Happy Wednesday everyone!

Expand North Star’s last day is here in Dubai Harbour, while GITEX Global 2025 is gaining momentum as it enters day 3. Pro tip to reach GITEX: Metro is your best friend. As usual, the first main story is coverage of both events.

Later you can read about Dubai Mall entering the exhibition space business with a 10,000 square metre Exhibition Center, and Saudi Arabia box office hits SAR 448 Million In H1 2025.

But before that: For quick daily updates, follow us on Instagram, and you can watch our Smashi Business Show live every weekday from 10AM onwards (UAE time). Also, you can join our Whatsapp channel to receive updates from the business world.

Markets

Peng Xiao And Sam Altman Highlight UAE’s AI Leadership At GITEX Global 2025

GITEX Global 2025 saw two of the world’s leading AI figures — Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI — spotlight the UAE’s role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

Peng Xiao described how AI is “becoming more of a lifestyle,” revealing that the National Security Advisor and the chair of Abu Dhabi-based AI giant G42 and also MGX, Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s residence was designed using 500 ChatGPT prompts. He also noted a 10-to-one ratio of AI agents to human employees in the chairman’s office, calling AI “a powerful productivity boost.”

Sam Altman praised the UAE’s proactive leadership in AI adoption, saying, “Every country is going to need to have an AI strategy, and it’s got to be a top priority for national leadership.” He added that the UAE’s approach is a model for the world.

The discussion underscored how the UAE is positioning itself at the forefront of global AI innovation and infrastructure.

Andrew Jackson — Group Chief AI Officer, G42

• “I think we're going to be getting up and running [by next year], and I think by then, we'll have already started a lot of the transformational work. This is the first wave of transformation.”

Hassan Alnaqbi — CEO of Khazna Data Centres

• “As the world enters an era defined by AI and digital economies, infrastructure is becoming the catalyst for national transformation.”

“The Middle East, and particularly the UAE, is a very dynamic region when it comes to technology,” Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology to Smashi Business

Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, praised the UAE and the wider Middle East for their dynamic and well-directed tech ecosystem while talking to Smashi Business at Expand North Star. He highlighted the region’s strong entrepreneurial energy, supported by leaders who understand technology’s impact and enable growth through policy and investment. Gill also outlined the UN’s focus on building safe, trustworthy, and sustainable digital futures through initiatives like the Global Digital Compact, emphasizing data governance, privacy, and information integrity.

“The entrepreneurial energy in the Middle East and especially UAE is strong and well-directed, supported by leaders who truly understand tech and its impact.”

Dubai Mall Unveils 10,000sqm Exhibition Center To Host Major Global Events

🔹 What Is It About

Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping destinations, is expanding with a new 10,000 square metre Exhibition Center dedicated to hosting world-class conferences, exhibitions, and business gatherings. The venue will feature five event halls, state-of-the-art infrastructure, networking lounges, and direct access to the mall’s retail, dining, and hospitality offerings. The center is designed with flexible layouts and premium amenities to accommodate diverse event types.

🔹 Why It Matters

Strategically located in Downtown Dubai, the new facility reinforces the city’s position as a global hub for innovation, culture, and commerce. With a total capacity of 6,000 people, the Exhibition Center provides businesses and event organizers with a premium, centrally connected venue. Its modern design and accessibility — including VIP areas, networking zones, and panoramic Burj Khalifa views — enhance Dubai’s appeal as a top destination for major international gatherings.

🔹 What’s Next

The Dubai Mall Exhibition Center will officially open for bookings from January 15, 2026, offering adaptable event spaces and advanced infrastructure to support large-scale exhibitions and conferences. With this expansion, Dubai Mall is set to become not just a retail landmark but also a leading events and business destination in the region.

Saudi Arabia Box Office Hits SAR 448 Million In H1 2025, Topping MENA Market

🔹 What Is It About

Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry recorded SAR 448 million in box office revenues during the first half of 2025, with over 9 million tickets sold across 20 cities, according to the Saudi Film Commission. The Kingdom operates 65 cinemas with 635 screens, maintaining its leading position in the Middle East cinema market since 2020. The average ticket pricestood at SAR 49.06.

🔹 Why It Matters

The performance highlights the rapid growth of the entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia, driven by local productions and expanded cinema infrastructure. The success of Saudi titles like ‘Shabab Al-Bomb 2’ (SAR 27.2 million) and ‘Hubal’ (SAR 24.5 million) underscores a thriving domestic film industry, complementing international releases and diversifying cultural offerings in line with Vision 2030 goals.

🔹 What’s Next

As cinema attendance continues to grow, Saudi Arabia is expected to further expand its exhibition footprint and invest in local content creation, solidifying its position as the region’s largest cinema market. Upcoming releases and new theater openings are likely to push box office revenues to record highs by the end of 2025.

👨‍💻From Smashi Business’ Desk

• A UAE consortium has reportedly met with Manchester United officials in London.

• The viral Dubai-born brand behind Can’t Get Knafeh of It is landing at Harrods London for its first-ever international pop-up — running October 27 to November 23.

🔍In other news…

• First 200 MW from UAE's Stargate AI campus to come online next year.

• Aramco slows local projects to focus on global ventures

• Dubai to spend $350m on healthcare city

• Algeria signs $5.4 billion oil and gas deal with Saudi firm Midad Energy

• Revolut is “working diligently towards a launch in the UAE” and will provide updates in due course: The National

• Dubai unveils plan to become top-three global financial hubs on virtual assets boost

🏦 Crypto Corner

• Crypto data reveals UAE has mined bitcoins worth $700m

• Michael Saylor — Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy and one of Bitcoin’s most vocal corporate advocates — will make his first-ever appearance in the UAE at Bitcoin MENA in Abu Dhabi.

• Hut 8, part of a American BTC which is partially owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Gets Approval to Operate in Dubai Financial Hub.

• Abu Dhabi Judicial Department now accept AE Coin.

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