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- Noon Raises $500m; Ben Sulayem Secures FIA Term; Podeo Signs Yasser Al-Huzaimi
Noon Raises $500m; Ben Sulayem Secures FIA Term; Podeo Signs Yasser Al-Huzaimi
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Sunday, December 14, 2025
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Saudi-backed e-commerce platform Noon has raised $500 million from PIF and Mohammed Alabbar, lifting total funding to $2.7 billion as it works toward a potential IPO within two years. Emirati motorsport executive Mohammed Ben Sulayem was re-elected FIA President in Tashkent, extending his tenure after steering the body from a €24 million loss in 2021 to a €4.7 million surplus in 2024. Meanwhile, Beirut-founded podcast platform Podeo has signed Saudi author Yasser Al-Huzaimi, whose Fnjan appearance surpassed 150 million YouTube views, overtaking Joe Rogan’s Elon Musk episode and highlighting the growing global pull of Arab-led digital media.
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Noon Raises $500 Million from PIF and Alabbar in New Round, Semafor Says
What’s it About?
Noon has raised $500 million in a new funding round led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with founder Mohammed Alabbar also participating, according to a Semafor exclusive. Launched in 2016, noon operates e-commerce, grocery, and delivery platforms across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. PIF holds 50 percent of the company, with the remainder owned by Alabbar-led investors. The latest round lifts total capital raised to $2.7 billion, as Alabbar reiterates plans for a potential IPO within two years.
Why it Matters?
The funding underscores how strategic Gulf capital is doubling down on consumer tech and logistics. Noon sits at the center of an increasingly brutal regional fight with Amazon, Meituan’s KEETA, and Saudi startup Ninja. For PIF, the deal aligns with a broader push to back digital infrastructure and platforms that anchor regional growth and influence.
What’s Next?
Expect intensified price wars, faster expansion, and tighter margins. Investors will watch whether noon can scale profitably before an IPO window opens, and how long rivals are willing to burn cash to win Gulf consumers.
Emirati Former Rally Driver Mohammed Ben Sulayem Re-Elected as FIA President for Four-Year Term
What’s it About?
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) after running unopposed at the organisation’s annual general assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, beginning a second four-year term. His re-election follows a marked financial reversal at the FIA, which moved from a €24 million loss in 2021 to a €4.7 million operating surplus in 2024, with a further €4.4 million surplus forecast for 2025. The FIA credited his leadership with improved financial discipline, transparency, and governance standards.
Why it Matters?
The turnaround strengthens the FIA’s credibility as a regulator at a time of rising commercial pressure in global motorsport. It also reinforces Gulf leadership’s growing influence in international sports governance, backed by proven execution rather than symbolism.
What’s Next?
Attention now shifts to Formula One governance, regulatory reforms, and maintaining financial stability as the sport expands. Ben Sulayem’s second term is expected to focus on consolidation, not experimentation.
Lebanese-Founded Podeo Signs YouTube’s Most-Viewed Podcast Guest, Yasser Al-Huzaimi
What’s it About?
Podcast platform Podeo has onboarded Saudi relationship author and Guinness World Record holder Yasser Al-Huzaimi to its distribution and monetisation network. Al-Huzaimi shot to global fame after his appearance on Saudi podcast Fnjan, with the episode surpassing 150 million views on YouTube, overtaking Joe Rogan’s interview with Elon Musk as the platform’s most-viewed podcast episode. Podeo founder and CEO Stefano Fallaha framed the deal as a strategic win, highlighting that the company paid nothing to sign the world’s most-viewed podcast guest.
Why it Matters?
The move underlines a shift in the global podcast economy, where audience scale now rivals exclusivity spending. Podeo’s strategy contrasts sharply with big-budget Western deals, signalling how Arab creators are becoming global demand drivers, not niche players.
What’s Next?
With over 100 million listeners globally, Podeo is likely to pursue more creator-led growth plays. As the podcast market heads toward $234 billion by 2030, expect rising competition for Arab talent and stronger monetisation beyond traditional platforms.
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