصف الثاني من العام الحالي

In this episode, we talk about a region that is often overlooked in the global edtech landscape: the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA. MENA is home to more than 400 million people, with a young and tech-savvy population, a growing demand for quality education, and a huge potential for digital transformation. But despite these favorable conditions, MENA's edtech sector has been lagging behind other regions in terms of investment, innovation, and adoption. Why is that? And what are the opportunities and challenges for edtech entrepreneurs and investors in this region? To answer these questions, we speak to Nafez Dakkak, managing partner of BLDR ventures. Nafez has had extensive experience studying, analyzing, and working in MENA's education sector, helping spearhead Edraak, an online learning platform that serves millions of learners across the Arab world. He has also served as a senior advisor at the Queen Rania Foundation for more than 6 years. Tune in to hear Host and WISE Director, Elyas Felfoul take Nafez for a deep dive into the world of edtech and its implications for the region. ------ Relevant links: Read Nafez's article on the sleeping giant: https://nafez.substack.com/p/mena-edtechs-sleeping-giant Nafez's article on the gameboy: https://nafez.substack.com/p/the-gameboy-instead-of-the-metaverse ------ If you enjoyed this episode, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It really helps out the show and we would greatly appreciate it. Website: wise-qatar.org Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets Instagram: @wiseqatar Facebook: facebook.com/wiseqatar/ Linkedin: bit.ly/2JKThYf

Episode 95! Following several weeks of amazing special guests on the program (with many more to come in the weeks and months ahead) the hosts fly solo this week and discuss some of the biggest storylines and topics on Saudi Arabia this week. First, the hosts discuss Richard's one big thing this week, the Islamic new year. Muslims around the world observe and celebrate the Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year, which marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. The Islamic year is several days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so its first day changes every year. Then the hosts discuss Lucien's one big thing, a global heat wave that has areas of the Middle East breaking records. On July 16, 2023, Persian Gulf International Airport in Iran reported a heat index of 152°F (66.7°C). In Riyadh this week, high temps are hovering around 115 degrees or so, which is about 46 degrees celsius. The hosts conclude the program as always with six top storylines on Saudi Arabia to get you up to speed heading into the weekend. 7:47 - Richard's one big thing this week is a discussion of the Islamic new year. Muslims around the world observe and celebrate the Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year, which marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. The Islamic year is several days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so its first day changes every year.15:45 - Lucien's one big thing, a global heat wave that has areas of the Middle East breaking records. On July 16, 2023, Persian Gulf International Airport in Iran reported a heat index of 152°F (66.7°C). In Riyadh this week, high temps are hovering around 115 degrees or so, which is about 46 degrees celsius.27:06 - Yallah! Six top storylines on Saudi Arabia to get you up to date heading into the weekend. •Saudi Arabia was the most active country for contract awards in a recent MEED survey for 2022. •Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday to buy Turkish drones in the biggest defence contract in Turkey's history as President Tayyip Erdogan reaped the benefits of his diplomatic push to repair ties with Gulf powers and help Ankara's struggling economy. •Saudi Arabia was considered the 28th best country to live in as an expat and the United States ranked 30th, according to the Expat Insider 2023.•The Japanese premier, Fumio Kishida, kicked off his Gulf tour over the weekend with a stop in Saudi Arabia.•An official from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed to Al-Monitor that work has begun on a land bridge project connecting the country to Saudi Arabia, and that it will operate even if diplomatic ties between the two countries are not officially normalized.•Saudi Arabia was announced as the host of the 2027 Pan Arab Games at the conclusion of this year's  multi-sport event in Algeria.

The MENA (Middle Eastern Northern Africa) region is fast becoming a global centre for growth and innovation, especially in the areas of digitalisation and retail format innovation. Continued focus on economic diversification across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has resulted in the development of a world-class retail infrastructure. Host Dan Munford and Nikolay Vylegzhanin, Regional Director at Shopworks speak with Amged ElHanbali, Head of Retail at Ola Energy and Craig Philipson, Managing Director of Shopworks. Ola Energy operates across the MENA region and following a quick introduction and update on the business, Amged looks to the future of retail; exploring new format layouts, segmentation and real estate, as well as emphasising the importance of focus shift from product and supply to the customer-centric approach. Watch the entire video episode at https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/video/54-mena-and-gcc-deep-dive-with-ola-energy-shopworks. With special guest: Amged ElHanbali, Head of Retail at Ola Energy Hosted by: Dan Munford and Nikolay Vylegzhanin, Regional Director at Shopworks

In this week's Roundtable, Huuuge Games' Q1 results provide us with some insight into the ongoing impact of user acquisition changes on the mobile gaming business. We also tackle the driving force behind the growth surge in the MENA region's gaming and esports sectors and Supercell's uncharacteristic release strategy with its betas for Flood Rush and Squad Busters. Lastly, we wrap up by discussing the rationale behind EA's decision to integrate Nike NFTs into its sports games, as well as the significance of the SEC lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase and what they might mean for web3 gaming. Join us for all the latest games business news with David Kaye, Tammy Levy, Abhimanyu Kumar, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by Coda Payments. Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more about how Coda Payments' solution can help take your game to the next level, head to codapayments.com.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out https://www.data.ai Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this episode of The Change Officer (TCO) Step Special Podcast Show, Ivan Zeljković talks to Ali Abulhasan, the Co-Founder and CEO of Tap Payments. Tap Payments is a payment solution that simplifies payments in the MENA region and globally. With over 100,000 businesses of all sizes using their services, Tap Payments unifies and connects all regional and international payment methods under a single integration, making it easier for businesses to receive payments securely.During the episode, Ali shares his insights on the payment industry in the MENA region and how Tap Payments is making a difference by providing a convenient and secure payment platform for businesses. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of the payment industry, including the growth of digital payments, the impact of COVID-19, and the importance of staying ahead of the curve with innovative payment solutions.Join Ivan and Ali as they explore the future of payments and how Tap Payments is leading the way in simplifying payments for businesses in the MENA region and beyond.This special episode of The Change Officer Podcast is hosted by Ivan Zeljkovic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanzeljkovic/ This episode is produced by Poddster, an end-to-end video podcast production company that helps businesses conceptualize, produce, manage, and grow podcasts for their brand. Click this link to book a free consultation with Poddster's team or rent a studio: poddster.com/book-free-consultation/ Check out Poddster studio based in Dubai Media City: poddster.com/podcast-studio-dubai/ They say that change is the only constant. If this is true, we want to know what is the change ahead. To get the answers, our hosts Ivan Zeljkovic and Vuk Zlatarov are talking to the change-makers themselves. We invite you to join us on the journey of getting the answer FOLLOW THE CHANGE OFFICER: www.thechangeofficer.comInstagram - www.instagram.com/thechangeofficerLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-change-officer-podcast/Twitter - twitter.com/changeofficer_TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thechangeofficer

Chatting with Shahira brings up a lot of good vibes and a sense of commitment to oneself and others. Sharing her story and the power of Self-Healing through meditation. Analyzing the benefits of NUR: an Arabic meditation app in the MENA Region.About Shahira:I am half Egyptian, half Moroccan. Born and raised in Morocco until I was 16. I'm currently a digital nomad - live between London and Lisbon. Travel/ work a lot from the ME.I've developed a strong passion for social impact projects over the past few years.Motto: “Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.I'm an adept of mindfulness and meditation. I decided to quit my corporate job and devote my time to spreading mindfulness and meditation to the Arab world and its diaspora. My goal is to serve the gap in mental wellbeing and positively impact the region.I started my career working for the award winning advertising agency Fred & Farid as well as L'Oréal working for their luxury brand Lancôme. I later moved to London to further pursue my career, and joined CNN International Commercial working within their Middle East and Africa team.NUR is a mindfulness and meditation app tailored for the Arab world. We are solving the lack of online support for mental wellbeing and mindfulness techniques in Arabic speaking countries. We offer culturally relevant content and delivered in a variety of Arabic dialects. NŪR's mission is to positively impact the MENA region and offer easily accessible tools for daily mental health support and wellbeing.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and of course SHARE!And above all, reflect and enjoy!

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Noor Sweid, managing partner at Global Ventures, to share her insights on venture capital funds and the investment potential of the MENA region. During our discussion, Noor emphasizes the importance of conducting due diligence when choosing an industry to invest in and understanding the stage of startup development it needs help with. She also shares her thoughts on the UAE being the most interesting region for investments in the near future.Furthermore, Noor delves into the world of Web 3.0 and crypto spaces, highlighting the emergence of a new generation of creators who will be Web 3.0 natives. She explains how this will create a new ecosystem that doesn't rely on old Web 2.0 platforms, which will become obsolete. Other topics covered in this episode include:·       The impact of the pandemic on the venture capital industry and the startups in the MENA region·       How to find the right balance between risk and reward when making investment decisions·       The importance of building strong networks and partnerships in the venture capital industryOur website

 In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we discuss how open banking and open finance are transforming the financial industry, not only in the MENA region but also globally. We'll be joined by Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder & CEO of Lean Technologies, as we explore the challenges, opportunities, and latest developments in the field. Tune in to find out how the MENA region is catching up with Europe and the United States in adopting open banking, and what this means for businesses and individuals looking to stay ahead of the game. Moreover, the episode explores how open banking and open finance can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access financial services more easily. With open banking, SMEs can access alternative financing options and connect with potential investors more efficiently. This can help SMEs overcome traditional barriers to financing and accelerate their growth, which is particularly important in the MENA region where SMEs are a major driver of economic activity. Arjun and Hisham delve into the different types of open banking models and their benefits such as: Expanding the scope of open banking by including more financial services beyond traditional banking Creating a seamless user experience and providing them with a more comprehensive view of their finances.Levelling the playfield for all participants in the “open data economy” Our website

As part of our continuing partnership with Ballard Brief, Genevieve and Harriet discuss the different types, reasons, and repercussions of violence against refugee women in the MENA region. 

Couchonomics kicks off its Amsterdam Special with the Chief Commercial Officer at Adyen, Roelant Prins. Having led a career in fintech for over 20 years, Roelant has personally experienced the rapid development of the sector. He worked with the Royal bank of Scotland in early 2000 before moving on to head numerous leadership and management roles in payments technology. Roelant has been a speaker on major platforms such as Money 20/20 Asia, Vivatech 2019 & 2022. In this special episode recorded in Adyen offices in Amsterdam, Roelant talks us through the evolution of commerce and fintech. He describes how the two have slowly merged over the years under a concept known as “unified commerce”.Roelant also shares how Adyen has positioned itself as an industry leader, not just in the payments space, but in the financial technology sector. Other topics discussed include:●      The fine, but vital distinction between multichannel commerce and unified commerce●      The concept of invisible payments and how that may be achieved●      Adyen's expansion in coming years.Timeline00:00— Introduction03:00— Unified Commerce09:00— Digitization is The Future15:00— Adyen's Expansion Beyond Payments21:00— Choosing the Right Customers27:00— Leaping into Issuing33:00— What Makes the Middle East Unique39:00— ConclusionAdyen: https://www.adyen.com/The Season 2 of Couchonomics is coming soon, so stay tuned!Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond- as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Couchonomics Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/Connect with Couchonomics:WebsitOur website

When Dr Bernd van Linder attained his PhD in artificial intelligence over 20 years ago, the field was viewed as intensely academic with few practical applications. Not desiring to pursue an academic career, Dr Van Linder entered the world of finance in the early 2000s. Over his 20 plus year career he has slowly worked his way to CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai.In his new position, Dr Van Linder is excited to drive innovation and change in the region by expanding how banks view their competition. As consumers become conditioned to interfaces from some of the world's biggest tech companies, they begin to expect that same level of ease and connection when it comes to dealing with their banks. Dr van Linder believes that the future will see an explosion of banks applying digital innovation across all levels, and he is focused on optimising the process from end to end.Dr van Linder also shares his views onHow decentralized finance will change the world of bankingThe importance of seeking talent beyond the banking industryA few differences between banking in Europe and banking in the UAETimeline00:00 – Introduction04:00 – Practical Applications of AI in Banking10:00 – The War for Talent19:00 – Ideas Accelerated by Covid33:00 – Serving the Under-served41:00 – ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond- as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Couchonomics Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 countries:https://www.lulufOur website

Madhusudanan and Prabhu Rangarajan are the Co-founders of M2P, an innovative, India-born fintech company with ambitious expansion goals for Dubai. However, word on the streets suggests that the party is over for startups, fintech companies included. Madhu and Prabhu start the conversation by highlighting what sets them apart from other fintech companies and offer valuable insights into which fintech companies have what it takes to make it through this difficult time.Innovation is one thing; sustainable innovation is a whole other story. Madhu's unique lens into the true function of fintech suggests that the problem that fintech is solving, actually is inclusion. Prabhu offers the interesting perspective that smaller players possess the drive to go deeper, as opposed to broader, enabling them to occupy an advantaged position in the market.We also discuss:·        Is the party really over for fintech startups or did it just move?·        Will incumbents emerge stronger than ever from the recent fintech bubble?·        What does M2P bring to MENA? Timeline00:00 – Introduction03:00 – Valuation reset or something more foundational?10:00 – Outlasting the downward spiral18:00 – How embedded finance might grow in MENA24:00 – Big banks, small banks and each of their roles30:00 - Motivations for international expansion36:00 – Democratizing financial access41:00 – Conclusion  Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond- as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial serviceOur website

Mihai Draghici joins us on the couch from a busy day on the road. Travelling all the way from Bucharest, he brings with us the exciting story of how the idea for his innovative FinTech company, PayByFace, came about. Coming from an engineering background, Mihai had the bright idea that facial recognition could prove to be a convenient, safe payment system. After all, you never forget your face at home.Mihai paints a picture of how transactions will be affected by facial recognition payments. This reveals Mihai's vision for the company: he believes there is a way for transactions to transcend payments. With some effort and attention, Mihai hopes to gamify payments and turn them into a fun, enjoyable experience.Mihai also shares with us·        Why he believes facial recognition will out-perform other biometrics·        Applications of facial recognition beyond commerce·        How to face privacy concerns around facial recognitionTimeline00:00 – Introduction03:00 – What sets facial recognition technology apart10:00 – Opportunities for facial recognition16:00 – Data and privacy concerns22:00 – Facial recognition in MENA26:00 - ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond- as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 countries:https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of anyscale to embed financial products:Our website

The Global P2P Payment Market Size accounted for USD 1,872 Billion in 2021 and is estimated to achieve a market size of USD 9,135 Billion by 2030. The P2P payments market is a very fragmented market. Important players either acquire new rivals or combine with them. The others invest significant money in research and development initiatives. These initiatives lead to market growth for P2P payments and technological advancements, updates, and new P2P payment capabilities.That is why, we are delighted, to present to you the conversation about the possibilities of P2P payments with Andrew Gold and Faisal Toukan, two-thirds of a trio that started Ziina, the UAE's first peer-to-peer payment app.Andrew is Co-Founder and Head of Engineering at Ziina with Apple and Coinbase on his belt as his previous emprises. Together with Faisal Toukan, Co-Founder & CEO at Ziina, they explained why they believe that their model of P2P payments, which focused on the social component is a winning formula.Faisal provided for us, in this episode of Couchonomics, his overview of the MENA ecosystem and p2p players that are here to stay.Jump in and get to know:-       What Ziina has to offer that no other p2p payment solution provider does?-       Is it worth expanding p2p to p2m?-       Is there a place for crypto in the P2P space? Timeline:00:00 – Intro01.16 – The beginnings of Ziina07.17 – From P2P to P2M and beyond13.58 – Competition in the P2P payment solution segment25.16 – Let's talk crypto37.31 - Is there a place for crypto in P2P? Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene. FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/ PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in AbOur website

Investing has often been viewed as an expensive, costly process that only a privileged few can access. But as technology evolves and grows, companies like Baraka are finding increasingly creative ways to give people access to financial markets.Founder and CEO of Baraka, Feras Jalbout, joins us for a lively discussion that sparks off with a bit of a hot-take. Since Baraka charges no commission, its clients often engage in online trading, a practice that some have described as part-gambling and part-gaming. However, Feras sees things entirely differently.For Feras, the investment philosophy he hopes will shine through his company is long-term appreciation over short-term gain. Although this is the case, he also believes that it the priority is to give people access to markets, and the wealth-app accomplishes precisely that.Our conversation takes us through some other hot topics in the FinTech space, such as:Have Baraka considered an expansion into Saudi Arabia?Zero-commission or robot advisory; what drove Feras' choice?What role does education play on their platform?Timeline:00:00 – Introduction06:02 – Zero commission V. robot advisory12:17 – Fractional shares and retail investors19:41 – How will Baraka carve a niche for itself?25:10 – Surviving the stock market31:10 – Is Crypto the future?39:01 – ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start - up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly e volving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:http s://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end - to - end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 cOur website

Abdullah Al-Othman joins us on the couch today to share his views on an ever-evolving fintech landscape. As the founder of Geidea, one of Saudi Arabia's leading fintech companies, Abdullah's first order of business is to solve a small mystery for us: what does the name Geidea mean?Once that's cleared up, Abdullah shares his view on what makes fintech in Saudi Arabia unique from other places in the world. His insightful opinion sheds light on the disappointing scores of copycats currently flooding the market, as well as many other interesting topics such as:·        The evolving relationship between banks and fintech companies in the region·        New gaps that being identified as future opportunities·        Tailoring solutions for businesses at different scalesTime Line00:00 – Introduction03:10 – Rules of the game09:40 – Banks and legislation15:44 – The growth of Geidea20:47 – Key differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE31:13 – Constant learning and adaptation41:11 – Finding the perfect match for every role51:55 – Cash ain't king58:17 – ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start - up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly e volving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:http s://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end - to - end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 countries:https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of anyscale to embed financial products:https://m2pfOur website

In terms of fintech adoption, Egypt has been a little slow on the take compared to other nations. However, companies like ValU are changing that.As innovative companies and dynamic leaders forge a path to the future, Egypt emerges as one of the most exciting regions on the fintech map. Our guest and guide today is Walid Hassouna, founder and CEO of ValU. He breaks down some of the key factors driving Egypt's recent fintech growth.As regulations and infrastructure start catching up to technical ability in Egypt, fintech starts showing its utility. Companies like ValU are redefining the way people think about money and credit. In this episode, we explore how this marked transition has affected the region, as well as some of the factors that have influenced it. Our conversation takes us far and wide, exploring topics such as:- How regulations have reacted to changing demands- Evolutions in consumer behaviour- Key innovations along the way.Timeline00:00 - Introduction03:00 - Genesis of ValU09:00 - Standout functions of ValU16:30 - Navigating nuanced debt challenges in Egypt22:24 - The merchant challenge31:00 - The future of ValU36:00 - ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond- as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 countries:https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of anyscale to embed financial products:https://m2pfintech.com/Connect with Couchonomics:WebsiteOur website

NFTs are a hot topic very few people really understand. For many of us, our first time hearing of NFTs was in 2021 when they suddenly seemed to be a digital gold mine. However, for the patient community that diligently crafts the famed images, NFTs represent an opportunity for profound and fundamental transformation.Kristel Bechara joins us on Couchonmics to share her view as the rising star of the Middle Easter art world. Just a few short years ago, Kristel was a budding artist selling her physical works through digital channels. One day, a friend approached her and introduced her to the concept of NFTs. After doing some initial research, Kristel quickly decided to invest her own talents into the NFT space, and she hasn't looked back since.In our conversation, Kristel takes us through:Key criteria for evaluating long-term NFT valueThe benefit of 1-of-1s compared to collectionsHow NFTs can transform ownership, protect artist rights and open up new revenue streamsTime Stamp00:00— Introduction02:38— How Kristel Discovered NFTs10:00— How to evaluate NFT value long-term18:46— How NFTs can benefit artists around the world27:00— NFTs from an investor's perspective31:00— ConclusionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates:www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start - up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly e volving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond:http s://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by ourpartners from:Adyen, a reliable end - to - end payments solution that enables businesses to turnpayments into a strategic growth driver:https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabiand operating in 11 countries:https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure companyOur website

Around the world, open banking adoption is rising steadily, embraced by a growing number of banks and fintech companies providing innovative financial products and tapping into new market segments. As of the end of Q2 2022, global research identified 1,578 banking platforms that are making APIs available, representing an annual growth of 8%.To identify all the advantages and the challenges this growing industry faces, we have Mo Aziz on the couch, Co-Founder and CEO of Pluto. Pluto is open banking service that is offering a unique Pluto Corporate Card, that is revolutionizing corporate spending.Mo highlighted importance of not being too disruptive when offering a new technology to SME's and respecting their ways of doing business.Join us in this interesting conversation about open banking and learn more about:Benefits of Pluto card for SMEPluto's planned expansion in the MENA regionAn overview of the open banking sector in MENAImportance of chemistry between the co-founders when starting the new businessCheck out Pluto: https://www.plutocard.io/Timeline:00:00 – Intro01:13 – Introducing Mo Aziz02:01 – Beginning and ending of DAPI04:21 – Overview of open banking in the MENA region08:52 – Pluto Corporate Spend14:07 – Co-founders & Ramp investment18:32 – Strategy targeting SME's24:51 – Dealing with competitionFollow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating in 11 countries: https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of any scale to embed finanOur website

Fintech is an ecosystem in a state of ordered chaos. The rules change just as frequently as the consumers do, and businesses must adapt to both or be squeezed out of profits. In this competitive, fast-paced environment, each player focuses on securing their own interest. While this leads to phenomenal individual success stories, some leading figures believe it is important to keep an eye on the big picture.Enter our guest today, Nameer Khan, Chairman and Founding Board Member of the MENA Fintech Association. Drawing on the support of an impressive panel of local and global partners, the Association has quickly proven itself as an integral force in the vitalization of the fintech world.Tune into this episode where we discuss topics such as: Digital penetration in the MENA regionFinding and recruiting top-level talent The Association's role in the financial ecosystemTimeline00:00 - Introduction02:30 - The History of the Mena Fintech Association09:02 - Bridging the Talent Gap15:05 - Challenging the incumbents' mindset 21:21 - Breaking down Gen-Z and Gen-Y consumers: The Generation of Purpose26:52 - Conclusion Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating in 11 countries: https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of any scale to embed financial products: https://m2pfintech.com/Connect with Couchonomics:Website https://www.couchonomics.com/TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLQYGHoa/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/LinkedIn https://www.linkeOur website

Many of us never consider money as a serious concept until later on in our lives. By then, the damage has been done: unnecessary purchases and loans have wormed their way into the wallet.Smeetha Ghosh-Jorgensen, CEO and co-founder of Cashee, knows these dangers all too well. In this episode, she takes us through how Cashee will encourage teenagers to be mindful of the ways they use money. In today's modern world where physical currency is slowly being phased out by online purchases and even cryptocurrencies, how do you communicate the value of money to a teenager?Tune into this exciting episode to find this out and a whole lot more, such as:- Getting parents to buy in on FinTech over banks- Retaining teenager brand loyalty- Identifying potential expansion regionsCheck out Cashee: https://www.cashee.com/Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating in 11 countries: https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of any scale to embed financial products: https://m2pfintech.com/Connect with Couchonomics:Website https://www.couchonomics.com/TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLQYGHoa/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/Our website

In 2021, emerging venture markets in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Turkey saw record-breaking activity levels in the investment space. As 2022 forges ahead, we can expect to see another year of unprecedented investment activity in these regions despite turbulence in the global markets.Gaurav Dhar is a CEO at Marshal & MENA FinTech Association Board Member and in this, the brand new episode of the Couchonomics with Arjun, he provided an insight into the MENA financial ecosystem, especially on the angel investments market.Gaurav also spoke about the opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Egypt and plans for Marshal as an Electronic-Payment solutions provider in the Middle East.Join us in this interesting conversation and find out more about:-The impact that the global crisis is having on the MENA market-The future of the crypto-currencies-Why Egypt is a “sleeping giant”?Timeline:00:00 – Intro01:19 – Introducing Gaurav Dhar02:28 – Angel investors in MENA10:46 – The cause for rapid growth of angel investments19:25 – Let's talk about Marshal29:39 – Do we need VISA and MasterCard in MENA?Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating in 11 countries: https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of any scale to embed financial products: https://m2pfintech.com/Our website

The 2020s have not been an easy time for investors. Although investing seemed to be showing signs of recovery, recent trends have seen investment into some sectors take a nose-dive. Businesses struggle to keep pace with rising interest rates, record levels of inflation, and many other seemingly overwhelming economic macro-forces. A stinging question lurks silently in the background; Will investment companies respond with a bullish approach or a bearish one?Our guest today is Tammer Qaddumi, founding partner of VentureSouq, and he offers an answer to that question. As an equity investment platform with assets valued at $3 billion, VentureSouq has braved many hard times. Even with the war raging on and inflation at an all-time high, Tammer believes that the strongest companies can not only survive, but they can thrive. In this conversation he shares how some of the key aspects to achieve this are to: Maintain a stable mindset and sooth investor anxietiesPrioritize stability over growth and profitabilityAnd pick companies that can “punch a hole in the market”Enjoy!Timeline00:00 – Introduction 03:00 – What's changed in venture capital?10:50 – Investment strategies for 2021 and beyond20:15 – Keys for venture capital success in all market conditions27:55 – The story of VentureSouq32:13 – Standout companies in the VentureSouq portfolio38:00 – Web 3.0 and the Blockchain: What's next for venture capital? 42:00 – Conclusion Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/Our website

MENA has made considerable economic progress over the last decade. Still, a couple of formidable challenges remain, including transforming local economies and inclusive job creation. Insurance has the potential to address these challenges and help countries in the region achieve their growth targets.Despite these potential benefits, the insurance sector is underdeveloped in the MENA region and its growth-enhancing potential has not been sufficiently realized.To discuss the need for disruption in the insurance sector, we have invited Ambareen Musa, Souqalmal.com Founder and CEO. She underlined the disruption that is about to happen in insurance and InsureTech and the need for government regulations that must be implemented for these changes to happen.Join us as we discuss:- Investment opportunities in crisis- Equality of opportunity for women in business- The genesis of SouqalmalTimeline:00:00 – Intro01:13 – Introducing Ambareen Musa02:13 – Are funds drying up?09:52 – InsureTech space and it's challenges12:29 – The birth of Souqalmal19:17 – Equality of opportunity for women31:44 – Highs and lowsCheck out Souqalmal: https://www.souqalmal.com/ae-en/Follow 'Couchonomics with Arjun Singh' on any app you listen to podcasts.Check out Couchonomics website for all new updates: www.couchonomics.comHOSTBased in Dubai, Arjun is actively engaged with the Fintech & Start-up ecosystem across the MENA Region and beyond - as a passive investor, an advisory board member and as a commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.FINTECH NEWSSubscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter Daily Fintech Crunch to receive daily interesting news from the world of Fintech, DeFI, Crypto and beyond: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6899436665924837377/PARTNERSCouchonomics with Arjun Singh is brought to you by our partners from:Adyen, a reliable end-to-end payments solution that enables businesses to turn payments into a strategic growth driver: https://www.adyen.com/LuLu Financial Group, a global financial services provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating in 11 countries: https://www.lulufin.com/M2P, Asia's leading payment infrastructure company that enables businesses of any scale to embed financial products: https://m2pfintech.com/Our website

About my Guest: Mike Patterson is: • A Business Growth Expert • A Marketing Strategist • A Profit Generator • A Results Multiplier • By the age of 23 Mike had circumnavigated the world, twice. • He's traveled to over 50 countries on six continents. • He has over 14 years Military experience, (R.N. / Army). • With more than 3 decades in Senior Management Positions, running Heavy Equipment Workshops for Construction / Oil & Gas, The Military, The UN, Oil & Gas companies, in Europe and in MENA Regions. • For 9 years he ran part of a Maintenance facility for Sh. Moh'd in Dubai. • Mike has spent over 42 years in the MENA Region. • 25 of those years in Dubai. • Mike has been a corporate trainer for 20 plus years and a Business Consultant for 15. • He has worked with over 50,000 people in over 40 industries, including Banking, Oil & Gas, Police, CID, Insurance, Retail, Finance, Construction, Water, Transport, Telecommunications & various Governments. • During that time, he's worked with Entrepreneurs, Solopreneurs, Startups, National, International & Multinational Billion $ companies helping with Strategic and Business Planning, leading to them Doubling / Tripling and Quadrupling their bottom lines, in a relatively short time. • Mike is the Co-founder BusinessFirst Consultancy • Managing Partner Creative Steps Consultancy • CEO of BusinessMastery & Business Strategies Middle East What We Discussed: - His Life's Journey - The difference between being in the Navy and the Military - How to overcome an Unwelcome Audience in a Workshop - Personal Development - Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley & Brian Tracy - Be Systemised - Structuring a Workshop - His Toastmasters Journey - How to Upscale Your Business - Different Types of Referrals - If you are Not Different then You Are the Same - What is your R.O.I. - His Business Mastermind and more How to Contact Mike: https://businessmastermind.me/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedubai1/ More About Speaking Podcast: All Episodes can be found at www.speakingpodcast.com All Social Media + Donations link https://bio.link/podcaster Sponsor : http://coolabulla.com Use Discount Code Speaking for a 20% Discount Our Facebook Group can be found at www.facebook.com/speakingpodcast All my 5 Podcast can be found at http://roycoughlan.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/roy-coughlan/message