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- In Dubai: 90% Recovery & 100% Disruption
In Dubai: 90% Recovery & 100% Disruption
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Sunday, August 23, 2026
Happy Sunday everyone!
Dubai’s resilience is once again on display. Just six weeks after regional tensions hit, the city’s property market had recovered to more than 90% of normal transaction volumes, according to Huspy CEO Jad Antoun. The rebound highlights why investors continue to bet on Dubai despite uncertainty. But disruption isn’t limited to real estate. Huda Kattan and Dubai burger brand DIME are showing how brands can break through the noise by ditching polished PR for something far more relatable, a messy double cheeseburger used to prove a new lipstick actually works. Two stories, one theme: Dubai keeps rewriting the playbook.
Markets
EGX30 | 54,737.07 | Closed |
DFMGI | 5,856.55 | Closed |
ADX | 10,004.43 | Closed |
Tadawul | 10,954.46 | Closed |
Dubai Real Estate Market Rebounded To 90% Volume Within Six Weeks: Huspy CEO
What Is It About
Jad Antoun, founder and CEO of proptech leader Huspy, revealed on The Mal Show that despite geopolitical tensions in the region, the Dubai property market demonstrated remarkable durability. Specifically, just six weeks after the conflict began in March, transaction volumes rebounded to over 90% of normal levels.
Dubai’s real estate sector experienced a swift recovery following initial regional instability. Data shows that market activity, which momentarily faced uncertainty, returned to near-normal capacity within weeks. This V-shaped rebound highlights the city's ability to maintain liquidity and investor confidence even during turbulent times, defying expectations that global or regional friction would significantly dampen property momentum or halt the high-demand cycle currently defining the local market landscape.
Why It Matters
This resilience underscores the strength of Dubai's fundamental value proposition: a zero-tax environment, high safety standards, and a prime lifestyle appeal. By bouncing back so rapidly, the market has proven it is driven by long-term resident and investor conviction rather than temporary speculation. For the global proptech industry, this recovery serves as a bellwether, demonstrating that even when broader international sentiment fluctuates, fundamental economic incentives in key hubs like Dubai remain powerful stabilizers.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, Huspy is accelerating its international footprint, planning to launch in two additional countries within the next three months. The company aims to further scale its digital infrastructure, which has proven effective in handling high-volume, fragmented real estate markets. As the firm continues to integrate AI and automated tools for brokers, it expects to solidify its position as a key player in European markets while maintaining its stronghold in the Middle East.
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Huda Kattan and This Saudi-Lebanese-Palestinian DIME Burger Founder Have Just Rewritten the PR Playbook
Global cosmetics giant Huda Beauty partnered with homegrown Dubai burger diner DIME for a viral marketing campaign that is rewriting the rules of regional public relations.
To launch her newly reformulated, transfer-proof Lip Contour Stains, beauty mogul Huda Kattan skipped traditional, pristine influencer events. Instead, she introduced the "Huda Meal" PR box, which paired her new lip products with a real, messy double cheeseburger from DIME. The concept served as a high-stakes, interactive product demonstration: influencers and Kattan herself filmed themselves eating the greasy meal on camera to prove the makeup would not smudge or transfer.
Behind DIME is Talal Hizami, a London-born, Saudi-Lebanese-Palestinian creative and entrepreneur who has become a major disruptor in Dubai's lifestyle landscape.
Hizami initially started his career in fashion as the designer behind the streetwear label Pacifism, which debuted at London Fashion Week. He has since pivoted heavily into hospitality, founding the TABLE4TWO Group from Dubai in 2023.
Under this hospitality umbrella, Hizami has launched several of Dubai's most popular community-driven food concepts, including the famous sandwich shop Rascals Deli, artisanal pizza bar 'Za Za Slice, and the 80s-inspired burger joint, DIME.
By bridging the gap between high-end cosmetics and authentic street food, the partnership has successfully shifted PR trends away from untouchable perfection and toward real-life utility, setting a new benchmark for cross-industry collaborations in the Middle East.
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👨💻From Smashi Business’ Desk
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🔍In other news…
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🦄 World of Startups
ChatFeatured, Canada-based AI startup, raised $2M in a pre-seed funding round from BY Venture Partners (UAE/Lebanon) and other global investors
Doctorbook, Syria-based healthtech platform, raised $16K in a pre-seed funding round from a group of angel investors, valuing the startup at $200K
Carbar, Australia-based car subscription platform, is merging with Carasti, UAE-based car subscription business operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Singapore, at a combined pre-raise valuation of $74M
Fincart, Egypt-based eCommerce enablement platform, raised $2.8M in a seed funding round
