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- FIX Confectionery Expands to London Harrods; ADIA Joins $2.34B US Retail Deal; Shorooq-Presight Backs $100M Maven Robotics Round
FIX Confectionery Expands to London Harrods; ADIA Joins $2.34B US Retail Deal; Shorooq-Presight Backs $100M Maven Robotics Round
AI, tech, startup and business stories from the Arab world. For the driven, the dreamers and the doers
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Happy Wednesday everyone!
International retail brand rollouts, sovereign real estate acquisitions, and global robotics venture funding mark current business updates. Dubai dessert brand FIX returned to Harrods in London with a pop up following its previous UK launch. In global property markets, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) joined a $2.34 billion takeover of US grocery anchored property trust Slate Grocery alongside Everview Partners and Brixmor Property Group. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi funds Shorooq and G42 owned Presight invested in Silicon Valley startup Maven Robotics as part of its $100 million Series A financing round.
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FIX Dessert Chocolatier Returns to Harrods With London Pop Up
🔹 What Is It About
Dubai dessert company FIX, founded in 2021 by British Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda, has returned to Harrods in London with a pop up inside the Chocolate Hall following the success of its previous launch. Known for its viral Dubai chocolate, the brand returned with favourites including Can’t Get Knafeh Of It, alongside its newest flavour Jam Or Go Nuts, with the London activation brought to life by Imagine FMCG.
🔹 Why It Matters
FIX has grown from a Dubai born dessert brand into an internationally recognised consumer name, with its return to Harrods showing continued demand for the brand outside the UAE. Hamouda described the relationship with Harrods as a “lasting partnership,” while the physical Chocolate Hall presence remains a pop up, giving FIX another opportunity to reach UK consumers through one of London’s best known luxury retailers.
🔹 What’s Next
The Harrods pop up marks another step in FIX’s international expansion, with the brand using its London return to build on the global attention generated by its viral Dubai chocolate. FIX has hinted at further international growth, asking “where will FIX launch next?”, although no additional markets or permanent European retail locations have been announced.
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Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Joins $2.34B Takeover of Slate Grocery REIT
🔹 What Is It About
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) joined private equity manager Everview Partners and retail landlord Brixmor Property Group in a $2.34 billion acquisition to take US-listed Slate Grocery REIT private. Participating through a wholly owned subsidiary, ADIA invested as a strategic capital partner in the transaction, which covers 115 grocery-anchored shopping centers comprising 15 million square feet across major US metropolitan markets.
Acquiring Grocery Infrastructure: The transaction takes 115 grocery-anchored shopping centers private across the US.
Structuring Strategic Capital: ADIA backed the acquisition alongside Everview Partners and operational manager Brixmor.
🔹 Why It Matters
Investing in grocery-anchored shopping centers provides sovereign wealth funds with steady lease revenues backed by essential daily-needs retailers. Partnering with specialized operators like Brixmor lets institutional investors deploy capital into large commercial portfolios without managing day-to-day property operations. Targeting essential retail assets helps protect real estate portfolios against broader economic cycles and e-commerce headwinds.
🔹 What’s Next
Brixmor will integrate 23 directly acquired shopping centers into its portfolio while managing the remaining 92 properties under the joint venture structure. Transaction leads expect to finalize closing conditions and unitholder approvals in early 2027.
Shorooq and Presight Back $100M Series A Funding for Maven Robotics
🔹 What Is It About
Abu Dhabi venture firm Shorooq and G42-backed Presight invested in California-based startup Maven Robotics as part of its $100 million Series A round. The investment was deployed through the Presight-Shorooq AI Fund and Bedaya funds. Founded in 2024 by brothers Hamza Derbas and Khalid Derbas, Maven develops wheeled, two-armed autonomous robots designed to automate physical handling tasks inside fulfillment warehouses and factories.
Raising $100M Series A: RoboStrategy led the round alongside LocalGlobe, Vine Ventures, XTX Ventures, Shorooq, and Presight.
Automating Industrial Work: Maven builds autonomous robots for palletizing and tote handling in logistics hubs.
Deploying AI Capital: The investment draws from Presight and Shorooq's joint $100 million AI investment vehicle.
🔹 Why It Matters
Backing physical automation platforms connects Middle Eastern AI funds with deep-tech hardware manufacturers expanding across global supply chains. Deploying dual-armed robots helps logistics managers address labor shortages and increase sorting speed inside distribution centers. Partnering with G42-backed entities gives hardware startups direct access to computing infrastructure and enterprise logistics clients across the Gulf.
Funding Logistics Automation: Autonomous hardware deployment improves sorting efficiency inside high-volume fulfillment facilities.
Connecting Tech Ecosystems: Investment ties give Silicon Valley hardware developers access to Middle Eastern enterprise markets.
🔹 What’s Next
Maven Robotics will use the $100 million capital injection to manufacture 250 third-generation units and advance software design for its next platform. Shorooq and Presight will coordinate with regional logistics leads to deploy automated hardware inside Gulf distribution centers.
Content, Connections, Deals: DICM 2026 Opens Registration
The Dubai International Content Market (DICM) returns to the iconic Madinat Jumeirah on 10–11 November 2026, bringing together the region's largest gathering of content and entertainment professionals. Named the Best Annual Media Industry Event in MENA, DICM is the go-to marketplace for buying, selling, co-producing and distributing content across TV, film, streaming and digital platforms.
Expect 100+ exhibiting companies, over 1,000 media executives from 55+ countries, and access to the Content Business Hub — DICM's matchmaking platform that lets buyers and sellers pre-schedule meetings up to six weeks before doors open. Whether you're scouting new IP, seeking co-production partners, or expanding into the fast-growing Middle East and Africa markets, DICM delivers the connections and deal-flow to make it happen.
Registration is now open. Secure your spot at one of MENA's pivotal media industry events.
👨💻From Smashi Business’ Desk
UAE Billionaire Al Habtoor Mourns Passing of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Yara Alnamlah’s Moonglaze Hits Sephora Billboards Ahead of Saudi National Day
Dubai based The Giving Movement CEO Rania Masri El Khatib has spoken out after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour following his support for Palestine.
‘Stop Sexualizing the Gym’: Squatwolf Founder Slams Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Ad
🔍In other news…
🦄 World of Startups
erad: raises $22m Series A led by MEVP; new backers include 500 Global, SVC and ANB Capital; Shariah SME finance in KSA and UAE.
Amaani (AIZA): raises $5m Series A led by
BECO Capital with Homegrown Ventures and Peak XV Surge; $8m total; Saudi retail next.Shorooq and Presight: join Maven Robotics' $100m Series A via Presight-Shorooq Al and Bedaya funds; their cheque sizes undisclosed.
Rela: Saudi workforce-housing startup takes undisclosed strategic investment from Yazeed Al Rajhi & Brothers Holding to scale its network.
ITIDA × JICA: Innovation Bridge Egypt × Japan opens; ICT startups pitch PoCs against 7 Japanese corporate challenges; apply by 17 Oct.
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